Coolant should be replaced every two years because the additives in antifreeze wear out. Those include corrosion inhibitors, seal conditioners, and water pump lubricant. At the dealership I used to work at, the standard service was a "drain and fill" which took much less time than a cooling system flush, and was sufficient to provide proper protection. It can still take close to an hour. At that rate, cost of antifreeze and a hundred bucks for labor brings it close to your quote. Might as well do the flush, especially if this is the first time the cooling system has been serviced.
Forget the fuel system service. They are going to inject a highly-concentrated detergent that is almost the same as what is found in even the cheapest gas today. Unless something has changed since the 1990's, other than for diesel engines, you will never solve a running problem on Chrysler vehicles by replacing the fuel filter. They last the life of the vehicle unless they start leaking from rust. Also, many of them are inside the gas tank now and are not intended to be replaced for regular maintenance.
Flushing the power steering system has never been a part of regular maintenance, but new technology includes some electrically-controlled systems that do not use a power steering pump. I would want to know more about why this service is recommended.
All manufacturers recommend replacing the brake fluid periodically because it absorbs moisture from the air. That lowers its boiling point substantially which can lead to one form of brake fade. We tend to ignore this recommendation and rarely do this service because the brake hydraulic system causes so little trouble. Since your vehicle is not very old, the price you listed seems to not be a very good value.
I would want to know what the tune-up covers. If it is just screwing in a set of new spark plugs, the cost is much too high. Typically this should include an oil and filter change, a new air filter, and a new cabin filter. They should include a new serpentine belt too. Even with all this, the cost seems rather excessive, but it depends on what is included.
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Friday, March 23rd, 2018 AT 7:13 PM
