san

Hi, we got maintenance remainder A12 recently. So I took the RDX to a local Honda and Acura mechanic. He suggested me to change engine oil and engine, cabin filters. Along with that he suggested me to dain and fill automatic transmission fluid and change front differential fluid since it is nearing 30k miles. Gave me a bill estimate $530. Do you think I need to as he suggested? 🤔

markAZ

The A means oil change, the 1 is for tire rotation, and the 2 is for replace filters and check drive belt. Unless it's calling for the fluid changes (transmission/transfer would be a 3 and rear diff would be a 6) I wouldn't do them until the car calls for them, dealers are always looking to up-sell you. I'm assuming you bought it new and have kept up with the maintenance so far...the first rear diff fluid change usually comes up well before 30k miles. OTOH if you don't know the service history it might be a good idea to have them done. $530 sound a bit high to me but then all dealer service seems high to me...

My $0.02 worth...

anoop

Have you tried taking it to the dealer? Dealer service cost isn't that bad. I paid $600+ for A 1 6 with new cabin filter and new battery. The service by itself was around $250.

russianDude

Transmission fluid and transfer fluid at the dealer will be $450+. The prices this mechanic charges maybe $100 cheaper than dealer….

san

Thanks for the inputs. Rear differential fluid change has been done around 15k miles. So he asked to do front differential redline this time along with automatic transmission fluid.

san

Just for A12 they quoted me around $300. So thinking weather to go to dealer or doing it at local store

russianDude

B12 came up: Oil change, tire rotation, engine and cabin filter changes. my Total cost was $70.

markAZ

If the Maintenance Minder isn't calling for it, I wouldn't do it.

Also, the front differential is part of the transmission (technically it's a transaxle) so it's the same fluid as the transmission and not a separate change. I'm thinking he meant the front transfer case, whose fluid change is included in the 3 code, which also includes transmission fluid change. But again, it it isn't calling for a 3, I wouldn't change the transmission fluid. OTOH, it doesn't hurt to change fluids more often than specified, it just costs more money.

markAZ

I'm assuming you did it yourself. Otherwise, that's a smoking deal.

russianDude

yep 😀