Hi My 2006 X-trail manual is due for a 200k service. When I bought it 1.5 year back it was recently serviced, but only driven 7000k in these 18 months after service. Please suggest if Kmart service is fine or should I opt for expensive Nissan service.
Are you asking if you should go to Nissan and pay more for the same service?
I think you have answered your own question my friend, or you misunderstand 'OzBargain'.
I'd go with Nissan official service/reputable independent mechanic.
Why? Kmart staff are probably paid fixed salary regardless of how well they service their customer's vehicles. Also they would have more job security, as compared to a good independent mechanic who cares about customers/his brand/his company for his own survival.
From personal experience, I had a horrible time with them in a past. I used to get my car serviced religiously from them every 6 months for about 2 years. My car neared 230km and the timing belt snapped suddenly. Cost couple grand to fix/repair. I didn't know about timing belts before that, and how they should be replaced every 100k kms and FAR CHEAPER than when they snap. In hindsight, I realise they should have checked it over the multiple times i visited them or at least recommended the replacement.
It's anecdotal evidence for one particular Kmart store, but my point about them not having any real motivation/drive to give you amazing service still stands. Take it as you will.
+1
There's a fine line between saving money with your car and trying to be tight now and costing you $ further down the track.
Timing belts, unlike accessory belts cannot be visually checked during a servicing. Asking them to check is as good as asking them to get it changed because of the time and labour involved. You should follow your vehicle's manual recommendation for the timing belt replacement instead of relying on the mechanics. They juz loved the quick and stress free jobs..
i agree with turbomond, if you've gone in there and asked for the $149 service special, they won't touch your timing belt and nor should they. This is the danger with not following the service schedule.
kmart north ryde is one of the worst service centre I have been..beware
Took my car in for a service at a Kmart Tyre & Auto. They were pretty clueless and managed to damage some cables for the electrical system (relating to the air intake sensor which triggered an engine alert).
They claimed the car was like that and offered to adjust the idler speed higher to prevent the car from stalling (because the car no longer knows about the air flow from the air intake). Took me a few month to figure out what damage they had done…
That was my first car (second hand). Suffice to say never tried them again after that.
find an independent mechanic near you that has a good reputation and/or is recommended by people.
I use Toys auto in Redcliffe, QLD. they have been very honest, affordable, no BS, courteous, helpful, etc.
One morning when I had an important meeting and my car wouldn't start I rang them and they brought a battery to my house (2 kms away). they then suggested I bring it to their workshop in the afternoon so they could test the electrics of the car, which they did. The battery was 6 years old so probably due for replacement.
Total cost -the cost of the battery.
Find a mechanic shop that is packed. That way you won't get ripped off.
Realise mechanics these days purchase salvage car and park all of them in front of their workshop..
Kmart T&A was great 20+yrs ago when it was staffed by direct employees of Kmart who had no vested interest in ripping you off. However, nowadays the auto service side is contracted out & you have just as good a chance of getting rorted by unscrupulous operators as you would with any of the other franchises (Goodyear etc).
I'd also be looking for a good local independent mechanic for a car of that vintage…
For newer cars (still under warranty), don't dismiss your dealers out of hand, check out the prices first. I shopped around & really can't do a much better deal for log book services than the capped deal our dealer offers, plus there's a few incentives they can throw in like free NRMA, courtesy car & supplementary warranty to keep you going there!
However, nowadays the auto service side is contracted out
Wrong.
Kmart Tyre and Auto are employees of Kmart Tyre and Auto Head Office. There are no Contractors.
If you'd consider an independent mechanic and the inner west is convenient for you, I suggest you read my reply to this thread. Mine is the first reply to the thread.
He's our family mechanic and is a top bloke. He's done work on our cars, vans and trucks.
Personally I wouldn't let Kmart mechanics touch my pushbike let alone my car…
:)
Do NOT go to kmart auto. Nuff said.
OP, 18 months is too long between oil change, even though you have only driven 7,000km. Suggested time frame for conventional oil is 6 months (synthetic oil is 1 year) or 10,000km. The reason is because oil additives break down and oil will thicken up and become sludge.
Your car comes with timing chain, so its maintenance free. Although Nissan recommends the chain tensioner needs to be checked, probably every 100,000km, as per log book. Double check though.
I have a friend who used to be a mechanic at dealer service departments, he said they are a joke. So you pay more but end up not really getting premium service. In fact, lots of dealers hire apprentices to do the job (with a 'supervisor' of course) because they make more money servicing cars than selling.
Re Kmart, I'd agree with other comments above. Best to find a local mechanic that is honest and stick to him.
How to find a trust worthy mechanic, well about time you learn a bit about automotive guidelines, e.g. Brake fluids 2 years, coolant 2-4 years, air filter check, etc.
+1 to what this guy said. I know a guy who works as a mechanic at reputable local dealer… he said the exact same Azn310's friend said. They are a joke.
I do all my own car services and mechanical work these days… It's really not that hard. Google is your friend. And you save hundreds, plus get the peace of mind that it's actually been done, and done properly.
"Personally I wouldn't let Kmart mechanics touch my pushbike let alone my car…"
Its not the badge on the shirt of the employee … it's the attitude of the person doing the job.
You cannot classify all within an organisation because of the incompetence of some.
I have been having cars serviced for a very long time and I assure you that it is very unusual to get a good job done by anyone worthy of trust at any business.
Consistently the worst by far are the car dealerships…. bloody shocking!
It is very very difficult to find a good honest mechanic. I am related to one thankfully.
and that is the reason why I am my own mechanic :)
went to ktas to get my timing belt changed, it was well priced(can't remember how much though).
Weeks later my engine had a strange ringing sound, getting it resolved was a real headache an inconvenience. Got someone else to look at it and i think the belt replacement was not done properly.
go to someone you trust with your car, if the screw up are they going to look after you?
If it cost a bit more(not a fortune)it worth it's weight in trouble free driving esp long trips.
bought, not brought.
Thanks.