I requested a quote on a 100K service for my '04 Cadillac SRX while it is getting a new transmission put in. He stated the only things required are a transmission service (which I won't need) and spark plugs. He stated the plugs cost $100 and the labor is $300 ($90 x 3.5 hours) because they have to remove something and it takes a long time. Does that seem high or is that about right? Is there anything else that is supposed to be done on a 100K service?

Thanks in advance.

Because they FLAT RATE it, that is probably right! It probably takes about an hour!!

Flat rate is no joke, it sucks.
You have to remove the intake manifold and some other stuff, they don't have zippers on them.
Without looking it up I'd say 3.5 hours is fair.

The trans service might be their recommendation, refer to your maintenance schedule to see what it calls for based on your type of driving.

Flat rate is no joke, it sucks.
You have to remove the intake manifold and some other stuff, they don't have zippers on them.
Without looking it up I'd say 3.5 hours is fair...........

Good to hear from ewill3rd again.

Northstar V8 or V6 or both??
Do you have to remove the intake manifold for spark plug replacement on all Cad NorthStar engines, or only the SRX.

Do Northstar engines ever develop "ticking" that sounds like pushrod hydraulic lifter noise ? Our 1999 Concours has recently developed such a sound, and we have procrastinated on taking it to our local dealer although we will do so soon.

Another question? We hear rumors that Northstar engines are prone to head gasket failure: due to Dexcool ? or bad head bolts or studs ?

Thanks in advance

Thanks for the replys everyone. Well, I've got 95,420 miles on the odometer. I'm not getting any symptoms that the plugs are going or about to go. I think I'll go as long as possible (up until 105k) before I replace them. This rebuilt trans is costing me $2,600 so another $400 is just "piling it on"...lol.

The N* engines are much easier for plugs, the labor should be much lower since all you have to do is remove the engine cover and the coils.
I usually go by alldata times.

Any engine can make a ticking sound, it is a machine afterall and they aren't perfect. I don't usually tear into them myself as we have a dedicated heavy duty department that handles engine and transmission work.

Pre 2k vehicles were prone to head gasket failure, no dex-cool isn't the cause, they revised the head bolt thread pitch for a more positive clamp load. The older ones (if they fail) usually pull the threads. Lots of heated discussions on these topics... :lol:

The N* engines are much easier for plugs, the labor should be much lower since all you have to do is remove the engine cover and the coils.

Pre 2k vehicles were prone to head gasket failure, no dex-cool isn't the cause, they revised the head bolt thread pitch for a more positive clamp load. The older ones (if they fail) usually pull the threads. Lots of heated discussions on these topics... :lol:

Sounds like the Quad4 (I loved my HO Quad 4). I am changed my N* plugs in about an hour as I was trying to figure it out as I went along (and some of those coils are hard to get off).

There is more to the 100k mile service as well. The first thing that pops into my mind is the radiator flush. I know there is more, but I don't have my service manual here at work. Overall that price doesn't sound too bad, especially if it included the transmission flush that you would obviously get subtracted.

Since no one else is going to ask, why did you need a new transmission at 95k miles?

Because it went out last Wednesday while I was on the freeway...believe me, I am asking the same question...why did it fail prematurely? See my post on the issue from last week.

I guess I'm kind of a car guy (ok, maybe I'm a little OCD about my 05 Srx v6 with 93 k) I dont know about dealer charges but I just replaced My spark plugs and number 3 cyllinder coil pack, To replace spark plugs 1. remove engine cover 2. remove intake, I think GM calls it a plinteth(spelling?), You will need a extension to reach the plugs and you do have to unplug the back coil pack on passenger side to remove thst spark plug. I paid $10 per spark plug Gm recommends, $40 something for the coil pack from Advance Auto (not in stock they had to order it, got it the following morning) as opposed to the dealer wanting $94, In all honesty it took me 30 minutes, no kidding. I thought it was pretty straight foward and simple. Just saying.

I guess I'm kind of a car guy (ok, maybe I'm a little OCD about my 05 Srx v6 with 93 k) I dont know about dealer charges but I just replaced My spark plugs and number 3 cyllinder coil pack, To replace spark plugs 1. remove engine cover 2. remove intake, I think GM calls it a plinteth(spelling?), You will need a extension to reach the plugs and you do have to unplug the back coil pack on passenger side to remove thst spark plug. I paid $10 per spark plug Gm recommends, $40 something for the coil pack from Advance Auto (not in stock they had to order it, got it the following morning) as opposed to the dealer wanting $94, In all honesty it took me 30 minutes, no kidding. I thought it was pretty straight foward and simple. Just saying.

That sounds more like it...this flat rating is such a scam on cars!! I have a friend that works at a Lincoln dealership;get 1.4 hrs for changing a power window motor;;it takes him 20 minutes! So he can bill alot of hours and work leisurely!!

Flat rate isn't a scam, but it does suck.
Labor times take a few things into account that your average guy might not think of, not to mention, how many window regulators has your friend taken out before?
If you do it all the time it takes you less time. I can almost guarantee that it would take me a lot less time to replace the fuel tank on an XLR than it would for most of you.
Does that mean I should get paid less, because now experience has taught me how to do it faster?
Plus there is a law of averages at work. Sometimes one little thing will go wrong and it will take 2 hours instead of one but yet you still pay the same price.
In a way it is good, it helps level things out in some shops because some guys can beat the time while some cannot. If I hand a job off to an apprentice and it takes him MORE than the flat rate time do you want to pay that or should you pay the extra time because that it what it took? ;)

If you pay a guy the actual time that he spends then the dummy gets more money than the guy who's going to do it properly and quickly. That hardly seems fair.

Personally I hate flat rate, not because of why you might think but because I think I have reached a point in my career where my skills should have a certain value without me having to be required to produce a certain amount of work time to earn my check. Long story.
The Lindsays take care of me though so I am happy. ;)

Just food for thought.

Yes, I know your feelings; the last time I took a car in for work, it was a window motor on my Pontiac GP, and they got it done and as I drove it out of the dealership, I heard a funny rustling, and the Vapor barrier was still laying on the back seat! So someone had to do it over again. In this case it was warranty; I wonder if they double billed it!! I am sure it is hard to get good mechanics also!!! Just my thoughts having owned alot of different cars and been a few places in the business!

Nope you can't double bill warranty, GM is no more a sucker than you guys are.
That guy had to fix his eff up for free.
Granted, it is his fault but if he had pressure on him to hurry (as we often do) then he may have spaced on it.