60K servicing for Toyota Corolla

Depends heavily on the dealership, and on the independent mechanic, as far as where to take it.. I am immediately suspicious of dealerships. They have, in my experience, been very poor in terms of quality and price. Some independents are thieves too. But some are excellent mechanics.

If I can find a competent and honest independent, that is where I go.

Your owners manual should have a service schedule in it. If not, either ask a competent garage, or buy yourself a decent service manual.

In my experience, the problem with dealers is threefold:

1) Their insistence on using new replacement parts instead of trying to fettle old ones into a working condition, and 2) their shop rates are generally higher, and 3) being used to servicing newer vehicles, they're not used to the problems older and higher mileage cars tend to develop.

The disadvantages of independent shops is primarily that their "techs" may have little to no training, and tend to bodge jobs as a result.

My experience is a little different.

Whether the dealership mechanics are better trained is not always evident. They seem to be more prone toward pushing the flat rate and they often do not complete the jobs satisfactorily.

Shop rates may be higher at a dealership, or not. Getting the job done correctly, the first time, can make the shop rate a moot point.

Dealership parts often carry much higher markups than equal or better quality aftermarket parts. But this doesn't mean that they are better.

In one case, I checked dealership parts (strut cartridges) for one of my cars... Over $130 each. The same part was available at NAPA for 25% of the cost. (Same OEM supplier also made the NAPA part)

Depends on your area. If it's a place with several Japanese car specialists, then an independent with recommendations can be a good choice. If you're out where only the dealer is a decent choice, you could be stuck.

Regardless of what they mark on the list, I would recommend that you have the transmission fluid (auto or manual) and brake fluid changed as preventative maintenance. A good many manufacturers say these are "lifetime" fluids, but I feel changing them is a good idea. Brake fluid inherently absorbs moisture, which affects braking performance. A manual transmission is typically filterless, while an auto transmission could use periodic filter changes (almost all auto trannies change less than 50% of exisiting fluid by design).

I've noticed that Toyota and GM don't specify brake fluid changes.

Ajay Joshi wrote: : Hi,

: I have a Toyota Corolla 2002. What all servicing do I need to do at 60K? : Also, is it better to get it done at a dealer or go to a normal car : mechanic?

: Thanks, : Ajay

Most of the services like this are a way to extract money from the car's owner.

FWIW, I have a 2001 Solara. The only thing I needed to do to keep the remaining warranty in effect was to have the spark plugs changed out. Because mine was a transverse mount V-6, I paid someone to do it. The other things are mostly inspections and fluid changes. Something you can have done nearly anywhere or do yourself.

You'll likely end up getting a $600.00 oil change/radiator fluid change/transmission oil change with new spark plugs.

A scam.

== there is probably no doubt about it, a dealership service dept. would probably be better, cost more, but likely to be more thorough.

a good well-run independent repair shop that specializes in toyota repairs should be the next choice.

ask for any recall service notations. and refer to the ower's manual for service needed at this and on prior mileage points.

plus make known to the service writer - any needed repairs that you are aware of, and/or service you'd like to have performed at this time.

a regular mechanical tune-up could save on gasoline usage tremendously including all needed filter changes.

one bad spark plug can increase gasoline usage by 15%, and under inflated tires 3% - plus additional tire wear.

and by replacing the spark plugs and spark plug wires with those like the original ones - is a bonus to performance.

a radiator flush and refill with the proper coolant, can add to the car's performance.

grease / oil all the recommended places periodically.

having the car "detailed" both inside and out side by professionals - increases the looks / protection of the vehicle.

have the ac system and x-mission checked and serviced - if needed.

wasn't it published recently that to operate a car on a yearly basis,

15,000 miles, the normal / average cost was $7500.00?

mho vfe