Mazda Service

[mjdk]

First time posting,long time lurker.

So...Mazda Service.

This just happened to me this morning and was wondering if this is a nationwide Mazda way of doing business,or if it was just this dealer.

So took the car in for its 12000 service.

Got the usual text and video with things they have "found" that needs doing.Now,I do find these very helpful.

Please see the attached pic.

Now,let's not factor in the wheel alignment and cabin air filter quote...let's just focus on the "Fuel Induction Service".

I totally expect this was done as the car is registered to my wife and maybe they thought they should just take a chance here....

I approached the desk where the Service agent was very friendly.When I enquired whether or not the Fuel Induction service means they are taking the throttle body apart to clear deposits or just simply adding a $15 fuel flush.

He very softly replied that it is the latter,but what they are using is much better quality of flush.....

Now,I don't know just how great this flush is they are using,but even if it was $60 a pop,they are charging over $130 to open a bottle and dump it in the tank......maybe,they have very soft hands and have bought a really expensive robot to open these bottles.

I then asked him how bad the fuel in this area is that it requires to be done on 12000 miles.

He then replied in a even softer tone,that it is only recommended at 30000,but since the car will not be back before then,it s good to be pro active.

I then had to point out his obvious math flaws....

At this point he was just very happy to get me away from the desk as other customers would have been hearing this conversation.

So,what do you think?

Was I right in questioning this?Or should I just pay and shut up?

Thanks

 

[GFrosty]

No idea if it's nationwide, but I would assume that if one shop is capable then any shop is.

Caveat emptor. Absolutely.

The $100 tab for swapping-in a cabin air filter is laughable. It's a ~$15-20 part, and takes less than 60 seconds to accomplish.

Then there's the silliness with the local gas "requiring" a fuel-tank additive, but that the Mazda "recommended" mileage is at 30Kmi. So they're officially going on the record as recommending sub-par service, if their knowledge of local gas quality and its effects are known. The language of the scammer, right there.

I'd find an honorable shop. One without cheats. Even if that means a good-quality independent with a very long track record for honest dealing and stellar technical competence.

 

[wlong01]

It's not nationwide as far as I know. It's just the individual dealer trying to add to their bottom line. I've had both my CX-5's into the dealer for all service for the last 10 years and never once did they try to sell me anything that I did not ask for.

 

[ADS-B]

Don't pay. Say no to cabin air filter, engine air filter and other crap like these. It's so easy and cheap to replace those things yourself. Even spark plugs replacement it's a DIY kind of job. And pardon me for asking, but what kind of BS is this: alignment at 12.000 miles? They are really pushing it. Oh, and another advise, this one from my personal experience: if you think you need some heavier maintenance done to your car, let's say, you need to replace a part, a component... buy the part from them separately and then go to them and ask them to install it for you. That way they only charge you for the labour cost, can't over charge you for the part.

 

[mjdk]

Don't pay. Say no to cabin air filter, engine air filter and other crap like these. It's so easy and cheap to replace those things yourself. Even spark plugs replacement it's a DIY kind of job. And pardon me for asking, but what kind of BS is this: alignment at 12.000 miles? They are really pushing it. Oh, and another advise, this one from my personal experience: if you think you need some heavier maintenance done to your car, let's say, you need to replace a part, a component... buy the part from them separately and then go to them and ask them to install it for you. That way they only charge you for the labour cost, can't over charge you for the part.

I said no to everything.

Simply put,the Fuel Flush was a joke.....wheel alignment....well,I would know if I had uneven wear or if the car was pulling to a side.Luckily the wife is not a curb hopper.And that cabin filter,not even close to being dirty to the point I would feel to replace it.Dirtier,then a new one,sure,but only very slightly.

They are not the only ones though,but I think this is the first time a dealer went this far on a car this new.

Unfortunately,a lot of people these days don't have much knowledge about their vehicles and just tells them to go ahead.

I believe it all went wrong,when the manuals that came with the cars switched from 'how to adjust the carburetor'......to ,'don't swallow your safety belt buckle"....


But that's just my opinion.

 

[HyFlyer]

They don't call 'em Stealer-ships for nuttin' haha.

I'd say it not only varies from dealer to dealer but even within the same dealer depending on the ebb and flow of their ever changing management personnel. Some managers try real hard to drive profit up.

 

[Frankiestoy]

Best to be really cautious at dealerships , know what your car needs before even going in . With such low mileage on your car it doesn’t need anything but an oil change and some gas lol

 

[youri]

I have had a dealership do the same in Canada. The reality is that there is no injector cleaning required or recommended at all by Mazda. That is only the dealership pushing high profit jobs to the customer. There are two mazda dealers in my town, when the first one pulled this trick on me I changed dealer, i came back years later when I became unhappy with the other dealer and they were refusing warranty work. The staff has changed at the first dealer since and they are now good to work with, and don’t push this stuff on me anymore.

The truth is that the only required work is what is in the scheduled maintenance in the manual. There are other things you can add to it to help the vehicle last longer (like transmission flush and brake fluid flush), but those injector cleaners services are totally unnecessary.

 

[RedBaron]

The reality is that there is no injector cleaning required or recommended at all by Mazda.

^THIS! Neither is any oil additive recommended by Mazda, so don't let them sell you that either!

My dealer is pretty good and doesn't try to push those, but they do quote the $100+ cost for changing cabin/engine filters. I find it very funny, since they send the tech's videos, where s/he's pulled out the filters and shown how dirty they are (or not), so they've already done the work as part of the oil change, yet still want to charge $$$ for doing it again? Sigh.

 

[wlong01]

^THIS! Neither is any oil additive recommended by Mazda, so don't let them sell you that either!

My dealer is pretty good and doesn't try to push those, but they do quote the $100+ cost for changing cabin/engine filters. I find it very funny, since they send the tech's videos, where s/he's pulled out the filters and shown how dirty they are (or not), so they've already done the work as part of the oil change, yet still want to charge $$$ for doing it again? Sigh.

That and engine filters are big rip-offs. Although trying to open the glove box to replace the cabin air filter is not that easy. If you're not careful when you tilt the glove box down the whole thing will fall off. Happened to me a couple weeks ago.

 

[RokkuAni]

So 12k? Cabin filter, I got 100% faith you can do it. If you are worry about warrenty issue, but it from dealership. Even better, record and upload to YouTube (keep it private). It would auto date it

Aligmant, if your car had no issue.. Why do it? You know if you need it.. Car would go left or right... Not straight. Better yet, chains like Tire Plus / Firestone etc have lifetime for & 150-230.

If car is only 12k, zero need for "fuel injection". It also isn't in the service manual. Doing things that isn't recommended, sure way to have void warrenty. Dealer won't admit it's their fault.

You are better off using money on paying for Top Teir gas. Forgot the % but I think Shell, BP, then Chevron offer highest % of cleaning agent.

Also save money and mind as well do spark plugs yours.... Ever 30 or 40k I think. Harbor Freight offer a free torque wrench few times a year. Only $10 if you need to buy it. $5 for spark plug removal tool. $5 for extender. $11-15 per plug. You "can" wrench to remove it, since it isn't that highly torque down.

I own cx 5 2014 @170k and cx 9 2016 at 117k