Preventative maintenance?

[SilverBullet]

A couple of weekends from now I'll be renting a car, and it's from the same stealership where I bought my 2001 Explorer. I bought it just over a year ago, and it had like 26,000 miles on it. Now it's got around 45,000 miles.

While I have the rental (my Explorer will be sitting on their lot anyway), should I go ahead and have any sort of routine maintenance done? If so, what should I have them do or look at?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[96limitedX]

flush evvvvvvvverything? i did it about a month ago. thats what i'd do.

 

[aldive]

Why not do it yourself and save big bucks?

 

[SilverBullet]

Why not do it yourself and save big bucks?

Well, several reasons...

1.) I don't know my way around an Explorer yet.
2.) Don't really have the place to do the work (common parking area in townhouse development)
3.) My free time (weekends) is devoured by house work, trying to get our house on the market ASAP

I'd love to do it myself, just cause I'm that kind of guy and I hate the idea of someone else working on my cars. But, sometimes it's just not possible.

 

[JohnnyO]

At 45k I'd have the tranny and coolant flushed, air and fuel filters, and change the oil of course. Assuming it's a 4x4 I'd also get the transfer case fluid changed, the book doesn't call for it until 60k but trust me it will be dirty.
Balance and rotate the tires wouldn't hurt, and a front end alignment if it's never been done and/or the tires are wearing funny.

 

[trucku]

Well, several reasons...

1.) I don't know my way around an Explorer yet.
2.) Don't really have the place to do the work (common parking area in townhouse development)
3.) My free time (weekends) is devoured by house work, trying to get our house on the market ASAP

I'd love to do it myself, just cause I'm that kind of guy and I hate the idea of someone else working on my cars. But, sometimes it's just not possible.

I hear you on the the no having time thing. And as for space..lol i understand. I live in city. I do all my wrenching in the street in front of my apartment.lol
The dealer is gonna charge you a arm and a leg for a half ass job. And since your not there watching them for all you know they did a drain and refill. Radiators need to be baclflushed and thermostat changed. Brake fluid should be flushed with clean fluid through all wheels. I don't trust Dealers. They want the money and your car outta there fast for the nex buck to roll in. The price you pay them to go to synthetics also will be a laugh. Make a littel time and do it yourself. first step is to buy a manual to know your way around your x. Thingsyou can't do like balancing a tire, you need to get done and with that might as well get a 4 wheel alighnment at same time or 2 wheel depends on the truck. Oh yeah change your serpentine belt. takes minutes if you do it yourself. Preventive maintenance is a big long list...LOL. from checking air in your tires to taking off calipers cleaning and regreasing sliders.
I think its best if you do it yourself. Take your time. Do one thing at a time and you will get to know your truck well.



Good Luck

 

[SilverBullet]

I hear you on the the no having time thing. And as for space..lol i understand. I live in city. I do all my wrenching in the street in front of my apartment.lol
The dealer is gonna charge you a arm and a leg for a half ass job. And since your not there watching them for all you know they did a drain and refill. Radiators need to be baclflushed and thermostat changed. Brake fluid should be flushed with clean fluid through all wheels. I don't trust Dealers. They want the money and your car outta there fast for the nex buck to roll in. The price you pay them to go to synthetics also will be a laugh. Make a littel time and do it yourself. first step is to buy a manual to know your way around your x. Thingsyou can't do like balancing a tire, you need to get done and with that might as well get a 4 wheel alighnment at same time or 2 wheel depends on the truck. Oh yeah change your serpentine belt. takes minutes if you do it yourself. Preventive maintenance is a big long list...LOL. from checking air in your tires to taking off calipers cleaning and regreasing sliders.
I think its best if you do it yourself. Take your time. Do one thing at a time and you will get to know your truck well.



Good Luck

You make some good points.. I guess I'll just have to hold off and try it myself. I was just hoping that I could drop it off and have it done, but you're right.. they'll probably charge me an arm and a leg, which I don't have to give.

What brand manual should I get??