Brake Fluid at annual service.

Don't know.

It's generally recommended to change the brake fluid once every 2 years. It's not the mileage that's significant but the time. Brake fluid absorbs water from the air and if you leave it, then

1. you may get boiling within the brake pistons if they get hot under heavy braking and
2. parts of the system may rust internally, notably the master cylinder and brake cylinders. Then the seals will go and they'll leak.

Rob Graham>

Thanks for the info.

Also sprach "Centurion" :-

General recommendation is to change brake fluid every two years - so this is about right. Very few places actually bother.

As for £25 - it's more than I'd pay to do it...

I paid £52 for it at a main dealer. Not a Vauxhall though. Had to, to maintain the warranty.

Hope this helps

Richard

What was the service deal actually for? Brake fluid is a standard service item AFAIK. £25 sounds about right to me for a main dealer, £40-£60 p.h. is not uncommon for labour.

My main dealer is £90 hour hence the £52 for a brake fluid change. £45 for half hour labour and £7 for the fluid.

I used an independent for the cambelt service !!!

Richard

Sounds reasonable to me. Be thankful you don't have a BMW or BMW dealer prices @115 quid an hour labour. They'd charge that for topping it up.

Most recommend a change every 2 years regardless of use - it absorbs moisture from the air. I'd love to see some figures of actual practical use, though. I'm willing to bet most cars fluid is still well within spec after two years of normal use.

Thanks everyone, I'm now over the intial shock :-) Having checked the prepaid service agreement, brake, bulbs wiper blades etc were not include hence the charge for fluid.

Suppose it isn't that bad really.

Brake Fluid £ 2.12 Labour £19.16 VAT £ 3.72 -------- Total £25.00 --------

DIY replacement of brake fluid is simplicity itself - and with inexpensive 'one-way valve' bleeding kits available - you don't even need two people to do it.

Kev

The Gunson 'Easibleed' or whatever that uses air from the spare wheel to push the new fluid through is even easier still - although you have to follow the instructions and use with care to avoid covering everything in brake fluid. But it certainly gets round any airlock problems you get on some cars

Brake fluid changes and Cambelt changes aren't done as a matter of course with most marques. You'll be informed it is due then decide whether to do it or not.

£25 doesn't sound like a bad price if it includes the fluid and you can't do it yourself. I've just bought myself a cheapo one-way valve kit so that I can change the fluid on mine tomorrow and I'll do the clutch fluid too. I don't think there's any problem with my braking system but as the car has an unknown past (I only bought it a fortnight ago) I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Darren

Apparently car manufacturers cannot insist that you have to get a car serviced at a main dealer any more. As long as the service schedules are stuck to and receipts are kept for everything, you can get your car serviced anywhere and still keep the warranty intact.

This was changed in May this year for all new cars, but I don't know if it's retrospective.

The full report's here....

Also sprach "Richard Goulding" :-

Oh no you don't. You are definitely NOT require to have your car serviced at a dealer to maintain the warranty. That scam was closed down a while ago.

It was an approved used warranty not a new car warranty which I believe is different.

Richard

Yes it is. The used car warranties are a contract, you have to meet certain conditions to maintain the warrranty, and servicing is one of them.

BTW, did you know that you could invalidate your insurance if you don't service a car properly as well?

wrote

I hear all sorts of stories regarding insurance being invalidate for the most ridiculous reasons.

I suspect you invalidate your insurance these days by farting in the wrong direction.

Richard

christ, wish i got paid £90/hr. Or even half that....

news: snipped-for-privacy@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...

No, but I suspect it's the difference between passing and failing your driving test.