[Cilles]

I drive a lot (or used to and will again) and have always felt that dealer service was better. Maybe because in San Jose I had a really good dealer who took good care of me and never pushed things I didn't need. In Santa Cruz I don't trust this dealer and am thinking I'll not go back after this.

Part of it seems to be a shift from Honda about maintenance. When I had my 2010 Pilot I went by codes that came up on dash and that was it, rarely more, never less. I got 300k out of it. Now dealer, and seemingly Honda, have things that should be done every 30k/60k/etc. like long ago and not just the codes that come up.

1. What do people think about dealer vs 3rd party for regular service? I'd still go to dealer for any warranty or recall work.

2. What do people think about getting only codes that come up on dash serviced vs. other service.

3. See pic below, I know things are more expensive in California, and more so in the bay area. I accept that. But the prices below seem really high even so.

4. What do people think about the added things there? I think the add ons beyond the minimum are hokey and totally not needed (and I didn't get them).

Thanks for your opinions and info. I always find the discussions here helpful.

 

[ProdGirl]

Did you go to the Honda on Steven’s Creek in SJ?
I went there for an airbag failure on my 2006 CRV in 2019 while working up there for 9 months.
They fixed the airbag, but the next day I had a dead battery and one dead headlight...coincidence?
If you have another dealer you like, it’s a 30 mile drive from SC to SJ. You are only going once in a while.

Anyway, I only go to a dealer for an expensive warranty or recalls if the recalls are urgent, otherwise I go to an independent father & son Honda & Acura shop in HB. I looked and asked them, there wasn’t anyone in SJ they recommend or I could find.

 

[HarveyW]

My recommendation: Follow the MM, it will tell you when and what services need to be done. Lots of dealers have "recommended" services because the make a lot of money off of "Above and Beyond" Honda Corp MM service. You should never pay to have stuff inspected. Those inspections should be done whenever the standard MM services are being done.

Their upgrades seem to be questionable upsell, unless they are not putting in the Honda Fully Synthetic engine oil that is should have come from the factor with.

The MOA they want to add is BG Advanced Formula MOA Oil Supplement 11oz Can PN 115

Here is what Honda says from the manual:

CF5 is the BG CF5® fuel system cleaner. If you are using Top Tier gasoline then I see no value to the BG. Now don't get me wrong. BG products are high quality product. In fact I have used them for years as BG is headquartered where I live. But I question the need for them at this point in the game.

As for the Mass Air Flow Sensor Cleaning, that is a job that if you can boil water, then you can DIY for a whole lot less money.

 

[Cilles]

Did you go to the Honda on Steven’s Creek in SJ?
I went there for an airbag failure on my 2006 CRV in 2019 while working up there for 9 months.
They fixed the airbag, but the next day I had a dead battery and one dead headlight...coincidence?
If you have another dealer you like, it’s a 30 mile drive from SC to SJ. You are only going once in a while.

Anyway, I only go to a dealer for an expensive warranty or recalls if the recalls are urgent, otherwise I go to an independent father & son Honda & Acura shop in HB. I looked and asked them, there wasn’t anyone in SJ they recommend or I could find.

No, Stevens Creek Honda are jerks. I went to Larry Hopkins Honda - now Percy Honda as they bought them out. Not sure service is as good as it used to be, I don't live near them any more.

 

[Cilles]

Thanks for all that. MM = Maintenance Manual? How does one get that? Sounds like more than the manual that came with the car.

I figure this is last time at this dealer but it has been mostly sitting for a year so getting those fluids changed isn't a bad idea. A couple were coming up on the indicator inside for due in just a few thousand miles.

 

[HarveyW]

Thanks for all that. MM = Maintenance Manual? How does one get that? Sounds like more than the manual that came with the car.

I figure this is last time at this dealer but it has been mostly sitting for a year so getting those fluids changed isn't a bad idea. A couple were coming up on the indicator inside for due in just a few thousand miles.

MM=Maintenance Minder. Page 563 in the OM (Owners Manual) It explains the system and what all of the various codes and sub-codes mean.

The BG CF5 is a good fuel system cleaner, and you could easily add it with each oil change, BUT you can do it yourself. It is one of those DIY services you can do even if you can't boil water. Open the can, use the emergency fuel funnel in the vehicle and pour it into a full tank of gas.

Amazon.com: BG CF5 Fuel System Treatment : Automotive

Buy BG CF5 Fuel System Treatment: Fuel Additives - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

 

[ProdGirl]

No, Stevens Creek Honda are jerks. I went to Larry Hopkins Honda - now Percy Honda as they bought them out. Not sure service is as good as it used to be, I don't live near them any more.

Yeah, they denied being the reason my headlight stopped working or killed the battery.
Thankfully, O‘Reilly in Sunnyvale ordered the parts and my work guys helped me swap it out.
I‘m sure they left the lights on overnight to kill it and the battery so they could get more service work out of me.

 

[Louuuuu]

Let me just say that those of us east of the Rockies and west of New England are floored by those prices!

Jed, move away from there!

 

[XBOX]

Not sure of your model. The minimum category might be a fair dealer price for all those services ( I'm in New England ), but I don't think they are all necessary at 30K. For example, the transmission fluid scheduled replacement interval isn't 30K on the AWD's like on some of the Honda transmissions - they use synthetic fluid. Differential fluid was due around 15K and then its every 30K thereafter unless your driving in extreme conditions. Not sure how long ago that 2019 was manufactured but seems a little early to worry about brake fluid exchange. ... and all those additives? I'd just put gas in it and follow the maintenance minder messages.

 

[Cilles]

Yeah, they denied being the reason my headlight stopped working or killed the battery.
Thankfully. O‘Reilly on in Sunnyvale ordered the parts and my work guys helped me swap it out.
I‘m sure they left the lights on overnight to kill it and the battery so they could get more service work out of me.

Maybe by accident, I don't credit them with that much forethought

 

[HarveyW]

Not sure of your model. The minimum category might be a fair dealer price for all those services ( I'm in New England ), but I don't think they are all necessary at 30K. For example, the transmission fluid scheduled replacement interval isn't 30K on the AWD's like on some of the Honda transmissions - they use synthetic fluid. Differential fluid was due around 15K and then its every 30K thereafter unless your driving in extreme conditions. Not sure how long ago that 2019 was manufactured but seems a little early to worry about brake fluid exchange. ... and all those additives? I'd just put gas in it and follow the maintenance minder messages.

I'm not to sure that the transmission fluid isn't a 30K service only based on past Honda history. The manual states for transmission fluid under the severe conditions: (#3 under the MM section.)

"If you drive primarily in urban areas that have high concentrations of soot in the air from industry and
from diesel-powered vehicles, replace every 15,000 miles (24,000 km)."

From past history Honda has usually recommended severe condition maintenance for such things as transmission fluid, differential fluid etc. to be changed at half the normal service life. If that is true here, and I am not emphatically stating that it is, then 30K would be the normal service life for the ATF fluid.

Maybe someone who has surpassed 30K and follows the MM can tell us if they had a 3 code to change the ATF fluid or not.

 

[pshadoa]

Stay away from "Treatments" and "Conditioners". I would also stay away from any dealer that recommends those two items!

 

[XBOX]

From past history Honda has usually recommended severe condition maintenance for such things as transmission fluid, differential fluid etc. to be changed at half the normal service life. If that is true here, and I am not emphatically stating that it is, then 30K would be the normal service life for the ATF fluid.

Agreed. My previous Odyssey and Pilot had Honda transmission service intervals at 30K. I noticed those transmissions seemed to get squirrely every 25k, then smoothed out after fluid changes. My thought was that all current generation Passports had the German transmission using the synthetic $25 per quart fluid. I read somewhere the interval for those were around 90K. Some other manufacturers that use them - like Jeep considered them lifetime fluids. Either way, I am on board with your previous advice to the original poster to follow the MM codes and sub-codes for scheduled service.

 

[carpayments4life]

Cilles...These items are basic service items and do not require an ASE Certified Tech. Many, many of them are just visual inspections.

Use Facebook and find a local Honda Car Club, get on there and ask where you should go for basic fluid changes. Ask who has done a good job at a fair price.

You will probably find a Honda Tech working little jobs on their days off, for pocket change. They usually get an employee discount and will pass it along to you. You can ask the tech to tell you how much of each of the following you need:

Rear Diff/Dual Pump Fluid ii 08200-9007 $7.63/qt
Rear Diff drain plug washer 18mm 90471-px4-000 $2.52 ea
20mm Washer 94109-20000 $0.82 ea
Front Transfer Case Fluid 08200-9014 $19.99/qt
ATF-Type3 Transmission Fluid 08200-9017 $23.63/qt
OEM oil filter 15400-PLM-A02 $4.91 ea or a K&N Premium Filter HP1010 $11.29
Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic oil 0w-20 $21.97 for the 5 qt jug
You'll also need a one qt smaller jug of Pennzoil Platinum 0w-20 oil, because the Passport takes 5.5 qts of oil when you change the oil filter.

 

[Cilles]

Good idea on the car club

 

[carpayments4life]

The Honda community, on Facebook is very helpful. I had my kid find a couple of independents for me and when she had a fender bender, she used her city's club to find an excellent body shop.