First 10k Maintenance for 2007 Pilot

[plchan]

Do I have to be proactive to bring my car to the dealer for my first 10k maintenance service?

OR

Should I just wait for the maintenance reminder to come on?

Additionally, if I decide to bring my car to the dealer for the first 10k miles maintenance service, what kind of stuff should I ask them to check? timing belt? coolant? etc?

Sorry for the n00b here as I never done any maintenance service on my previous car as it was an used car, and I only brought that car for oil change in the local WalMart (and some other fixing.. not the regular maintenance services).

Thanks in advance

[netman88]

I think the beginning parts on mostly oil changes.

At 15K is the VTM if you have a 4 wheel drive.

Check the owner's manual. Also register at the owner's link from Honda.

https://www.ahm-ownerlink.com/login.asp?brand=honda

[larryziegler]

Originally posted by netman88
I think the beginning parts on mostly oil changes.

At 15K is the VTM if you have a 4 wheel drive.

Check the owner's manual. Also register at the owner's link from Honda.

https://www.ahm-ownerlink.com/login.asp?brand=honda

Oil changes and tire rotations for the first 15,000 miles, then the VTM fluid change along with those.

[GreenMachine]

Originally posted by plchan
Do I have to be proactive to bring my car to the dealer for my first 10k maintenance service?

OR

Should I just wait for the maintenance reminder to come on?

Additionally, if I decide to bring my car to the dealer for the first 10k miles maintenance service, what kind of stuff should I ask them to check? timing belt? coolant? etc?

Sorry for the n00b here as I never done any maintenance service on my previous car as it was an used car, and I only brought that car for oil change in the local WalMart (and some other fixing.. not the regular maintenance services).

Thanks in advance

Wait for the maint. minder and just do what it says. That's what it is there for. Your manual has all you need to know with regard to maintenance, what to do and when. Also, when it comes on the first time for each service interval, it will indicate you have 15% oil life remaining so you still have a while before its recommended you take it in.

[plchan]

I just had my car completed the 10k maint based on the maint minder (B-16).

However, I went to the Power Honda Costa Mesa, they did not seem care about what it said in the maint minder. Rather than that, they just performed a "basic maint" on my car.

When the maint minder comes up again, I will bring my car to a different dealer and ensure they service my car per what it shows on the maint minder.

Would my approach (to the next service) be the right one?

[ctobio]

Follow the maintenance minder. It's a lot smarter than the grease monkeys at your dealership. The Honda's agenda for the maintenance minder schedule is to save you money without ruining your car too early, declaring it a POS, and never buying another Honda again. The dealership's agenda for maintenance schedules is to figure out how to fleece you, 3-5k miles at a time.

If anything, I find the maintenance minder's schedule to be conservative. The code for VTM on mine came up at 13k, and has been averaging 6500 for an oil change on mostly highway driving.

[whizmo]

Just to be clear, there is no "10K" maintenance for the 2006-on Pilots, or 15K, 30K, 60K etc. The MM system replaces the fixed mileage intervals with variable intervals. There are a few exceptions in the OM for caleandar time servicing and the like, but in general, you don't have to keep track of mileage at all - just do what the MM says.

If you're going to the dealer, tell them to do what the MM says, nothing more and nothing less. Don't let them talk you into fuel system cleaners, more frequently oil changes, etc. etc. etc. If they refuse, take your business elsewhere.

- Mark

[plchan]

When the MM came up, I brought my car to the dealership. They did not go by the MM but they used their "fixed" schedule to do service on my car. It was the first MM to come up and it was time to do oil change.

I have been following the oil level for oil change, and I am going to do my next MM in another Honda dealership which would do exact the MM shows.

Thanks for all reply. Hope the first time service by Power Honda Costa Mesa did not schedule the life of my beloved Pilot.

By the way, the dealership did not Replace VTM-4 rear differential fluid thou. However, my car is on 10xxx miles and the Pilot never towed any stuff before. Do I have to change it at 15000 miles or wait for the next MM?

[ctobio]

[i]
By the way, the dealership did not Replace VTM-4 rear differential fluid thou. However, my car is on 10xxx miles and the Pilot never towed any stuff before. Do I have to change it at 15000 miles or wait for the next MM? [/B]

When the maintenance minder includes code 6 (for example, A16) that's when you do the VTM fluid.

It will likely come up at your next oil change. Expect an A (or B) 16 to show up.

I would stick to the maintenance minder. On the Honda Ownerlink site, you can print up a copy of the maintenance minder schedule for yourself and have them do just what it says, no more, no less.

Cliffs notes version of the codes:

A - oil change
B - oil and filter change

(I ignore the option to change the filter. I always change it, regardless of A or B)

1 is tire rotation
2 is air filter, pollen filter, inspect belts
3 is trans and transfer case fluids (unless towing frequently, then follow manual severe schedule)
4 is spark plugs, timing belt, and valve clearance
5 is coolant flush and fill
6 is VTM-4 fluid

[plchan]

Originally posted by ctobio


When the maintenance minder includes code 6 (for example, A16) that's when you do the VTM fluid.

It will likely come up at your next oil change. Expect an A (or B) 16 to show up.

Should I wait for the A/B to come up for oil change, or should I just do oil change when the oil level reaches 0-5%?

[ctobio]

Originally posted by plchan


Should I wait for the A/B to come up for oil change, or should I just do oil change when the oil level reaches 0-5%?

A1/B1 will come on when the oil level reaches 10%. I change it in my driveway when it gets to 5%, usually. I don't let it get down to 0%, but 5% is anywhere from 1%-5%.

[Erik]

I had my Pilot in for the A+1 service at about 5,000. The Maintenance Minder showed B+1+6 at about 10,000 miles. Both times, my dealer did exactly what the maintenance minder called for.

10,000 is lower than what others are reporting for the VTM-4 service but I used the 4WD a lot this summer. It sounds like the maintenance minder is definitely doing it's job.

I just switched to Mobil One Synthetic. The dealer recommends ignoring every other oil change with the synthetic oil but I plan to change it every time the maintenance minder calls for it anyway.