K, let me tell you the scenario, so you understand why I'm asking.

I'm moving to Florida in a week and a half to work for Disney. I want to get my car tuned up before the road trip, but the dealer wants $450 to do it. Is there anywhere around Dallas that could do it or an individual willing to do it if I bring the parts ? I already have some plugs on order (should be here tomorrow). I know I'll need plug wires, what else is involved in a rotary tune up ?

Please don't tell me how to do it because all my tools are already packed and it's taking all the time I have just to get loose ends tied up in order to be ready.

Really would appreciate it if someone knows some place or some body that could do it. I have no problems tossing someone some cash in order to do it. Let me know ASAP - thanks everyone.

BTW, you can email me directly at lewmorris@gmail.com

 

How many miles on your car? How has it been maintained in those miles?

I would suggest an oil change for starters. Also possibly coils if they have alot of miles on them. Transmission and differential fluid would be good too. Other than that check tire psi, and rotate tires. Check brake pads and rotors, replace if necessary. Check your air filter and clean it/replace it depending on what kind and how bad it is.

 

59K on it, but no clue how it was taken care of before me. I've had it for 2 months now (bought it used). It's a 2004. Oil change is DEFINITELY happening. Replacing the brake pads and adding drilled/slotted rotors, so that's already on the agenda. Will be doing the air filter with the oil change. Any clue what the transmission fluid job on a 6 speed would cost from the dealer ?

Anyway, any idea of what all is involved in a tune up besides plugs/wires ?

 

No idea on how much it would cost for the dealer to do a transmission/diff fluid change. I would expect them to charge you for an hours labor and then whatever the materials cost. You could buy the stuff yourself and take it to a quick change place and it would be cheaper. I recommend royal purple, very smooth and a noticeable difference when i changed mine. Its not a complex job at all, just 2 drain plugs/2 fill plugs, unplug them, drain, and replace until it dribbles out a little (car has to be level) and plug it back up with new crush washers.

As far as what else you should do, I would definitely replace the coils while you're doing the plugs and wires. Possibly drain and replace coolant fluid as well.

If you do all that, you should be perfectly fine. But I would suggest finding out exactly what the dealer is going to do and then buy the parts and find a local shop to do it as their labor rates will be much less then the 100 or so an hour mazda charges. You could probably do everything I listed for around 350 yourself. As far as somewhere in Dallas, I can't help you on that, but you should check out the reginal forums and see if you can get some recommendations there.

 

Problem is, I can't seem to find any shops willing to just do labor around here. They all won't do stuff unless they supply the parts (along with their huge parts markup). That's why I'm looking for someone who can do labor.

Yeah, I love Royal Purple. I had that in the Z I had before this car.

 

best thing would probably be to go over to the reginal forums and ask around, theres gotta be a few people that could hook you up with some good shops.

 

I know for the tranny and diff fluid you need to get new crush washers. A total of 4.

Pads and rotors should be easy to install, just goto Auto Zone and get the tool to compress the piston in the rear calipers. You can rent it for a fee and they give you your money back when you return it, so its free.

 

Ah you know what I meant. The tool so you can screw them in and compress them.

 

A socket wrench?

 

I dont know the name of the tool but I have always used something that has notches in it that fit in the rear caliper. Its pretty much a C clamp though.

 

I know the tool you mean. Needed it to do a 240SX a lonnnnng time ago. They sell them at several auto parts stores. It's because the piston has to be rotated as it's compressed. I already have the brakes in. It's the plugs/wires/coils that I need done now.