Car got a check up; there are some issues

[TheV6Bird]

On Saturday, the local Pontiac dealer was having a free inspection clinic. I went to that (made an appointment weeks before), ate doughnuts in the dealership room, looked at how ugly the Aztek is, and recieved my inspection paper.

The paper saids that my engine leaks oil, trans fluid is dirty, and trans fluid leaks. I had a feeling something was up, seeing as there are some oil spots where I park my car. They also reccommended that my rear drums get serviced, to get a fuel system flush, and get my trans serviced. He said the rear brakes need to be "reset".

The car was serviced when it had 82,600 on it. It now has 96,600 on it. I am low on money. Is there anything I can do myself? I change my own oil, so I wonder if I didn't tighten the plug tight enough, or put the oil filter on tight enough. Maybe I can do the brakes by myself? I personally think the fuel flush is [img]graemlins/bs.gif[/img]

[Only4U]

trans fluid is pretty easy to change yourself. the leak probably isn't so easy to fix. you should ask from now on WHERE the leaks are, that way it gives you and idea where to look and find out how easily it could be fixed by yourself and also to see if there is a problem. however, our cars are quite notorious for oil leaks, so it's not really an issue, but would get it fixed if i were you. of course, this summer i had a trans leak and it was fixed for $75 at the dealership. as far as the drums being serviced, i have one question--are you having trouble braking? if not, then why even try to get it "serviced" or whatnot? unless you are having problems with it, then i wouldn't worry.

[pvtschultz]

I had the unfortunate experience working in the service center for a dealership. That drum break service....take your wheels off, beat the **** out of your drum until it frees up, and with a flat screwdriver tighten the brakes so that when the drum is on, there is a little contact. OR, pull on your parking brake a couple dozen times and that will get the brakes closer. Then for a while, everytime you park, put the E-brake on. The brake service is a huge scam. Oh yeah, spray the pads and everything else with brake cleaner too. You should change your trans fluid ofter, I change mine once a year, cheaper than a tranny. Fuel system, dump some injector cleaner and gasline antifreeze, change the filter. Dealerships love the big sales, and at $80-$100 an hour, it adds up. If your rear main seal hasn't been replaced, it probably needs to be, that is a 3.8 flaw, at least through '98. Can't think of anything else right now.

[TheV6Bird]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by pvtschultz:
If your rear main seal hasn't been replaced, it probably needs to be, that is a 3.8 flaw, at least through '98.<hr></blockquote>Some of us 95 guys aren't fortunate enought to have the 3.8
:( [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Thanks for the insight on brake service. I usually put fuel injector cleaner in every 2 oil changes. I am sure I can change my own trans fluid BUT aren't trans flushes better, as the get ALL of the fluid out instead of just half of it?

In responce to the first question: I think my brakes are fine, actually. I was a little puzzled when he told me about the drum service, thinking it was possible [img]graemlins/bs.gif[/img]

[99Camaro]

a tranny flush is better than trying to change it yourself. just draining and filling a tranny is pointless because all of the fluid is still in the torque convertor. getting it flushed with get all that crap out of there and it will run a lot better...trust me i do mine every 10k miles at work

[LimitedE]

Don't get had like me. I took mine to the dealer to get a tune-up and tranny service.........$1150 later I was pissed! :mad:

[99Camaro]

dont take it to the dealer. I know jiffy lube is a thing of the devil but they can flush a tranny for about 85-100 bucks. I work at one here where i go to school and it is a very simple HARD to mess up process...

[Ted]

All you have to do for a tranny flush is jack all 4 sides of the car up, drop the tranny pan, replace the filter torque the pan back up and fill it back up. I think it's something you can do at home if you have some good tools and some jacks, it isn't hard, and get a friend to help you. That'll save you 100bucks. Does the drum brake service include new pads? If not what are they even going to do? LOL Drums are such a ***** to get off, I spent 4 hours just getting mine off and the pads didn't really even need changing, and they were the original pads and i had a 96. I wouldn't worry about them. FOr the fuel system, throw some injector cleaner in there like you do already and maybee replace the fuel filter. Thats something else you can do at home. Make sure to pull your fuel pump fuse out and try to start the car for a while, that'll pump the fuel out of the system so when you take it off it won't spill out. You should be good then, just some regular routine things you can do. No biggie, don't kill yourself if you don't have the money.

Word of advice... DOn't fix anything unless you have to.

I learned that the hard way, and i had to learn it again today.

[apiccola]

Berryman has a retail fuel system cleaner package with an applicator that hooks up to a manifold vacuum source. It costs about $12.00 at O'Reily's. It's the same process that the lube centers try to charge $60 for.

[Cruzin]

Acually the stuff that is sold at like O'Rilleys is not a fuel system cleaner. It cleans the combustion chamber. If it uses vacume it will never get run through the injectors, the parts that really need it most. That is why you have to go to the dealer or a quick lube place.

[TheV6Bird]

Thanks for all the responces, guys [img]smile.gif[/img]

I am going to do the tranny FLUSH when I get some time.

The drums? I brake fine with them now. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. So I won't. And I don't recall them saying anything about a pad change.

Fuel system? [img]graemlins/bs.gif[/img] I always put FI cleaner in every 3 oil changes. I think I know why they have a suspicion though: My BMR STB hits the TB lines on top of the manifold ever so slightly, causing a very minimal rough idle with it there (yes, I have taken it off to be sure its the STB, and it is). I think they thought that my car was idling rougher than normal because of dirt in the fuel system.

Oil leaks? I'll get under the car when I get some time and look around for them, and I will keep an eye on my dipstick. So far, it reads FULL.

Thanks for the help, everyone! [img]graemlins/burnout.gif[/img]

[TheFireChicken]

I refuse to allow dealership mechanics to work on my car AT ALL unless I watch them do the work. Ive had several hundred dollars in damage done to my blue bird by them already. Stupid morons.