Greetings, for an 02 blazer do any of you guys use the dealer for regular maintenance?

 

I don't know anybody who brings their 20-yeqr old car to the dealer for maintenance, unless maybe it's something that requires special tools like a Tech 2 scanner. Independent shops can usually do just as good of a job for a lot less money or, better yet, learn to do your own maintenance.

 

I bought my Blazer new in Oct 2000, and the only time it has been back to the dealer was for a recall for the multi-function switch. The few times it has been in for any work I went to an independent shop. Most work I have done myself and continue to do so, unless I am feeling lazy.

 

i plan on taking mine to Ferman for inspection and to replace the rear main and oil, pan gaskets, as well as do maintenance on the transmission, as thats alot of under-truck time without a lift i dont want to do
but all maintenance and repairs i do typically.

 

The last time I used the dealer might have been when I asked them to fix my parking brake that was not holding. It came back worse. I then had to figure it all out myself. I do all my own maintenance except for the regular fluid changes I have my transmission shop do after I had them rebuild my transmission several years ago.

 

The dealer's service department is a profit center, and a MAJOR source of the dealer's income. Believe it or not, those 40/50 grand vehicles have a surprisingly low retail profit margin. And warranty work is a losing proposition. They still have to pay the mechanics their regular wage, but the warranty time allotments (flat rate) and labor rates have been cut to the bone. They make up for these losses by shifting the burden to the retail (ie. "paying") customers. You can probably guess how many ways there are for a creative service management team to do that.