Hm...my dealer only recommended that I had a 15k, 30k and every 30k after that. I had my power steering flushed during my recent 30k service. The dealer also recommends that I get a tire balance and alignment every 15k. My 30k service just ended up costing me $750 though. So...there better not be anything that goes wrong anytime soon!

 

the 30K service includes all the other services that are before it plus it included plugs, wires, etc. They get a lot done. Mine is coming up soon, I dont think Ill do the 30 k, but I may do my plugs and wires. Dont really have 750 bones anyways. Part of being a full time college student I guess.

 

A few thoughts for all on this topic as have been working on Mazda since before some that are posting were into buying cars
$750 for a 30k?? ouch. 30k at our shop would run you under $300. Power steering flush is not only not in the manual but is not needed on a Mazda. If you had a Ford F150 truck with a whinning steering system then ok but otherwise no.
Tire balance is a good idea every 15k especially if you feel some vibration in the car or steering wheel. Alignment check. Just a way to get extra bucks out of your pocket. Does the car pull to one way or another? Tires wearing abnormaly? Did ya crash into a curb or some other object on the road. If not then get an alignment when any of the above is happening or when you go to get new tires. Regular checks are a waste of time and your money. An alignment problem will manifest in one of the above concerns.
vklimond : no more transmission flushes are needed. The first was an upsell that they were pumped over getting out of you. A drain and refill of the auto trans oil is probably enough for most of the average drivers and requires no more then removing a drain plug in the trans a refilling with approx 3 qts of Mercon 5. Takes less time then draining the oil and changing the filter. A good idea to do every 15k. Not a flush!!! Spark3542 i hate to disagree with ya but the first time you change the oil on your manual trans is at 120K!!!! By then the trans oil is already not only filled with metallic debris from original break in period but cooked from too much time left in there. What are you thinking?? The break in period is over at around 10k miles when all of the gears have meshed together and all of the mistakes and oops from the factory assembly is getting worked out and the leftover mettallic debris should just be left in there to chew everything else up. Not a good idea. Get the manual trans oil changed over at 30K. Then you can rest and relax about your gearbox for years to come
Coolant: Get a drain and refill every year or so. You think that when the coolant is drained that every drop is removed. That is not true. Maybe 1/2 of the system is drained and the rest is still in there. Full system flush will exchange all of the fluid as long as that is what they are doing. A full system flush requires the use of equipment that will push most of the old fluid out and exchange with new coolant/water mixture. Difference between a drain and fill and flush.

 

thanks for the help babyhuey... i was wondering what would be the best way of maintaining our vehicles and you have definitely helped us out greatly! we appreciate your help as well as your knowledge in the field to better provide answers for us... thanks again!

 

I wish I could come to you to get the 30k job done. It is 700 up here. Well I love your details on the maintenances. Before I do anything else Ill double check it with you. Thanks again!

 

Babyhuey,
I thought some of my numbers would get you going.

I'm sticking with 120k for manual fluid change though. I've never seen a xmission grenade itself by 120k for lack of fluid change, all other things being equal. If the xmission gets noisy, if the synchros are shot, then fluid change should be the first thing you do. But a normal, capable driver should be able to get that kind of mileage out of a transmission.

In this disposable society, one must evaluate how long they want their car to last. If they maintain it such that it can go 500k miles, but trade it at 100k, they see no more trade-in value than if they maintained it to have a useful life of 200k, but trade it at 100k.

I believe I posted elsewhere on this forum that I did a personal experiment to determine how little I could spend (per mile) for basic transportation. The total cost per mile would be purchase price, plus ALL maintenance costs and wear items (except oil changes and fuel), minus trade in value at the end. I did this experiment with a Kia purchased new, and traded it at 119k, spending a total of 8.9 cents per mile. I did not count oil changes and fuel, because you would incur those cost regardless of what you drove. I did include brakes, tires, aftermarket cruise control, and even a trailer hitch. At the end I did trade a solid and strong car for $1500, which will give someone else a solid 100k more. If I had spent $1000 flushing, draining, replacing, aligning, etc., I still would've reaped only $1500 at trade.

My example is certainly extreme, and I wouldn't recommend that others follow as bare-bones of a maintenance schedule as I did in this experiment...especially if they're not car guys, but I want it to spur some thought of "exactly what benefit do I get for spending $x on this?"

Mark in MA

 

Well, the 30k service itself only costs like $480 something plus tax. But they told me my power steering fluid was a nasty brown and recommended I change it. Which they recommended it the last few times I had it in there because of the fluid being an icky brown. The alignment needed to be done because it was pulling to the right. It wasn't an alignment check. Plus I had my tires balanced. So, that added up on top of the 30k service. Plus the power steering flush and fuel injection service.

Just went and looked. Found a service manual from my dealership. Here's what my 30k service included.

This is for every 30k, 60k, and 90k miles
*Price and Service varies by model*
-Road test and check performance
-Change oil and filter
-Inspect wiper blades and jets
-Inspect function of all lights
-Inspect climate control operation
-Inspect steering and suspension
-Inspect accessory belts and tension
-Top off all fluids as needed
-Lubricate all locks, hinges, and latches
-Inspect fuel and exhaust system and check heat shields
-Check all on board computers fault memory and adjust basic settings
-Inspect brake system lining, pull 4 wheels check wheel cylinders where applicable and adjust parking brake
-Rotate tires, check inflation, tire wear and torque lug nuts
-Add BG Oil, Fuel and Coolant Treatment
-Service battery top off electrolyte level and install terminal pads
-Replace spark plugs (only on applicable models)
-Replace PCV valve (only on applicable models)
-Replace cabin filter (only on applicable models)
-Replace air filter
-Replace fuel filter (only on applicable models)
-Perform Brake System Fluid Flush
-Change transmission fluid (complete fluid exchange) M-III, M-V
-Change manual transmission oil and add BG Treatment (only on applicable models)
-Service front and rear differentials, transfer case as required or equipped
-Inspect power steering fluid level and condition Add $79.95 to flush fluid if needed
-Lubricate propeller shaft, U-joints and check slip yoke
-Inspect coolant level and cooling system for leaks

RECOMMENDED SERVICES:
-Fuel Injection Cleaning Service.......Add $105.95
(when completed with service)
-Wheel Balance (once a year or 15,000 miles)....Add $43.95
-Alignment (once a year or 15,000 miles).....Add $79.95
-Timing belt replacement at 60,000 miles on certain models

Service Includes Free Loaner Vehicle

*These services reflect our recommendation based on local driving conditions and in many cases meet and exceed factory recommendations*

 

Ah what the hell, I'm on a roll here...

For 15k service, include everything for the 45k service except the Coolant Flush.

For every 45k, 75k, and 105k mile service

$265.90+ tax (except Mazda 3)

-Road test and check performance
-Change oil and filter
-Add BG Oil and Fuel Treatment
-Inspect function of all lights
-Inspect climate control operation
-Inpect power steering fluid level
-Inspect accessory belts and tension
-Inspect and top off washer fluid level
-Inspect for any fluid leaks
-Service battery and install terminal pads
-Inspect brake system, pull 4 wheels and lube caliper slide rails
-Rotate tires, check inflation, tire wear and torque wheel lug nuts
-Lube propeller shaft, U-joints and check slip yoke
-Check suspension and ball joints and steering linkage
-Check computer fault memory and adjust basic settings
-Lubricate all locks and hinges
-Perform BG Coolant Flush 45k miles first time, then every 30k miles there after

Recommended Services:
Wheel Balance
Alignment

 

I see the brake fluid spec is DOT3 and transmission fluid is Mercon V.

What is the spec for the steering fluid?

What is the spec for the coolant -- use green color ethylene glycol base fluid?