Maintenance Minder, does it really do something?

[panamamike]

Does the maintenance minder do anything to analyze the fluids or does it just "guess" based on several variables? Just wondering if it's reliable.

[N_Jay]

Originally posted by panamamike
Does the maintenance minder do anything to analyze the fluids or does it just "guess" based on several variables? Just wondering if it's reliable.

I think a "guess based on several variables" would be called an estimate.

No it does not measure the fluid quality directly in any way.

It uses the information that the engine controller has to make the decisions.

[rocky]

Originally posted by panamamike
Does the maintenance minder do anything to analyze the fluids or does it just "guess" based on several variables? Just wondering if it's reliable.

Theres more information at the Honda ownerlink on the maintenance minder system.

[Jewelz]

To reset it, can you just disconnect the battery for a couple of minutes?

[humanoid]

You don't have to worry about it because you don't have one. Only 2006+ Pilots had the MM.

Originally posted by Jewelz
To reset it, can you just disconnect the battery for a couple of minutes?

[whizmo]

The reset procedure is in the OM.

- Mark

[macphanatic]

It doesn't monitor the condition of any fluids directly. It is algorithm based, using many variables to determine a schedule. Things like driving conditions, speed, operating temperature, etc are some of the variables that are most likely used in the computation.

[ctobio]

Originally posted by Jewelz
To reset it, can you just disconnect the battery for a couple of minutes?

Probably not, and it's a bad idea to do this as it will cause your engine and transmission to need to relearn your driving habits, leading to poor performance and fuel economy until the system is all "learned".

[panamamike]

Originally posted by ctobio


Probably not, and it's a bad idea to do this as it will cause your engine and transmission to need to relearn your driving habits, leading to poor performance and fuel economy until the system is all "learned".

I'm a new '06 owner, and I'm trying to determine how I do I know if I should take the car in if it doesn't present any major issues?

Being that I bought used, I'm wondering if I should take it into the dealer for some sort of overall condition evaluation and have some preventative work done on it.

For example, I suffer from the steering wheel vibration, I don't know if it's just the tires or if there might be some transmission issues.

Mike

[Jewelz]

Originally posted by whizmo
The reset procedure is in the OM.

- Mark

I've tried finding it in there but no luck. Do you have a page or chapter handy? Thanks.

[macphanatic]

Did you look for "Maintenance Minder" in the index of the manual? It's on page 232 for the 2007 model year.

1. Turn ignition to the On position.

2. Press the select/reset knob until the engine oil life indicator is displayed.

3. Press and hold the select/reset knob for more than 10 seconds. The engine oil life/maintenance item code will blink.

4. Press the select/reset knob for another 5 seconds. The maintenance codes will disappear and the oil life will reset to 100.

[Dummy]

Owner of 07 Pilot. Drive about 5k a year. Since last oil change in 11/07, have driven <4k for the past 9 months. Still have 20% oil life.

Do I need to change the oil now or continue following Maintenance Minder?

[youbetcha]

I had an oil analysis done 4,000 miles after an oil change, and my MM showed 50% (read: between 40% and 50%). I thought for sure the analysis would show the MM was way off but it wasn't -- maybe a bit long of an estimate, but not way off. The lab said their experience with MM was that over time it did get more accurate.

After MM ticks down to 10% you get reminded to change the oil anyway when you start the car.

If you don't trust MM then get an oil analysis. I used Blackstone Labs (www.blackstone-labs.com). They do a nice job and you get an explanation written by a person -- nice touch.

[Jewelz]

Found it. Its on page 65 of the 2005 manual. Thanks!

Originally posted by macphanatic
Did you look for "Maintenance Minder" in the index of the manual? It's on page 232 for the 2007 model year.

1. Turn ignition to the On position.

2. Press the select/reset knob until the engine oil life indicator is displayed.

3. Press and hold the select/reset knob for more than 10 seconds. The engine oil life/maintenance item code will blink.

4. Press the select/reset knob for another 5 seconds. The maintenance codes will disappear and the oil life will reset to 100.

[ctobio]

Originally posted by youbetcha
I had an oil analysis done 4,000 miles after an oil change, and my MM showed 50% (read: between 40% and 50%). I thought for sure the analysis would show the MM was way off but it wasn't -- maybe a bit long of an estimate, but not way off. The lab said their experience with MM was that over time it did get more accurate.

That's been my observation. I hedge by using synthetic. I usually let the MM go to zero, and synthetic shows plenty of life left when I have an oil analysis run. I average between 6500 and 7000 miles between changes. A quality conventional oil would probably be pretty close to end of life at that interval. I also think that the MM is probably a hair on the conservative side in its calculations.

For what it's worth, in the 3 years I've been reading this forum, I only recall one case of an oil related failure, and it was a guy whose brand-new Pilot failed after a couple of hundred miles due to a defective oil pump. Not an oil choice issue, to be sure.

That reminds me, I need to take a sample of the transmission fluid and send it to Blackstone. I've got nearly 40k and no change yet (no towing or anything like that), and the MM hasn't thrown the change transmission fluid code.