I received a letter from the dealership that I purchased my CF from stating, that a service is due. The car has not said so but the dealership states, that there master computer has estimated my mileage and time and in order not to invalidate my warranty a service is required. I call the service department to ask what type of service is needed. The answer was, "change oil, filter, pollen filter, change brake fluid and various other things as this is a 20,000 mile service". The price £420.00 ($651.00). I looked in the owners manual and was surprised to see that if the car requires a "B" service this would only be, a change of the oil and filter, rotate tires, replace dust filter, lub hood hinges, latch, and secondary latch and reset FSS display. Everything else is a inspection or top up of fluids.

There is a new EEU directive that states, I can take the car to a independent as long as they are VAT (TAX) registered and use MOPAR/MERC parts.

Does anyone know if there is anything else required on a 20,000 mile service?

 

I have seen Honda do this in the past. They have a magic computer that guess-timates how much mileage you have on the car and kicks out a letter reminding you that a service is coming up soon. That being said however, Hondas are due in every 7,500 miles for an oil change so it's pretty easy to extrapolate how fast you put miles on your car by looking at the service history.

As far as I know, the Crossfire does not have a scheduled 20,000 mile service, only service A and service B. Depending on the mileage, there will be certain extra tasks beside the basic oil change & tire rotation. I think your dealer is trying to "up sell" you on services.

 

Many dealers of all makes today are pulling the same trick and also try to add on services that are not required. Ignore them and follow the service schedule for your car. I use the FSS to tell me when to take it in. There is no 20,000 mile service for the CF or any other specific mileage when service is due. Go by the FSS and they can't say anything and your warranty will be fine.

Note, I live in a dusty area and just changed the HVAC (pollen filter as you called it). I've had the car two years and have almost 24k miles on it. I think it could of gone another year easy. They are expensive, $48.00 and $27.00 to install. I did it myself and saved a few $$$.

 

Gotta love the stealership's approach! Here in Hawaii it is hard to put miles on the car (we live on a rock :-) ). The dealership here encourages inspections as well just because of the length of time it COULD take you to get to 7,500 miles.

~ Jess

 

Thank you.
They got a good scam going here but, Because of a change in the law the UK dealers can no longer insist that cars are service within there franchise network. I called a reputable independent and his price will be £235.00. I will be written a letter to Auto Express (a weekly car mag in the UK and Europe) in the hopes that they will inform CF owners and others with regards to this tragedy of justice.

 

I hardly do any miles on my Crossfire and have been told it must get serviced every year to keep the warranty up.
The second service is due in March and have been told it will be £400 even though the car will only have about 10,000 miles on it and it was last serviced at 6,000 miles.
The thing is yes, you don't have to take it to the main dealer however, they might not be so keen to do warranty work on the car if you have not had it serviced there.
For example, I have just had two new rear wheels fitted under warranty at a cost of £1,100 and they have also ordered me a new front wheel and a new seal for the driver side window.
The lacquer was coming off the wheels and there was a wind noise from the drivers window.
Having had such good service from the dealer I think I will be going there for my servicing.
Ok I could save £150 to £200 having the service done elsewhere but as it is only getting done once a year I don't think it's to bad.
Also I never do that many miles on any car I've had lately but I really think you should get the oil etc changed once a year.

Norrie.

 

Norrie, Normally I would agree with you but, I too had wind noise from the driver window. Murray Motors ended up not fixing the problem and broke a piece of inside trim in the process that took 5 weeks to order. I took the car in for a Front wheel aliment ( I hit a curb no allow damage) and the same garage stated the aliment was ok. As the car was pulling to the left I took it to a independent and sure enough the aliment was out. There is only two dealers that are close, the one I have been using located in glasgow and another in Ayr. Which is 35 miles away. I wouldn't mind the £400.00 but for a crap job I think I will take my chances on having to argue warrenty work. I don't mind going to court if I need too.

 

It seems that i am stuck with using a Chrysler franchise service. Although the laws have changed and I don't need to use a franchise dealer to service the car and chrysler cannot invalidate the warrenty they can lower the value when it come to part exchange and it is not Just chrysler dealers that will down value but any main stream dealer for any car. It appears that as most used cars are sold with a warrenty these days without a Chrysler service history the CF is worth less because the are not sure weather the proper parts have been used despite what the receipts say.

 

I intend to use a local Merc / Chrysler / Smart dealer (based in Wolverhampton), at least if I have to pay main dealer prices I will get someone who knows the engine and car well.