DOMonX

hey Guys,
Got a 2013 RDX with Tech only. The last time the B123 came up around was around 30K. I got it serviced at an acura dealership and they changed the oil and the transmission fluid.
Its now 52K and B123 is flashing once again so here are my 2 questions
1.) I plan to do this myself and came across many other dealership website where some mention its a transmission fluid change and some mention its also transfer case change. So does a 2013 RDX with no SH-AWD have a transfer case ? and if so when should it be changed?

2) Here's the dilemma, I have always done transmission changes at every 60k on my 2nd generation TL and I did check the fluid its reddish brown but doesn't smell burnt. So can this wait until 60K ( its now 52 K)



please advice

1CleanRDX

The "3" in the B123 is the designation to change the transmission and transfer case fluid. If you don't have AWD, you don't have a transfer case and thus only need to do the transmission fluid. Also part of B123 is engine oil and filter, air filter, cabin air filter, tire rotation.

DOMonX

Thanks

javrdx

I have a quick question, hopefully you are still posting..
I have a 2014 RDX and have maintenance code B123, the dealer is charging around 540.00 and i was wondering if i can go to a regular auto shop like bridgestone or firestone to get these services done. I read the manual and it matches with the services you listed above, transfer case, trans fluid oil and filter, cabin air filter, air filter, tire rotation.

let me know,
thanks
jav

carbonTSEX

If you're mechanically inclined, save yourself the money and do it yourself. Yes you can take it somewhere else such as Firestone. I would just document when and what was done. It's all simple maintenance.

ceb

In order to keep your warranty intact, you need to do all of the required services. Where you get them done (dealer, shadetree mechanic, Firestone, your driveway) is immaterial - but - you need to keep good records of what was done and what fluids and parts were used. Keep some sort of a logbook with dates, services performed and receipts. If the receipts or service orders don't specify the parts or fluids used, then have the shop annotate the bill with that information.

I would never take any of my cars to a big chain like Firestone or Goodyear (much less iffy lube) but a trusted indy is fine (or that chain if you know someone there that you trust).

You might also want to call around to Honda dealers for pricing. They are almost always far cheaper and use the same fluids and parts.

At most big chain places, the guys doing fluid changes are the lowest paid high school dropouts who don't care if they do your car right. Any problems will most likely be denied by management and you are left on your own.

While dealers also put their less experienced guys and gals on the oil change line, I've found that they are more careful with checking their work and you have some recourse with either the head of the dealership or corporate. It might be worth a few extra bucks.

Here are a few tips for getting better pricing:

Price each service separately. In your manual, you'll find out what each service code means. If the code calls for an oil change and a bunch of visual checks, the ask for the price of an oil change instead of "how much is an XYZ service". For the B123 you might ask "how much is an oil change? How much is a transmission flush and fill?

A few years ago, I called the dealer "How much for an XYZ service?" and got told $129. I then asked about an oil change and got told $63. I made an apt for an oil change. When I got there, the guy wrote me up for an oil change and when I got the car back I got the paper with all of the XYZ checks done.

I went back to the service guy and thanked him for doing the checks and he said "it is easier for us to do all the checks than to identify which cars only get an oil change.

If you decide to do the visual checks yourself (do you have 4 tires? Are they bald? Does the horn work? Does it scare people?) and have a dealer do the fluid changes then annotate the date and time of what you checked directly on the service order and file that away.

AXMACD

Just paid $638 for B123 on my 2015 AWD.

mtiaz

If you're kinda strapped on cash, don't work on your own car but still want it done with Genuine Honda/Acura stuff you can get all the same work done at a Honda Dealership for less because they charge less for parts/fluids and their labour rate is cheaper than Acura

dirleton

"If you're kinda strapped on cash"


Why would that factor in? Paying less for the same service is just plain smart.

ceb

Bingo. The techs get similar training, have the same tools and diagnostics and use the same parts and fluids.

They just can't do warranty work since they can't bill for it - unless they get pre-authorization from Acura because of the distance to the closest Acura dealer and the failure deadlined the car.

mtiaz

poor phrasing on my part lol

Prathab Raj

paid $432 for B123 - vehicle bought on jan 2015 ( rdx 2015)

bvogel7475

Seriously, the B123 takes less than an hour. More time for you unless you have your own car lift. Oil, Oil Filter and Trans Fluid change is a piece of cake for the dealer. The trans fluid change is just a drain and fill. While your car holds almost 6 quarts of trans fluid, you will only be able to drain about 3 quarts because the rest is stuck in various parts of the system. That's why it's a good idea to do a trans fluid drain and fill every 15 thousand miles. Parts (oil filter, oil, trans fluid, two crush rings, Cabin air filter, engine air filter) should be around $125 if you use Honda OEM products. Dealer charges a lot because they need to pay all that overhead for the fancy dealership and the wealthy owner. If you don't want to get dirty, just have them do the oil and trans fluid change. You can change the Cabin Air and Engine Air filters in less than 10 minutes. Have them check the brakes as well. Shouldn't be a charge for that.

richardyc

wow, close to $500 for B123? that's a lot of money. They think Acura owners have money coming out of our wazoo? one can probably get all OEM parts needed for B123 for about $100.

thephantom

I just had my wife's 14 RDX AWD's B123 service done at a local shop and it was $317 for everything. They even used a charcoal air filter instead of the plain paper filter, and it was full synthetic oil. I believe the dealer uses a synthetic blend.