I don't know how the dealerships can charge these prices without blushing, but people pay it. A coworkers wife just spent a little over $300 for the routine maintenance for her '99 Honda Accord (the same as I have, except I have a 5-speed and she has an automatic). I questioned that one, knowing that it involves changing the plugs, cabin filter, oil change, and inspecting the brakes, suspension, and a few other thing (all inspections).

It turns out that they cleaned out the valves which is why the price was so high.

This is the same person who was complaining a year or two ago about the maintenance light, saying that the main reason whe went to the dealer was because they knew how to reset it. I pointed out the page in her owner's manual which tells how to do it (pushing in the trip odometer with the key "off", while holding it in turn the key to "on", wait ~ 10 seconds). She still takes it to the dealership, though she has one less excuse.

For what it's worth I do most of the maintenance on my car myself and amazed at how much the Honda dealership charges.


[Modified by Heat, 7:27 AM 3/10/2003]

 

its' amazing how cheap people is...........
i know how u feel, since i work as a tech for honda dealership......
30k is biggest service u do to your car.......30k include valve adjust ment........dats why is so expensive

on the 99v6 accord have automatic valve adjustment, so it dont' need to adjust.......for ur 94 accord 4cly......u do need to adjust ur valve.......

does dat answere ur question .........

 

stealerships make a killing off of peoples ignorance.

 

edited: because I am a tool

 

This is the way I play the game. If I buy a new car from a dealership, the car goes back to them for any required service until the warrenty has expired. I have witnessed to many voided warrenties to do otherwise. I consider as part of the cost of the vehicle and investigate the dealerships charges for service before I buy the car. It makes for a "no questions asked" warrenty.

 

30k is the biggest service???? Please. I'm pretty sure that the timing belt service is just a tiny bit more serious than the 30k.

changing plugs? c'mon, a set of plugs costs MAYBE $20 and takes 10 mins to change. If you are a factory trained tech you could do it in your sleep.

valve adjustment on a 4cyl Honda takes about 30 mins, 45 if you drag you *** and have a beer half way through. especially for a professional who has done more valve adjustments than I can dream of, it's another no-brainer.

Most of the inspections are a joke. If you know a little bit about cars you can do them yourself in 30 mins. for free.

 

I thought the 65,000-70,000 mile tune up was the most important because you do all that and change timing belt/water pump?

 

90k is when the timing belt and water pump get replaced. at least thats what the service manual for my '92 said. but ya, that's the most crucial and most expensive

 

PSHA crucial smucial, my timing belt and water pump had given me NO trouble at 140,000 miles but I decided to have them replaced anyway

 

the timing belt will never give you any trouble, until it breaks....$1200 poorer and a rebuilt head later, it will refuse to give you another moments worth of trouble until it breaks again...

I wouldn't even bother thinking about it

 

For the '99 with 4 cyl, I am pretty sure the "big" maintenance is at 105,000.

As for having warranties voided because you didn't have work done at the dealership, as long as you have the work done at a legit. mechanic and keep all of your paperwork, it doesn't affect the warranty. "Luckily", the Honda warranty was only good for 3 years / 30,000 miles, so I don't keep all of the paperwork anymore (I plan on keeping this car for a long time).

The dealer rates are just outrageous. And adjusting the valves is only if they sound off; for some reason I think that this dealer does it "as a precaution".

 

90Kish is a big tune up in my opinion...