The bus will be due for a 20k service in the next month or so. Deciding how to do it – dealer does it all, supply parts to the dealer or do it myself – is the question.
The entire service includes:
- Engine Oil and Filter Change
- Replace Fuel Filter
- MOPAR Battery Service
- Inspect/Adjust Tire Pressures
- Inspect Belts & Hoses
- Inspect Lights/Horn/Battery
- Inspect Exhaust System
- Inspect Steering/Suspension
- Perform 23 Point Inspection
- Oil System Conditioner
- Minor Diesel Fuel Treatment
For this the dealer charges $568.20. If I supply the parts, which would cost me $172 (including the correct clamps for the fuel filter hoses), the dealer will charge me $225.90.
My labor is relatively inexpensive now as most days I have lots of time to do a $20k service. Here is how I figure it:
- Engine Oil and Filter Change (I can do this pretty easy. The only minor problem I see is the sloping driveway.)
- Replace Fuel Filter (I have done this once when a dealer forgot to do it at the 10k service.)
- MOPAR Battery Service (Not sure what this is. I don’t have a MOPAR battery and it is a sealed unit but I will look at it so I can take a picture.)
- Inspect/Adjust Tire Pressures (Whenever they do this they always inflate the tires incorrectly.)
- Inspect Belts & Hoses (Hmmm, there is only one belt. I think I can do this part.)
- Inspect Lights/Horn/Battery (I can turn on the lights/blow the horn/thus testing the battery.)
- Inspect Exhaust System (I can check the catalytic converter and muffler and tail pipes for rust or being loose.)
- Inspect Steering/Suspension (Pretty easy to check. I’ll even look at the power steering fluid level.)
- Perform 23 Point Inspection (I don’t know what this consists of so this gets left out.
- Oil System Conditioner (Don’t want it, don’t need it.)
- Minor Diesel Fuel Treatment (Don’t need it. I use diesel fuel treatment on a regular basis.)
This looks like maybe a couple of hours work and the only thing not getting done is the 23 Point Inspection. Is that worth $225.90? I don’t think so. Looks like I do it myself.
The only unanswered point in all this is resetting the ASSYST which tells you when to do the service. Owners were supposed to be able to do this themselves but for some reason, accidentally or on purpose, this capability was left out of the programming (even though the older owner’s manuals describe how to do the reset). I will end up having to go to the dealer anyway to get this done at what should be priced at $0. BTW, the dealer who did the 10k service forgot to do this – I found out while still on site checking their work.
Tags: 20k service
