| SLagrec1 |
Took the '02 MDX for the 45K maintenance. Specifically for the trans fluid change. Dealer says, because we live in Detroit area, we should be following the SEVERE MAINTENANCE schedule. Seems we're in the same climate zone and conditions as Canada.
Over the decades I've had vechicles serviced by various domestic and foreign dealers. First time I've heard that. Figured it's the lastest dealer tactic. Anyone else getting this line? (As an aside, the service manager had an attitude so I left w/o getting anything done.)
After searching the forum for some time I've got a couple other questions:
Other posts say to drain/refill it 3x yourself. Is Honda ATF-Z1 for $4.50 a good price?
http://www.manhonda.com/ap/index.cf...FTOKEN=43963312
I've no service manual and haven't looked for the drain plug yet. Easy to find?
Thanks in advance, Steve |
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| hammermdx |
Sounds like your dealer is trying to line their pockets with your money. What kind of driving do you do....a lot of short trips, constant stop and go traffic? These have more to do with following the severe schedule than the ambient temp in my opinion.
I've paid about $3 a quart for the ATF, the drain is real easy to do, do a search and there are detailed instructions here. The fill is a little more tricky if you have done the ATF Jet recall. It is a real pain to get to the fill plug, I have found it easier to go through the dipstick with a long funnel and turkey baster.
http://acuramdx.org/forums/showthre...tf+fluid+change |
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| shootist |
| ALL dealers everywhere will tell youi that their area is special, and requires the severe maintenance schedule. The manufacturer tells you the exact circumstances that require the severe maintenance schedule. It's in the owner's manual. Living in Detroit's climate is not included. |
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| richkuan |
Follow the severe schedule = double the profit.....
That's why all the dealers by any means push (actually threaten sometimes) drivers that his car falls into severe driving condition. Things I have heard used for this trick include "cold winter", "bad air quality in metro area", "pollen too high", "goegraphically you are in severe driving condition area", "hot and humid summer", etc. Almost anything will be used to convenience you that you need to follow the severe schedule and come to visit the dealer twice per month.
The driving condition has little to do with where you are located and what weather it is. Read the manual, it explains pretty clearly. I would say 99.9% of all MDX owners are driving under normal condition.
Following the maintenance schedule in the manual is already way way enough to take good care of your car. If you really would like to take extra care, change the oil more frequently, say 3000-5000 miles, like what I do myself, that's all you need. I would say anything else would be un-necessary. Just follow the manual. |
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| screbr |
This is an interesting thread - especially reviewing past discussions on ATF maintenance.
What are folks doing these days with their newer MDX's? Are you waiting until 30K for your first ATF change, or taking a more conservative approach with 15K interval? I did my 15K maintenance a month ago, but just addressed oil and VTM fluids. Now I'm thinking maybe a single flush/fill of the ATF might be a good idea, with the 3x flush at 30K?
Is there a good way to check the current ATF fluid without doing the drain? |
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| SLagrec1 |
Thank you all for responding. Confirms what I suspected about Dealer propaganda. Thanks too for the link -- I found several but somehow missed that one. I'm ready to go the 3x + turkey baster route.
Any advice on where to get ATF fluid for $3? |
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| hammermdx |
quote:
Originally posted by SLagrec1
Thank you all for responding. Confirms what I suspected about Dealer propaganda. Thanks too for the link -- I found several but somehow missed that one. I'm ready to go the 3x + turkey baster route.
Any advice on where to get ATF fluid for $3?
Try your local Honda dealer, they are usually cheaper than Acura and it's the same exact fluid. |
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| G. COLTON |
quote:
Originally posted by hammermdx
Try your local Honda dealer, they are usually cheaper than Acura and it's the same exact fluid.
What do you do when your Acura and Honda parts department are the same window?
G |
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| ardvarkus |
quote:
Originally posted by G. COLTON
What do you do when your Acura and Honda parts department are the same window?
G
Ask for honda parts!
Actually the fluid is "Honda ATF Z1", sold by honda or acura dealers.
Ditto to the comments about dealers claiming it is 'severe'... I was told that due to the "sacramento heat" all MDXs in the sacto valley are supposed to use severe service. (Nevermind that there are 30-40 days a year over 100F... this makes the other 310 days severe?!?)
Good move on the 3x exchange- Honda never believed in atf changes... silly that motor oil they have at 3750 mile intervals, yet ATF they let in there for 10x as long... |
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| SLagrec1 |
LOL, the dealer rep who claims Sacramento heat must have gone to the same class as the my guy. Part of his justification was that Detroit is "farther north than Windsor, Ontario". While that's technically correct we're hardly in the same climate zone as a Toronto, Nova Scotia or Edmonton.
FYI, my local Honda dealer, Troy Honda, also charges $4.50 per qt. At least I don't have to order it :) |
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| socalJD |
quote:
Originally posted by G. COLTON
What do you do when your Acura and Honda parts department are the same window?
G
Tell him you're buying parts for your Pilot - therefore use the Honda pricelist and not the Acura . . . |
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| screbr |
| I called around to the dealers in Denver metro, and $5.50 is the prevailing cost / qt for both Honda and Acura, with one exception - the Honda dealership closest to my house quoted $6.88/qt - what are they thinking??? |
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| Dog |
| I don't get these discussions about dealer rip-offs, so do it yourself. My dealer offers transmission flush and fluids for $79.95. For $80 bucks I'm going to waste time shopping around for the cheapest fluid and then do it myself? I could maybe understand it if this was the '82 Oldsmobile Cutlass forum, but not the $40k luxury MDX forum. |
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| socalJD |
quote:
Originally posted by Dog
I don't get these discussions about dealer rip-offs, so do it yourself. My dealer offers transmission flush and fluids for $79.95. For $80 bucks I'm going to waste time shopping around for the cheapest fluid and then do it myself? I could maybe understand it if this was the '82 Oldsmobile Cutlass forum, but not the $40k luxury MDX forum.
I strongly suspect that the transmission job your dealer is offering for $79.95 is a 1x drain & fill, and not a triple drain & fill described in the owner's manual, which is very labor intensive. Last I saw, the posted labor rate was $95/hr at the dealer. You will also not see 'transmission flush' described anywhere in the manual, since Acura tends to frown upon the flush which is normally performed by a machine to remove old fluid from the tranny and replace it with new fluid with hydraulic force. Honda trannys have come under scrutiny in the past 10 yrs and they are very careful in their wording on the maintenance . . . |
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| screbr |
Dog
Maybe you should go check the Cutlass forum and see if someone found a better deal than $79.95? |
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| ardvarkus |
quote:
Originally posted by socalJD
I strongly suspect that the transmission job your dealer is offering for $79.95 is a 1x drain & fill, and not a triple drain & fill described in the owner's manual, which is very labor intensive. Last I saw, the posted labor rate was $95/hr at the dealer. You will also not see 'transmission flush' described anywhere in the manual, since Acura tends to frown upon the flush which is normally performed by a machine to remove old fluid from the tranny and replace it with new fluid with hydraulic force. Honda trannys have come under scrutiny in the past 10 yrs and they are very careful in their wording on the maintenance . . .
I agree that is a simple drain/fill. And keep in mind that the owners manual recommends the 3x only for contaminayon or when a non-honda fluid was used. Dealers will (rightfully) swear thet are doing the 'recommended' procedure.
Many here (myself included) believe that a full replacement of all contaminated fluid is essential to ensure prolonged tranny life- NO MATTER WHAT YEAR OR WHAT CAR.
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