kingkong222

does anyone know what this code mean?

mrgold35

Depending on your dealership (or stealer-ship), you are looking at $1200-$1500 on average for that much service. You can cut the cost down by $300-$400 if you:
- purchase your own oil (walmart)
- purchase the spark plugs (amazon)
- purchase the air filter and cabin air filter and replace yourself (amazon)
- If the shop you purchased your tires from have lifetime balance/rotation (assuming you don't have OEM tires no more).

Acura Service Codes

A: Replace Engine Oil
B: Replace Engine Oil and Filter. Inspect various systems and components

1: Rotate Tires and check tire pressure and condition
2: Replace air cleaner element, check drive belt and replace dust and pollen filter
3: Replace transmission fluid and transfer fluid (if equipped)
4: Replace spark plugs, replace timing belt (if equipped), inspect water pump, and inspect value clearance
5: Replace Engine Coolant
6: Replace rear differential fluid (if equipped)

kingkong222

thanks. I already done all of those before in the last year.

Tomtwtwtw

1200-1500? That seems excessive, even for a dealership...a very reputable Honda/Acura shop near me will do all of that for under 400. I guess I'm lucky to have these guys near me for the stuff I don't DIY.

mrgold35

That is why I try to do as much as I can or take advantage of cheaper services at other repair shops around town. I just don't trust other shops for something that is Acura specific and might be TSB and/or warranty related like A/C, sh-awd, engine, or AT.

Midnight Mystery

My RDX has just alerted me with code A36...

So, I know A means basic oil change...

Does 3 mean front diff fluid? I had my transmission fluid drain+fill in May 2016, 6,000 miles ago...

6 means rear diff fluid, ok, ben expecting that...

I googled A36, and it popped up on the Honda Rdigeline forum as stated:
A= Oil Change
3= Air Filter
6= Differential Fluid

Which one is correct?

Also, I believe the air filter has been done within 15,000 miles... It was supposed to either have been changed by the dealer I got it from, or the previous owner did it six months before trading it last year, either way, it's new...

And when I checked the Air Filter back in April, it looked clean, an I missing something???

Thank you!!?

mrgold35

The codes listed in the above post #2 are correct for the RDX.
A= Oil Change
3= Replace transmission fluid and transfer fluid
6= Differential Fluid

The Acura tech can reset individual 1-6 codes at anytime. If you reset at 15%, only the codes shown will be reset. The M.I.D. doesn't reset automatically if you do extra services not shown on the M.I.D. Is there a chance the 5AT and air filter was changed and the M.I.D. individually 1-6 codes wasn't reset and it came due now?

I change my 5AT every 30K, change my cabin filter every year, clean my K/N drop in engine filter yearly, and do my rotations/balance at Discount Tires. I still do my fluid changes at Acura (engine, 5AT, rear diff) and I tell the tech about what I've done to reset the 1-6 codes (those showing or not). I still keep a written record in a smartphone app (Road Trip) as a back-up just incase the tech didn't reset any code for an extra service not shown in M.I.D.

I don't know if you reset your M.I.D. between the 100%-20% oil life range if it also reset any 1-6 codes your can't see? My gut says "maybe".

Midnight Mystery

Ok, so I had the transmission fluid replaced at the dealer in May, however, neither front or rear diff have been touched...

I've been expecting to see a MID message requesting new diff fluid since I got it in late February...

About how much does a diff fluid change cost?

Luckily, I have a dealer service coupon for a $49 oil change vs. $70, or something like that...

Ok, transmission fluid is new, but front and rear drivetrain (diff) fluid need to be changed...

Only thing left is spark plugs!!!

mrgold35

It usually cost me about $280-$300 for 5AT, transfer case, and sh-awd rear diff change at the dealership. Hard to figure exact cost since I usually have other services performed at the same time. My dealership does 1X 3qt 5AT/6AT drain re-fill for around $100 instead of the 3X drain/drive/refill for about $300. Guessing the rear diff alone is about $90. I usually do my 5AT/6AT fluid changes around 30,000 miles. Being old school, going 60,000-120,000 mile fluid M.I.D. changes seems too long for me for AT fluid changes. I have +340,000 miles between all three vehicles with zero AT issues (so far).

I purchased my spark plugs from Amazon for my TSX/RDX and had them replaced at the dealership around the 100,000 miles mark. I've noticed my TSX and RDX felt like it got back some lost HP, started easier, improved the mpgs, and a little better throttle response. I decided to change my spark plugs on my MDX at 75,000 miles instead of waiting until 100,000 miles to keep her in top running condition.

Midnight Mystery

Hmmm... I'm just starting to realize how "out of touch" my local Acura dealer is...

They didn't know what a 3x3 drain and fill was, and charged over $200 for just a transmission drain and fill...

I DO NOT want an independent shop touching a delicate system like SH-AWD... Many of them have probably never even heard of it before, or at least where I do most of my errands...

So, my Stealership will probably want $350, ok...

Also, should I trust an independent to install the spark plugs? With the intercooler, I don't know what I should think about that...

What spark plugs did you get, and what are the best, most improving spark plugs I could get... I know my fuel economy will improve, I'm counting on it for all sake, and I'd like to get this thing running smooth as a V6...

In the end, I want to be pushing 300hp at the crank... 250-270whp, 0-60 in the 5.5 area on a cool day... Kind of off topic though...

OP, sorry to hijack your thread, but I didn't want to post a new one, but I don't think you're using it anymore... Thank you...

mrgold35

I did NGK Spark Plug Laser Iridium SILKR8A-S from Amazon for about $10 per plug for my RDX way back in Jan/14 (not sure how much now for the plugs). I think spark plugs, brakes, A/C service, antifreeze, tires/suspension/alignments, and other accessories (power steering, alternator, serpentine belt, radiator systems, etc..) are fine for 3rd party shops. I prefer Acura Tech for anything that is unique to the Honda/Acura brand like 5AT, sh-awd, electrical/harness issues, ELS system, navi, i-Vtec engine repairs, etc...

I was averaging about 25.5-26.5 mpg combined in my TSX before spark plugs and around 27 mpg afterwards combined. My RDX and MDX already get crappy MPGs compared to my TSX. My RDX was around 18.5- 19.5 combined mpgs before spark plugs change and mid-upper 19s and some low 20s after the spark plug change. I have Hondata, heatshield gasket, K/N drop-in filter, ETS intercooler, and 70% hwy commute that also helps with mpgs along with power.

In a perfect world, Acura tech should do the drain/fill/drive repeat 3X to exchange I think about 90% of the AT fluid for about $300-$350 (mostly labor). It is suppose to be extremely bad for Honda/Acura AT to do a 3rd party transmission fluid change that does the 100% one time flush/replace of the AT fluid. Might have been coincidence; but, I did this with an old 97 4AT Honda Accord with 120,000 miles on the ODO before I knew this. My 4AT died in around 8K and I had to replace with a salvage yard 4AT. It could have been the 100% flush, wrong fluid type, and/or just the 4AT time to die. This was when Honda made rock solid 4AT along with I-4 engines. Saving $50 for a 3rd party AT service cost me $1200 down the road with my 97 Accord.

Midnight Mystery

I think you hit the nail right on the head with that one!!!

Thank you!!!

Kaputnik

Depending on where you live, don't write off your indy guys until you do a little research, you might get lucky. Check out the local sections of an NSX forum or Honda S2000 forum - these guys will know where the great mechanics and shops are. I shudder to think about bringing my RDX in to the dealer, and even more so the S2000. My RDX and S2000 have only been to the dealers for recalls. I'm lucky to be in the San Francisco area where we have some incredible Acura and S2000 specialists. Great work for a lot less money, and by mechs who really know their stuff.

Midnight Mystery

Ooohhh... I'm very far from anyone else...

No one on here is near me...

I'm split between metropolitan New Orleans, and usually opt to have my work performed in a small town (12,500) in Mississippi.... That's where I spend 33% of my life... The people are nicer and everything is much more affordable...

I have a local shop do my oil changes is they fall on the right days, otherwise, it's the Acura dealer down here...

Since getting the RDX (2/26) done several things...

Ive had two oil changes...

Ive had the transmission fluid replaced...

Ive had a console armrest installed (didn't have one)...

Brake light bulb...

Abd I needed a started six weeks ago...


It it has new brakes and tires, and I believe all else is done...

Only other thing I may need is spark plugs,.. Would you let an Indy do that?

Kaputnik

Absolutely I would. Hilltop Auto in San Francisco, an Acura specialist for example. When I roll in there and see 3-4 NSXs on the lifts, I know I'm in the right place. I trust them much more than the dealer.

Midnight Mystery

I have my local Acura dealer down here...

In MS, I have a Hobda dealer, an oil change shop that's pretty good, and a good friend of a relative who has a transmission shop and does oil changes and basic maintenance... And there's a few little garages, nothing much...

I've never seen an NSX in my life...

I doubt there's one within 50 miles of me right now...

I live in in a place where no one knows anything, to put it straight...

I know spark plugs are speak plugs... I might even do it myself, but there's an engine cover and an intercooler in the way... Not a big deal, but I don't want to have to deal with parts everywhere...

I've done big jobs before, I'm done!!!

If it were a 4 clyinder Accord from the 1990's I'd do it myself...


Roughly how how much would a cheap place cost for install only?

Kaputnik

My RDX is only at 56k miles, so plugs have not come up yet. Sounds like the job is not bad if you have decent mechanical skills. Otherwise, given the area where you live, I too would probably take it to Acura.

Midnight Mystery

Wow, only 56k miles? I'm at 183k...

I'll have to ask about that at the dealer soon... I know they'll try and up-sell all kinds of other things...

I think that's all I'll need...

I hope to start working on the mods soon...

Tomtwtwtw

The I/C is easy to remove. 3 bolts for the cooler, loosen 2 hose clamps, and 2 screws to pull off the recirc valve. There is a how-to in the DIY section and if you go to page 2 you can see pics I uploaded. They aren't all the easiest to reach, but if you have a decent socket set with extensions it's completely doable. With the I/C out of the way, the coils are right in front of you and it's a 10 minute job. You can spend a couple hours in the afternoon and 30-40 bucks on spark plugs, or take it to a dealer where they'll probably charge you over 200 bucks. If you can find a good independent mechanic, they'll probably charge you 50-75% of the dealer price depending on the job.

Midnight Mystery

Thank you... I'll have to do some serious consideration first, but thanks!!!