119,596 mile service

drove back to CO for mother's day ... even though i'm 400 miles early on the change, i wanted to get it done before i drove back to LV.

oil change now.  bought an air filter yesterday.

unfortunately t i'm having trouble finding make-up filters in stock at auto parts stores and the dealer -- which means i may have to hoard a few when i finally DO run across them.

a recent service means i don't have to have to change the plugs and wires now.

bought a four-service oil change package for $70, that makes 'em $17.50 apiece which is a good deal.

new dealer for this car, valley chrysler dodge, inc. in boulder.  they were fine.

(new tires coming ... i keep getting tire recommendations on my services ... the one thing i've learned over the years is you want to buy all your tires from costco ... cheaper, better warranty, and follow-up services are free.)

$83 for oil change package and filter.

117,700 new tail light

the other day as a valet was pulling out my car (gotta love vegas), i noticed i had a tail light out.  not a big deal (and certainly not the first time it happened).

but what's weird was when i did the replacement ... i was curious if the filament would actually be broken, or if the bulb had merely shook loose from its mount ... but instead the entire bulb was shattered ... it looked very much like someone had took a swing at it with a hammer ... but the outside lens was completely and totally normal.

odd.

$7

102,200 miles -- new make-up filter

i wanted to change the make-up filter the last time i changed my air filter, but the auto parts store of that moment didn't have them.

just picked up one, and a spare just for the future ...

... and a funny thing happened, both the manager, and the guy who rang me up, asked what they were for and how they worked ... so at least i don't feel like a complete idiot when i had no idea what they were three years ago.

$6

74,800 air filter and make-up filter

this is supposed to be part of my 75,000 mile service, but the parts cost me 13 bucks and is so fast that i just did it in the parking lot of the auto parts store on my way home.  i'm guessing there's no way a dealer would do this for < $50.

$13

74,700 new brake light bulb

passenger side brake light burned out (but not the tail light ... noticed it when the valet returned my car the other day).  it's an interesting fix because the entire taillight cover is actually held in place by a single screw.  the swap is remarkably easy -- especially when compared to the hondas i've had.

first bulb of any kind to go.

$7

new spark plugs, wires and air filters

done at 59,000 miles.  saves over $300 in shop costs.

new PCV valve

$3.  putting that in along with the plugs, wires and air filters for my 60k service.  here just as a record

{dealerships charge $25 for this service ... you pull a little plastic tube out of the line, you put another one back in ... it's literally as hard as swapping a lego brick out of a stack.}

spark plugs and ignition cables

mopar by my brother's recommendation.  $74.  these'll go for my 60k tune-up ... entry here just for record keeping.

new wipers on

i was given an extra pair of wipers (as a coupon spiff) several oil changes ago and i put them on the continual car today.  noting it only for future reference.

... and a filter

missed one of the little check box-ies that said i need to get a new air filter at 45k.  went and installed it myself (which is right at my very limit of automotive mechanics) and learned about this crazy thing called the "make-up" filter -- essentially a little sponge that's sitting in the same box.

$15