Hi Scotty
Just had my maintenance detailed bill now. One day I was driving on the road and felt there were sudden small stops, the engine was losing power, and there was white smoke coming out from the undercarriage and smelt like rotten egg. I pulled over immediately by the roadside and look from under, looked like the parts of the front right oxygen sensor and catalytic tube area. Besides, there was coolant leakage, also sprayed on the drive belt. I let my car towed to the Infiniti Dealer because I was very close to it, though I had never been serviced in a dealer shop. I did make a couple of calls to other small auto shops, either they are full in wait line or saying they can't handle a situation like that, but I was just thinking they just don't want bothering ordering the OEM parts. After 3 days I got my Maintenance Details here:
Description Price
HEATER CORE HOSES 662
HEATER CORE HOSE COUPLER 0
HEATER CORE HOSE CLAMPS 38
THERMOSTAT ASSEMBLY 478
COOLANT FLUSH 2010 AND NEWER GREEN COOLANT 240
RADIATOR PRESSURE CAP 37
ENGINE FLUSH 534
HOOD STAYS/SHOCKS 237
PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE, REPLACE DRIVE BELTS 220
COMPLETE INDUCTION SERVICE 294
AIR FILTER REPLACEMENT 94
REPLACE CABIN FILTER 107
Transmission Fluid (Automatic) - Flush 357
REPLACE FRONT DIFF/TRANSFER CASE FLUID AND REAR
DIFFERENTIAL FLUID 321
POWER STEERING FLUSH 216
BATTERY SERVICE 116
Subtotal: $3957
I would never expect a bill like 4K, my guess would be like 2K... I know the parts are all fancy and luxurious to get, but I am just a worker earning 4K for a full month. So I am trying to lower the bill, and tell the mechanics that I need to get this car going right now, then I can make cash again, and come back next month for other maintenance services, like changing all the fluid and air filters and battery services. And I am also concerned about coolant flush and engine flush and carbon induction service, not to mention, this is the only vehicle that I have to go for work so I can't risk the engine blowing.
Back and forth, the Infiniti mechanic insists on doing these services right away, because otherwise "it doesn't make sense for a fix of your car", and the engine flush "is not dangerous from ethical speaking" . The diagnosis on the car shows "the radiator is clogged, the core temperature reached 300 degrees, radiator pressure cap is broken. Drive belt must be changed because coolant sprayed on it." And he insists the engine flush and induction service is a MUST.
So these are the must-dos, advised by the dealer:
- HEATER CORE HOSES 662(what kind of magic hoses are worth 6 hundred?)
- HEATER CORE HOSE COUPLER 0
- HEATER CORE HOSE CLAMPS 38
- THERMOSTAT ASSEMBLY 478(way too expensive...)
- COOLANT FLUSH 2010 AND NEWER GREEN COOLANT 240
- RADIATOR PRESSURE CAP 37(only reasonably priced item)
- ENGINE FLUSH 534 (very reluctant to do)
- Transmission Fluid (Automatic) - Flush 357
- PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE, REPLACE DRIVE BELTS 220
- COMPLETE INDUCTION SERVICE 294
Subtotal: ~$2500
These can be postponed:
HOOD STAYS/SHOCKS 237 (I don't need a new shock)
AIR FILTER REPLACEMENT 94 (I changed by myself)
REPLACE CABIN FILTER 107 (Changed by myself, I mentioned to them "I did this by myself last month" then he said "don't worry about it, maybe mechanics didn't notice that")
REPLACE FRONT DIFF/TRANSFER CASE FLUID AND REAR
DIFFERENTIAL FLUID 321(Later)
POWER STEERING FLUSH 216(Later)
BATTERY SERVICE 116(what's wrong with my battery?)
This will bring my 4K bill down to 2.5K, but I'm still desperate for help. Looking for another auto shop seems also difficult because Infiniti parts are expensive and after-market parts are usually hard to work functionally and ideally on Infiniti. Any helpful thoughts?
If the radiator really got that hot better hope you didn't blow head gaskets.
The dealer is, practically by definition, ripping you off. Engine flush? They'll probably just run some Rislone through it. Transmission flush? Goodbye transmission. Nearly $500 to replace a thermostat? $38 for hose clamps? (Are they gold-plated?) Induction service means spraying some $5 AMM cleaner and a can of Gumout in the gas tank.
If the head gaskets are OK any decent mechanic should be able to flush out the cooling system, replace the radiator if it really is badly clogged, and replace the fan belt for a lot less money and get the thing running again. I know you said you were having trouble finding a mechanic but you really need to get the car out of that stealership if you value your wallet.
Those clamps, they can get awful ritzy at dealers!
I paid $4/4 at autozone & felt ripped off.
You buy the parts & I'll do it for half if you're in ct.
I am not surprised at all. This is why they are called "Stealerships." Radiator caps cost about $12.00, hood shocks, $25.00, cabin filter, $20.00, thermostats are about $12.00. Things to forget - transmission flush, engine flush, coolant flush. What exactly is the "Battery Service?" Do they look at the battery and charge you $116.00? The heater core hoses are expensive because of the labor involved in getting to them but nowhere near $662.00. Tell the dealer to pound sand and find an independent mechanic who won't rip you off.
Adding insult to injury they will probably botch the job.
Sad but true.
Or, they'll come back and say "Sorry we discovered you have blown head gaskets, it's going to cost another $6000 to repair" - after having botched and run up the bill on the initial job.
A lot of that is maintenance. I’d say hold off for now on the diff service and trans service and filters if they’re not that bad. Unless the heater core hoses are swollen or leaking leave them alone. I’d say do the radiator and flush the cooling system and the drive belt. Pas experience once coolant gets on a belt the squeal will never go away
Thanks to you all guys. One more thought:
I changed part of the coolant last week, just used a fluid pump, sucked out all fluid in the reservoir only, and filled it with new coolant. I do this process 3-5 times as a full coolant change.
I am still thinking about the reason that made the cooling system fail. It never happened before. Maybe overfill of the coolant caused vapor bubbles? and gradually clogged the hoses? This is odd to me...
coolant in the reservoir is barely turned over. This is a bad method.
You should at least drain the radiator by removing the lower hose.