I decided to not be cheap and get a service done at ultratune.
was either 188 for a service with wait for it..... a tune. he explained to me that they check to see if the ECU is working correctly and udjust timing and air/fuel levels...... i thought That if the car was working.. the ecu was working.. and if the ecu was working.. the a/f ratios would be adjusted by themselves!?

Anyway i got the cheaper service for 131 bucks and they found the following problems...

Major one is that my Windscreen wipers need replacing.. thats gonna be a hassle.
Windsheild washer is cracked and its leaking when filled...
All four brakepads are worn.. 266 to replace..
Apparently i have a substantional leak from the front of my engine seals which is leaking on my timing belt.
I have not yet seen this leak but apparently it is there
They also reccomend that i fix the seals when i change the belt which will cost $600.

Are those prices correct? as in am i getting ripped off?

How hard is it to change the brake pads if your a novice like me

The squeeking from the wheels indicates the brakes are shot? or is there something worse!

Only good news besides the Timeing belt change is that my cv's are fine!
i went over a HUge river (30cm+) of water (im blind.. wasnt wearing my glasses at night) and from then on no more clunk clunk nosies from the front when i stear!! and they checked them and said they are fine! (boot covers and cvs)

I decided to not be cheap and get a service done at ultratune.
was either 188 for a service with wait for it..... a tune. he explained to me that they check to see if the ECU is working correctly and udjust timing and air/fuel levels...... i thought That if the car was working.. the ecu was working.. and if the ecu was working.. the a/f ratios would be adjusted by themselves!?

Anyway i got the cheaper service for 131 bucks and they found the following problems...

Major one is that my Windscreen wipers need replacing.. thats gonna be a hassle.
Windsheild washer is cracked and its leaking when filled...
All four brakepads are worn.. 266 to replace..
Apparently i have a substantional leak from the front of my engine seals which is leaking on my timing belt.
I have not yet seen this leak but apparently it is there
They also reccomend that i fix the seals when i change the belt which will cost $600.

Are those prices correct? as in am i getting ripped off?

How hard is it to change the brake pads if your a novice like me

The squeeking from the wheels indicates the brakes are shot? or is there something worse!


wow, so expensive.
firstly, unless your ECU was broken or that you're running a Carby or if your timing was not controlled by the ECU, you can't tune the car up, in a 3rd Gen magna spark is ECU controlled. So doing the $131 service instead of the $181 is a smart move.

Your leak, how bad is it? does it drip onto the ground when you park over night? do you notice make engine oil consumption? if not, no need to stress about it, maybe keep it in mind for future service.

brake pads, if you don't have a repair manual, and have never changed pads before, it's best that you get someone who knows what they are doing to do it while you watch for the front ones at least! All you need is a box end 14mm spanner and a lot of strength as the guide bolts could be VERY bloody tight sometimes. it's often a good thing to bleed your brake lines everytime you change pads too, you'll need another person to help you with bleed job, unless you are good with jamming a stick to the peddal. If you do the 4 pads yourself, you should be able to save 100$ dollars.

i would get my dad to do it.. he used to be a mechanic... but hes 67 years old now... hahaha and hes slow!!!! not just slow but painfully slow!

So $266 sound alright for the brake pads...

HmMm money money money!!

Right when i start earning decent money Everything goes wrong!

oh and a comment about my dad... he does the job and does a good job not missing a thing... which adds to the painfully slow part! im young and dumb and want everything NOW! which is not that good :P

where do ya live mate ?

i had my fronts done recently for $115, including bendix pads and disc machining..

perth :)

Good old perth !! the home of aussiemagna.. cof cof...

paid $60 for 4 pads(well 8 actually) and $80 to fit.
take it to a small garage to do those things or d.i.y.
There ripping u off.

Yeh,i'd get those brakes seen to ASAP,cause mine were rooted too,so i went to Tyrepower and paid 250 for 2 good quality Front Pads and standard rear pads,and got the Discs skimmed also,for a little bit more.

Ahh I'm lucky that the guys next door to my work are brake and clutch specialists, so we get discounted rates :D , I had my rear disc machined, pads replaced and calipers cleaned up for $120. Tommorow their doing my fronts for the same price lol

Changing brake pads is relatively easy. The hard part is compressing the brake piston so that the newer pads will fit. Get a piston depressing tool or a thin block of wood and a quality set of G clamps (crap ones may break).

I got a set of bendix performax pads from Repco for front and back for around $180.

However there is more to just changing pads - brake fluid and checking the discs

i bought my brake piston decompressing toll @ kmart for $20 :D saves all the trouble...

For people in Melbourne, I highly recommend Northern Brake and Clutch. Nothing but good things from them.

Well I'm here to tell you I got rolled the first brake pad change I paid for. KNew nothing about my car (now I know only next to nothing :) ) I paid $450 for all four pads and machining of disks. So there! I was rolled please learn from my fiscal mistake!

My mate at work (female) got shafted..

Thanks to aussie magna i know a bit about my car... and i know what a service involves.. anyway she got her Major service done for her corrola at 80000k's.... for 300 bucks.. and they didnt change the timing belt nor is this place part of her warranty of her car.

she payed twice what i payed for the same service.. but the guy called it a major service... and ive had a look and its .. My service but along with the 170 bucks fee!!!

anyway ive noticed my car is a lot smoother now and it accelerates a lot better now after that service!