smazzurco

so i just called the local honda dealer (local acura dealer wanted $575 last i checked to install breaks...not including parts, i had all parts, just to install) and the 60k maintenance runs $475.99

I know some things, such as tire rotation, cabin filter, i dont need, as i recently bought tires (and get free rotations) and i do the cabin filter myself. I can talk with them and have the price i am sure slightly reduced..but still sounds like a lot for an oil change and some transmission fluid.

I am tempted to call Jiffy Lube and get a price for oil change + transmission fluid...but then again i dont want to take my car to some butcher...

I have had the car about 2 years and drive a lot. I commute about 130 miles a day. So most of my driving is highway/mountain driving, not a lot of short trips.

Any advice? Should i just cough up the $500 (tough to do in this economy) or should i risk taking my car somewhere else? is there anything "complicated" about changing the oil and transmission fluid or anythign else i am missing?

thanks in advance

o, its a 2006 acura tsx, auto

smazzurco

couldnt find out how to edit...but wanted to add that up to 52K miles the dealer performed all oil changes (came as part of the purchase package)

nj2pa2nc

I think you are getting overcharged-I would try elsewhere-Ask friends or co-workers for recommendations. I follow the maintenance minder on my 06 tsx. I also do alot of driving-just over 70,000 miles.

MMsTSX

yes, you should avoid the dealer.
and yes, jiffy lube can be butchers, bad idea there.

find a local mechanic that does good work and go to them.
in my city there are shops specifically for Honda/Acura, shops specifically
for European cars, etc. and this city is pretty small. I'm sure where you are
from has a good qualified mechanic that can do whatever needs to be done
in the way of maintenance.

^ so as suggested above there is not much left to do.
you can do the filters and such yourself.
most of it is just visual inspection of items, topping off fluids, rotating
tires, etc. basic stuff you can do yourself.

while you are having your oil changed at the mechanic, you can either
ask him to do the visual inspections and check the parking brake, or
if you know a thing or two and he will allow you to, you can do the checks
yourself while the car is on the lift. that depends on the mechanic though.

there is nothing at all complicated with any of the work you need done.
if you are not comfortable with other shops or don't know any, call the dealership.
tell them you are declining their service package, and all you want is an oil
and transmission fluid change. my local dealership only charges me $21 to change oil
and give me a new filter, and I'm sure the transmission fluid change would be pretty
cheap as well. you don't have to do what they suggest. they should be willing to
do whatever work you want them to do at a fair price, my dealer will anyway.
just expalin to them that you do most of the stuff yourself, and all you need from them
is the fluid changes.

smazzurco

so i checked with a local mechanic who does our work trucks....he quoted me $120 ballpark for the oil/transmission + visual inspections...lol

ill pass on the dealer

MMsTSX

^ good call.
make sure to document it and save all the receipts.
that is important.

the dealer does not have to do the work, but you need to prove that somebody,
even yourself, did it or it will void warranty stuff.

npolite

$575 for mostly inspections, Jesus I can't believe they can get away with this. The dealers should be doing the inspections free of charge to promote more business not hit them once someone and then hit them again. I am saving a ton of money doing the work myself. And this doesn't even include a transmission drain and fill?

Glad you found another shop to do the work for you.

MMsTSX

^ yeah, no kidding, it's robbery.

they make the bulk of their money off of it I'm sure.
gotta keep the building running somehow I suppose.

Itchytoe

Just change the fluids yourself. Don't let yourself get robbed. As for the visual inspection, you can do that right?

bukxanger

dont go to jiffy lube!!! they use recycled oil

Audioserf

I take my own oil when I go to the local Valvoline. My car's too low to get on the ramps at my Acura dealership, so there go my free oilchanges for life. The Valvoline place uses pits you drive over, so I fit there fine. I just roll up with my Mobil 1 and pay them to do the labor. What can I say, I'm lazy, and doing an oilchange in my condo's parking lot isn't a very appealing idea...

MMsTSX

^ I carry miniramps in my car when I go to the dealer for that reason.

davidspalding

I thought tranny fluid was mandated at 60000 miles only for "extreme" conditions: towing, or driving at high altitudes.

I provide my own oil for changes, but thinking of having a dealer just do the tranny fluid in the next few yrs, if only because it has to be flushed/filled 3 cycles, and needs Honda/Acura specific fluid. I don't trust my usual AAA station, especially since they just inspected my gf's Jetta VR6 and told the buyer that the "timing belt" needs changing. (It has a timing chain, the drive belt is brand new.)

DO NOT use Jiffy Lube. The Los Angeles TV station's expose was all I need to know about that ripoff joint.

Mokos23

the 60K maintenance was the most expensive i've done with the TSX. i looked at my maintenance journal and am thinking of skipping the 70K service, you only need to rotate tires and have an oil change.

wong05tsx

iTrader: (6)

I have a friend who works at Acura get me one of the tech guys #. Shot him a text, and told me to come in a X time when his supervisor leaves. I was quoted 375$ for a transmission flush at Acura. I paid the tech 60$ cash, and it was done at Acura.

Try to find a way to connect with one of the tech guys at Acura (maybe even Honda). Most likely they're willing to do a sidejob, whether it be at the dealership (riskier on their part), or at their house. They've got access to the Honda MTF/ATF and crush washers, and everythings definately legit