First Honda Dealership Experience...Questions About Recommendations

[davidg4781]

Saturday I took my '06 Accord to my local dealership to have the AT fluid drained and filled. They got me in very fast and I was leaving the dealership about 45 minutes later. I also paid $10 extra to have them do a check up around the car since it's a new purchase with a lot of miles on it.

The good... Fast, friendly service. 5% off because of a Foursquare check in. Got a free quick car wash. I was told I'd get 10% off future visits because I was one of their customers, but the quote page I got had 15% off any recommended service within the next 14 days. And pricing seemed to line up with other shops. Firestone Complete Auto Care would charge $20-25 for a checkup and I've seen transmission fluid service for around $100.

The concerns... They found three issues with my car and suggested I take care of them.

Brake Flush - had 4% moisture, they said Honda recommends no more than 1%.

Spark Plugs - I have 114k miles on it and they should have been replaced.

Coolant Service - 6 year old car with 114k miles, should have been replaced.

They did say the coolant looked dirty. Since it was the first time it was at this dealership, they had no record of any of this service being performed. They said the spark plugs they can check to see if they're new before replacing. This is something I can do myself, but I think I need a torque wrench?

I'm not sure if I can do the coolant. I've done it before on other cars, but I had the luxury of doing it at my own home and living in a town with an auto parts store. Right now I live in an apartment and we can't do any major auto work on our cars. I also live about 45 minutes to an O'Reilly's and a little over an hour to a Honda Dealership. This is also the only car, so I'd have to get someone to give me a ride.

So, thoughts on their recommended service? Car's running great, but I want to make sure it stays that way.

[2006accord4]

Spark plugs you can do on your own in any parking lot in a 10 - 15 mins. Just get that cover off, unbolt the coil packs and unscrew the spark plugs. I wouldn't even bother buying a torque wrench just for it. I have a digital one that goes that low to the specs but its overkill. Hand tighten.

Draining coolant is the same on most cars. Unscrew that white plastic tab and drain away. You need a driveway for that. But you don't need to jack up your car if you buy a low enough pan.

[ikethegreat]

All three services probably need to be done and all three are really easy to DIY. The brake fluid change might be hard to do with you being in an apartment though, but not the other two.

[davidg4781]

I've never done any kind of service with my brakes.

As for the rest, I might wait until I take a mini vacation in a week or so. I'm planning to visit my mom so I can do it there.

For the coolant, do they just do a drain and fill or do they do a back flush and get everything cleaned out? I was taking my old car to a radiator shop that charged something like $60 to flush and fill with Prestone coolant. I'm just wondering if that would be worth my time.

[cnisenbaum]

Brake fluid change every 3 years irrespective of mileage.
I would use Honda coolant and brake fluid.

[2006accord4]

[davidg4781]

Ahh, yes, I will be using Honda fluids.

[davidg4781]

So no removing hoses or power back flushing anything?

Seems easy enough. How many jugs of coolant would I need? I'm going to Austin on Thursday. It looks like I'll need 2. What do I do with the extra? Just keep it around in case I have a leak or something?

[Mitchell]

Originally Posted by davidg4781

What do I do with the extra? Just keep it around in case I have a leak or something?

I kept mine and have topped it off here and there in the last year. As far as I know coolant isnt like brake fluid - it doesnt obsorb moisture, so it should be fine to leave around until you need more.

[yi3o8]

I would go for the torque wrench and OEM plugs, people have had issues with spark plugs causing damage, so I wouldn't risk it.

Also, don't forget to do it on a cool engine, like in the morning before starting the engine.

For the coolant, will you need to change out the water pump/timing belt?

[CarlR33]

Originally Posted by davidg4781

So no removing hoses or power back flushing anything?

Seems easy enough. How many jugs of coolant would I need? I'm going to Austin on Thursday. It looks like I'll need 2. What do I do with the extra? Just keep it around in case I have a leak or something?

Nope, drain and refil. Get the Honda fluid as it is nearly the same price as aftermarket fluid. Keep the second jug for future use.

[davidg4781]

Sounds easy enough. What's the purpose of turning the car on just to turn on the heater? Is that to open the heater core valves things so more coolant is flowing around or can drain?

Also, how easy is it to remove and reinstall the reverse (reserve?) tank? I'm not at my car right now but I'm hoping it's a simple bolt on job.

[CarlR33]

Originally Posted by davidg4781

Sounds easy enough. What's the purpose of turning the car on just to turn on the heater? Is that to open the heater core valves things so more coolant is flowing around or can drain?

Also, how easy is it to remove and reinstall the reverse (reserve?) tank? I'm not at my car right now but I'm hoping it's a simple bolt on job.

most likely. reserve tank is one or two bolts. you can see the one on top in the diagram above. easy removal. If your really dont want to remove the tank pull out the old fluid with a turkey baster. preferably not the one your wife uses for cooking.

[JOCKs]

Originally Posted by davidg4781

Brake Flush - had 4% moisture, they said Honda recommends no more than 1%.

Spark Plugs - I have 114k miles on it and they should have been replaced.

Coolant Service - 6 year old car with 114k miles, should have been replaced.

Brake fluid replacement should be fairly easy. Remove as much old fluid from the reservoir as possible with a turkey baster and top it off with new fluid. Bleed from the furthest wheel to closest (distance from the brake master cylinder). You can do one wheel at a time, times like these you'll wish Honda put in bottle jacks instead of those obnoxious wind-up jacks

Spark plugs don't "need" to be torqued, buts its good practice. Just don't over tighten or leave them loose. Torquing is 100% need when you have to have even pressure between two mating surfaces (ie head to block, intake manifold/exhaust, wheels etc). If you can afford one, get a torque wrench.

Id recommend getting 3/8" tools if your starting from scratch. 3/8" torque wrench, extension, spark plug socket. 1/2" breaker bar and impact sockets if the missus wont whip you

Originally Posted by yi3o8

For the coolant, will you need to change out the water pump/timing belt?

For a major service yes, if you bought the car used without service history i would recommend it also.

[davidg4781]

I don't have a timing belt, my car has a chain, so nothing there. As far as the water pump, I may wait until I change the accessory belt, if it's needed at that time.

And I have some tools already so I can do that work myself. I don't think I'll do the brakes though. I've never messed with them and don't want to goof something up right now.