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120k mile auto service

post #1 of 25
2/2/10 at 6:35pm
Thread Starter 
I know nothing about cars. How important is this scheduled service? (I have a 98 Accord with almost 140k miles, timing belt was changed at around 125k, dealership wants $485 for the service)

My brake light has been coming on every once in a while, so I'm pretty sure I want to get the brake fluid flushed and refilled. And I've read that flushing the transmission fluid is worth it.

Should I try to replace an oil filter/air filter/spark plugs myself? I'm in law school and I have to drive almost 2 hours each way to work on Fridays, so both time and money are at a premium and I really should try to do this stuff quickly.

Are there any good resources for amateurs who want to try to do some of this stuff ourselves/learn one or two things about the cars we drive?

Thanks for any advice
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post #2 of 25
2/2/10 at 7:14pm
I know nothing of cars either but the brake light probably means your pads are worn and giving how much you drive, you want to get those replaced for yuor safety and so that the rotors don't get all fudged up.


edit: BTW, props on admitting you have a 98 Accord. As you know, everyone here is a Big Timer with the '10 Mercedes E Class being the station/errands/give to your kids car.
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post #3 of 25
2/2/10 at 7:49pm
Changing the oil air and spark plugs and wires is pretty easy to do. I would do it yourself for sure. Look for help on Honda-tech forum.

Whole thing should take just a few hours.
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post #4 of 25
2/2/10 at 9:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by nerdykarim View Post
I know nothing about cars. How important is this scheduled service? (I have a 98 Accord with almost 140k miles, timing belt was changed at around 125k, dealership wants $485 for the service)

My brake light has been coming on every once in a while, so I'm pretty sure I want to get the brake fluid flushed and refilled. And I've read that flushing the transmission fluid is worth it.

Should I try to replace an oil filter/air filter/spark plugs myself? I'm in law school and I have to drive almost 2 hours each way to work on Fridays, so both time and money are at a premium and I really should try to do this stuff quickly.

Are there any good resources for amateurs who want to try to do some of this stuff ourselves/learn one or two things about the cars we drive?

Thanks for any advice

Some advice: Find an outfit like T3 Automotive that works on Hondas. The dealers are a rip-off. My Lexus dealer tried to charge me 3X what T3 wanted and T3 probably does a better job using the same parts.
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post #5 of 25
2/2/10 at 10:15pm
I don't know as much as I like about servicing cars, but I definitely have the oil changed every 3,000 miles and have all scheduled maintenance completed.
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post #6 of 25
2/2/10 at 10:26pm
I'm obsessive about having routine maintenance done on schedule.
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post #7 of 25
2/2/10 at 10:35pm
i dont know much about cars either, but all i have been doing is the 5000 oil change and tire rotation, changed out the air filter a couple of times, changed out the brake pad/shoes a couple of times and that is it. i never did any of the toyota services at 30 60 90 or 120 thousand miles where they exclaim a value at 500dollars !, some person who works on cars told me you dont need those at all. just a little fuel injection cleaning and change spark plugs and do your oil change and that is all you need for japanese cars (4 cylinder). thus far he is correct. i have driven my celica to 180,000+ miles to no ill effect whatsoever ( a few electrical issues but that is something else). it still is strong and the engine hums like it was when i got it in 2002.
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post #8 of 25
2/2/10 at 11:51pm
Go to an auto parts store and look for the tool section. They should have a rack of Haynes or Chilton repair manuals. Grab one for your vehicle and look over how to do things. It will also have a suggested tool list for basic repairs.

See if it seems simple enough that you'd be willing to give it a try. Spark plugs can be tricky on FWD cars because the engines are usually transverse mounted and hard to get to on the firewall side, for example.

IF you like working with your hands, it can certainly be worth it to learn to do this, buy good tools, and such. If the time you spend doing it is classified as leisure rather than "work", it makes sense.

IF you hate doing that kind of stuff, then you'll classify the time as work, and it won't really save you any money considering what you could be doing with that time instead.
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post #9 of 25
2/2/10 at 11:55pm
at 120k miles, would you know if the timing belt has already been replaced? you should also have all automotive belts (radiator, a/c...) checked for tension and cracks.
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post #10 of 25
2/3/10 at 1:14am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by edmorel View Post
edit: BTW, props on admitting you have a 98 Accord. As you know, everyone here is a Big Timer with the '10 Mercedes E Class being the station/errands/give to your kids car.
I'm pretty sure I'm wearing one of your hand-me-downs in every WAYWT photo I've ever posted...I couldn't fool anyone if I tried.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Artisan Fan View Post
Some advice: Find an outfit like T3 Automotive that works on Hondas. The dealers are a rip-off. My Lexus dealer tried to charge me 3X what T3 wanted and T3 probably does a better job using the same parts.
Is this a place in Atlanta? I should have sent you a PM, actually, since you're a car person. I work in Alpharetta on the weekends--is there anyone you recommend?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Milpool View Post
Go to an auto parts store and look for the tool section. They should have a rack of Haynes or Chilton repair manuals. Grab one for your vehicle and look over how to do things. It will also have a suggested tool list for basic repairs.
I might do this. I do enjoy working with my hands and the ability to perform basic car repairs is a really useful skill.
Quote:
Originally Posted by acidicboy View Post
at 120k miles, would you know if the timing belt has already been replaced? you should also have all automotive belts (radiator, a/c...) checked for tension and cracks.
When I bought the car (at just over 120k), the first (and only) thing I did was change the timing belt, so I know I'm in the clear on that point.
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post #11 of 25
2/3/10 at 1:22am
Buy this: http://www.amazon.com/ACCORD-1998-20...5170762&sr=8-2 I put almost 400,000 miles on a '90s Ford Taurus through college and law school doing all the maintenance myself with one of these manuals. There are very easy step by step directions for basic things like changing oil, spark plugs, tune ups, brake pads, etc. EDIT - In fact, I remember around 300,000 miles I had to change the front wheel bearings. The mechanic wanted $700+. Eff that. Parts cost about $120, and although it took me a whole Saturday I managed to do it and I put the savings toward beer. Win.
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post #12 of 25
2/3/10 at 1:52am
Quote:
Originally Posted by harvey_birdman View Post
I put almost 400,000 miles on a '90s Ford Taurus through college and law school doing all the maintenance myself with one of these manuals. There are very easy step by step directions for basic things like changing oil, spark plugs, tune ups, brake pads, etc.

EDIT - In fact, I remember around 300,000 miles I had to change the front wheel bearings. The mechanic wanted $700+. Eff that. Parts cost about $120, and although it took me a whole Saturday I managed to do it and I put the savings toward beer. Win.
I wish I had had skills like that. I'm all thumbs when it comes to automotive maintenance and repair.
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post #13 of 25
2/3/10 at 1:58am
There's really nothing to most routine maintenance. Get the schedule for YOUR SPECIFIC CAR (it's probably in the owner's manual) and ask yourself when the last time you know X was done. Honestly on a high-mileage car some things aren't really worth doing (repacking wheel bearings, flushing differential fluid, etc.) some that you really just need to eyeball (belts, plug wires, air filter, etc.), some you really should do but many people don't (transmission fluid, water pump, coolant, brake fluid, fuel filter). The big ones are oil changes, tire rotations, timing belts, spark plugs, plus any special maintenance that your car might require. Check the darn manual. If your brake light is coming on that probably means you're low on fluid and it's sloshing around (causing the light to come on for a second when the floater gets too low). Just add a little fluid and call it fixed.
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post #14 of 25
2/3/10 at 7:59am
Timing belt. Get it done. The belt is nothing, the labor is a lot. I learned this mistake the hard way. Don't let it go.
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post #15 of 25
2/3/10 at 11:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by nerdykarim View Post
Is this a place in Atlanta? I should have sent you a PM, actually, since you're a car person. I work in Alpharetta on the weekends--is there anyone you recommend?

Yes, three locations, one on Hwy 9 but sadly they don't do Hondas yet. Honda Carland is fairly reputable. I bought an Accord from them a while back and found their service dept reasonable but I don't have any recent experience.

I will talk my car expert Bret and find out what can be done. He works at Carmax in Norcross and they have a decent service department.
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