Honda Car Forum

I'm leasing a 2004 Honda Civic. It has just over 17,000 miles on it.
I've been doing the regular maintenance, oil changes, etc.

The dealer wants to do the suggested 15,000 mile checkup. It will cost
me around $240.

Is it worth it? I don't recall what it entails.

GK

GK <frodo@ameriNOSPMtech.net> wrote in
news:G%lze.2024$0w2.1524@newssvr19.news.prodigy.co m:

> I'm leasing a 2004 Honda Civic. It has just over 17,000 miles on it.
> I've been doing the regular maintenance, oil changes, etc.
>
> The dealer wants to do the suggested 15,000 mile checkup. It will cost
> me around $240.
>
> Is it worth it? I don't recall what it entails.
>


You "don't recall what it entails"? Then I don't recall if it's worth it or
not.

Did you Read The Fine Manual?

--
TeGGeR®

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

Unless you want to get taken to the cleaners, I suggest that you start
paying attention to what the checkups entail. Most times these so
called checkups end up costing more than the individual jobs. Call
your dealer up and find out what exactly they will perform for the 15k
checkup. Post back and we will tell you if it is worth it and how much
each individual job will cost.

Nick


On Fri, 08 Jul 2005 03:00:54 GMT, GK <frodo@ameriNOSPMtech.net> wrote:

>I'm leasing a 2004 Honda Civic. It has just over 17,000 miles on it.
>I've been doing the regular maintenance, oil changes, etc.
>
>The dealer wants to do the suggested 15,000 mile checkup. It will cost
>me around $240.
>
>Is it worth it? I don't recall what it entails.
>
>GK

Most of what they're going to do you can do yourself. However, since it's
leased you may be under some fine print in the contract clause to have a
dealer do it. If not, then do it yourself else take to an independent
garage (not Sears, Firestone, Goodyear, Walmart, etc) and let them do it
for probably ½ what the dealer wants.

$240 really isn't too awfully bad. My wife has a Lexus and you feel the
pain when they stab you for $1100 worth of "recommended service" at 90k
miles, most of which by that time are more than just recommended, they're
pretty much mandatory if you plan on keeping the car (and we do).
Interesting tho on the Lexus 90k service I found out I can get it all done
at a Toyota dealer for about 60¢ on the dollar ($675 vs $1100). I'd check
the independents too but she'd shoot me. So far no one outside of the
Lexus store has ever touched "her" baby ;-)

In article <G%lze.2024$0w2.1524@newssvr19.news.prodigy.com> GK
<frodo@ameriNOSPMtech.net> writes:

>I'm leasing a 2004 Honda Civic. It has just over 17,000 miles on it.
>I've been doing the regular maintenance, oil changes, etc.
>
>The dealer wants to do the suggested 15,000 mile checkup. It will cost
>me around $240.
>
>Is it worth it? I don't recall what it entails.
>
>GK

Thank you for your courteous reply. I do pay attention. I thought that
these checkups were more standard. Perhaps they vary from dealer to
dealer. I don't know all Honda everywhere.

Here's what they will do at Planet Honda in Matteson, IL, for $240:

* change oil and filter
* inspect belts and hoses
* clean, inspect, and adjust rear brakes
* inspect parking brake
* rotate tires, inspect tires, set proper pressure
* check all fluid levels
* check functions of all lights
* wiper/washer fluid levels
* inspect battery (run test), clean terminals
* inspect valves
* replace air filter
* change wiper inserts

Thank you.

GK

Nick wrote:
> Unless you want to get taken to the cleaners, I suggest that you start
> paying attention to what the checkups entail. Most times these so
> called checkups end up costing more than the individual jobs. Call
> your dealer up and find out what exactly they will perform for the 15k
> checkup. Post back and we will tell you if it is worth it and how much
> each individual job will cost.
>
> Nick
>
>
> On Fri, 08 Jul 2005 03:00:54 GMT, GK <frodo@ameriNOSPMtech.net> wrote:
>
>
>>I'm leasing a 2004 Honda Civic. It has just over 17,000 miles on it.
>>I've been doing the regular maintenance, oil changes, etc.
>>
>>The dealer wants to do the suggested 15,000 mile checkup. It will cost
>>me around $240.
>>
>>Is it worth it? I don't recall what it entails.
>>
>>GK
>
>

Who cares if this is a lease car and you do not intend to buy it after
lease. Do not waste your $240. You can use it as the down payment for the
next lease.


"GK" <frodo@ameriNOSPMtech.net> wrote in message
news:G%lze.2024$0w2.1524@newssvr19.news.prodigy.co m...
> I'm leasing a 2004 Honda Civic. It has just over 17,000 miles on it.
> I've been doing the regular maintenance, oil changes, etc.
>
> The dealer wants to do the suggested 15,000 mile checkup. It will cost
> me around $240.
>
> Is it worth it? I don't recall what it entails.
>
> GK

GK wrote:
> Thank you for your courteous reply. I do pay attention. I thought
> that these checkups were more standard. Perhaps they vary from
> dealer to dealer. I don't know all Honda everywhere.
>
> Here's what they will do at Planet Honda in Matteson, IL, for $240:
>
> * change oil and filter
> * inspect belts and hoses
> * clean, inspect, and adjust rear brakes
> * inspect parking brake
> * rotate tires, inspect tires, set proper pressure
> * check all fluid levels
> * check functions of all lights
> * wiper/washer fluid levels
> * inspect battery (run test), clean terminals
> * inspect valves
> * replace air filter
> * change wiper inserts

About 1 to 1.5 hours of labor. Many other places do the same thing for
30%-40% less. My local Midas shop does the same thing for $159 regular, and
I have a $20 coupon for it.

It is a lot of dopugh for some one to walk around your car with a checklist.


>
> Thank you.
>
> GK
>
> Nick wrote:
>> Unless you want to get taken to the cleaners, I suggest that you
>> start paying attention to what the checkups entail. Most times these
>> so called checkups end up costing more than the individual jobs. Call
>> your dealer up and find out what exactly they will perform for the
>> 15k checkup. Post back and we will tell you if it is worth it and
>> how much each individual job will cost.
>>
>> Nick
>>
>>
>> On Fri, 08 Jul 2005 03:00:54 GMT, GK <frodo@ameriNOSPMtech.net>
>> wrote:
>>> I'm leasing a 2004 Honda Civic. It has just over 17,000 miles on
>>> it. I've been doing the regular maintenance, oil changes, etc.
>>>
>>> The dealer wants to do the suggested 15,000 mile checkup. It will
>>> cost me around $240.
>>>
>>> Is it worth it? I don't recall what it entails.
>>>
>>> GK

"Paul" <Paul945839045@lycos.com> wrote in message
news:1Jyze.3182$6%2.969@newssvr21.news.prodigy.com ...
> Who cares if this is a lease car and you do not intend to buy it after
> lease. Do not waste your $240. You can use it as the down payment for the
> next lease.
>

Aww man, then we gotta hear about some poor sucker that bought a crappily
maintained Honda and all the problems that comes with it!

If you note, most of the items are "inspect" or "check" which means glance
at it and mark it as ok. For an Oil change, Tire rotation, wiper blades,
and air filter, I would say $240 is way out of line.

Just make sure you do the actual required maintanence. When you go to sell
your car, or you crash your car, having paid extra money for someone to
visually inspect your car ever once and a while really won't do you any
good.


"GK" <frodo@ameriNOSPMtech.net> wrote in message
news:JHyze.2198$0w2.479@newssvr19.news.prodigy.com ...
> Thank you for your courteous reply. I do pay attention. I thought that
> these checkups were more standard. Perhaps they vary from dealer to
> dealer. I don't know all Honda everywhere.
>
> Here's what they will do at Planet Honda in Matteson, IL, for $240:
>
> * change oil and filter
> * inspect belts and hoses
> * clean, inspect, and adjust rear brakes
> * inspect parking brake
> * rotate tires, inspect tires, set proper pressure
> * check all fluid levels
> * check functions of all lights
> * wiper/washer fluid levels
> * inspect battery (run test), clean terminals
> * inspect valves
> * replace air filter
> * change wiper inserts
>
> Thank you.
>
> GK
>
> Nick wrote:
>> Unless you want to get taken to the cleaners, I suggest that you start
>> paying attention to what the checkups entail. Most times these so
>> called checkups end up costing more than the individual jobs. Call
>> your dealer up and find out what exactly they will perform for the 15k
>> checkup. Post back and we will tell you if it is worth it and how much
>> each individual job will cost.
>>
>> Nick
>>
>>
>> On Fri, 08 Jul 2005 03:00:54 GMT, GK <frodo@ameriNOSPMtech.net> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>I'm leasing a 2004 Honda Civic. It has just over 17,000 miles on it.
>>>I've been doing the regular maintenance, oil changes, etc.
>>>
>>>The dealer wants to do the suggested 15,000 mile checkup. It will cost
>>>me around $240.
>>>
>>>Is it worth it? I don't recall what it entails.
>>>
>>>GK
>>

In article <a5idnVx5BajNIVPfRVn-og@comcast.com> "L Alpert"
<alpertl@xxgmail.com> writes:

>GK wrote:
>> Thank you for your courteous reply. I do pay attention. I thought
>> that these checkups were more standard. Perhaps they vary from
>> dealer to dealer. I don't know all Honda everywhere.

>> Here's what they will do at Planet Honda in Matteson, IL, for $240:

>> * change oil and filter

$25

>> * inspect belts and hoses

They're going to look at them and watch them go around. Modern belts don't
go bad at 15k miles, never-ever.

>> * clean, inspect, and adjust rear brakes

Assuming drum brakes here, put it in reverse and drive in reverse for
about 50 feet. Press the brake pedal 3~4 times over that distance. Pull
the rear wheels and blow out the dust w/an air hose. Doubtful they'll even
bother to pull the drums. They'll have the wheels off already for the
rotation, so this "extra" step will maybe add 30 seconds.

>> * inspect parking brake

They're going to set the brake and put the car in gear, forward & reverse
to see if the brake holds. Trust me, it will.

>> * rotate tires, inspect tires, set proper pressure

$20 (lifetime free rotation **AND** balance at NTB and Discount Tire
w/purchase of 2 or more tires) - This service by the way is probably one
of the best things you can do to prolong the life of your tires. Do it
every 5k miles and your tires will last a very long time.

>> * check all fluid levels

Included in the $25 oil change, above. Takes all of 2 minutes.

>> * check functions of all lights

Try them all and watch them through mirrors. Takes 1 minute.

>> * wiper/washer fluid levels

Included in the $25 oil change, above

>> * inspect battery (run test), clean terminals

Battery and charging system load tests are free at Autozone. Terminals
won't need cleaning at 15k miles so this is BS. Takes 5~10 minutes. If
they -really- did this it would require disconnecting the battery meaning
all your radio presets would be lost. If your radio presets are where they
were, then all they did was smear some red goo on the battery cable
connectors.

>> * inspect valves

Huh? How do they plan to do this without pulling off the intake manifold,
exhaust manifold(s) and doing a detailed disassembly of the cylinder
heads? This one I have to see. Maybe they meant they'll do a compression
check, but I even doubt that much effort will be expended at 15k miles.

>> * replace air filter

Adds $10~15 to your $25 oil change, above.

>> * change wiper inserts

$20 at Autozone. Tip the kid $5 and he'll probably put them on for you.
Send your wife in wearing some tight jeans and high heels, the kid will
put 'em on for free.

>About 1 to 1.5 hours of labor. Many other places do the same thing for
>30%-40% less. My local Midas shop does the same thing for $159 regular, and
>I have a $20 coupon for it.

>It is a lot of dopugh for some one to walk around your car with a checklist.

Indeed.