Newbie Questions about servicing

[BamaCord]

Just purchased 05 Accord EX V6 from the original owner. The car has 95k mostly highway miles, which doesn't worry me in the least cause of the excellent service records. Not only did the owner keep a detailed records it also shows the same on carfax.

When they purchased the Accord they also got the 7 year 100K warranty. The car has been on the Honda service path since it was purchased, Even when the oil was changed it was done at the dealer.

My questions:

Since the oil has always been changed at the dealer, would it be advised to continue doing so? The window decal referring to oil change is Honda. The only info on decal is return date and mileage. No brand or weight of oil indicated. What would be recommended?

When I checked with the (2) dealerships who has serviced the car since it was new advised me of 100k plug change at cost of $200.00! I was so in shock I fail to ask if that included wires also! To me that sound very high for plug change! I realize servicing at dealership usually run about double the cost of a non-dealer repair shop. Any type of plugs be recommended over another brand? This is just a daily wife driver car.

Also the dealership advised me at 105k the timing belt change and valves adjusted. The quoted cost was $600.00! I agree with timing belt change, but if valves are not rattling or knocking why adjust them? I have 2 repair shops I always use. Each of the shops has always done an excellent job on any type of repair or service I've needed. Both said $300 or just over $300 to replace timing belt and both said the same about adjusting valves, if it's not broke don't fix it! But both agreed the changing of the timing belt.

Comments welcomed.

BamaCord

[Aviography]

The iridium plugs on the V6 aren't cheap, the 3 rear bank cylinders are not easy to get to, hence the expense, although I do not know if $200 is in the right range.

However you might as well get the valves adjusted while you are doing the timing belt, the additional labor charge shouldn't be excessive if the two shops can both do the timing belt change for $300, you may also want to consider changing the water pump at the same time since the bulk of the effort getting to the timeing belt is shared with getting to the water pump.

FredSVT, our resident expert mechanic will likely chime in with his thoughts.

And since we are no discussing a particular oil, I'm going to move this from Dluid Dynamic to Maintenance & Detailing subforum.

Welcome to DA.

[RTexasF]

If you have a trusted shop I see no reason to go to Honda. The spark plugs are iridium (around $15 each) and the back bank is a bear to access. There are no plug wires. Stick with what Honda says to use as far as the plugs, do not experiment. I believe that NGK and Denso brands are both used

I believe the water pump is changed at the same time as T belt since little more labor is involved. It would be considerably more expensive to replace the pump later. I recall something about a belt tensioner that is wise to replace at the same time. This is NOT the time to use after market parts. Use Honda parts.

Our local Honda Guru, FredSVT says that the valves can possibly tighten rather than loosen so they should be checked.......providing I am recalling what he said correctly. He will likely chime on during the week and give true technician's advice.

Honda recommends 5W20 oil only for that engine. If the dealer changed the oil that's what they used so continue with it.


EDIT: We both were thinking and typing the same thing but Aviography beat me to posting. Sick, UH, I mean great minds think alike, eh?

[BamaCord]

Thank you both for the advise given. The Internet is a wonderful tool to have! I'm a member at other types of forums and always receive trusted advise from world-wide people!

Thank you both for the quick mirrored reply. Very please to be a member of this DA Forum! Looking forward to other members comments as well as FredSVT for you both have referred to him as the Guru of Honda.

BamaCord

[BamaCord]

Thought I would share a few pics.

[Aviography]

Originally Posted by RTexasF

EDIT: We both were thinking and typing the same thing but Aviography beat me to posting. Sick, UH, I mean great minds think alike, eh?

RTF,

This is down-right scary!

[BamaCord]

New Belt $39.56 Idler pulley $118.00 Water Pump $136.10 Timing belt $64.53 All Honda Parts from local Dealership. How do these prices compare?

Thanks

[americanhero]

Looks like the previous owner kept the car clean. The leather seats are in excellent condition compared to what I had when I bought the used car.

Sorry if I missed it, but how much did you pay for the car?

[xJoeMama78]

Originally Posted by BamaCord

New Belt $39.56 Idler pulley $118.00 Water Pump $136.10 Timing belt $64.53 All Honda Parts from local Dealership. How do these prices compare?

Thanks

Parts look to be about retail price. I would find the parts online from hondaautomotiveparts.com, collegehillshonda.com, or one of the other online OEM parts dealers, print out the prices, and see if your dealer will match the prices or at least come down on the price a bit.

Like others have said, do the water pump and the tensioner at the same time that you have the timing belt done. To replace the water pump or tensioner you have to do all of the same labor that you have to do to change the timing belt. Basically if you change them at the same time you just pay for the parts for the water pump and tensioner and the labor is free.

[BamaCord]

xJoeMama: I followed the links you posted about the parts. College Hills Honda was $114.00 cheaper than my dealership. Have you are anyone here at the forum ever purchased from them? I'm also assuming these would be genuine Honda parts? Thank you for the links.

AmericanHero: The car is as if it's new. I was shocked myself when I seen the condition of the seats. Especially the driver's seat with 95k on car. The car was driven by the gentleman's wife daily, they're also without children too. Love children, but it's their job in growing up to destroy things! LOL I paid $9,800.00 plus the usual fees and taxes. If someone offer my money back I would have to turn them down. This car shows very little wear, loaded with all options, been on Honda's service path since purchased, owner's documentations and caxfax reflects this info as well as the history at dealership. One would be hard pressed to find another in equal condition for the money.

I feel once I get thru these service/maintenance mileage mark issues the car will be set for many miles before the next considerable amount of money will be needed to be spent.

One happy member of the Honda family! And really happy to be a member of this forum. People has taken their time to guide me down the correct path. Thanks!

[SatinSilver]

Lots of people on here have used College Hills Honda and they are top notch. Other good places are www.handa-accessories.com or www.Bernardiparts.com .

Kind of a test question to the indy shops is to ask them if they recommend replacing anything else other than the t-belt? If they don't suggest doing the water pump I would pass on them. You can also ask them what parts they will use. If they don't mention Honda parts I would pass also.

Other than all of the items mentioned above I would replace the pcv valve with an oem one as well. Its scheduled replacement is at 105k. There may even be two pcv valves on this engine..not sure???

Also check the condition of the atf fluid. Is it brown/black or pink to med. red? If you want to learn alot go to the search function and type in "fredsvt" in the username and click on the "maintenace and detailing" section and you can read up on some of Fred's posts.

[xJoeMama78]

Originally Posted by BamaCord

xJoeMama: I followed the links you posted about the parts. College Hills Honda was $114.00 cheaper than my dealership. Have you are anyone here at the forum ever purchased from them? I'm also assuming these would be genuine Honda parts? Thank you for the links.

I've personally purchased parts from College Hills and their service was top notch. They are a Honda dealer located in Ohio. Other dealers that happen to sell parts on-line are Carmichael Honda (handa-accessories.com) in California, and Majestic Honda (hondaautomotiveparts.com) in Rhode Island. They all sell genuine Honda parts.

[americanhero]

That's one heck of a deal on an ex model with navi and v6. Did you know the person who you bought this from because it seems like he/she let it go for cheap. Anyway, congrats.

[BamaCord]

Thanks again for everyone advise!

I did carry the car in for oil change yesterday at the dealership. I have got to share with everyone the treatment I received as well as the car! First, the dealership in the past three years totally rebuilt his showroom, service and repair buildings.

Top notch designs on buildings! The service area where typical general maintenance is done such as oil change, tire rotation, etc. is done is totally separate from you major repair area.

You enter into what I would call a staging area. Here you are greeted with a customer service personal with hand held computer keying in the vehicle vin number for history service records. Then you're escorted to a well kept waiting room during the service work is being done. Once the oil change was completed the keys were returned to me and the charge was paid. When I arrive at my car it was freshly washed at no charge, I understand it's just part of the oil change service! What more could a customer ask for at a cost of $34.95!