Honda Car Forum

After a warantee is over is it advised to still have pro-active
service done at a dealership, and if so, what is the approximate cost
hike by doing so versus some other maintenance shop (certified or
not)?
My real big problem with proactive services are that there is nothing
tangible to tell that anything has actually been done, other than a
belt replacement when they can actually hand you the old part(s).
I'm up for a 105K mileage visit and the dealership wants over $800 to
do the timing belt replacement and the standard 105 proactive
maintenance which includes valve inspection/maintenance. Obviously I
need the timing belt done, and the valve work DOES sound to me like
something I *DO* want to do, however, can someone tell me if they are
completely backlogged at a maintenance shop how anyone coudl ever tell
if a technician simply overlooks doing that particular task? Is it
inappropriate for me to ask to watch the techs work on my car?

Thanks for any help on this intriguing issue that's been nagging me
for awhile.

In article <2ee884f5.0312021558.6e96976b@posting.google.com >,
barnes_jude@yahoo.com (Jude Barnes) wrote:

> After a warantee is over is it advised to still have pro-active
> service done at a dealership, and if so, what is the approximate cost
> hike by doing so versus some other maintenance shop (certified or
> not)?
> My real big problem with proactive services are that there is nothing
> tangible to tell that anything has actually been done, other than a
> belt replacement when they can actually hand you the old part(s).
> I'm up for a 105K mileage visit and the dealership wants over $800 to
> do the timing belt replacement and the standard 105 proactive
> maintenance which includes valve inspection/maintenance. Obviously I
> need the timing belt done, and the valve work DOES sound to me like
> something I *DO* want to do, however, can someone tell me if they are
> completely backlogged at a maintenance shop how anyone coudl ever tell
> if a technician simply overlooks doing that particular task? Is it
> inappropriate for me to ask to watch the techs work on my car?
>
> Thanks for any help on this intriguing issue that's been nagging me
> for awhile.

Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they're not out to get you.

Let's ask this question: how do you know that "some other maintenance
shop" isn't doing exactly what you say?

Maybe your dealer isn't doing it AND the other shop is? In which case
sure, the other shop is only $500--but they haven't done the work, yet
for $800 the dealer has.

Or maybe they're both doing it. Maybe they ALL do it. Maybe auto
maintenance is like the moon landing; we're all conned into believing
that it happened. Maybe in fact cars run forever with no maintenance,
and the whole "scheduled maintenance" thing is pure profit for the shops
that claim they perform it.

Jude,
Ask around until you find a good 'third party' honda shop, keep all
reciepts, and ask for your old parts. They won't be insulted.


You should even post a 'Good mechanic wanted in city of ________'
question on this newsgroup.

I think you can save about 30% off the price of many dealers, and
sometimes get way more conscientious service. There's TWO Honda dealers
in Edmonton who will never again darken the engine compartment of my Hondas.

'Curly'

Jude Barnes wrote:
> After a warantee is over is it advised to still have pro-active
> service done at a dealership, and if so, what is the approximate cost
> hike by doing so versus some other maintenance shop (certified or
> not)?
> My real big problem with proactive services are that there is nothing
> tangible to tell that anything has actually been done, other than a
> belt replacement when they can actually hand you the old part(s).
> I'm up for a 105K mileage visit and the dealership wants over $800 to
> do the timing belt replacement and the standard 105 proactive
> maintenance which includes valve inspection/maintenance. Obviously I
> need the timing belt done, and the valve work DOES sound to me like
> something I *DO* want to do, however, can someone tell me if they are
> completely backlogged at a maintenance shop how anyone coudl ever tell
> if a technician simply overlooks doing that particular task? Is it
> inappropriate for me to ask to watch the techs work on my car?
>
> Thanks for any help on this intriguing issue that's been nagging me
> for awhile.


--

To REPLY: If there are a couple of underscores in my return address,
you must remove them to reply directly . . . . . . Thanks.

Regarding stage performances: When everyone else has finished playing,
you should not play any notes you have left over. -

"Jude Barnes" <barnes_jude@yahoo.com> wrote
> After a warantee is over is it advised to still have pro-active
> service done at a dealership, and if so, what is the approximate cost
> hike by doing so versus some other maintenance shop (certified or
> not)?

What model and year Honda do you have?

Once you post this information, maybe more people will respond with how much
they paid for the same model's timing belt replacement.

My 1991 Civic's timing belt cost $250-$350 to replace a few years ago at a
non-dealer. The higher price includes a new water pump.

There are shops that know what they're doing, and there are those that do not.
One of the shops that replaced my timing belt over the years dented the oil pan
(pretty common "mistake" if the shop does not do Hondas and certain other
imports' timing belts regularly). Cosmetic, but still.

I have also had one really bad repair job done at a Honda dealer, too. They took
me for a ride. So one rolls the dice.

> My real big problem with proactive services are that there is nothing
> tangible to tell that anything has actually been done, other than a
> belt replacement when they can actually hand you the old part(s).
> I'm up for a 105K mileage visit and the dealership wants over $800 to
> do the timing belt replacement and the standard 105 proactive
> maintenance which includes valve inspection/maintenance.

What exactly do they do on a "valve inspection/maintain"? Take off the valve
cover, do some measurements? Replace, installing a new valve cover gasket?

My Civic has never had one done. (Though I have a new gasket for other reasons.)
Maybe that's bad. But at 149,000 miles, and having heard little on this at the
newsgroup, I am not concerned. Yet.

After 100k, you should be familiar with the required preventative
maintenance requirement for your vehicle. The tough part is finding an
independent mechanic who's reliable.

The timing belt & water pump replacement cost me about $350 at the Honda
dealership (in Canada).

Pars
98 Hatch


Jude Barnes wrote:
>
> After a warantee is over is it advised to still have pro-active
> service done at a dealership, and if so, what is the approximate cost
> hike by doing so versus some other maintenance shop (certified or
> not)?
> My real big problem with proactive services are that there is nothing
> tangible to tell that anything has actually been done, other than a
> belt replacement when they can actually hand you the old part(s).
> I'm up for a 105K mileage visit and the dealership wants over $800 to
> do the timing belt replacement and the standard 105 proactive
> maintenance which includes valve inspection/maintenance. Obviously I
> need the timing belt done, and the valve work DOES sound to me like
> something I *DO* want to do, however, can someone tell me if they are
> completely backlogged at a maintenance shop how anyone coudl ever tell
> if a technician simply overlooks doing that particular task? Is it
> inappropriate for me to ask to watch the techs work on my car?
>
> Thanks for any help on this intriguing issue that's been nagging me
> for awhile.

When my '88 honda went in for scheduled maintenance after 2 years, they
were to change the coolant if needed. I guess rust protection is not
deemed important to the honda dealer. They charged me $300 dollars for
everything and did not change the coolant. Soon afterward, I noticed
rust in the radiator.

Be insistant on them doing the work. Do not trust that they will do it.

Jude Barnes wrote:

> After a warantee is over is it advised to still have pro-active
> service done at a dealership, and if so, what is the approximate cost
> hike by doing so versus some other maintenance shop (certified or
> not)?
> My real big problem with proactive services are that there is nothing
> tangible to tell that anything has actually been done, other than a
> belt replacement when they can actually hand you the old part(s).
> I'm up for a 105K mileage visit and the dealership wants over $800 to
> do the timing belt replacement and the standard 105 proactive
> maintenance which includes valve inspection/maintenance. Obviously I
> need the timing belt done, and the valve work DOES sound to me like
> something I *DO* want to do, however, can someone tell me if they are
> completely backlogged at a maintenance shop how anyone coudl ever tell
> if a technician simply overlooks doing that particular task? Is it
> inappropriate for me to ask to watch the techs work on my car?
>
> Thanks for any help on this intriguing issue that's been nagging me
> for awhile.

>Let's ask this question: how do you know that "some other >maintenance
shop" isn't doing exactly what you say?
You don't.

>Maybe in fact cars run forever with no maintenance,
>and the whole "scheduled maintenance" thing is pure profit for the >shops
that claim they perform it.
HAHA! Good one. I wish.

- JR

In article <2ee884f5.0312021558.6e96976b@posting.google.com >,
Jude Barnes <barnes_jude@yahoo.com> wrote:
>After a warantee is over is it advised to still have pro-active
>service done at a dealership, and if so, what is the approximate cost
>hike by doing so versus some other maintenance shop (certified or
>not)?

In or out of warranty, you'll likely want to base your selection on
quality of service and price of the local mechanic shops, both dealer
and non-dealer (although any failure that needs to be repaired under
warranty has to go to a dealer) (of course, other factors like being
nearby and open hours can also be factors). You'll want to ask people
who have the same kind of car as you have, and/or check local customer
surveys if they are available (in local libraries). For pricing, just
call the various shops and ask.

--
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Timothy J. Lee
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