jmills006

Hi all, I came here seeking some advice since I seem to hit a road block with the dealer. A few days ago I took my 2019 RDX in for 30k service and long story short the service advisor talked me into getting a transmission fluid flush. When I purchased the vehicle I did add on the Acura Care service plan but at the dealer I did not realize that transmission fluid was part of the plan. When I returned home that evening I looked it up and when I realized it should have been included I emailed the service advisor asking why I was charged and he said he would look into it. A day later he calls be and said that he can refund me just $38 our of $280 because Acura Care only covers a transmission fluid change rather than a flush. I just am a bit frustrated because I'm sure he knew that and instead sold me a service that should have been included. Any advice on where I should go from here and am I out of luck?

russianDude

Last time I checked, Honda was against flushes and only recommended drain and fill. Is this something new they are doing? Intresting

DriverOne

First, read the Acura Care service plan to see if he is right. Secondly, as far as I know, the RDX does not have a maintenance schedule that is dictated by mileage. You just follow the Maintenance Minder. So if you just go by the codes there, you won't be talked into additional services.

jmills006

The service plan just mentions transmission fluid changes so he may be right on the flush. It just doesn’t justify the fact that I’m sure he knew this and sold me service that I shouldn’t have had to pay for. He said the car wasn’t coding the transmission service but would be “soon.”

Madd Dog

Find out who the owner is, or the top manager in the place, and write a letter detailing everything to him.

I suggest you go light on accusing the SA of ill intent and try to let that be a conclusion on the part of the reader, rather than an accusation on your part. You might bring up that the Owners Manual says to replace the transmission fluid, and does not say to flush it.

I am not a lawyer, but it seems to me that unless ownership decides to set things right for you, you need to chalk this up to experience and take your business elsewhere.

DriverOne

First of all, I cannot stress this enough: you need to follow the maintenance minder. It doesn't matter if the code will "come up soon," you just wait until it does. As far as I know -- someone correct me if I am wrong -- the maintenance schedule for the RDX just follows your oil changes, not a strict mileage. So it reads 100% after your maintenance and then you drive it until it tells you to take it in. You can drive it down to 0%, but it will remind you at 15% (I think). Then you just do whatever the code says. And then that's it.

Second of all, you may try to talk to that guy's boss. However, as Madd Dog said, do not accuse the service guy of ripping you off. That is basically like you're accusing the dealership of ripping you off. Just say something like "isn't this covered by my Acura Care?" If they say no, just say politely "OK, I will take the partial refund he offered me, but I think you'll lose me as a customer." That may make them reconsider. However, unfortunately, even if you were ripped off, ultimately the problem is that you were at fault for saying OK. I know that sucks, but that's how an impartial person would view it. In that case, as Madd Dog says, you need to use this as a learning experience. Don't be embarrassed about it, either, we all have made mistakes that have cost us money. Good luck.

JB in AZ

LOTS of money!

russianDude

Its not a bad idea to change transmission fluid at 30k miles even if MID is not indicating this. Extra insurance.
If I remember correctly, MID will come at around 60k miles for trans fluid, so doing at 30k and 60k is not a bad idea. However, the service manual states that it should be drain and fill procedure. Transmission flush is something I would stay away given Honda warnings about flushes. Also, sometimes there is terminology issue, service advisor might call it “flush”, but its really drain and fill. The flush is when they hookup the machine to the transmission cooler line and exchange all the fluid.

russianDude

$38 for transmission fluid change?? That can not be thar cheap, the fluid alone will probably cost $30.

jmhumr

It's really a shame that dealers are still allowed to peddle optional services under an implied guise of "recommended maintenance." It's even more a shame that they would do that to a customer who bought a pre-paid maintenance plan. If I'm the OP, I'd contact the service manager and politely suggest that you'll file a complaint with Acura if they don't make this right. A $38 refund is not enough.

For anyone who bought AcuraCare, I'd recommend being clear each time you bring your car in that you only approve work that is covered by the plan. Nothing else is necessary.

russianDude

ATF2.0 is around $10 per quart, and you need like 3qt min. I am curious about $38 price to change it.

DriverOne

It wasn't a $38 charge. He offered to refund $38 of the total cost.

Cuzz

I've had my RDX in for service 3 times so far and the maintenance plan has covered everything. But, they only did was was called for and didn't try to upsell me any services. With past (non Acura) vehicles I always ask if the service is covered BEFORE I authorize it.

russianDude

From what he said it appears that Acura only pays for transmission fluid change, hence thats why he is offering a refund of "$38"? I know it does not make sense why he would only offer $38 refund, how did he come up with that number

jmills006

He said that was the difference that Acura Care pays them for that service.

russianDude

In that case the refund should be $280-$38. If refund is only $38, it means Acura pays them $38 for transmission fluid change(which can not possibly be that cheap) or dealer is making stuff up. I think its the second.

jmills006

His explanation was that Acura Care only pays for a fluid replacement, and they did a full flush instead. Either way, I have contacted Acura Corporate and they are looking in to what happened and contacting the dealer so hopefully they will be able to help.

russianDude

cool, ask corporate about “flush”, Honda is typically recommending against transmission flushes as it can cause problems. Drain and fill is a much safer option.

Ken1997TL

It's not a flush. It's a 3 by 3. Drain/fill done three times. Very normal at 30K.

Honestly I'd do pay it for the first time, it's worth it. You can probably do a simple drain fill around 60K.

russianDude

Dealership will not be doing drain and fill 3 times. This procedure is done DIYers only.

Ken1997TL

Simply not true

russianDude

if you request it, maybe. But standard transmission service will not have 3x drain and fill
at the dealer. I know this very well from prior two acuras I owned.

DriverOne

You know what your dealer did with your transmission fluid? Is this like how you know that they're measuring paint thickness in the back room, too? You seem to have a lot of unverifiable claims about dealers that nobody else has ever witnessed.

russianDude

Where is the service procedure from Acura that will prove me wrong? Anyone has service manual for rdx?

in first gen rdx they would out 3qt on invoice, which is exactly what comes out from transmission. They would not do it 3 times.

Dereileak

it is not a drain and fill 3x just as you had said, it’s basically a drain and fill, run through down gears and recheck/fill, here is the oem service manual from Honda techline

I attached the PDF for the 2019 RDX A-Spec, should be the same for all trims
https://acurazine.com/forums/attachm...check-4350.pdf

there is only one way this service should be performed and any other way is either a waste of money or just straight up incorrect. The proper way is very clearly stated in their tech manual. Not sure why they did a flush, if they actually even did a flush like they said. It should of been a simple drain and fill, it is very easy to do yourself

Dereileak

that is incorrect the correct procedure is a drain, fill, run through gears and check/fill again

russianDude

thank you. From the doc it looks like you need 5qt.
Sometimes service advisors call it a “ trans flush”, so you have to be careful with terminology

Dereileak

yea they seem to try to confuse customers on purpose if you ask me

GW208

Thanks for that, I didn't realize that the plug for checking the level was not the fill plug. I don't know if I'll be up to tackling this job when the time comes but I would have ended up over filling it for sure.

jmills006

I finally heard back today from corporate that they will be sending me a check for a full refund on the transmission flush. A lesson learned for sure! Thank you all for your help.

Ken1997TL

I'm well aware of the correct procedure. But ask any Honda/Acura tech and they'll tell you it's sometimes not enough at the first service to do a simple drain and fill.