Help on $1500 for 4 Service Recommendations

N

netvm

New Member
I have 111k miles on my 2018 Clarity. So far it doesn't have any issue. For first 3 years, 90% miles were electric. For last 3 years 60% were electric. So on average, 75% were electric and 25% were ICE.

Service department at dealership recommended 4 services based on my mileages this July.

1. Transmission Fluid Exchange - $340
Non CVT (10 Spds Excluded) PN 02531x1, 0452-5x2: e-cvt drain and fill is recommended every 3yrs/30k miles. Last performed July, 2022 @ 65k miles.

2. Complete 3-Part Fuel System Clean - $360:
Recommended every ~45k miles to clean up carbon buildup off the tips of the fuel injectors, intake valves and top of pistons, improving throttle response and efficiency (MPG) of engine.

3. Spark Plug Replacement 4 Cylinder - $268:
Spark plug replacement is recommended by Honda every 105K miles.

4. Valve Adjustment - $400
Valve clearance adjustment is recommended by Honda every 105K miles.

Subtotal $1368
Shop Charges $58
Tax $107
--------------------
Total $1533

I am going to schedule an appointment this week to replace my Fuel Pump due to recall. Any of above four recommendations are reasonable?
Also, what big services will have to be done between 111k and 150k? Will battery last until 150k on average?
Is it worth it to do all these and future service recommendations vs buy a new one? Currently the battery can reach 35 miles at 50F/30F after a full charge.

Thanks.
 
Personally, I’d do the first one (transmission fluid replacement). I’d hold off doing the other three until I saw some signs that they need doing.
 
Many Clarity owners rely on the MM to indicate when service is due. The earliest recommended transmission fluid change is at 47,500 miles. At 111K yours could be due or past due. Some members change their own fluid. Is the dealer recommending the 3/30 interval?

The fuel system cleaning is unnecessary. It is typically recommended at 10-minute oil change facilities as a money maker for the business. What dealership is recommending this work?

The spark plugs are about $40/ea from the dealer, so they’re charging about $100 to install. You could source them for less and DIY, if so inclined.

The manual recommends adjusting the valves “as needed”. That could be 50K or 200K miles. Your call on that service. That said, the service department has thrown up a red flag by recommending the fuel system cleaning. If you have the option, it may be to your advantage to patronize another dealership.

No one can tell you how long the battery will last. Buying a new car to avoid regular maintenance costs on a used car may not be the wisest financial decision a person could make.
 
I would do the transmission drain and fill. Our engines are not on long enough to requires #4. you can check the spark plug easily if you have a socket set. If the plug is all black then they will need changing and injector cleaning. If they look normal, then I wouldn't do 2 and 3 yet.
 
Spark plug replacement & valve clearance are maintenance minder item 4. If it hasn't popped, you don't need it. It naturally depends on the ratio of EV to engine driving, so you can't tell just from the odometer reading if you need it or not.

"Fuel system clean" means they'll dump a bottle of additive in your tank for $400. Totally bogus.

Transmission fluid is the single longest-lived fluid in the car and it's maintenance minder item 3. Changing at 30k miles might be recommended by the dealer, but certainly not by Honda! There's a note in the Honda tech manual which says the following:
> Driving in mountainous areas at very low vehicle speeds results in higher transmission temperatures. This requires transmission fluid changes more frequently than recommended by the Maintenance Minder. If the vehicle is regularly driven under these conditions, have the transmission fluid changed every 60,000 miles (96,000 km) or 3 years.
30k is half of 60k which is the "rough driving" conservative limit, so they're screwing you on this one.

Clutch wear is the primary source of transmission fluid debris, but excluding the torque limiter clutch which is always engaged and never slips unless something goes very wrong, Clarity's "transmission" has exactly one clutch. That clutch is for "overdrive" mode, which connects the engine directly to the wheels in a pretty narrow range of highway speeds and conditions, and so gets engaged and disengaged way less often than the clutches on a standard automatic transmission.

Frankly, I'd be more worried about the coolant. The Clarity has 3 different antifreeze reservoirs; there's one for the engine, one for the battery, one for the inverter. (There are two radiators; the battery & inverter loops run through the second one but are isolated from each other.) I've seen dealers check the "obvious" one next to the hood catch and miss the others; the actual *engine* one is underneath the plastic trim at the front of the engine bay that has a hole for the hood catch. (It pops off but you have to pry it up.) There are no coolant level sensors, so the car won't pick up low levels itself until they cause serious issues.
 
Landshark said:
Below are the details for MM #4. It’s just an “inspection” for the valve clearances.
Click to expand...
To me, this seems like an odd way to define this...
Does Honda really intend for MM #4 to include disassembly of the valve cover and measuring the clearances?
Why not just let the footnote be a blanket statement to adjust the valves during any service operation if they are noisy?

I suppose there is some merit in actually measuring the clearance at some point (maybe when the plugs are due makes sense) because the 'noisy' test will not detect if the clearance is too tight, in whch case, they should be adjusted...
 
I just bought my car in the for fuel pump recall and they also wanted to do a bunch of things on it.
Alignment, Transmission fluid, engine and batt coolant, brake fluid, combustion chamber cleaning. All 4 for like $1200. I have been to this dealer many times in the past and they never did that before. Honda cars must be good and trouble free and they are not be getting enough customers.
 
Thank you all for your input. I was prepared to do the Transmission Fluid Exchange but dealership only did oil change and tire rotation. Didn't mention any of four recommendations at all. It could be they are eager to get good rating for the dealership. I'll do Transmission fluid exchange at 120k next time and maybe engine coolant if they suggest.

Called dealership a couple of days ago regarding fuel pump, they said they will order it and let me when it arrives.
 
I've had problems (generally) with dealers recommending extra service. For this reason, I tend to only let them do what is required.
i.e. if free recall item, do that recall and nothing else. If you get a specific maintenance minder, only do those things described by the MM.
ie. A01 or whatever, just let them do the A01 items and nothing more. Landshark posted the codes just above in this thread. BTW- I don't mean to include consumable items in any of this (as they are never covered). i.e. it's on the user to replace tires, battery, wipers, or any consumable.

So I do consider their additional recommendations, but I find it much less stressful to take a printout home. I then decide if, when, and whom will complete anything additional.

I didn't realize it at the time, but having a sleazy dealer is a case to get Honda Care. I just mean that my dealer will do things like recommend something not indicated by maintenance minder, and then make you feel like something horrible will happen if you don't do it. If you have Honda Care and you do all required maintenance minder things on-time, problems will likely be covered.
 
netvm said:
Thank you all for your input. I was prepared to do the Transmission Fluid Exchange but dealership only did oil change and tire rotation. Didn't mention any of four recommendations at all. It could be they are eager to get good rating for the dealership. I'll do Transmission fluid exchange at 120k next time and maybe engine coolant if they suggest.

Called dealership a couple of days ago regarding fuel pump, they said they will order it and let me when it arrives.
Click to expand...
 
Do 1, 3. Unless you are having problems don't adjust the valves, excess clearance on the valves isn't generally an issue, when the valve cover gasket leaks, adjust them.
 
All of these services are well within the competency of any good independent shop. Further:
1. I did this myself. Extremely easy, Drain plug underneath, fill through tube up top using a long funnel. ATF DW-1 = $12x2.23.
2. Chuck a bottle of BG44K in your tank. $35.
3 and 4 wait till your MM specifies and have a good indy do them.
 
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