78,883 mile service

in the bay area and needed an oil change so i printed a coupon off the chrysler web site.  tried first to go to stevens creek chrysler, but they never returned my call (during business hours, no less), so i went to normandin.

turns out i didn't need the coupon.  my oil change package still had one left and they honored that ... the coupons are good throughout the chrysler dealerships, not just at prestige.

as the tech was writing up my car, we got into a funny conversation ...

"have you ever been here before?"

"no.  this is probably the only bay area dealer i've never been to.  i moved to vegas, so i get most my work done out there now.  i've seen a lot of dealers, but it's been strange."  i knew i shouldn't have uttered that last word as i said it.

"strange?"

"yeah.  like chapman told me my car needed brake fluid and transmission fluid at 35,000 miles.  which, it didn't.  that prompted a letter to the CEO of chrysler.  they're just fraudulent."

if you say this to a service tech what they'll hear is. yeah.   like chapman told me my car needed brake fluid and transmission fluid.  the rest is something akin to a dial tone if it were made up entirely of the sound of cash registers opening.

i'm looking at the tech's computer screen.  he starts opening the service manual for my car.  this, my little money grubbing friend, will be a mistake.  i'm probably the only person you've ever met or known that can recite the PT cruiser owner manual rote.

"would you say your car is schedule A or schedule B?"

"i say schedule B because that way there will never be a question as to whether or not i'm changing my oil frequently enough."

he spins the monitor around.  "there!  you need a transmission fluid change at 60,000 miles."

i don't even look at the screen.  "look at the footnote.  my car's not a taxi."

long long pause.  "what!  they expect the fluid to last forever?"

i say nothing.  it doesn't matter what they think, only what they say.  and they say -in writing- i don't have to change it.

one hour passes and i get my car back after watching japanese TV (my choice) in the waiting room.

when i get back my car, my $0.00 receipt says:

SUGGEST TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSH AND FILTER AS PREV MAINT DUE TO AGE/TIME - MILES $199 + $150.00
SUGGEST FUEL INJECTION/DECARB SERVICE TO CLEAN ANY CARBON THAT BUILDS UP INSIDE THE THROTTLE BODY AND COMBUSTION CHAMBER
NO SVC RECORDS ...
$185.00

what they don't say is neither of these are described as necessary in the owner's manual.  don't take my word for it ... read my service contract ... "Your responsibility is to properly operate, care for and maintain the vehicle as prescribed in the owner's manual supplied by the manufacturer."

go me.