To Hyundai tech

I'm going to go through these one at a time and give you my thoughts. None of the work needs to be done at the dealer.

1. Transmission flush. If you read your owner's manual, you'll see that a fluid inspection is required and that replacing the fluid is necessary only if the inspection indicates. The fluid usually has a fruity smell. If your fluid has that smell and isn't absolutely opaque, then it's probably okay to leave it. My personal opinion, however, is that it's good to change the transmission fluid every 30,000 miles. In your case, if it looks good, I wouldn't do a flush. I'd just do a drain and refill. Remove the 24mm drain plug from the transmission, let the fluid drain out, reinstall, and add 5 quarts fluid to replace what drained out. Be sure to use only SPIII fluid. This is VERY important. You should be able to find SPIII fluid at Hyundai, Kia, and Mitsubishi dealers.

1. Air filter. This should be done every 30k. There's no reason a good aftermarket filter isn't sufficient.

2. Coolant flush. If you look at your owner's manual, coolant replacement is recommended every 2 years/30k miles. By replacement, they mean drain and fill, not flush. Again, this should be fine if your coolant is in good condition. Personally, I don't see where mileage affects coolant condition, so I base this service off of time only. In my personal vehicle, I like to do it every year, but I see no reason why once every 2 years isn't sufficient. Run-of-the-mill aluminum-safe coolant is sufficient.

1. Fuel tune up. I'm not even sure what this is. That's a good indicator that you don't need it.

2. Four wheel alignment. I see little reason to do this as maintenance. Check your tires. If they're wearing evenly, chances are good you don't need an alignment. Excessive treadwear on the inside *or* outside edge of both front or both rear tires is an indicator that you need alignment. Excessive treadwear on inside *and* outside edges of the same tire is an indicator that your tire pressure is low.

1. Timing belt. I know this wasn't on their list, but the recommended interval is 4 years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first. Since rubber deteriorates over time as well as with flexing, you need to consider replacing the timing belt. While I doubt, based on my experience, that the timing belt will fail soon, you also don't want the cost of engine repairs because the timing belt failed due to not replacing it. The timing belt on this car is expensive to replace, but the expense pales in comparison to the engine repairs should it fail.

Last, I'd recommend looking at your warranty papers. If you have HPP (Hyundai Protection Plan), this is a very good warranty which, while not quite the same as the bumper-to-bumper factory warranty, covers most nonwearable items. If through a company other than Hyundai, you should be very interested in your warranty's exclusions. Dealers like to sell them as "bumper-to-bumper," but in many cases a significant number of things are excluded.

You've been very helpful. Thank you so much.

Mine is the bumper to bumper from Hyundai.

I am in their computer as having it, even though I had to call the company this week to get them to send me the papers. lol

Lady on the line was very apologetic to me. Said the papers shouls have been sent to me at least 2 1/2 years ago. How's that for service with a smile?

It just seems to me that the dealership is out to give the public a good reaming. Hyundai itseld has always seemed great to deal with.

That seems to be pretty typical. Dealers vary in their honesty, but Hyundai seems easy to deal with directly. If you think you're being scammed by your dealer on the "fuel tune-up" and the bogus claims of requirements for Hyundai-only parts, complain to Hyundai. Keep in mind that dealers can "recommend" using only factory parts, but they're not required in order to maintain the warranty. Any "factory equivalent" part or fluid is acceptable.

What type of car is this??

I just looked at my recommended maintanence for a 2006 GLS V6 and I do not see half these things

Emission Control Items Replace

- ENGINE OIL AND FILTER - AIR CLEANER FILTER - FUEL TANK AIR FILTER If necessary

- FUEL LINES, FUEL HOSES AND CONNECTIONS - VACUUM AND CRANKCASE VENTILATION HOSES - VAPOR HOSE AND FUEL FILLER CAP General Items Replace

If necessary

- DRIVE BELT (WATER PUMP, ALTERNATOR AND A/CON) - MANUAL TRANSXLE OIL - AUTOMATIC TRANSXLE FLUID - BRAKE FLUID - BRAKE HOSES AND LINE - REAR BRAKE DRUMS/LININGS, PARKING BRAKE - BRAKE PADS, CALIPERS AND ROTORS - EXHAUST PIPE AND MUFFLER - SUSPENSION MOUNTING BOLTS - STEERING GEAR BOX, LINKAGE AND BOOTS/LOWER ARM BALL JOINT - POWER STEERING PUMP, BELT AND HOSES - DRIVESHAFTS AND BOOTS - AIR CONDITIONING REFRIGERANT Note

- COOLANT: FOR THE FIRST TIME, REPLACE THE COOLANT AT 60,000 MILES (96,000 KM) OR 60 MONTHS, AFTER THAT, REPLACE IT EVEY 30,000 MILES (48,000) OR 24 MONTHS.

- AIR FILTER (For Evaporator and blower Unit): FOR EVERY 12 MONTHS OR

The car is a 2002 XG350. I am taking it in to the dealer for 30,000 mile service.

The dealership , Reliable Imports is claiming that all the following needs to be done in order to maintain the 100,000 mile Hyundai bumper to bumper warranty to remain in effect.

oil and filter (must be Hyundai filter and says mobil one oil filters are not acceptable)

Transmission flush and fill (only Hyundai transmission fluid is acceptable according to dealership). fuel tune up $125.00 (must be done by dealer.) air filter. $39.95 by dealer and Hyundai brand only again at $25.50 and $14.00 to install it. I changed it myself in 3.5 minutes. I wished that when i worked for a living i could have gotten over $200.00 an hour for my labor which this inflated cost translates to.

Cooling flush and replacement. $110.00+ anti-freeze (no other anti freeze is acceptable except Hyundai brand at $22.50 a gallon. Radiator shops do it for $50.00 including anti freeze

all 4 wheels alligned $90.00(tire shops do it for $45.00 complete

Rotate tires and balance $75.00. Tire shops do it for $30.00.

Damned near $800.00 worth of parts and labor.

WOW!!! That definitely sounds like they are trying to pad thier bottom line. As you can see the new 2006 Sonata does not require a whole lot at