Truck Maintenance

[ua_guy]

Keep in mind also, free oil changes for the "life of the vehicle" may have conditions. The life of a vehicle may only be 100,000 miles, or till the next model year, or maybe five years.

The program they gave me is actually quite generous. Up to 4 changes per year for as long as the vehicle runs, but it has to be under original ownership. And that was in writing, so I believe it.

[QuarterMillionMan]

At 40,000 miles my 2024 trailblazer needs a change of transmission oil. Prices range from $300 at a nearby transmission shop, to $400 at national chain AAMCO, or $500 at the Chevy dealer. For some reason Jiffy Lube and Quick Stop Lube won't attempt transmission oil changes on my vehicle.

[QuarterMillionMan]

During normal business hours which I use my personal vehicle for work, I got rear ended. Initially, work reimbursed me $5500 for the repair but during the repair the shop found frame damage and an additional $3500 was assessed which I paid out of pocket and waiting for work to reimburse me. The auto body shop was going to replace my 2" trailer hitch with an 1.25" OEM hitch but I declined so the refunded $350 which I bought on my own another 2" hitch and paid $80 for the install and $65 for a new bike rack which I'm also claim to get reimbursed from work but not holding my breath. Long story short I'm happy to have it all fixed.

[ua_guy]

I wouldn't want places like Jiffy to do any service on a modern transmission. They require oe-spec fluids and fill procedures that sometimes need an OE-specific scan tool to run calibrations for the maintenance being performed. Part of it is the efficiency of modern transmissions, the other part is a money grab to drive you to a dealer or authorized/specialized service center. It's a nightmare to DIY these as well.

I'd think your employer should be on the hook for everything unless the other guy's insurance is paying. Every last cent, and then some, because now you've got a car that's been in a moderately heavy accident.

[disneysteve]

During normal business hours which I use my personal vehicle for work, I got rear ended. Initially, work reimbursed me $5500 for the repair but during the repair the shop found frame damage and an additional $3500 was assessed which I paid out of pocket and waiting for work to reimburse me. The auto body shop was going to replace my 2" trailer hitch with an 1.25" OEM hitch but I declined so the refunded $350 which I bought on my own another 2" hitch and paid $80 for the install and $65 for a new bike rack which I'm also claim to get reimbursed from work but not holding my breath. Long story short I'm happy to have it all fixed.

Why are you paying anything out of pocket for a work-related accident? Their insurance should be handling all of that.

[QuarterMillionMan]

I work for big government who contracts out a private company who provides the insurance during official business while driving my personal vehicle. They required 2 estimates and paid out directly to me the lower estimate. Both estimates were $5600 & $5500, but both repair shops said the estimates are only based on what could be seen at the time. Both shops said the actual repair price could be higher should my vehicle have frame damage which in fact my vehicle had frame damage thus the additional $3500 bringing my total repair to $9000. Ua_guy is correct that my employer should pay the entire amount. After the repair was completed my employer the big government sent a mobile appraiser from a my Chevy dealership to my residence to inspect the repair and gathered the final receipt. It should be soon when my employer the big government issues me another check for the additional $3500. It takes time for work approve and issue the check. I wished $5500 was the final amount without the additional $3500 for the frame damage but there was no way to find out until all the parts were removed.

[ua_guy]

That's all standard procedure - a preliminary estimate, first payment to cover the damage "at least" ...followed by teardown at the shop, shop writes a supplement for additional damage found once they get into things...2nd payment follows. The weird part is that you're paying out of pocket. The appraiser/adjuster should probably be paying the shop directly, or at least give you the option, so you don't have to pay and then seek reimbursement.

Did they put you in a rental vehicle? How's your neck/back, did you take time off work, do you need 6 months of physical therapy and massage, how much time did you spend running around getting estimates and dealing with shops, insurance, etc. If someone else hit you, you should have a lot of coverages at your disposal.

I was a damage appraiser and adjuster a long time ago in a former life. God help the people who have had to deal with me as a claimant.

[james.hendrickson]

Guys - I just wanted to point that electric vehicles are typically cheaper to maintain. Soooo....maybe consider an electric vehicle for your next car.

[james.hendrickson]

I was a damage appraiser and adjuster a long time ago in a former life. God help the people who have had to deal with me as a claimant.

Ohhhh - Ua_guy, thats interesting. So do the insurance companies have methods for lowering their assessed damage payments? I suspect they do, and frankly would like to know how they do this, so I can fight it next time I have an issue.

[ua_guy]

Ohhhh - Ua_guy, thats interesting. So do the insurance companies have methods for lowering their assessed damage payments? I suspect they do, and frankly would like to know how they do this, so I can fight it next time I have an issue.

Nothing that isn't spelled out in an insurance policy about how they pay and what they cover.

[myrdale]

Guys - I just wanted to point that electric vehicles are typically cheaper to maintain. Soooo....maybe consider an electric vehicle for your next car

What about battery replacement?

A quick google search says $13,000 to $25,000.

For typical maintenance, google says $250 to $800.

Both of the above were for Tesla.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Ua_guy knows his stuff about insurance. Everything applied to me except I didn't need any medical treatment. I think my 2" trailer hitch absorbed most of the collision which bent the frame down and pushed the bike rack pole into the hatchback. I submitted receipts for rental cars for 3 weeks which was the amount of time it took to fix my car. Even then I didn't a rental the entire time. I want to submit receipt for rides on Uber/Lyft where once I paid $25 each way to Exer-urgent care for a different medical problem unrelated to the accident. I thought I had STD and got tested (urine & blood) and the Dr gave me a shot in the butt (Rocephin injection) and an oral antibiotic Doxycline but the tests came back negative for STDs nor HIV. This could make for a whole new thread but I'll leave it at that.

[ua_guy]

What about battery replacement?

A quick google search says $13,000 to $25,000.

For typical maintenance, google says $250 to $800.

Both of the above were for Tesla.

Maintenance on our EV has been almost nothing in 2.5 years of ownership. 25k miles and the tires still don't need replaced. Brake pads are still new because they rarely get used (regenerative braking). It went in for its 2 year maintenance (inspection service) a couple months ago which is covered by the manufacturer. They recommended a brake fluid flush which is per the owner's manual and not an uncommon interval for a European vehicle. That was covered.

Other than washer fluid and keeping the tires properly aired up, it hasn't needed anything nor will it need anything for 2 more years. The battery has an 8 year 100k warranty and for our vehicle specifically, people are seeing many more miles than that. Same with Tesla... 200k++ isn't uncommon at all.

Battery replacements are expensive. With a gas vehicle you're looking at all kinds of maintenance and services on an engine/transmission within that interval. Engines/transmissions also need to be rebuilt or replaced along with AWD units, turbochargers, and all the driveline/axles that EV's don't have.

Collision repair on EV's is rapidly changing. Most of them now use easily replaceable bumper covers and other body panels same as ICE vehicles. The downside is if you punch a battery, it's probably going to have to be removed, and that's a lot of labor, similar to a frame replacement on an ICE pickup. Then the battery has to be repaired or replaced. Batteries can be repaired, and they are recycled if they are no longer serviceable.

Everyone thinks the Ford Crown Victoria holds the title on the toughest/longest lasting fleet vehicle. Nope. It's the Prius hybrid, those things go hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of thousands of miles as cabs, and battery replacements are rarer than you'd think.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Paid $196 for transmission oil change at Only Transmission near me, dropped off & walked 1/2 mile home in the rain. 1 hour later got the call to pick up. AAMCO wanted $400, the Chevy dealership wanted $500. Also near me is a Fast Lube so got a full synthetic motor oil change for $110. The oil change guys were waiting for customers and guided me into the garage, 1 guy went down the stairs and drained the old oil while the other guy checked the tires then refilled the oil, total time spent 5 minutes at Fast Lube, in and out.

[ua_guy]

Paid $196 for transmission oil change at Only Transmission near me, dropped off & walked 1/2 mile home in the rain. 1 hour later got the call to pick up. AAMCO wanted $400, the Chevy dealership wanted $500. Also near me is a Fast Lube so got a full synthetic motor oil change for $110. The oil change guys were waiting for customers and guided me into the garage, 1 guy went down the stairs and drained the old oil while the other guy checked the tires then refilled the oil, total time spent 5 minutes at Fast Lube, in and out.

You potentially got ripped off... hope not.

You should verify with the Chevy dealership service department what the CVT service on those requires. Only Transmissions (why does that sound familiar, is it like Only Fans?) charged you for 5 quarts of "CVT oil", $80, plus $100 in labor.. The capacity on that transmission is ~9 quarts, so it's likely they replaced less than half the fluid. It appears they also didn't pull the pan, clean any debris collection magnets, or replace a filter. They charged you $100 to pull a drain plug and then pour 5 quarts back in.

~$16/quart it better be GOOD cvt fluid. But it sounds like they did less than half the required service on that transmission. But hey, you only paid half of what a reputable shop was going to charge, right?