A0 Maintenance minder after 1 month 1700 miles!

[Shawn Ligocki]

I just got an A0 Maintenance minder (pops up every time I start the car), but I've only had this thing for 1 month and am under 1700 miles, anybody have any clue what's going on here? Should I take it in to get serviced already? I don't really want to shell out for a maintenance visit so soon after buying the car :/ But also don't want to cause any warranty problems or ignore a real car issue.

 

[stacey burke]

I just got an A0 Maintenance minder (pops up every time I start the car), but I've only had this thing for 1 month and am under 1700 miles, anybody have any clue what's going on here? Should I take it in to get serviced already? I don't really want to shell out for a maintenance visit so soon after buying the car :/ But also don't want to cause any warranty problems or ignore a real car issue.

If you reset the rotate tires ONLY will prolong the time for A10 several months. Honda groups services together to make it so you do not need to come in as often but the result is the opposite It tells you to go in when any of the services are needed and the tire rotation is the one done most often. BUT the oil must be changed in one year, it does not matter the miles on the engine.(keep warranty) I will list the procedure to reset from the manual. Again reset only the tire rotation and see how long it prolongs your A10 service.

 

[MrFixit]

The bigger question is why did you get a code at all (at so few miles)? Is it really an A0 or is it an A01?

The normal A01 code seems to occur at around 6500 miles (A=Oil Change, 0=inspection, 1=rotate tires). The wisdom here is that the tire rotation triggers the code, but then Honda combines an oil change (typically not due until later) for your "convenience". When I got the A01 a few weeks ago, I rotated the tires and cleared the "1". That postponed the oil change code for another 3 months. That would be around a year for me, and changing the oil at least once a year makes some sense.

One theory - What is your manufacture date (shown on tag inside driver's side door jamb)? Is it possible the car has been sitting around on the lot for a year, and this is triggering the oil change based on the span of a year rather than miles?

 

[Shawn Ligocki]

One theory - What is your manufacture date (shown on tag inside driver's side door jamb)? Is it possible the car has been sitting around on the lot for a year, and this is triggering the oil change based on the span of a year rather than miles?

Oh, good question! This car was an early 2018 that sat on the dealership lots for a while. But I assume that they would perform all these checks before selling me the car, right?

 

[MrFixit]

But I assume that they would perform all these checks before selling me the car, right?

NOPE - One thing we have learned in this forum is that the dealers consistently demonstrate a total lack of knowledge and incompetence with this vehicle. It does not fit their old-fashioned paradigm, and they seem completely uninterested in learning anything new.

Check your manufacture date. If it has indeed been a year, then that is why the A01 code triggered. I would go back and insist that they change your oil (per the one year manufacturer recommendation) at no charge to you. You shouldn't have to do that just because you bought a "new" car that happened to sit in the lot for almost a year !

Also, check the tire pressure... The cars are shipped with 50 PSI, and almost invariably, the dealers do NOT set the pressure to the recommended 36. Finally, there are 4 sound-deadening plugs that are supposed to be installed by the dealer. Most dealers do not do this. These are items on the PDI (Pre-Delivery Checklist) that just aren't getting done. You can find details of these plugs in other posts in this forum.

 

[Shawn Ligocki]

I did check for the plugs and tire pressure. It has all plugs and all pressures were good. I've now moved 300 miles away from the dealership I bought at ... maybe I'll call them and see if they can cover my checkup at a local dealership ...