Honda Car Forum

Oakparker wrote:
> Two comments on the discussion:
>
> 1. I understand that maintenance and service needs will be different
> for every driver. However, we do not want to be in a position where
> we are in the middle of nowhere and suddenly a light comes on for a
> requirement for significant maintenance. So, are there any Honda
> manuals that at least have rules of thumb for the major maintenance
> and service needs?

i wouldnt sweat it.
>
> 2. Concerning the timing belt. When we bought our 2006 Civic LX, the
> dealership told us there is a timing belt and it has to be replaced
> every 90,000 miles. (This is an improvement on the 1998 Civic which
> needed it replaced every 75,000 miles).

my manual says 7yr/105k miles for "normal" service on the timing belt.

Elle wrote:
> ISTM that when the code for changing the oil comes on the
> dash, that means you have, say, another 1000 miles or so to
> go before things even begin to look grim.

id at least check it, however. then change ASAP.

"SoCalMike" <Mikein562athotmail@hotmail.com> wrote
> Elle wrote:
> > ISTM that when the code for changing the oil comes on
the
> > dash, that means you have, say, another 1000 miles or so
to
> > go before things even begin to look grim.
>
> id at least check it, however. then change ASAP.

Makes sense to me, especially since this "Maintenance
Minder" sensor and computing system is so new that any bugs
may not have been discovered yet.

I suppose I personally would find which Honda Civic engine
that does /not/ have a Maint Minder and was most similar to
this one, and then obtain its maint schedule. The 2004
Civic, maybe? Dunno.

Anyway, I'd then compare what the Maint Minder says to what
the traditional maintenance schedule recommends. I'd
monitor, like you say Mike, parts and fluids that I could.
E.g. spark plugs, oil, coolant. Or I'd read like mad how
Honda had tested this Maint Minder system.

Until it's demonstrated that this system saves a significant
amount in maintenance costs, I think I'll view it as one
more dagganged bell/whistle/fo'dummies item that one really
doesn't need but--lucky us--gets to pay for up front. (Does
it ever occur to Auto makers that some of us prefer
econo-this-and-that so we can give our monies to charity??
*&^%) The Maint Minder system better be cheap. Else I'll go
Toyota Yaris shopping in a few years.

wastrel wrote:
> snip
>
> Some drivers might like the idea of just doing what their car tells them to do
> when it tells them to do it, but personally I'd prefer a standard recommended
> maintenance schedule so that I can *plan* the maintenance in advance.

Ask your Honda dealer for their suggested maintenance guide. Usually
the dealer has a long list of "suggested" maintenance items that far
exceeds the factory requirements. If your Honda dealer doesn't have
this, try your local Toyota (or any other) dealer. Apply common sense.

>
> Also, the dealer told me that I shouldn't have to change the oil until I reach
> the 10,000 mile point. Is that the truth, or should I expect that my car is
> going to tell me something different?

Opinions vary on this but I sure wouldn't leave the factory fill in my
new car for 10,000 miles. Check www.bobistheoilguy.com web site for
some oil analysis info. That said, modern motor oils are pretty tough
and unless you do bad things (lots of short trips in cold temperatures)
the oil will probably last a lot longer than you'd think. [FYI: I
changed the oil/filter every 3500 miles when I got my new Accord. At
14K miles I switched to Mobil 1 synthetic and now change every 8K to
10K miles (6 months).]

YMMV

snip

In article <1138624304.111177.322020@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups .com>,
dimndsonmywndshld@yahoo.com wrote:

> Ask your Honda dealer for their suggested maintenance guide. Usually
> the dealer has a long list of "suggested" maintenance items that far
> exceeds the factory requirements. If your Honda dealer doesn't have
> this, try your local Toyota (or any other) dealer. Apply common sense.

Their "suggested" maintenance items would have him in every 1500 miles,
and would include blinker fluid.

Elmo P. Shagnasty wrote:
>
>
> Their "suggested" maintenance items would have him in every 1500 miles,
> and would include blinker fluid.

I've heard synthetic blinker fluid lasts three times as long as the
usual stuff.

In article <1138630696.052850.259150@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups .com>,
dimndsonmywndshld@yahoo.com wrote:

> I've heard synthetic blinker fluid lasts three times as long as the
> usual stuff.

whoa, but hang on. Synthetic will ruin your entire lighting system if
you replace it before 15K blinks.

Best to go with the blend up front. Whatever you do, don't leave the
factory fluid in past 1K blinks.

>>this "Maintenance Minder" sensor and computing system is so new that any
bugs may not have been discovered yet.<<

This system is definitely NOT new. Honda has been putting them in Acuras
for a long time, and they work well.

"Sid Schweiger" <spam@this.cretin> wrote
E
>>>this "Maintenance Minder" sensor and computing system is so new that any
> bugs may not have been discovered yet.<<
>
> This system is definitely NOT new. Honda has been putting them in Acuras
> for a long time, and they work well.

How long? My quick search indicates the first one on an Acura was about
2004.

Aside: The other day I saw a TV commercial for GM vehicles and (Onstar?)
indicating they had such a system as well.

Elle <honda.lioness@nospam.earthlink.net> wrote:

> "Sid Schweiger" <spam@this.cretin> wrote
> E
> >>>this "Maintenance Minder" sensor and computing system is so new that any
> > bugs may not have been discovered yet.<<
> >
> > This system is definitely NOT new. Honda has been putting them in Acuras
> > for a long time, and they work well.
>
> How long? My quick search indicates the first one on an Acura was about
> 2004.
>
> Aside: The other day I saw a TV commercial for GM vehicles and (Onstar?)
> indicating they had such a system as well.


They usually use new technologies outside North America befor bringing
them here.

It seems like everyone is using them.