Honda Car Forum

On Sat, 05 May 2007 17:56:36 GMT, John Horner <jthorner@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>A.Nonimus@nospam.tv wrote:
>> I got an email from Honda saying my new 2007 Honda LX is due for it's
>> first maintenance, an oil change.
>>
>> Do I have to do this maintenance after 3 months, despite the fact that
>> I only have 1000 miles on my new car?
>>
>
>No. Just follow the maintenance minder and keep an eye on any
>overriding conditions per the owner's manual. For example, the manual
>might say to change the oil at least once per year even if the minder
>hasn't come on.
>
>The email is simply marketing trying to get you to spend money at the
>dealer.
>
>John
Thanks to all for the clarifications! Now I get it!
Will look over my manual to make sure I understand completely.

This whole 'Maintenance Minder' thing is still a struggle for me! We
have about 4700 miles on our '07 Odyssey and the 'oil life' is still
at 20%! I'm taking it in this week, just can't wait any longer.....
Besides, I have 4 free oil change coupons that the dealer gave me as
part of the sale of the car.

I've always changed the oil at 1500 miles then every 3k after that (5k
with the synthetic in my Audi). So this is new territory for me. OTOH
the car is leased, so in 2.5 years Honda is getting it back, so.....

Dan D
'07 Ody EX
Central NJ USA

If you got a letter from your dealer it is probably automatically generated
based upon average mileage/usage to solicit or perhaps remind you that
service may be imminent. Below is a copy/paste of what Honda interprets the
codes on your maintenance minder system.

Howard

From the factory recommended maintenance:
2007 ACCORD - Maintenance Main Items


'06-07 Models

If message ''SERVICE'' does not appear more than 12 months after the display
is reset, change the engine oil every year.

NOTE:


a.. Independent of the maintenance messages in the smart maintenance
display, replace the brake fluid every 3 years.

b.. Inspect idle speed every 160,000 miles (256,000 km).

c.. Adjust the valves during services A, B, 1, 2 or 3 if they are
noisy.


Symbol
Maintenance Main Items

A
Replace engine oil.

Engine oil capacity without oil filter: 4.0 L (4.2 US qt).

B
Replace engine oil and oil filter.

Engine oil capacity with oil filter: 4.2 L (4.4 US qt).

Check front and rear brakes.

a.. Check pads and discs for wear (thickness), damage, and cracks.

b.. Check calipers for damage, leaks, and tightness of mounting
bolts.

c.. Check wheel cylinders for leaks.

d.. Check brake linings for cracking, glazing, wear, or
contamination.

Check parking brake adjustment.

Check the number of clicks when the parking brake lever is pulled with
196 N (20 kgf, 44 lbf) of force.

With rear disc: 6 to 9 clicks

With rear drum: 4 to 7 clicks

Inspect tie-rod ends, steering gearbox, and gearbox boots.

a.. Check rack grease and steering linkage.

b.. Check boots for damage and leaking grease.

c.. Check fluid lines for damage or leaks.

Inspect suspension components.

a.. Check bolts for tightness.

b.. Check condition of ball joint boots for deterioration and
damage.

Inspect driveshaft boots.

Check boots for cracks and boot bands for tightness.

Inspect brake hoses and lines including ABS.

Check the master cylinder and ABS modulator-control unit for damage
and leakage.

Inspect all fluid levels and condition of fluids.

a.. Engine coolant

b.. Manual transmission fluid (MTF)

c.. Automatic transmission fluid (ATF-Z1)

d.. Power steering fluid

e.. Brake fluid

f.. Clutch fluid

g.. Windshield washer fluid

Inspect exhaust system*.

Check catalytic converter heat shields, exhaust pipes, and muffler for
damage, leaks, and tightness.

Inspect fuel lines and connections*.

Check for loose connections, cracks, and deterioration; retighten
loose connections and replace damaged parts.


NOTE: According to state and federal regulations, failure to do the
maintenance items marked with an asterisk (*) will not void the customer's
emissions warranties. However, Honda recommends that all maintenance
services be done at the recommended interval, to ensure long-term
reliability.

<A.Nonimus@nospam.tv> wrote in message
news:u66n335n1pdc0nh9dpo021gvq1hmtqavss@4ax.com...
>I got an email from Honda saying my new 2007 Honda LX is due for it's
> first maintenance, an oil change.
>
> Do I have to do this maintenance after 3 months, despite the fact that
> I only have 1000 miles on my new car?
>
> I thought you were supposed to do the maintenance when the oil light
> came on, on the dashboard?
>
> No? What's the deal here?
>
> I want to do the scheduled maintenances in order to keep my warranty
> good, but an oil change after only 1000 miles???
>
>

Dano58 wrote:
> This whole 'Maintenance Minder' thing is still a struggle for me! We
> have about 4700 miles on our '07 Odyssey and the 'oil life' is still
> at 20%! I'm taking it in this week, just can't wait any longer.....
> Besides, I have 4 free oil change coupons that the dealer gave me as
> part of the sale of the car.
>
> I've always changed the oil at 1500 miles then every 3k after that (5k
> with the synthetic in my Audi). So this is new territory for me. OTOH
> the car is leased, so in 2.5 years Honda is getting it back, so.....
>
i don't mean this to be facetious, even though it sounds it, but why are
you abandoning science and research for tradition and superstition? put
another way, why can't you trust the engineers that poured millions of
dollars and years of research into developing this stuff? if it's fear
of the unknown, what do you know about metal fatigue and do you still
fly in planes?

On May 5, 8:26 am, Robert Barr <n...@for.harvest> wrote:
> > I thought you were supposed to do the maintenance when the oil light
> > came on, on the dashboard?
>
> Correct. In fact, your manual specifically advises you to NOT change
> your oil early, for your first oil change.
>
i could not see how it could hurt as long as you don't put synthetics
or a synthetic mix in.
me thinks no point to change the oil filter though.

> You'll get service reminders all the time. Just ignore them until your
> vehicle tells you it needs service.

wow. i'm glad i'm not buying a used honda not that i'd want
a toaster on wheels with a slushbox anyway :^)

On May 7, 11:45 pm, jim beam <spamvor...@bad.example.net> wrote:
> Dano58 wrote:
> > This whole 'Maintenance Minder' thing is still a struggle for me! We
> > have about 4700 miles on our '07 Odyssey and the 'oil life' is still
> > at 20%! I'm taking it in this week, just can't wait any longer.....
> > Besides, I have 4 free oil change coupons that the dealer gave me as
> > part of the sale of the car.
>
> > I've always changed the oil at 1500 miles then every 3k after that (5k
> > with the synthetic in my Audi). So this is new territory for me. OTOH
> > the car is leased, so in 2.5 years Honda is getting it back, so.....
>
> i don't mean this to be facetious, even though it sounds it, but why are
> you abandoning science and research for tradition and superstition? put
> another way, why can't you trust the engineers that poured millions of
> dollars and years of research into developing this stuff? if it's fear
> of the unknown, what do you know about metal fatigue and do you still
> fly in planes?

I didn't say I was NOT following the Maintenance Minder - I actually
am - just that I'm having a hard time adjusting to it. My last new
car, a 2004 Audi A4, has a traditional schedule of oil changes and
service, especially with it's turbo 1.8T engine.

And it may be 'science and research', but when Audi first came out
with the 1.8T engine, they recommended regular dino oil and 10k change
intervals. That changed in 2004 after having severe sludge issues -
they went to synthetic and a larger oil filter, along with decreased
change intervals. Those that maintained a 'traditional' 3k/5k oil
change schedule tend to have fewer sludge issues. So, sometimes in the
quest to cut maintenance costs, the manufacturers can get their
science and research messed up by bean counters.

Dan D
'07 Ody EX
Central NJ USA

Dano58 wrote:
> On May 7, 11:45 pm, jim beam <spamvor...@bad.example.net> wrote:
>
>>Dano58 wrote:
>>
>>>This whole 'Maintenance Minder' thing is still a struggle for me! We
>>>have about 4700 miles on our '07 Odyssey and the 'oil life' is still
>>>at 20%! I'm taking it in this week, just can't wait any longer.....
>>>Besides, I have 4 free oil change coupons that the dealer gave me as
>>>part of the sale of the car.
>>
>>>I've always changed the oil at 1500 miles then every 3k after that (5k
>>>with the synthetic in my Audi). So this is new territory for me. OTOH
>>>the car is leased, so in 2.5 years Honda is getting it back, so.....
>>
>>i don't mean this to be facetious, even though it sounds it, but why are
>>you abandoning science and research for tradition and superstition? put
>>another way, why can't you trust the engineers that poured millions of
>>dollars and years of research into developing this stuff? if it's fear
>>of the unknown, what do you know about metal fatigue and do you still
>>fly in planes?
>
>
> I didn't say I was NOT following the Maintenance Minder - I actually
> am - just that I'm having a hard time adjusting to it. My last new
> car, a 2004 Audi A4, has a traditional schedule of oil changes and
> service, especially with it's turbo 1.8T engine.
>
> And it may be 'science and research', but when Audi first came out
> with the 1.8T engine, they recommended regular dino oil and 10k change
> intervals. That changed in 2004 after having severe sludge issues -
> they went to synthetic and a larger oil filter, along with decreased
> change intervals. Those that maintained a 'traditional' 3k/5k oil
> change schedule tend to have fewer sludge issues. So, sometimes in the
> quest to cut maintenance costs, the manufacturers can get their
> science and research messed up by bean counters.
>
>


Another fine nail in the reliability coffin of Audi. I cannot imagine
in my wildest drunken side walk knuckle dragging episode of buying the
fact of a 10K change interval using dino oil in a turbo engine of any
kind...

Geeeeeeez..

JT

<isquat@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1178599579.128945.288600@l77g2000hsb.googlegr oups.com...
> On May 5, 8:26 am, Robert Barr <n...@for.harvest> wrote:
>> > I thought you were supposed to do the maintenance when the oil light
>> > came on, on the dashboard?
>>
>> Correct. In fact, your manual specifically advises you to NOT change
>> your oil early, for your first oil change.
>>
> i could not see how it could hurt as long as you don't put synthetics
> or a synthetic mix in.
> me thinks no point to change the oil filter though.
>
>> You'll get service reminders all the time. Just ignore them until your
>> vehicle tells you it needs service.
>
> wow. i'm glad i'm not buying a used honda not that i'd want
> a toaster on wheels with a slushbox anyway :^)
>
>

Wow, are you out of date! Slushboxes were contemporary to the Beatniks and
maybe Hippies. Although the term "slushbox" has been applied wrongly to
automatic transmissions since I was a kid, it actually only fit the ancient
Buick Dynaflow... although the 2-speed GM Powerglide came close in
operation. Conceited stick jockies have used it to carelessly or mindlessly
denigrate the entire gamut of automatic transmissions, good, bad and ugly,
ever since. Modern automatic transmissions are mostly very much the same as
modern manual transmissions but with controls (including lock-up torque
converters) built in.

Mike

Michael Pardee wrote:
> <isquat@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1178599579.128945.288600@l77g2000hsb.googlegr oups.com...
>
>>On May 5, 8:26 am, Robert Barr <n...@for.harvest> wrote:
>>
>>>>I thought you were supposed to do the maintenance when the oil light
>>>>came on, on the dashboard?
>>>
>>>Correct. In fact, your manual specifically advises you to NOT change
>>>your oil early, for your first oil change.
>>>
>>
>>i could not see how it could hurt as long as you don't put synthetics
>>or a synthetic mix in.
>>me thinks no point to change the oil filter though.
>>
>>
>>>You'll get service reminders all the time. Just ignore them until your
>>>vehicle tells you it needs service.
>>
>>wow. i'm glad i'm not buying a used honda not that i'd want
>>a toaster on wheels with a slushbox anyway :^)
>>
>>
>
>
> Wow, are you out of date! Slushboxes were contemporary to the Beatniks and
> maybe Hippies. Although the term "slushbox" has been applied wrongly to
> automatic transmissions since I was a kid, it actually only fit the ancient
> Buick Dynaflow... although the 2-speed GM Powerglide came close in
> operation. Conceited stick jockies have used it to carelessly or mindlessly
> denigrate the entire gamut of automatic transmissions, good, bad and ugly,
> ever since. Modern automatic transmissions are mostly very much the same as
> modern manual transmissions but with controls (including lock-up torque
> converters) built in.
>
> Mike
>
>


My second car was a 1950 Buick Roadmaster. To increase fuel mileage,
one would start in low then shift into drive. Gotya about 11 instead of
the typical 10 mpg.

Even though, I love that biiiiiiig car! Wish I still had it..

JT

"Grumpy AuContraire" <Grumpy@ExtraGrumpyville.com> wrote in message
news:Vr80i.117167$VU4.102189@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
>
>
>>
>> Wow, are you out of date! Slushboxes were contemporary to the Beatniks
>> and maybe Hippies. Although the term "slushbox" has been applied wrongly
>> to automatic transmissions since I was a kid, it actually only fit the
>> ancient Buick Dynaflow... although the 2-speed GM Powerglide came close
>> in operation. Conceited stick jockies have used it to carelessly or
>> mindlessly denigrate the entire gamut of automatic transmissions, good,
>> bad and ugly, ever since. Modern automatic transmissions are mostly very
>> much the same as modern manual transmissions but with controls (including
>> lock-up torque converters) built in.
>>
>
> My second car was a 1950 Buick Roadmaster. To increase fuel mileage, one
> would start in low then shift into drive. Gotya about 11 instead of the
> typical 10 mpg.
>
> Even though, I love that biiiiiiig car! Wish I still had it..
>
> JT
>
>
That's the thing! A manually shifted two speed meant to be used mostly as a
single speed. A sister-in-law had some lesser Buick with a Dynaflow (aka
Fluid Drive) when she and my brother first met. Doug said stepping on the
gas would cause the engine to roar to life, as the car started moving slowly
forward. Not the sort of transmission to mate with a small engine!
Roadmasters were supposed to be quite the ride, though. IIRC they had enough
power to make the Dynaflow useful.

Mike