New here so if this question is improper please advise. Thanks.

We've been Honda owners since the mid eighties and have always had good to excellent service experiences. Ever since Honda evolved with electronic vehicle service memory software I've become complacent about following a schedule that doesn't seem to be accessible to the owner? Also, the servicing dealer has no access to service records of other dealers.

I was just reviewing past service invoices and noticed that my current dealership has replaced the brake fluid three times within twenty-eight months in our 2009 Accord Coupe. Another servicing dealer replaced the same fluid a few months prior to that. Its mentioned in the "Minder" maintenance section of the owners manual that the brake fluid should be replaced every three years regardless of how few miles between changes under normal conditions.

Also noticed there is no interval suggestions for power steering fluid replacement or fuel induction service both of which are now being mention as suggested services on some of our service invoices.

I about to have our Pilot serviced and I'll bring these concerns up. Anybody hear with a similar experience or any suggestions?

Thanks
M

 

welcome to the forum. I have heard about doing unnecessary service when a dealership service dept and mgr are pushing to make money for the dealership. I would confront the service dept and mgr and ask them what you found and why are they doing this. also since the service was not called for in the service interval what are they willing to do to correct this, or should you take your service to another dealership to do this right? now that you are noticing the wrongs the service dept is doing, call them to it to explain why.

 

Update:

With service Invoices in hand and a polite attitude I showed the service writer three brake fluid changes done on my 2009 Accord Coupe. He admitted the interval was a mistake then pointed out that during the last visit they replaced brake pads and rotors.

At this point an unknowing customer may have been led to assume that the fluid needed changing because of the extent of the brake work. I responded by asking was any brake caliper replaced or worked on? With that he acquiesced to giving me a credit for the fluid change which we agreed could be used that day for my Pilot in for service.

While I'm satisfied with my outcome and the knowledge that all servicing dealerships are not alike I'm sure my wife wouldn't have asked about the calipers. Owners should keep and maintain all service invoices and keep a separate quick reference of service intervals and a list of the components, consumables, along with the dates and milage they were used to use at the service counter. Take your time.

The Honda Maintenance Minder curiously does not include a complete list of scheduled maintenance items. Nor do servicing dealers have access to maintenance work done at other servicing dealers, they can only rely on your vehicles Maintenance Minder. The other dealers service writer who reads the MM may assume those items not included on the MM have not been performed. This is were having a brief record of service can help.

 

M-dB: great job, quick thinking. I still don't like the fact that they took advantage of a customer, but they gave you credit when confronted.

 

You know I always try to change mine every 30 K miles and try to align it with an oil change,I do both myself,it's easy it find a cheap pump for the master cylinder or you can go from wheel to wheel. I have even used a turkey baster on occasion lol.

 

To put a cap on this little saga. My local dealer did me right as I'm sure most Honda dealers do.

When they removed the timing belt cover the tensioner/plate fell out because it was installed plate side out by another dealer. Not sure if I heard that correctly, in any event something fell out and it was shaving the edge of the timing belt which could have led to a catastrophic engine failure. Luck comes in many ways so instead of winning that fat lottery my oil pump began leaking which led to removing the timing belt cover.

I hope the image the service writer took makes it onto this post. If I'm not mistaken the timing belt tensioner (which would be just out of this photo) applies pressure onto the left idle roller. Whatever, the point is everything under that cover is new and no were near as expensive as a new motor. Its all good.