Hi,

I have nearly 100K miles on my '04 TSX.

Over the past 3.5 years, I've had the oil changed every 5k miles, the tires rotated every 10k miles, replaced the air filter, as needed, bought new tires, and so on--sort of the basic maintenance stuff. I'm still on my original brake pads and rotors. (I have 40% and 20% of my original front and rear pads, respectively.) I plan to have the rear brakes done in the next couple of months.

I'd love to be able to drive the car for another 100k miles or more. What are the essential maintenance tasks I need to be thinking about? I've looked in the manual, of course, and I've seen the maintenance packages that the Acura dealerships offer, but these seem like pure profit to me--$300-$600 for what feels like a glorified tuneup. (If the dealership had its way, I'd be in for scheduled maintenance every 7500 miles.)

If I want to go to my local dealership and order services a la carte, what should I ask for?

What essential maintenance task(s) will I regret not having done?

Thanks,

Mike

 

i'm not sure other than what the manual says. i know it has a section split into mileage and shows you what you should have done.

 

Thanks. I'm just concerned that the information in the manual often suggests doing things too soon and/or too often, with the goal of allowing Acura dealerships to sell more services.

I'd love to hear something like, "If you're at 100K miles and haven't done [whatever], you're so screwed!"

Mike

 

Wow, how the heck do you go 100K miles on the original brake pads.

If it hasn't been done yet, I would:
- Replace transmission fluid
- Replace power steering fluid
- Replace coolant
- Replace brake fluid
- Replace cabin filter (DIY)

Not sure but I think you don't need to replace the plugs until 110K miles and I don't know about the timing chain.

 

Take the recommended list for 100K and DIY where possible... ie: inspections, tire rotations, oil change, etc...

If there's anything that you see there that you can't do yourself, then think about having the dealer or any certified mechanic (Honda specialists recommended) do it.

 

IIRC, timing chain is a lifetime item, but the tensioner could warrant inspection and adjustment/replacement if its out of spec. I recall there being some problems with the tensioners on K-series engines going out of spec earlier than expected, so getting it looked at might be worthwhile.

 

Not to hijack the thread but wow, 100K in 3 years? that's 33K per year. that is a lot of driving, man.

Lol, seems like I am about to follow your footsteps. The next job assignment seems about 50 miles from my place. I would hate to put that many miles on my brand new baby though. I think average is about 15K per annum.

 

How the hell did you manage to stay on the original pads? 6 speed? alot of downshifting perhaps.

 

^^
Most likely freeway driving. I just changed the original pads on my 200K Prelude.

 

Ya, but you're JTso.

I didn't know you had a Lude, what year?

 

do an entire tune.....your car will be golden

what condition is your engine in? does it burn oil? do the valves click?

 

1993

Now we are jacking the thread.

 

Would suggest a good engine and tranny flush treatment, especially the latter if its oil hasn't been changed since day one.
I'm not talking about the overhyped/marketed stuff you can buy, but the proper full strength professional version. Something along the lines of say Liqui Moly.

 

geez why do you drive so much in 3.5 yrs??

 

Thanks for the suggestions.

I do drive a lot. My daily commute is 68 miles round trip, but if you do the math, that still doesn't work out to the 27,700 miles/year I'm averaging (97K miles in 3.5 years). I guess I just like to drive. The car's been from Boston to DC, Boston to PA, Boston to NYC, and Boston to Quebec a few times. It adds up. I've driven all of my cars pretty hard. Never averaged less than 24K miles/year. Probably not all that smart to be buying new cars. It's been paid for since Oct 2004, but it still hurts.

Yes. Original brake pads. I attribute it to my all-highway commute and some down-shifting.

The engine is still in great shape. Not burning oil. The only problem I've had--and this just happened--is that the right rear bearings are shot. I'm getting them replaced on Tuesday. Oh--and something funky happened with one of my rear windows. It stopped "rolling up" one day.

Mike

 

Get the valve clearance checked too. That's meant to be checked every 25,000 miles.

 

I don't think it's nearly that often... I think every 100,000 miles is whats in the manual (don't know for certain). But, while doing that, replace the valve cover gasket and spark plug grommets (usually in a kit for fairly cheap... under $30 most likely). And replace the spark plugs since everything else in there is new anyhow.

 

Nope, it's every 25K (every major service) if following the normal service pattern. Severe service patterns may be different, but then it may be just a case of oil and filter replacing more often.
Plugs are supposed to be done at 75K.