Long story short, my display showed A6 service soon. No biggie, got oil changed last night (was down to 5%). Upon looking at the owner's manual I found the sub-code "6" is for the "rear dif. fluid" needs changed, however this is for extreme & lots of uphill driving conditions (constant use of low gear) which I do NOT use nor live in "extreme" conditions.

Little background history: I bought it with 8K on the ODO, it was a demo and never been out of it's dealership (city wise). I now I'm up to barely 12K plus and the interval change of this fluid (per manual) says to change at 15K.

Is my "computer" gone whacko? It looks like it should of said "A1" all along after reading the manual so more. Should I dismiss it? Has anyone had the same exp/issue?

 

Perhaps the car was abused during its first 8K miles? This would typically be the case with demo models, and might explain why the computer is calling for the diff fluid change a little early.

- DDB

 

Demo?

Just because it didn't go out the city doesn't mean it wasn't beat up, over and over. My salesman at 2 dealerships encouraged me to really drive on it and see how it feels. I was also directed to drive up to the mountains to experience the drive. The test drive was not an ordinary, drive a toyota corolla, test drive.

I can only imagine what they do with the demos, since that is the dedicated car for customers to experience how the RDX drives.

My cousin that works at Acura tells me many stories about the demo, and how sorry he would feel for someone to purchase that demo vehicle on the lot.

I hope nothing is wrong with your RDX, but I would have not purchased a demo version from any dealership.

Just my opinion...

[edited the word, "beat-up" to avoid an incorrect thought process]

 

I had the same thing and was wondering how ofter I need to change the differential fluid. There are so many variables that you can't really tell, but the technician at the dealership said anything between 12-20K. You and I happened to be at the low end of the mileage...

As for buying demo cars, I don't think is a problem, what's going to go wrong with it? same as a non-demo car...what, so someone floored the car 15 times during a test drive? what's that going to do? certanly not kill the engine.

 

Yes, beating on the car, especially honda engines, should not be a problem, but I would prefer to purchase a non-demo car that was beat-up for a few times, as opposed to a dedicated beater. When comparing a non-demo car to an actual, dedicated demo car, I rather take the non-demo in an instant.

The demo ride is the center for test drives, and the salesmen on the acura floor can vouch on the fact that these machines go through a beating.

 

When I went to test drive an RDX at my local dealer they put me in their demo car. While it drove well the interior was filthy and the windshield looked like it had been smashed by a baseball bat. Needless to say I wasn't very impressed as a potential buyer.

 

Albeit a demo it was immaculate inside & outside. Engine sound is quiet, etc...

I'm not saying they didn't floor it when they test drove it (I mean that's a must with any sporty car), hell I even did it on 2 dif. ones they had on their lot, which were in the same (great) condition.

The dealer I deal with is very reputable and def. take care of their cars whether it's a demo or a loaner. You can pretty much say they're anal to some degree.

Now back to the questionable item at hand, LOW gear code "6". Using a constant LOW gear = more load on any transmission vs. HIGH gears. If you were flogging the vehicle (i.e. test driving), you wouldn't be using your LOW gears as much as your HIGHS. See my point yet?

Perhaps it's nothing to worry since it's getting closer to the 15K mark, at which point I will be doing the fluid change.

 

I see your point if the car were calling for a fluid transmission change, but that isn't the case.

I personally wouldn't buy a demo car either. I do agree that the chance of long-term damange is minimal, but it's still there. I also have a great dealer who takes excellent care of their cars. In fact, they are so great that prior to buying our RDX, the sales manager allowed us to borrow their demo model for the weekend. I was doing pretty heavy acceleration tests, abusing the manu-matic transmission, doing brake-fade tests, handling test, etc. While I may not be indicative of the typical demo-driver, you take some of this behavior over 8K demo miles and the car definitely has some abuse on it. I couldn't possibly quantify the "cost" of this abuse, so I'd rather just avoid the risk altogether.

- DDB

 

That's why I only buy cars with ultra-low mileage, to ensure that it hasn't been abused. My RDX had 2 miles on it before I started test-driving. The gas flap cable hadn't even been hooked up yet so the sales guy couldn't even fill it up! I bought an Integra that still had bags on the seats and the plastic sheeting on the hood.

There are too many dishonest people out there, especially in the auto industry, so you can't trust that they have your best interests in mind.

 

I don't get it...the cars are designed to take the abuse...The "added" risk of long term damage on a demo car is really non-existant compared to a non-demo, plus those things would be covered by the warranty. A demo car is no different than any used car....

Now, show some repect to the initiator of the thread and go back to the subject of the A6 message. Start a "demo car" thread if you want to keep talking about that.

 

This has been addressed before. The computer will shorten or lengthen the sub-services to match up with the main service so you can do it all in one visit to the shop.

If you change the rear diff around 15k, you are getting good service out of the fluid. It is important to change it though. The SH-AWD is a wet clutch pack and the fluid becomes contaminated with friction material.

Additionally, the drain plug has a magnet so you can see if there is any metal in the fluid -- a small amount is normal -- particularly on the first change.

 

Best answer yet that makes sense, thanks!

Great additional info as well...


To all the other replies worrying about it being a demo, you can rest easy the Certified warranty covers the car for a very long time.





.

 

Is it at approx. 15K miles for the first time only, and then approx. every 30K miles, or its always every ~15K miles?

 

Totally off topic. Just showing the deals for demo's. Well, I bought a 08 tech demo with mudflaps, wheel locks, windows engraved, rear plastic tray with certified warranty plus they threw in the extra warranty after that all for 31,000 dollars. O-yeah 6000 miles. Love being ahead of the curve and my RDX.

 

I just got the A16, which I assume is oil change and rear diff service. I have about 13k miles, drive the snot out of it, and drive it in stop and go traffic in 95+ heat every day for a month now.

 

What type of fluid is in the rear DIff??

THanks

 

AUTO TRANSMISSION Z-1 FLUID

 

I'll post what I posted in the diy thread

It must be Geniuine Honda ATF-Z1 (no other manufacturer makes the Z1 fluid its honda/acura own formulation and trust me you don't want to mess with it)

I think Amsoil and Mobil 1 have ATF that are COMPATIBLE but for me COMPATIBLE doesn't cut it.

If you can't get to a acura or honda dealership (note you don't have to get it from acura, honda atf-z1 is the same stuff, I think just honda is black bottle and acura is grey bottle, unless the replaced the honda bottles with the same grey color bottles)

Or you can order it online, i think Autopartsway (google it) has them and also free shipping.