[Inspired]

It is a must to follow the Maintenance Schedule for my Honda Accord. I bought it brand new in 2002 and now it has 78 K miles on it. I have not had any major problems, I have replaced the break shoes twice. I go every 3000-4000 miles for an oil change. The maintenance plan they have recommend is $425 and it includes the following:

*Balance tires
*Replace engine air filter
*replace wiper inserts
*check operation of horn, winshiseld wipers, parking break and lights
*check all fluids and top off
*install moc premium engine treatment
*clean and adjust rear breaks
*lubricate all lockes and hinges
*lubricate door openinds
*Check battery

It seems a lot to be paying. I would rather just do the ala carte service for the transmission fluid and the engine treatment.

Any advice would be helpful as I am a woman and do not know much about cars lol.

[Ernie T]

It is a must to follow the Maintainence Schedule for my Honda Accord. I bought it brand new in 2002 and now it has 78 K miles on it. I have not had any major problems, I have replaced the break shoes twice. I go every 3000-4000 miles for an oil change. The maintainence plan they have recommend is $425 and it includes the following:

*Balance tires
*Replace engine air filter
*replace wiper inserts
*check operation of horn, winshiseld wipers, parking break and lights
*check all fluids and top off
*install moc premium engine treatment
*clean and adjust rear breaks
*lubricate all lockes and hinges
*lubricate door openinds
*Check battery

It seems alot to be paying. I would rather just do the ala carte service for the transmission fluid and the engine treatment.

Any advice would be helpful as I am a woman and do not know much about cars lol.

Good Afternoon. $425 is a lot for those items... suggest saving the lump sum for your timing belt maintenance around 100K and having a "Jiffy Lube" or similar provide a full service for less than $100.

[TxGreaseMonkey]

There are several important items that are being overlooked in your preventive maintenance program. You need to operate off the complete Honda Maintenance Schedule. Here's what I would recommend:

Txgreasemonkey Recommended Preventive Maintenance

1. Oil and Filter--Use full-synthetic 5W-20 engine oil; e.g. Mobil 1. Change oil and filter every 6,000 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first.
2. Manual Transmission Fluid--Amsoil Synthetic Manual Synchromesh Transmission Fluid (5W-30). Change every 30,000 miles. AMSOIL - Synthetic Synchromesh Transmission Fluid (MTF) 5W-30
3. ATF--Amsoil Universal Synthetic ATF. Change every 30,000 miles, along with filter. AMSOIL - Synthetic Universal Automatic Transmission Fluid
4. Coolant--50/50 mixture of recommended antifreeze and distilled water. Change every 3 years.
5. Brake/Clutch fluid--Valvoline SynPower or ATE TYP 200 Brake Fluid. Change every 2 years.
6. Air filter--change every 24,000 miles or 2 years, whichever comes first.
7. Fuel Filter--Change every 60,000 miles or 48 months, whichever comes first.
8. Spark Plugs--Only use NGK spark plugs. Change platinum plugs every 48,000 miles or 48 months, whichever comes first.
9. Timing belt and water pump--Replace every 90,000 miles or 7 years, whichever comes first.
10. Fuel injector cleaner--Add every 6 months.

The objective is to maintain "like new" performance for years and years. A well-maintained Honda should be able to go 350,000 miles.

As a woman, you really should be using full-synthetic engine oil. It offers the protection you require, in this day and age.

[Inspired]

Txgrease Thanks for your list, I will print it out and get it done. Do you recommend I go to honda to get these things done or a Jiffy Lube? I have always gone to Honda to get things done just because when I was in graduate school I had an old lexas and would take it to the "jiffy lube types" and they would always mess something up. Maybe they didn't mess anything up and my car would just die but I was always a bit cautious. What do you think? "

[TxGreaseMonkey]

Honda.