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Hi. I love my Civic. But unfortunately my car ignorance makes me tasty prey for the mechanics. I'm not having any problems. Tires/Breaks are new. So, what's a reasonable price for each of the following to be checked/replaced. (metro detroit area)

tranny fluid flush and fill
coolant flush and fill
power steering flush and fill
break fluid flush and fill
replace timing belt
replace water pump
replace cabin filters
Maybe turn blasted maintenance light off that's been on since 10,000 miles
Anything else?

Thanks!

 
Rep Power: 811

$50 each for coolant and trans fluid. most fluid changes will be around $50, brake fluid maybe a bit more. timing belt around $500 including water pump for labor, maybe extra $150 for parts. cabin filters maybe $40, only takes 1 minute to change behind glove box. some of these things you can do yourself, i would read around the forums cause most of these things you can do yourself fairly easily for much cheaper.

 
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you can turn that maintenance light off by yourself.

1. put the key in the ignition (don't turn)
2. hold the trip button
3. while holding the trip button turn the key to the ON position
4. wait 10 seconds.
5. light should be reset

also honda wanted to charge me $850 for the timing belt. i did it myself...

 
Rep Power: 291

I think you gotta go to trip 2 before holding the trip reset

And OP,
You can do ALL fluid changes yourself for under $100 bucks, cabin filter change is like a $15~20 DIY, takes literally 2 minutes, just open a cover, take out original filters, and replace.

Timing belt and water pump should be done together, if you're not mechanically inclined, get a shop to do it for ~$500

 
Rep Power: 285

If you've gone 70,000 miles with the maintenance light on, and you can't figure out how to turn it off you prob shouldn't DIY anything.

Don't have a trans flush done, a complete trans fluid change often leads to problems with the transmission slipping. Just have a trans fluid change done with each of your next four oil changes, and make sure they only use Honda fluids.

 
Rep Power: 291

LOL probably....

Maintenance light = engine oil basically

I dont even wanna know how black and thick that oil is gonna be.

Engine sludge!

 
Rep Power: 352

the only that you should prob take it in is the timing belt/waterpump.

those require u to know a bit more than the average bear.


let us ask you a question....

1. do u have tools at home
(like hand tools, sockets, JACK stands, hydrolic jack...etc)
2. have u ever dont work on ur car (it could be change ur oil, change ur spark plugs, rotate ur tires?....etc)

 
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Wow. Awesome forum. People actually respond. Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I'll see if I can manage to put the key in, hold trip2 in (or 1), turn key, wait 10 secs. That will be the about the extent of my car labor in my lifetime. haha. My dad's a car genius. Unfortunately, the apple tree was on a very steep hill for this stuff. I have been keeping up with the oil changes though.

thanks again.

 
Rep Power: 352

if u have basic tools + jack stands + jack, then you can do everything yourself...except for the timing belt. u need to know a little bit more for that.

if u HAVE to take it to the mech shop, i would BUY the stuff first, then take it to the mech shop and have em install it for you. that way, they can only charge you labor and not the parts (timing belt, power steering belt, AC belt, water pump +seals, tensioner.....all this needs to be done at the time because it is all in the same area.

 
Rep Power: 352

this is an example of a timing belt kit for: 2001-2005 civic EX/LX

$110 shipped (doesnt include tensioner. but tensioner doesnt really needa be replace unless it goes bad. i replaced mine when i did my timing belt JUST to get it over and done with.....peace of mind thing)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HONDA...Q5fAccessories


$160 with tensioner, tension spring...and a few more goodies

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HONDA...Q5fAccessories


shop around. honda recommends you change your timing belt and all other belts around 100k

 
Rep Power: 0

Like everyone else has said:

tranny fluid : no flush, basically an oil change. DIY
Coolant flush: just as easy as an oil change, just takes longer cause you have to flush. Get a haynes manual and DIY.
Power steering: no flush, pretty easy to DIY, although it rarely needs to be done.
Brake Fluid: This isnt very hard either, but you do have to jack the car up and remove the wheels, a hand vacuum pump is a great tool for brake bleeding, makes it way easier they're $25 at harbor freight.

Timing belt and associated parts: Probably not a DIY if you dont work on cars all the time, I highly recommend a reputable shop that works on Hondas or a dealer.

I used to live in Metro Detroit and am up there quite frequently. If you dont do the tranny, power steering, brake fluid and coolant by yourself, most quick oil change places can do it (Uncle Eds have good service personnel and prices)

For the timing belt: You may want to ask Jeffrey Honda in Roseville, I used to get parts there and thought they had good prices, I did get a discount though.