Dealer or mechanic for maintenance
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Anonymous
| I have a 2010 civic and I've done no maintenance besides oil changes. I realize I need the transmission maintained. What else should I have serviced? And should I go to the local mechanic or a dealer? |
Anonymous
|
Wut?
Do you realize that there are regularly scheduled maintenance intervals? You probably need all your fluids changed, for example. A 7-year-old car also may need some belts changed. Mechanic is fine. Usually cheaper than dealership. |
Anonymous
|
To learn how to maintain your car, RTFM! It's probably languishing in the glove compartment.
I go to the dealership while the car is under warranty, then switch to the independent mechanic. |
Anonymous
| How many miles on the car? |
Anonymous
|
Here you go:
http://owners.honda.com/service-maintenance/minder?year=2010&model=Civic-Sedan#mid^FA1F2AEW You should be getting maintenance minders on your car telling you what you need to do. In addition to the items covered by state inspection (brakes, tires, lights) you should also change the air filter annually and consider rotating your tires periodically to extend their life. |
Anonymous
|
Are you in Montgomery county? Auto clinic on Parklawn (across from boiling Brook parkway) is great for Hondas/acuras, and I have found them well priced and trustworthy. I would feel comfortable asking them straight up to do service and inspect what needs to be done.
Civics are tough. My guess is you didn't actually need to do much more for it in the last five years than the basics, so you didn't do any permanent damage, but you're due for a big service now. I'd say in addition to replacing fluids, you might need brake pads and rotors work, tires, drive belt. Battery might be fixing to die too. |
Anonymous
| Avoid dealers whenever possible...they just overcharge for the same work that any mechanic can do. But you also need to find a good reliable and trustworthy mechanic... which isn't always that simple. |
Anonymous
+1, dependent on mileage. You don't have to replace an air filter every year but it is very easy to do yourself. Radiator/coolant is recommended every 60K miles. I would be more concerned with Brake system and spark plugs if you have decent mileage on the civic. |
Anonymous
|
you are probably going to need at least the following assuming you have normal mileage on it:
belts spark plugs valve adjustment brake pads, brake fluid, rotors transmission fluid coolant hoses air filter depending on mileage as well you may need: a timing belt, preventative maintenance like a water pump. some suspension components like tie rod ends etc tires |
Anonymous
| oh and get the power steering checked out too, hopefully no leaks |
Anonymous
| There have been only two times I have gone to the dealer. Once was for a recall which was free. The second time was for the first oil change after I bought the car. I bought it "certified pre-owned" with about 30K miles on it. The oil change cost $120. The dealer found all kinds of "problems" that needed to be repair that were not covered. Never went back. |
Anonymous
| I Don't go to dealers unless it's a recall. I can't stand that they put a "team leader" between you and the mechanic. Those team leaders are basically sales people and are always trying to upsell. I like a neighborhood shop where you can actually talk to the person who looked at your car. |
Anonymous
| Unlikely that it is under warranty, so I'd use a mechanic. Of course that can be hard to find if you haven't had work done on a car. Don't feel bad - with my very first car, I had no idea they needed maintenance so I never even had the oil changed. It lasted over 15 years. |