As far as I know, A7 is for brake fluid and or engine oil + eventually tire rotation.

The dealer wants to do a rear differential and front transfer case in addition to A7.

Should I do the rear dif and front transfer case?

 

When was the rear differential last done? If never, you are overdue. In the old days (printed schedule in owner manual), the interval was 15k miles, another 15k, then every 30k after that. My understanding now is that the MM code is expected to pop up ahead of 15k miles, then an interval of every 30k after that. I did it when it appeared at 11.8k miles, and will do it again at 30k miles total, then maybe every 25-30k miles after that.

The transfer case is usually done on the same schedule as the transmission fluid. Have either been done previously? My understanding is that the code for those may pop up around 50k miles, but I will be doing both of those at 30k, and every 30k after that.

Acura/Honda flags codes other than oil changes early, so that if you only get other services done when you are going for an oil change you will be early rather than late. I got the brake fluid code 4 months ago, but will not change it until February of next year when it is actually due -- 3 years after the car's build date. The MM is assuming that my oil change after next would occur at a time past 3 years, so it is calling for me to change the brake fluid with the upcoming (in ~2k miles) oil change.

When was your brake fluid last changed? If more than 3 years, you are overdue.

 

Thanks for replying.

Nothing is "overdue" in my case. Now it will be 3rd differential and brake fluid change.

Just that calculation of Acura does not make any sense at 40K limes and 4,5 years.

Additionally, I would not go with the dealership since I know a lot of proposed by them in advance. Keep in mind they make money in that way.

And my question again is about the differential and transfer at 40K and 4,5 years.

 

Seems lile page 535 & 536 clearly says what A7 means in owner's manual - oil change and replace break fluid. Nothing mention about rear dif which is code 6 and front transfer case which is code 3.

I assume I was trying to be ripped off by stealership.

 

I wouldn't change the rear differential if it has been less than ~20k miles since last time, unless perhaps the MM code came up (which would only be expected maybe be 30k miles since previous change/reset).

I personally would change the transfer and transmission every 30k, but you should be fine at MM code or 50k which ever comes first. I find it odd that they would suggest the transfer case but not the transmission, if neither have been done before -- they share a code.

Caveat -- if you tow or drive a lot with a rooftop carrier, or in mountainous areas (winding roads), the owners manual calls for changing rear diff fluid every 15k miles. It doesn't call for more frequent transfer case and transmission fluid in that condition, but that would seem like a good idea.

p.s. I do my own service of this type. If I had to pay someone to do it, I would have to consider whether to do it more often than the MM calls for. e.g., rear diff service parts only cost ~$25, transmission $65.

 

Over selling services is something dealerships started doing during the pandemic. Slower vehicle sales required them to make up revenue from the shop services and raising prices for those services. Over servicing your vehicle like early sh-awd/AT fluid change doesn't have a negative impact on the vehicle. The only impact is your pocket book.

 

Brake fluid must be changed every 3yr/30k miles regardless of MID.
if its been less than 3yr/30k miles since your last brake fluid change, you can wait. You dont have to blindly follow MID.
as far as transmission, I highly recommend you change both transmission fluid and transfer fluid every 30-40k miles regardless of MID.

 

I don't recall ever seeing an official (owner's manual) recommendation for brake fluid change based on miles. The printed Acura the maintenance schedule I have from pre-MM days says "Every 3 years (independent of mileage)."

That said, if I drove 25k miles per year, I might not wait 3 years (75k miles).

For you high miles per year drivers (20k+), did the MM show a code 7 at less than 2 years from new?

 

I changed my brake fluid without MID after 3 years when I had about 25k miles. At 5 years mark and 41k miles code 7 came up, I ignored it, and will change it at 6 year mark.