50,000 mile Maintenance

[nookandcrannycar]

I agree with much of what has already been posted.....and Happy Little Pony's post about the vent cleaning is hilarious. I can't imagine a Yaris needing a vent cleaning unless the car had been trapped in a flooded area with a pretty high water level....and then one would have other issues that would motivate me to get rid of that specific vehicle. My brakes started making noise at 205K miles or so (I think I put the actual number on a previous post) and when the shop checked my brakes all they needed was the rear brake service which includes 'a cleaning' (which would vary with the actual condition and the integrity of the shop) and making a small adjustment which only entails adjusting one or two screws if I remember correctly. This only cost me a little over 40.00 in Texas, but 75.00 sounds right for New York.....and in my case the brakes were no longer making noise and working better than they had recently....and my original pads all the way around are only 20 percent worn. The place where I get my oil changed (I don't get anything else done there because he charges too much for a full service and to me this is a harbinger re other items)..the last time I was in there a guy brought his car in for an alignment and the mechanic asked him if the steering was pulling to one side or the other. The customer said no. The mechanic said he'd love to sell the customer an alignment, but not at that time because he didn't need one. I would ask about what the fuel service entails and why you need it....I would love to be a fly on that wall to hear what BS he or she would likely come up with.