45K "Suggested Maintenance" from my dealer

I have a 2003 Accord that was a lease car I bought at around 30K in mileage. So I know all maintenance was done, mileage was low, etc. My question is this: Knowing that dealerships LOVE to have you come in for checkups and repairs, I just got my 45K checkup/maintenance reminder. What would this cover, and do I really need it? I plan on replacing the trans. fluid w/ my next oil change - always smart to do regularly, I'm told - but should I let them squeeze the (probably) extra $100-$200 out of me? I love the car - my first Honda - and do want to care for it. Knowing this, what maintenance SHOULD I really consider top-priority over the next x-number of miles? Thanks for your help here - maybe I'll split the $$ with my answerers

 

Waiving the right to remain silent, bechard

The recommended maintenance is probably in the service section of
your manual. Or, you can always call he dealer to see what they do
and what they charge.

 

That's probably only medium service--
change oil and filter.
Everything else will just be checked--eg fluid levels, tire air pressure,


At the Honda dealership in my town--they only do major service at
30,000
60,000
90,000
120,000

My advice is to wait until you have driven 3000 to 4000 miles between oil
changes. Take it to the dealer and tell them to check the records to see
if anything else (other than oil and filter) needs to be done.
Also
when you have about 75,000 to 90,000 miles on the car
tell them to
change timing belt
major tune up
adjust valves
change upper spark plug tube gaskets.
change valve cover gasket

I plan to have it done at 75,000 miles but a Honda mechanic told me that
it's usually okay to wait until it has about 90,000 miles. The choice is
up to you.

 

I would follow the severe service guide in the manual with the following
extra precautions:

Flush brake lines once every two years, regardless of mileage. Many
European cars have this as a standard maintenance item and I feel that
it helps greatly extend the life of the master cylinder and calipers by
clearing accumulated moisture from the system.

Change auto tranny fluid every 30,000 miles. Honda and just about every
other company says it can go longer, but on modern vehicles it seems
that expensive automatic transmission failures are much more common than
are expensive engine failures. New tranny fluid every 2-3 years seems a
very small price to pay for extra safety margin.

Finally, change out the engine coolant at the same interval as the
tranny fluid. Make sure to use real Honda fluid, not some generic
substitute.

Dealers often add really bogus stuff like "fuel injection treatment"
which means throwing a can of solvent in the fuel tank. Watch out for
that nonsense.


YMMV,
John

 

Ignore it.

Follow your owner's manual.

You don't need the brakes dusted out or the exhaust manifold lubricated.

 

Generally speaking, the only thing that will get serviced is your wallet.

 

Don't forget replacing/flushing the blinker fluid.

 

I have 2001 honda accord LX auto. It crossed 35000 miles. I thought it is
about time to change the transmission fluid. I do not go to dealers. I went
to the local Mr. Good Lube. He said transmission fluids are not required to
be changed until around 60K. He also checked the fluid and said it fine.

 

Don't assume anything was done during a lease program.

--
Stephen W. Hansen
ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician
ASE Automobile Advanced Engine Performance
ASE Undercar Specialist

http://autorepair.about.com/cs/troubleshooting/l/bl_obd_main.htm
http://www.troublecodes.net/technical/

 

CV boots should be checked at every oil change. You can do it yourself or
most dealers look for no charge or is included with change.
Some say change brake fluid but would agree of previous poster that it can
wait.
Now for a lease vehicle I agree do not take anything for granted.
Now I WOULD do the transmission at owners manual recommendation or as
frequemtly as possible. I do not know how difficult yours is but if it a
simple drain and fill with no filter (not the full flush converter and all)
than I would have it done when on special or do it yourself.
I never put much faith in tranny fluid changes BUT having fleet vehicles for
10 years and 60,000 miles a year, they change the fluid as often or more
than the manual says. THE FLEET COMPANIES ARE CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP when it
comes to spending money. They have them serviced every 5000 regardless and
we get nailed if we skip some. AND YET THEY CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION
FLUID!!!! usually every 30,000. This tells me something about the research
they must have done to make sure the transmissions do not go out as they
have to fix them.Vehicles are usually traded at 60-100k.

2 cents
Thanks
Tom