Hi all,

I have a 05 Acura TL and it only has 15K miles on it (drive it only on weekends). I have to take it in for the A1 service and the recall notice. The service manager at acura (Fallschurch VA) told me that since its 3 years old, its recommended that the engine, steering, and brake fluids should be replaced. The shock was that it will cost $530! Is this what I should expect? Should I just have these fluids replaced elsewhere? 500 smackers is a lot for a car I dont really drive around much.

Thanks

 

that is just made up figures on the dealers part to make more $$$$, have them do this:
Brake Fluid flush/change - 79.99-99.99
Oil Change and oil Filter change - 29.99
Rotate tires
Check and top off any fluids, the 3 year brake part is right, but it shouldn't cost 500 dollars

 

Aside from the oil change/rotate tires part, could I just go to a regular car service shop and have the fluids replaced? It will be cheaper right?

 

You can go to any auto repair shop to have the maintenance performed. I'd pick one that is familiar with the Hondas and Acuras, but my guess is that the oil change, brake fluid change and tire rotation will total less than $200-- it would at my local Honda/Acura independents.

FWIW, changing the brake fluid is easy as long as the right steps are followed and is a "change every 3 years" item per the manual.
Also, the power steering fluid need NOT be changed unless there is some problem with the PS system.

 

Even if you paid full price for all Honda fluids, you would still be under $150. Better yet bring your car to me, I'll do all of that in less than 2 hours. So I guess that would be at a rate of $175 an hour so $500 should cover it.

 

If you really want to keep your power steering and brake fluid looking fresh, steal the turkey baister from the kitchen and every other oil change suck out the fluid from the resevoirs and replace it with fresh fluids. If you do this, eventually you will have cleaner fluid through all the lines. This is basically the DIY version of what we do at the dealership. It takes more time but it still gets the job done.

 

stealership will do anything to make $$$$

 

if you havent got the powersterring recall done yet, they change the fluid for free

 

if you have a good mechanic, he will be able to debate weather or not the fluids need to be changed. I had all of my fluids changed out uder warranty recently due to tsb's, so I guess i was lucky...

 

I think they also wanted me to change the engine transmission fluid.

 

Transmission fluid at 15k seems unnecessary.

 

Yeap, the trans fluid is not necessary.

Same thing happen to me. I have a 08 TL-S with 1 year/9k miles and i went fot the 9k service they told I should change the streering fluid and flush the brakes. At least for my service they wanted to charge me 91 dollars, but still didnt do it because i think is to early and it doesn't need it.

 

Changing the tranny fluid every 15k isnt really a bad thing considering that there is no filter in the first place. I do it on my Pilot and my TL that frequent but I do the service myself so it doesn't cost that much.

 

60k for the the first transmission fluid sounds more like it. If you plan on keeping your car for a long while, you should use the recommended fluids as stated in your manual. As far as A1, that's just an oil change and a tire rotation. You should follow the maintnance minder and reset it only when the work is done so that it can remind you at the right time next time. It would also be a good idea to try and learn these simple jobs to save money and know it's beeing done right.