Mm a-14

[guiness]

Just recently bought a 2007 Pilot EX AWD, had approx 98k miles when purchased. When I purchased it I was aware that the timing belt service would need to be done soon. In preparation to drive the pilot to destin, fl (approx 12 hr drive) I went to change the cabin filter and noticed that it had never been changed. So I felt that I would make an appt with a local dealer and have ALL fluids, and spark plugs changed before the trip and do the timing belt service in a couple months. Vehicle is scheduled to go in the shop 8/5/11, and as luck has it while my wife was driving the car home today it showed the A-14 code. So ,,,, should I put off the fluids till later and do the timing belt or stick with my original plan ? Getting both services done will be very difficult financially ... Thoughts

[pilot_rave]

If you are willing to change the cabin filter yourself why not change the fluids yourself too? they're pretty easy to do so and much cheaper than letting the dealer do it; have them take care of the timing belt/water pump.

[theirishscion]

With as young as the car is chronologically, odds are the timing belt actually has a bit of leeway in when it needs to be changed, though that's always a risk there.

If it were me, and I had a suspicion that my new car hadn't been well maintained, I'd probably still bite the bullet and get the timing belt done first, a new engine is an expensive price to pay for a slip-up there. I'd leave the coolant, power steering, brake fluid and spark plugs for a few months (they're all long life fluids and plugs anyway, and the car isn't that old, though it does have high (and hence presumably nice highway) mileage. Any time before winter this year should be fine for the rest of the fluids) but I would try to do my own ATF fluid change (I suggest you use the Honda fluid, they're a slightly picky transmission, ATF-Z1 or the new ATF-DW1, they're interchangeable) and a VTM (rear differential fluid, takes special Honda VTM-4 fluid, really really important you use the correct stuff for the rear diff or it'll give drive-ability issues) change with the instructions you'll fine with a quick search of the forum. Depending on how nasty (discolored, burned-smelling) the ATF fluid was coming out, I'd likely do another ATF change or two a month or two down the line.

At the very least, I'd pull the transmission dipstick and wipe it off on a clean piece of white rag or paper and check how far off it is from the original ATF-Z1 red/pink colour, and sniff for any hint of burning. If it looks nice and pink and clean, again you could likely even put that off for a month or two.

Still, the fluids are relatively cheap and easy to DIY if you've a mind to, and you can get lots of detailed help here on the board.

Good luck.


Dermot.

[guiness]

Well I decided to get the timing belt service, new spark plugs, engine coolant, and oil change, and I had a new key made. I asked the service tech if they would honor a 10% off coupon I found at another dealership and they were happy to take the 10% off. All in all I'm happy I had it done and have some piece of mind. Not sure if it is a mental thing (like running faster with new shoes) but the pilot seems to run better ? Well thanks for the advice.

[theirishscion]

Well, at that mileage, it's entirely possible that the plugs were on the way out. I doubt the engine oil made any difference, and usually timing belts are either just fine or new-engine-time, nothing much in between.

My car always sounds and feels better after I do maintenance, I reckon it's almost entirely in my head but I don't care, I just enjoy the sensation.

Next thing on your list should be a transmission fluid change. Don't let the shop do a transmission flush on a machine, Honda explicitly recommends against that (the solvents used in the fluid they flush with can screw up the somewhat unusual Honda transmission). If you want to be really kind to it, or if you're feeling paranoid, the Honda recommendation for completely changing the transmission fluid is to do three drain, fill, drive cycles in quick succession. Alternatively, a competent shop (if you trust them to do as instructed) can splice into the fluid line going to the cooler and replace all the ATF in one fell swoop, effectively doing a flush but without using the solvents.

[RegDunlop]

Guinness, what did the dealer charge for that work?