| 7,500 Mile Service
- Click HERE for Original Thread
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| HrdTsk |
I am coming up on my 7,500 mile service. I have liked my MDX so far. So I pull out the 2003 MDX manual (pages 298-9) to get the official maintenance list from Acura.
I cannot find any 7,500 mile service due on the MDX other than oil change and tire rotation.
The first change of the VTM-4 rear differential fluid is due at 15,000 miles.
Am I missing something??
Below are 2 excellent links to discussions on the 7,500 mile service.
http://www.acuramdx.org/forums/show...62&pagenumber=1
http://www.acuramdx.org/forums/show...00+mile+service |
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| rudy331 |
| Not missing anything at all--you are right on target. Just had it done, but beware your dealer may still try to convince you that you should do the VTM now instead of waiting. The dealer I use actually didn't know that the '03 manual recommend it at 15,000. |
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| Allen Cichanski |
| We had an 87 Legend and the local dealer tried to increase the maintainence items and cost by about 5X over what the factory manual said the car needed. I finally called Acura and they said to stick with what the owner's manual said. All the extras the dealer said were necessary were just nonsense intended to increase the dealer's profit. I have a 03 Touring and intend to stick exactly to the owners manual including the 15K differential lube change. |
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| ndahbar |
Sorry to beat a dead horse...but yeah, I am certainly planning to whip out the 'ol manual at the dealership when I bring it in for oil change/tire rotate at 7500 miles when the service guy will undoubtedly say "you need VTM fluid changed".
I dunno if in the 2001/2002 the manual states 15K as well or 7500. |
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| BaldEagle |
| Wait till you get a quote from the dealer for charges for this oil change and tire rotation.:13: (and questionable inspections for a new vehicle) |
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| hammermdx |
quote:
Originally posted by ndahbar
Sorry to beat a dead horse...but yeah, I am certainly planning to whip out the 'ol manual at the dealership when I bring it in for oil change/tire rotate at 7500 miles when the service guy will undoubtedly say "you need VTM fluid changed".
I dunno if in the 2001/2002 the manual states 15K as well or 7500.
The 02 manual says 7500 for the first VTM change. |
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| HotlantaMDX |
I just had mine 7500 miles service done yesterday. The total with a bottle of touchup paint came out to be ~172 :( . What a ripped... :3: .
I feel that the $25 oil change is not too bad to let the dealer do it. I'll do the oil change myself when I decide to go with Mobil 1 Synthetic. But the major services, I may have to look else where from now on. |
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| zafer |
| The odd thing I haven't heard of before is that the 7500 mile service for the 2003 only requires an oil change, i.e. just the oil, not the filter :confused: The filter change is scheduled to be done at the 15000/1yr service. |
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| rjmitche |
quote:
Originally posted by ndahbar
Sorry to beat a dead horse...but yeah, I am certainly planning to whip out the 'ol manual at the dealership when I bring it in for oil change/tire rotate at 7500 miles when the service guy will undoubtedly say "you need VTM fluid changed".
I had this conversation with a service manager at the dealer the other day. Of course, he started by saying that I need the VTM fluid changed at 7500 miles. I calmly explained to him (before pulling out the manual) that this had been changed for the '03 MDXs and it isn't required until 15000 miles. He turned to another service tech and said "It's VTM at 7500 for all MDXs, right?"... to which the tech said "Yup." So... I took out the manual and showed him. He wasn't real interested in trying to decipher the actual Owner's Manual so he turned to his "magic Acura computer" and proceeded to type and read for several minutes. He then turned back to me and said... "oh yeah... that's right... the DID change it for the '03s but, given our severe climate and traffic we go by the severe schedule for all cars". When I questioned this he shrugged me off by saying "of course, you're the customer... you can do whatever you want."
Severe climate? :confused: I'm in the suburbs of Chicago... not south Florida or northern Canada!
Traffic? :confused: Granted we don't have the best traffic in the burbs but, it's not downtown Chicago, New York or LA either.
I may or may not decide to go with the severe schedule due to my driving patterns but, I hate it when the dealer tries to 'put one over' on the unsuspecting customer. Of course they'd apply the severe schedule whenever they can... it's more money in their pocket!
:3: |
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| hammermdx |
quote:
Originally posted by zafer
The odd thing I haven't heard of before is that the 7500 mile service for the 2003 only requires an oil change, i.e. just the oil, not the filter :confused: The filter change is scheduled to be done at the 15000/1yr service.
No filter change, that's ridiculous! |
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| hammermdx |
quote:
Originally posted by rjmitche
I had this conversation with a service manager at the dealer the other day. Of course, he started by saying that I need the VTM fluid changed at 7500 miles. I calmly explained to him (before pulling out the manual) that this had been changed for the '03 MDXs and it isn't required until 15000 miles. He turned to another service tech and said "It's VTM at 7500 for all MDXs, right?"... to which the tech said "Yup." So... I took out the manual and showed him. He wasn't real interested in trying to decipher the actual Owner's Manual so he turned to his "magic Acura computer" and proceeded to type and read for several minutes. He then turned back to me and said... "oh yeah... that's right... the DID change it for the '03s but, given our severe climate and traffic we go by the severe schedule for all cars". When I questioned this he shrugged me off by saying "of course, your the customer... you can do whatever you want."
Severe climate? :confused: I'm in the suburbs of Chicago... not south Florida or northern Canada!
Traffic? :confused: Granted we don't have the best traffic in the burbs but, it's not downtown Chicago, New York or LA either.
I may or may not decide to go with the severe schedule due to my driving patterns but, I hate it when the dealer tries to 'put one over' on the unsuspecting customer. Of course they'd apply the severe schedule whenever they can... it's more money in their pocket!
:3:
Jeez, "Another dirtbag dealer"! |
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| zafer |
quote:
Originally posted by hammermdx
No filter change, that's ridiculous!
7500 mile service: |
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| zafer |
quote:
Originally posted by hammermdx
No filter change, that's ridiculous!
15000 mile service : |
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| zafer |
| ...and thats the way it goes on, filter replacement is listed once every year or 15K miles :1pat: |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by zafer
...and thats the way it goes on, filter replacement is listed once every year or 15K miles :1pat:
Well, you leave lots of dirty ATF in the tranny if you follow Acrua's recommendations for change intervals, why should the engine be any different? I don't think they expect us to use OUR common sense. |
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| HotlantaMDX |
Here is the summary of charges for my 7500 miles service on 8/18/03.
Parts = $45.10
"Haz-Materials" = $5.68 (huh???)
Labor-Mechanical = $113.50 (for 1-1/1/2 hrs of work)
Sub-total = $164.28
Sales Tax = $3.16
Total = $167.44
bottle of touchup paint = $5.00
Sales Tax = $0.35
My overall total = $172.79 :mad: |
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| BruinMDX |
Just dropped of the MDX for the 7,500 maintenance service. Was very clear before I brought it in that I had an 03 and did not need the VTM fluid changed. When I brought the car in, the service manager asked if I needed the VTM fluid changed. I said no, the service manual says it is not required until the 15,000 mile service. I had the service manual marked and ready (thanks to this board). He was not argumenative, but said that they are told by "the factory" to perform VTM fluid change for all MDX's at 7,500, but since we are requesting not to have it done, they won't do it.
The "factory"? Who's the one that wrote the manual?
BTW - got a loaner. Surprised that they don't take the time to atleast do a superficial cleaning before the next customer receives the car. I'm not anal about these things, but when you get in the car and there are potato chip bags and other trash laying around, I think that's kind of substandard of what I thought Acura was. |
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| MDX350 |
| Acura gave you a loaner AND potato chips? They must be moving up the ladder!!!! I got neither. |
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| HotlantaMDX |
| Geeze, I had to wait for mine service. |
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| rjmitche |
quote:
Originally posted by HotlantaMDX
Here is the summary of charges for my 7500 miles service on 8/18/03.
Parts = $45.10
"Haz-Materials" = $5.68 (huh???)
Labor-Mechanical = $113.50 (for 1-1/1/2 hrs of work)
Sub-total = $164.28
Sales Tax = $3.16
Total = $167.44
bottle of touchup paint = $5.00
Sales Tax = $0.35
My overall total = $172.79 :mad:
What services did that $167.44 get you? |
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| HotlantaMDX |
From the receipt:
-Oil changed with filter replacement
-VTM fluid changed |
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| BruinMDX |
Just got the MDX back from the Acura service dept. Would you believe even after specifically asking them not to perform the VTM fluid change for my 03 MDX for the 7500 mile maintenance service, they still charged me for it?
I looked at the receipt it and there it was, $22.36 for VTM-4 Diff. Fluid. I just laughed. You gotta to be kidding me.
I got the service manager and they very apologitically corrected the mistake and said the VTM fluid was not changed.
I'm starting to wonder about Acura service. From the very beginning in scheduling this appointment, they've managed to cast a large shadow of doubt to whether they really know what they're doing with an 03 MDX.
Anyone know what WL Weight is? Unit price is $2.00. Total price $4.00 on the receipt. |
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| EXCALIBUR |
BruinMDX,
As Chick Hearn used to say, "No harm, no foul." At least you got a free VTM-Fluid change out of the deal. |
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| BruinMDX |
Ah yes, the legendary Chick Hearn.
The mustard is off this hotdog.
No, I didn't get a free VTM-fluid change out of the deal. That's the thing. They didn't perform the service because we asked them not to, but still charged us for it.
Not trying to be a "boo bird". Just finding it hard to believe this happened with Acura. Not a big deal in terms of major problems. As the saying goes, "It's all in the details". I just expected Acura to pay more attention to the details. I've never had to worry with my other Hondas or Toyotas.
They admitted their mistake and hopefully everything works out with the credits and all.
As Chick would say: It's over. The game's in the refrigerator, the door's closed, the light's out, the eggs are cooling, the butter's getting hard, and the jello's jiggling.:) |
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| EXCALIBUR |
BruinMDX,
My error. I did not read your original post carefully enough. I am glad you spotted the VTM-Fluid charge on your bill and did not have to pay for it.:4: |
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| JimH |
I just changed my VTM fluid today on my 2002 MDX at 8200 miles.
The fluid definitely needed changing and was not pristine as the new replacement fluid. I assume that is why they recommend the change for 2001/2002 models at 7500 miles. I also drove around the block and then topped it off w/ 4 more pumps from the sta-lube hand pump to get to the top of the fill-hole. For DIY, it is an easy
20-30 minute job from start to finish. |
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| zafer |
| When you do these things yourself, what proof do you have in case you're asked for records for a warranty claim? |
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| JimH |
| I keep a log of all work I do, and keep the receipts from Honda/Acura when I purchase transmission oil, VTM oil, washers, etc. I keep the receipts in a file folder. I have done this for all vehicles I have owned. |
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| zafer |
quote:
Originally posted by hammermdx
No filter change, that's ridiculous!
I found out why: it helps Acura reduce the published Cost-of-Ownership by requiring the filter be changed every other oil change. :headshake |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by zafer
I found out why: it helps Acura reduce the published Cost-of-Ownership by requiring the filter be changed every other oil change. :headshake
They can take that bit of lame advice and their promise of Nav updates and put them both in the same place....:3: |
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| andrewPDX |
I just took a rock to my rear transfer case which put a hole in it. I ended having to JB weld the thing and replacing the VTM-4 fluid myself. You wouldn't believe how easy it is.
Save yourself some money and do the VTM-4 replacement yourself. My total cost was
$24 for a gallon of VTM-4
$5 for a pump to get the VTM-4 fluid up into the rear transfer case.
Talk about serendipity. My car was due for the 7500 VTM-4 change anyways. I probably would have spent more letting the dealer do it if I hadn't had to get it taken care of immediately.
There's a lower drain plug you use a regular socket wrench (with no socket) to open. Then you put the plug back in and open the fill plug on top with the same socket wrench and pump VTM-4 fluid in until it's full. Takes about 3/4 gallon.
I circled the drain plug in the picture. The fill plug is above it. The hole you can see.
Andrew |
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| jswift2000 |
| Just got mine done for $69. Devan Acura in Norwalk rules. took a little longer than I wanted - 1.5 hours but cheap. |
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| jtdmdx |
Just had my 7500 done last week, I think I got the worst price I've seen posted on here $210.95 + tax! But hey, I got new wiper inserts in the deal .... I guess the new ones only work for 7500 miles and then you have to replace them! Here's the break down:
Brakleen 4.50
VTM-4 Fluid 16.55
Graphite/Fuel 13.50
14mm Washer .87
525mm rubber 5.66
600mm rubber 5.66
Oil Filter 8.92
18mm washer 2.47 (this one must be gold!)
20mm washer .89
5 qts 5w20 9.95
Total Parts 68.97
Labor 135.00
Haz Waster 2.07
Warranty work:
- replaced broken cable reel in steering wheel (rubbing noise)
- new gold emblems (the originals all pitted after 3 mths)
- new clips on pass rear door sill
- and the infamous brake clunking, was told they all do it!
Now that all the warranty stuff has been fixed, it's back to my local guy who only works on Honda & Acura's. |
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