ok, time for the 30k service, and would prefer to use our local ( quality ) garage instead of the dealer for convenience & $$ savings. The schedule states to tighten the drive shaft bolt, any ideas on the specs or if this is truly needed?
Or is this something that really should be handled at the dealer, regardless of all the "extras" they try to push? Note ours has the sc if that matters any.
thx

 

The tC doesn't have a driveshaft. A driveshaft what carries the torque from the engine to the rear wheel differential. Since we have a front wheel drive car, our 'driveshaft' is the cv-axle. No, the bolts don't need to be tightened (unless there is an issue). You can have it all checked so you can sleep better at night, but I doubt it's worth the money. You should hear the crap that the dealers try to sell. After 20K, my dealer called me and said that its time for a throttle body cleaning!...

 

yeah, i know we don't have actual drive shafts, just going off the terminology in the manual. After talking with rep again, it's a basic check up while the car is in the air.
But yes, it can be amazing what they wanna sell; i'll follow a manu's suggestions if needed for warranty, but i sure don't follow what the dealers would like to have done each time. thx

 

So what's your real concern? The service doesn't have to be done at a dealer in order to maintain the warranty, it simply has to be performed somewhere by someone, even yourself. Just give them the list from the owner's manual of what's supposed to be checked, make sure they check it all and document it, keep your receipt and you should be fine. If you're going to a competent shop, they'll know what bolts to check pertaining to the drivetrain.

Oh, and Happy B-Day! Always great to see other boomers here too. :D

What did they say when you mentioned that's not in the list of required maintenance items?
I don't want to go anywhere that they feel ok about pressure selling me something that's not needed.

 

no real concerns, just that was the first front driver i've seen "require" that work to be done at 30k ( and we've owned plenty of cars ) so i wanted to get some opinions from the tc owners here, many who do their own work. And i don't wanna sound like a lazy slob as in the "old" days i wouldn't think of taking my car anywhere for service...... but that was when simple tweaking could keep the big **** motors purring, engine bays ( usually ) had plenty of space, and there were no computers to mess with. A simple twist of the distributor, a turn of a screw on the carbs, and away you went. Now i'd rather not take a chance and mess up something ( and have the wife slam me for futzing up her car )...