My car is about to turn 45k and the service engine light is beginning to blink furiously. Anyway, from ITRCA this is what they say that they do:

15k/45k/75k mile service
Change Engine Oil & Filter
Change Transmission Fluid
Replace Fuel Filter
Replace Air Filter
Inspect Front & rear Pads, Rotor & calipers
Inspect all fluid levels
adjust parking brake
inspect clutch operation, adjust freeplay and check fluid level condition
adjust all belts
inspect suspension mounting bolts for tightness
inspect exhaust system
inspect tire wear and set tire pressure
check hoses belts and coolant level
inspect battery and clean terminals
adjust alternator belt
inspect valve clearance
check wiper blades and windshield washer fluid
lube door, hood latches and hinges
rotate tire and balance
inspect and clean spark plugs
inspect cap and rotor
road test

for $275. And that doesn't even include parts that they replace i.e. filters, etc. The guy on the phone was telling me how important it is to take your car to Acura for regular service, but all it seemed like he was trying to do was sell me on more services. (Like a $500 changing of brake pads.) Anyway, is there any specific reason to have an Acura mechanic do this for twice as much as say... Midas?

 

nobody touches anything on my car but me , and even if they did it wouldnt be a dealer , these are the people that are so called experts and call me for advice.

as far as Midas or something , jesus man , thats even worse.

get a shop manual and learn , these are all simple tasks even for a novice mechanic.

 

if you feel up to it, i think the helms covers this the last time i was flipping thru one. there's a 98 helms in the classifieds for sale too, for 40 bucks

 

Meh... I'm not really that **** about my car. I don't really have the time or desire to do this stuff myself, it would take me the better part of the weekend to figure out vs a few hours.

Also, instead of starting a new thread, is there a better all-season tire than the Yokohama YK420? Right now I've got a set of Michelin XGT V4s that are pretty bald which I've never been impressed with.

 

It really depends on if you still have a warranty, how the dealership deals with private wrenchers, and how proficient you are with doing the work yourself (or lazy if the case may be.)

I personally don't trust the dealerships after experiencing too many inconsistencies as well as theft from their so called "secure" lots and whatnot.

I dealt with a very good reputable dealership where I bought Both of my R's but, only went to them when any warranty work needed to be performed. I would Never leave the car there overnight, always waited at the dealer until the work was completed and requested to be In the car during any road test drives.

But, now that my warranty is up, I have no reason to go back. If I can't do/fix it, I have good friends that will help and know trustworthy shops locally that I'd take the car too way before going to a dealership where hacks and thieves roam free.

If you can do the work and feel comfortable with it, then there's no reason to go and spend inflated dealership prices.

As well, you get to know your car more intimately and have a better understanding of it, and may even notice anomalies easier or quicker than a dealer tech.

Good luck,


A.

 

Midas? Jesus, I'd rather leave my car unlocked in the parking lot of a movie theatre playing Fast and Furious.

There have been so many class action lawsuits against that company for fraudulent repairs that I can't understand why they are still in business.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by io_burn &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Meh... I'm not really that **** about my car. I don't really have the time or desire to do this stuff myself, it would take me the better part of the weekend to figure out vs a few hours.

Also, instead of starting a new thread, is there a better all-season tire than the Yokohama YK420? Right now I've got a set of Michelin XGT V4s that are pretty bald which I've never been impressed with.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Check tirerack.com. There are plenty of better A/S tires, but most don't fit the integra.

EDIT: Sumitomo HTR+ look like the ticket. Have good reviews from users in other sizes and will be out 10/15/03 in 195/55-15


As to a good reason to go to the dealer - they may actually give you a reach-around after ***-raping you.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by io_burn &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Also, instead of starting a new thread, is there a better all-season tire than the Yokohama YK420? Right now I've got a set of Michelin XGT V4s that are pretty bald which I've never been impressed with.</TD></TR></TABLE>

io, get 20/50/15 dunlop 5000 a/s tires, i have them for the winter and i love them. of course, the tires off my mountain bike would be an improvement over those michelins.

 

[QUOTE=io_burn]
......
inspect cap and rotor
road test
[QUOTE]

Ummmm...road test, I dont think so

 

Just get a valve adjustment, change the spark plugs and the oil and your SET. If done by yourself you save alot of money and you get the knowledge

 

I have to take mine in soon cause I have a CEL Code #90

I might as well have them adjust my valves while I'm there.

 

I personally like to do everything myself. Im not the fastest, but I dont want other people touching my car and I enjoy doing it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by magic hat #9 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

io, get 20/50/15 dunlop 5000 a/s tires, i have them for the winter and i love them. of course, the tires off my mountain bike would be an improvement over those michelins.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I really don't understand why the michelins are so expensive if they're so shitty. Even now they're a good 160 bucks a tire. *shrug* I can't complain as they came on the car, but the most I do is 'spirited' driving to and from work, so a sporty all-season really is all I need.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CWITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I personally like to do everything myself. Im not the fastest, but I dont want other people touching my car and I enjoy doing it.</TD></TR></TABLE>

You wanna replace my wheel stud for me then?

 

There are only two redeeming qualities about my local Acura's service department. First, they have coffee and donuts if you get there early enough in the morning. Second, well, make that one redeeming quality.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by io_burn &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The guy on the phone was telling me how important it is to take your car to Acura for regular service, but all it seemed like he was trying to do was sell me on more services. (Like a $500 changing of brake pads.) Anyway, is there any specific reason to have an Acura mechanic do this for twice as much as say... Midas?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I see that many people here are advising you to do it yourself. That's always the cheapest way, but doesn't make sense for everyone - some people don't enjoy it, some don't have the tools or the space to do the work, some don't have the time, etc.

There is nothing that says that you have to have scheduled maintenance done by an Acura dealer, vs an independent mechanic or a non-Acura dealer. Repairs (as distinguished from scheduled maintenance) are a different story; Acura dealers have several advantages over others, including the ability to offer warranty and/or goodwill coverage, their familiarity with ITR problems because they service a lot of them (also possible with a few independent mechanics, but not common), and their access to Acura's Techline for help in solving problems they can't figure out.

However, even if you want to take it someplace else, find a mechanic who is competent and knowledgeable, and preferably one that does a lot of service on Hondas and Acuras. Ask for recommendations of independents from those in your geographical area (western burbs). Keep in mind that you can get prices for scheduled maintenance over the phone. Also keep in mind that price isn't everything; I'd rather pay a little more for someone I know is good.

All that being said, I don't think $275 is all that bad for a 45K service. Remember, though, that some dealer service departments are better than others, and some are more expensive than others. LMK if you want a recommendation for a good dealer service department not too far from you. Sorry but I don't know any good independents in the area (but I'm sure there are some).

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by io_burn &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">is there a better all-season tire than the Yokohama YK420?</TD></TR></TABLE>

All-season tires are a compromise. Get a set of winter tires and steel wheels for winter use. They're relatively inexpensive and they'll do better in cold temperatures and on snow and ice than all-seasons. And then you can get some grippy high-performance tires for the rest of the year, which will grip much better than all seasons. These are tires like the Azenis Sport, RE010, S-03, ES100; and the ES100 is quite the bargain at $56/tire in the stock size, available next month. You spent a lot of money for the performance of an ITR. Don't compromise that performance by putting on all-seasons just to save a few hundred bucks on the cost of a set of winter tires. Remember, good tires are by far the biggest bang for the buck when it comes to spending money on your car.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxtasy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You spent a lot of money for the performance of an ITR. Don't compromise that performance by putting on all-seasons just to save a few hundred bucks on the cost of a set of winter tires. Remember, good tires are by far the biggest bang for the buck when it comes to spending money on your car.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Amen. Hi Ken! Buy a Lexus please.

 

dont goto an acura dealership unless its your last option.

some kid at my local acura dealership decided to get on my car because it was a yellow ITR y0!

shortly after I had a word with the service manager, and the kid is now not driving anymore.

 

Half that list just invloves looking at the car. I wouldn't take it anywhere for that stuff.

 

I *HIGHLY* recommend getting another set of rims so you can put a dedicated set of winter tires on them. All seasons are crap for anything but rain.

Either get yourself a nice set of wheels and put summer tires on them, keeping the stockers for winter tires

or

get a set of steelies and put winter tires on them, keeping the stockers for summer tires

I recommend this to everyone who drives their car through the winter, whether they drive a Chevy Sprint or a *insert favorite sports car here*.

 

i suggest u do whatever u can urself (oil change, filters, all that easy stuff). anything else u should just fix along the way, as u notice squeaks or whatever needs tuning. save that $275 and use it towards somethin' useful. and i think the dealer is a rip off, anywhere would do the same work, just make sure they use OEM parts if u take it somewhere else.