calgary_tsx

So I went to the dealer (Northwest Acura in Calgary) to get a quote on what the 96 K km service is Type "E" and it is $960.00 + GST.

This is what Acura says it is:

Replace engine oil* and filter.
Service front and rear brakes.
Rotate tires**, inspect for wear and adjust pressure.
Lubricate all hinges, locks, and latches with multipurpose grease.
Inspect tie rod ends, steering gear box and boots.
Inspect suspension components.
Inspect driveshaft boots.
Inspect parking brake adjustments.
Inspect brake hoses and lines (including ABS).
Check all fluid levels, condition of fluids, and check for leaks.
Inspect cooling system hoses and connections.
Inspect exhaust system.
Inspect fuel lines and connections.
Check all lights.
Inspect the underbody.
Inspect and adjust drive belts.
Replace dust and pollen filter.
Replace air cleaner element.

To this, they add:
-Replace fuel filter (do they know its attached to the tank!)
-Replace Timing Belt (really!!)
-Replace spark plugs (isnt this at 176k)
-Change coolant (again can wait)
-Change MTF Fluid (ok this I agree with)


Anyways, I was talking to one of the service advisors and asked him why they claim that I must get this servicing done to my '04 TSX when some of it isn't applicable and some is unneccesary. He could not give me a straight answer. I mentioned that even the severe weather schedule in the manual does not indicate that this much maintenance is necessary. His response was that Honda does not realise the maintenance required on vehicles in harsh Canadian winters. The dealership sees and knows what the cars really need to be properly maintained.

Has anyone else heard this crap from the dealership?

EuRTSX

Sounds like a load of bull to me.

ChrismanTSX

Sounds like your dealer if full of crap.

The best part to me is replacing the timing belt... Please make sure to ask them for the original!

dolparism

basically u r paying $1000 for
oil change, tire rotation, filters (cabin, air, fuel), timing chain, plugs, coolant, MTF
trust me, they don't check all craps above.....

BlacknBlue

I thought the TSX had a timing chain - not belt...

SPARKIE

It does.
And I believe it either does not need changing or good to like 200,000 kms ?

PJS

It's a chain and doesn't need replacing period!
As for this service - sounds like the UK 75K miles one I had done a while ago.
All in, less than $700, and you can buy and replace the cabin filter yourself.
Check prices for same service interval with other Acura dealers and independent garages, you may be surprised at the difference.

I Was Justin You

yea thats way too much. I spoke to the service writer at las vegas acura, and he told me that the 30k service was about 400+ tax. I know the service you want has alot more in it like the timing chain but I don't see why they are charging $600 more.

owkone

Take it to an independent Honda/Acura shop. IMO exactly following Acura owners manual service requirements is all that is needed the rest is dealer's gravy.

godfather2

from the looks of it, you're paying almost a grand for mere inspections!?!?!?!

synthetic

Why don't you take $1000 and flush it down the toilet? You'll end up with the same result.


I wish dealerships were less evil than the devil himself. I hate dealing with any car dealership. They're ALL thieves and YES I'm painting all dealerships with the same brush. At the end of the day they're all f***ing thieves.

Mokos23

They just want your money. This is about the only part I detest about owning a car when the time comes for bs maintenance like this.

Sometimes I wish I had gone to automotive school too as an hobby and learn how to fix cars in my spare time.

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

Just tell the dealership to do the oil change and tire rotation and then tell them you'll do the inspections yourself. Hell, you'll probably do a more thorough job than the kids they have doing the basic service inspection stuff.

EuRTSX

ChrismanTSX

The only thing that should require inspection/servicing on the timing chain is the tensioners...

Tex929rr

There is no inspection procedure in the Service Manual for the cam chain or tensioners. There is a procedure for changing both but the chain is supposed to last the life of the engine.

dom

I was about to go for my 100K. I presume these things are necessary at that mileage? (60K miles)

petthepeep

Acura has done a wonderful thing for its customers.

They publish the required maintenance items in the owners manual.

All you need is that checklist, a service manual ($40 on ebay), and a nice saturday afternoon and you can wisk through all those replacements, inspections, and repairs.

The best part is, once your done, you can truthfully say the car is running off your sweat and your blood!



...or just go to your mechanic buddy down the street an pay a quarter what Acura wants!!!

LoveMyTL-S

Pocket the $1000, drive down to Florida for vacation and I'll do the inspections, change the oil and rotate the tires for $100.00.

owkone

I bought a lifetime (of the) tire rotation and balance deal from NTB. I get the tires rotated and balanced every 5000 miles for my driving it works out twice a year. Cost Approx $65.00USD.

I take it to a local Honda/Acura independent shop for oil change every 5000 miles - cost $26.00USD that includes top off all fluids, visually check the brakes, adjust tire pressures and visual check of everything under the car and under the hood. He will get to do the 30K service too.

loulinjai

bullshit, phone silverhill and see wut they say. i live a 5 min drive from crowfoot, but i only been there a couple times with my EL back in the day. i always go to silverhill if i need to go the dealer. northwest is a ripoff and their service team (including manager) needs to improve on their attitude. see if you can do it at a honda dealer or independent shop. trying not to be bias, but not one staff at northwest is even close to impressing me

kky

Northwest sucks big time. Go to silverhill. don't even get me started on what northwest did to me.

TSX420J

I wouldnt trust them. I just took my car in for 20,000 mile 300.00 dollar service and I dont think they did shit. I am going back to bitch at them because the door hindges sound like they are rubbing against something and I know they didnt inspect my brakes or suspension either because it is aftermarket. They are crooks.

calgary_tsx

i figured it was a rip off for the service and didnt have any intention of paying them that much. I think I'll just get the tires rotated, oil changed (i use synthetic anyway) and figure I should get the MTF fluid flushed. I'll buy the air+pollen filters myself and put them in and call it a day. Maybe its time to switch to Silverhill too (buts its a far drive from Airdrie!), Northwest doesn't seem to know very much about the vehicles they service. Thanks all for taking the time to write back!!

dom

Just called my dealer to schedule an appointment for my 100K and they said it was $399 + tax.
That includes replacing the tranny fluid and flushing the brake fluid along with all the other things in that first list. sounds reasonable to me.

jlukja

Keep in mind the OP is in Canada so his prices are in $CDN. Still, waaay overpriced and some services are unnecessary, but lets compare apples to apples.

curls

Dom / OP: You can do 99.99% of this stuff with a friend and a few pops on a Saturday afternoon. Changing the MTF is SIMPLE. Changing brake fluid is SIMPLE. Changing oil is SIMPLE. Inspections are easy enough and if you find something you're unsure of, then bring it to an independant mechanic for a quick, targeted inspection of that particular component.

Timing chain is a lifetime item. The TENSTIONER should be adjusted when necessary, and now is as god a time as any if you want to get it done. However I wouldn't peg it as 'necessary' just yet.

Tire rotations and brake/suspension inspections are all simple, too.

Yeah I know its cold out at this time of year... you can probably wait for everything aside from the oil change, and do it when its a bit warmer outside. Or, find a friend w/ a garage or a heated garage. bring a beer for said friend.

loulinjai

im acutally at 86k in ontario and going back to calgary in may, so i'll rack up some km by then. im going to do the pollen and air filter myself (instruction in manual). the brake and tranny fluids should be easy to do. but if you want, u can probaly get it done for 50 bux each. $1000 is ridculous, use it to buy your significant other something nice.

jlukja

However, I am not an experienced mechanic so I always worry that I won't be looking for the correct signs of things going wrong while performing my own inspection. It would be great if someone that is experienced could put together a DIY on inspecting various components, what to look for, etc.

dom

Not to mention time is at a premium for me these days, so I'm sort of ok with forking out the $400.

JAB00

Wow, that seems like highway robbery to me.

Tex929rr

[QUOTE=curls]Dom / OP: Timing chain is a lifetime item. The TENSTIONER should be adjusted when necessary, and now is as god a time as any if you want to get it done. However I wouldn't peg it as 'necessary' just yet.[QUOTE]

Everything else is as simple as stated. But the tensioners can't be adjusted.

roxxor

I'm actually sitting at the Honda dealership as I get my 15k service done now. I decided after hearing the advice on this board to try going to a Honda dealership to save some $ over the cost of Acura service. $260 out the door for everything, including tire rotate and balance and all that good stuff. Can't exactly say I "think" its a good deal, but I haven't called Acura to see how much they would charge

But I digress.... yeah, 1k seems a bit too much, even with all the harsh conditions. Try calling/visiting a Honda dealer(if one is nearby) and see if you get the same estimate

the420kid

on the same tune as the last poster:

I need to replace my rear brake pads on my 04' TSX>

Acura dealership : $460
Honda dealership : $180

thats all i need to learn