Rep Power: 350

Well cost me about $350. [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif[/IMG] But runs smoother now. Runs like new again! Worth it. I would do it with regular shop but I want the Honda certified mechanics. Oh well... [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/IMG]

 
Rep Power: 328

what did they do for $350? is it really worth it going there everytime your light comes on? i think their just trying to scam us.

 
Rep Power: 0

I really think if you can find a good dealer the hondamechs are good. Here in cali it took me a long time, but I found Larry Hopkins. They just did my 10 k maintenance, yeah, it was a 100 bucks, but they re adjusted my brakes, tranny, and made my car run a little richer for my intake (yeah, they helped with a mod!) and the car all around felt like a different car when it was done. Also, if you look in your owners manual they say to change the oil but not the filter, well, they threw in a filter on mine. Ask around, find a good dealer, and it will be worth it.

 
Rep Power: 0

expensive [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-frown.gif[/IMG]

 
Rep Power: 0

They just pretty much oil everything.

 
Rep Power: 0

Dealerships charge A LOT for regular maintenance. Basically with a 20k, a dealership will:

- change the oil + filter
- rotate tires (balancing will cost extra)
- inspect the brakes (replace if worn)
- add BG fuel additive to the fuel tank (supposed to clean the fuel injectors)
- inspect the air filter (replace if dirty)

At every 15k, manual transmissions get their fluid changed (Honda cars '95 and up should use Honda MTF, earlier cars just use regular motor oil). At every 30k, automatic transmissions get their fluid changed and the A/C filter is changed out (all cars).

There is a lot of other stuff listed in the Helm's manual that dealerships are supposed to do, like check to see if the belt tension is within specs, inspect the exhaust system for leaks, make sure certain bolts are tight, etc. We do inspect the underside of the car (including the exhaust system) to make sure everything is ok and nothing is about to fall off. But I've done plenty of 20k services for master techs and I've never physically checked belt tension or lubricated the hinges or grease or done anything else besides what I've listed above (don't blame me - I'm under strict orders to follow whatever the master tech wants me to do).

A typical service usually pays the technician about 1.1 to 1.5 hrs of flag time, even though it takes about half an hour to complete. If it was my car, I'd just do all of this stuff on my lunch break and use the service lifts at work. If you don't have access to a car lift, just take your car to Discount Tire / America's Tire to do a free tire rotation and inspect/replace everything yourself. If you need OEM brake pads or air filters, just e-mail me (aaronechang@email.com). I can buy all Honda/Acura OEM parts at pretty much cost (a hella lot cheaper than they sell it to customers).

Bottom line - regular interval maintenance is important to do, but dealerships charge way too much to do them.

 
Rep Power: 425

oil - self
Check brakes- will they really go in 20k?
Fuel additive - I thought we weren't supposed to put that stuff in? But if so, you can get that at Autozone.
Check airfilter - K&N, oh well no need to do that.
Rotate tires - self, or can get rebalanced at tire store for not too much money.
Gosh... it really is worthless.

 
Rep Power: 0

About brake wear - you'd be surprised at how many cars with < 10k I see whose brake pads are literally gone. But these cases are usually in the minority, although if you do a lot of stop and go driving it would be a good idea to check the brake pads every 7k or so. I personally don't put any fuel or engine additives into my car, but at our dealership we put the BG stuff in on almost all of the maintenance services (supposedly it works pretty well).

On some of the higher mileage services we do stuff like replace the brake fluid and drain/replace the coolant. But at 20k, there's really not much to do.

 
Rep Power: 0

For $350, the dealership bent you over and had their way with your wallet. Unless you make a lot of money at what you do for a living, it's probably your best bet to do most of that stuff yourself... at least I do. But some people would rather trust their car with a technician to do basic maintanance, your call

 
Rep Power: 0

Okay, where do you get a 20,000 mile service?

On the Honda Owner Link page they say an 18,750 mile and a 22,500 mile, but no 20,000 mile...

Check it out...


OWNER LINK, 2001 Honda CIVIC LX SEDAN

 
Rep Power: 420

htowncivicEX: Good info. Props. [IMG]i/expressions/beer_yum.gif[/IMG]

 
Rep Power: 0

I don't have an OwnerLink account (and I'm too lazy to register) so I can't check out the link. The Helm's manual recommends major service at every 10k interval, with oil changes at every 5k for severe driving conditions. Every time we have to do a scheduled maintenance on a car, there is a checklist attached to the service ticket that lists everything we're supposed to do. So we go off of that list, not what's listed in the Helm's manual or OwnerLink or anywhere else. Just FYI.

 
Rep Power: 0

I do mine myself.
I did everything for cost of stuff.

 
Rep Power: 0

i dont know what ill be doing with my 20000 mile service (which is approaching) somehow i think that even if i tell them not to change my oil they will do it anyway and screw up my car bigtime (because i use AMSOIL full synth) as far as the brakes, in my experience when brakes need replacement they make this loud scretching noise, and i always change my brakes myself. i will never pay that much $ for regular service.


fire

 
Rep Power: 0

You know why your brakes make that loud screeching noise when they get worn? It's because there's is a metal clip on one of the disc brake pads that is set at a certain height/depth. When the pad is worn down to that level, the rotor physically rubs against this clip, producing the screeching sound. At this point, your brake pad is already dangerously low. So I would advise anyone to check their brake pads regularly and replace them BEFORE it gets this low.

If you start hearing the screeching noise and continue driving with it, and then all of a sudden the screeching noise stops, then you are REALLY screwed. This means that the brake pad has worn through entirely (including the metal clip) and the rotor has nothing to rub against anymore!

 
Rep Power: 0

Well if there is something you would prefer the technician NOT to do, just mention it and I can guarantee you we will make sure not to do it
[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG]. Technicians are paid the same for a particular job (a set number of 'flag hours') no matter how long it really takes. For example, an A/C installation will pay a technician 4 flag-hours. Most experienced technicians can finish this job in about 2.5 physical hours, so they come out ahead. If it takes them more than 4 physical hours, they end up losing money. On the other hand, an installation of a hard top on an S2000 pays 8 flag-hours and actually takes 8 physical hours to complete, so there's not a lot of money to be made doing it. So if you don't want an oil change done as part of a regular maintenance, well that cuts the time to complete the maintenance in half for us. $$ Cha-ching! $$

Anyways, if you prefer the technician using Amsoil synthetic oil, just bring it to the dealership and give it to them and we'll be happy to put it in for you. We really do try to perform a quality and thorough job for the customer and honestly we're not the ones trying to rip people off. Just remember that technicians don't make up these ridiculous prices on service (that's up to the dealership and the service manager); we just do the work that's asked of us.

 
Rep Power: 0

Sorry I flipped the two around - automatics get their tranny fluid changed out every 15k, manuals get their tranny fluid changed out every 30k.

 
Rep Power: 0

Hey htowncivic, I just e-mailed about an OEM part. Let me know asap.
P.S. are you the htown that put the rsx s engine into ur car?