OK, so I just got a quote from a dealer who wants $569 for a 60K mi maintenance service and another $569 for a timing belt replacement on my 03 Montero (which has 63K miles). Does that sound freakin' redic or reasonable?

 

sorry, but it looks like this is your first time at a dealership..

those prices look to be spot on for dealer prices.

gotta pay to play.

there are some paranoid @ss people who will go nowhere but the dealership.

but if your not like that, you can go to local shops and its almost cut if half on the cost.. only thing is you dont know if they can do the shop as well as the dealer.

 

Let the dealer at the very least do the timing belt and using all oem parts. I've heard many stories abt local shops messing up the timing belt job and using cheap aftermarket parts.

 

The price for the TB change actually sounds reasonable for a dealer - and I agree that it's the safest way to go.

My question is the $569 for the 60K "service" I have no idea about your model year but unless it includes brakes, new spark plugs, water pump, etc, that seems like a lot. Check the service interval chart in your owner's manual and then get a line item list from your dealer of what is included. If half of the items are things like treating the door seals with silicone, topping up your wiper fluid and such then get them to re-quote for only the things you can't or don't want to do.

While you're checking your owner's manual see if the 60K timing belt change has a small footnote that reads - "recommended but not required" in CA, MA and few other states. That's what my '99 says. For those states the real factory required interval is 100K miles. If it's the same for your model then you're OK for some time (regardless of where you live as all the belts are the same) if you don't want to do it now. Of course the shops will hit you with "no guarantee it won't break tomorrow" talk. I did my first change at 75K and the next at 185K and both belts were like new.

But of course, "no guarantee......... "

Ron

 

The 60K tune up can be done in your own garage with very few "special tools".
Purchase OEM parts. The plugs come pre-gaped if I'm not mistaken. A new set of wires are fairly reasonable. Give it a go, try to do some yourself to save a bit of cash.
Do you know anyone that can take you through the timing belt replacement?

Try this site for the shop manuel:
http://www.pajero4x4.ru/piii/

Try this site for OEM parts:
https://www.mitsubishiparts.com/oe_parts_catalog.html

Good Luck