12 month service - surprised by long list from dealership

[blimm]

Hi everybody!

I have found this forum yesterday and I liked it a lot! I've even spent a half of night here reading
I hope that you can help me with my problem. It's time for my 12-month service now. Although this is my first car and I don't know much about it, I have some concerns about particular things that I "must do" according to the list from my deallership. Well, those things will not hurt, but I more interested in getting know my car better and understand what is going on, rather than pay extra money for "adjust presure in tires" or "install wipers refill" and having no idea what they did and what they didn't. So I'm curious if I can do some of these items by my self and get to know the car better and what are the important items for 12 month service and what are not.

1. Install engine cleaner
2. Lubricate chassis, suspension and hinges
3. Replace air filter
4. Service Battery and clean battery terminals (I've just looked at it carefully - everything is neat and clean: battery, connections, wire coming to the battery. What else they do?)
5. Check charging system
6. Check lights, horn and wipes (this one is the best!)
7. Check all hoses, belts and lines for wear
8. Inspect tires for wear, adjust presure (I do this one regulary by myself. what they can do differently?)
9. Clean and adjust breaks
10. Inspect A/C, charge and check for leaks.(Well, I am in Florida and think I would fill the difference if something was wrong. Am I wrong?)
11. Clean Throttle Body and install fuel conditioner
12. Inspect cap, rotor and ignition wire. (could something terrible happen to it in 1 year?)
13. Pressure test colling system
14. Perform 27pt Vehicle inspection (Is this inspection some standard term or it's just "we will probably do something else but we wont tell ya")

Please tell me what you think.
Thank you all in advance!

[NASTY]

sounds like a regular service
a lot of that you can do yourself, but toyota does it as a package thing (not like they're charging to check your tire pressure or if your horn is working)
and i have no idea what install engine cleaner is...

[impactX]

sounds like a regular service
a lot of that you can do yourself, but toyota does it as a package thing (not like they're charging to check your tire pressure or if your horn is working)
and i have no idea what install engine cleaner is...

Probably fuel injector cleaner. The stuff that you pour in the fuel tank to clean the fuel injector. So you probably won't even know if they've done it or not.

[DavPak]

i'm curious to know what they are charging for that service?

the list you described is just basic maintenance that should be done every 15K. 3 things you should add to that list are an engine oil change, tire rotation and a PCV valve replacement

the main things they are charging you for here are:
1. Install engine cleaner
3. Replace air filter
9. Clean and adjust breaks
11. Clean Throttle Body and install fuel conditioner

all the other stuff is just visual insppection items they will check as they are doing the other services.

oh yeah, the reason they want to "Check lights, horn and wipes" is because you can fail inspection for any of these items not working.

for everything you described (plus the 3 things i mentioned) i would expect to pay ~$260 from a dealer. if they attempt to charge you more, bargain with them. ask for a free car for the day, ask for 10% off. they have the power to give you discounts and free stuff (car washes and such) and do so often in order to keep you as a customer.

[ICUFG]

11. Clean Throttle Body and install fuel conditioner

This one is the biggest joke, I had a friend that worked at a local Toyo dealership
and this consists of spraying carb cleaner in the throttle body. But keep in mind that
was this dealership (this dealership is the largest Toyo dealership around). How
much are they charging for this and Im assuming the oil change is included.

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

best advise....get the details of the service from the dealership. find a nice REPUTED local shop. Get the parts (oil, filter, and whatever might be needed for the service from the parts department)...and take those parts to your local service...and have them go over the list and use the parts you bought. This way...you can still have piece of mind knowing what parts are going in your car, and save $$$$. Dealerships have package deals (30K, 15K services)...a lot of the service might now apply to your car! I got my camry its 60K service from a local shop (just bought oil/filter from toyota, and fuel injector cleaner or whatever it was called). That service, and resurfacing all disc' and new pads in the rear, and 4 wheel alignment ran close to $400 (so in other words, i got brakes done for free...and the alignment..for the price the dealership was charging!!).

[Guest]

Thank you everybody!
I was thinking about doing something like jhbhatia said but I was not sure about that. I also fill much more confident about what I need to have done thanks to other replies!