[Mattlach]

My question is quite simple...

Is it worth it?

they say they do the following:

• Change all fluids (do they really mean all?)
  
• Change spark plugs
  
• interior and exterior air filters
  
• fuel filter
  
• check and lubricate suspension
  
• rotate, balance, etc. etc. tires
  
• change serpentine belt

All this costs a quite hefty $400-$500 depending on where you go.

Am I better off just changing the plugs myself, plopping in a new air filter and leaving it at that, or is there a good reason to pay this much money for the service?

Thanks,
Matt

 

[Chris 9-5]

I see your point Matt

The actual list is longer than that and includes a whole host of checks and adjustments, plus there is your service history to think about.

http://saab9-5.com/serv/66k.htm

Mine is so far out of warranty and has so many miles I try and do as much as I can myself.

 

[Mattlach]

Good to hear your opinon...

You say the list is much longer...

Do you know where Ic an find the entire list, so I know what I am missing out on if I decide not to do it?

 

[Guest]

Do you know where Ic an find the entire list, so I know what I am missing out on if I decide not to do it?

Chris linked it in his last post

http://saab9-5.com/serv/66k.htm

 

[XAAMOTTOMAAX]

Do as much yourself as possible (spark plugs and air filter to start) but you do want to have the fuel filter and serp belt replaced and having the suspension checked should be done too although I suspect things like this are often skipped over or half-donkeyed at the dealer or indy. Cabin air filter is subjective...do you have an allergy problem with pollen? This can be skipped with little or no consequence. Tire balance and rotation is on its own schedule. If they need it, do it kinda thing.

I think they charge .75 hrs labor for the plugs and .5 for the air filter. At a modest $75/hr that's almost $100 for simple simple labor you could easily do yourself. The other stuff is not so simple so it is probably best to break it up into individual jobs.

 

[Raven18940]

I think they charge .75 hrs labor for the plugs and .5 for the air filter.

45 minutes to change the plugs? Are they charging you for the coffee break they take half through as well? :lol:

 

[XAAMOTTOMAAX]

LOL. Dealers are also notorious for blaming everything on the DI. My car was out of gas but the gas guage was showing up as 1/4 tank. So it died and I had it towed up to the dealer and they were like, we can't find the problem, it must be the DI. I explained to them it is absolutely not the DI and by no means do I authorize any sort of DI repair (aftermarket software has voided the DI portion of my warranty) :nono; . They finally figured out what it was and fixed it under warranty. :roll:

 

[Mattlach]

Chris linked it in his last post

http://saab9-5.com/serv/66k.htm

doh! :lol:

 

[jas2wa]

growing increasingly frustrated, 60k service notwithstanding...

Just had my 60k service done by my indy tech- 460 bucks. Is it worth it? Well, when I tally up the number of issues I am having with my 00 2.3lpt, I begin to wonder myself...

Bought it about 8 months ago with 45k on it, just did the 60k service, and planned on keeping it a long while, but since the 60k service, it doesn't like to start in the morning until it has been cranked nearly to death, along with the following "quirks:"

* blue smoke at start up (just saw this cloud this a.m. when my partner fired it up, thought it was only doing this warm, after sitting a few hours- turbo seals I guess)
* crashing gear reverse engagement unless 1st is selected, then R
* both front windows have fallen into the doors
* sunroof can't be opened b/c plastic piece on air deflector needs replacement
* broken hinge on rear center armrest
* feeling of good cheer I get from the recently-arrived 8-year engine sludge warranty- too bad this doesn't cover the leaky turbo)


The car has all of the service records from day one. I love the car, but am truly becoming somewhat disillusioned by how many quirks and defects I must put up with on the newest, lowest mileage car I have ever owned. I want to love it unconditionally, but the car is starting to make me crazy!

Any thoughts? Better yet, words of encouragement?! I will stick it out for awhile, but do hope that at some point my service bills will not keep exceeding my monthly payments...

Thanks,

JAS

 

[Raven18940]

* crashing gear reverse engagement unless 1st is selected, then R

Dude, that's your clutch still spinning. Wait a few more seconds before you go for reverse.

Words of encouragement.....ummmmm......could be worse, it could be American. :lol:

 

[jas2wa]

Yeah, it could be a Buick, eh?

Naw, if the car sits idling in neutral for any more than a few seconds, trying for R from N equals crashing gears. By chance, I have discovered that going from N to first allows me to then get R w/o and crashing. I think it's a synchro issue, not the clutch still spinning-

 

[Kermit]

Gearbox linkage could need adjusting. Did'nt you get 'em to look at it, along with the starting problem while it was in for a service? :roll:

 

[Raven18940]

Yeah, it could be a Buick, eh?

Naw, if the car sits idling in neutral for any more than a few seconds, trying for R from N equals crashing gears. By chance, I have discovered that going from N to first allows me to then get R w/o and crashing. I think it's a synchro issue, not the clutch still spinning-

I don't think reverse is synchrozined, that why I said the clutch was still spinning. By grabbing first you use that synchro to bring everything to a stop. My car does the same thing, the clutch in these cars seem unusually heavy.

 

[Thedriver]

My question is quite simple...

Is it worth it?

they say they do the following:

• Change all fluids (do they really mean all?)
• Change spark plugs
• interior and exterior air filters
• fuel filter
• check and lubricate suspension
• rotate, balance, etc. etc. tires
• change serpentine belt

All this costs a quite hefty $400-$500 depending on where you go.

Am I better off just changing the plugs myself, plopping in a new air filter and leaving it at that, or is there a good reason to pay this much money for the service?

Thanks,
Matt

I decided to do all my own servicing as per the service list , and i keep records of all work that i do on my car with receipts for parts. This way im sure its done the way i want it.

The 60000 mile is pretty striaght forward, i did not have to do the serpentine, as it had been just done on the previous dealer service on mine at the request of the previous owner.

Lubricating the Suspension ? this is a new one to me , whats involved ?

 

[Raven18940]

Lubricating the Suspension ? this is a new one to me , whats involved ?

Actually that's an old one. Many many years ago all the joints on a car had to be greased. They did away with these designs and used completely sealed joints for quite some time, but it still ends up in the service manual. There may be one or two things to grease on a 9-5, but not much if anything.