I've done all the normal stuff like oil change and filter, did sparks at around 70k, but that is about it. Anything else?

BTW, I have 130k on my car.

 

fuel injector cleaner, throttle body cleaner. You should probably flush your cooling system, power steering, transmission, brakes ect..

 

Wow you drive a LOT!

 

Consider the fuel filter, and also try out some SeaFoam in the engine (via brake booster vacuum hose)

 

When I worked at Nissan we flushed out the brakes and coolant at every 30K mile interval. I am bout to do my over due 90K mile service, and I'm also flushing out the power steering fluid with some Redline Synthetic PS fluid, Motul RBF600 brake fluid. Since I feel this is probably going to be a car I'ma keep till it rottens out completly I take very good care of it. If you have a Pollen filter, repleace it.
My 90K mile service consists of :
Mobil one 15-W50 oil change with OE Nissan oil filter
Clean my K&N cone filter
TB cleaning
Injector cleaning via 3M system
Redline ShockProof gear lube in the MT.
Redline WaterWetter w/ OE Nissan Coolant
Redline Sythetic PS fluid.
Adjust parking brake cables.
Repleace Pollen filter.
Repleace wipre blade inserts.
Flush out brake system with Motul RBF600 brake fluid.
Flush out the clutch lines with Motul RBF600.
Aligment.
I would include a new radiator cap with the flush, but I already have a high pressure radiator cap installed.
On top of that I'm doing Blehmco lower tie bar, Blehmco TTZ brakes with 04 Maxima rotors and Hawk HPS pads, and Exedy Racing clutch- all in one day

 

Mike 2 questions:

If someone not as talented as you went to the Maxima dealer to have all of that done (everything in your list above the "alignment" line) what's your estimate of the cost to the consumer?

What is your opinion of having an auto trans flushed at 100K if trans fluid was never changed up to that point?

Thanks

Mr. Peabody

 

Basically my local dealer advertises 30K mile service for 349 which includes oil change, tire rotation, balance the wheels, 4 wheel aligment, air filter, fuel filter, brake fluid flush, adjust rear brakes ( on drum brake setup only, like Sentra, Altima, Quest, etc), wiper blade refills, for aditional 29.99 they also will do a coolant flush, and injector cleaning is 99 bux the same way I do mine- I have the same 3M machine. As far as flushing out a auto tranny with high mileage, I would 1st pull out the dipstick and check the color of the fluid- drop a small drop of ATF on a white piece of paper, and see if its nice and red, if it is discolored to a darker red or even brown color then you are taking a chance at repleacing the fluid, smell the dipstick and if it smells like its burned fluid then I wouldn't wanna change it. If the fluid is black then the tranny is eighter a Acura 3.2TL tranny or it shouldn't really be moving no more. Trans fluid is usually close to like a candy apple red color when new, if its fairly close to that color, then I would repleace the fluid without a problem.

 

is there a problem when the oil is discolored and you change it?

 

I second the question, what is the problem with replacing "old" fluid?

 

Don't forget the PCV. The most over-looked part

 

Old wives' tale really. Came up from the idea that if something has been left to settle neglected for so long you will unsettle it and ruin it when you introduce newer cleaner stuff.

 

This old myth sometimes does become the truth. Lemme attest to that, since I work at Acura. Our trannies do not last more than 30K miles- Acuras. When customer comes in for a 30K mile service, we drain n fill the tranny with 3 qts of new Honda ATF. In about 500 to 2000 miles the car comes back for a tranny. Just depends on how dark the fluid gets. I seen the fluid be pitch dark with all kinds of nasty buildup of clutch pack material on the magnetic drain plug. Cars that do not get maintenance done would go past 30K miles, but usually would still puke their guts out around 50K miles at most. There where a few really weird ones- record was 130K miles on a Honda automatic 5 speed TL. Most of them go around 20-30K miles. If the color is slightly brownish I would repleace it still, if it was dark I wouldn't touch it. It is going to fail very shortly after repleacement. I always suggest pulling the dipstick out, and dropping a drop of ATF fluid off the dipstick on to a white paper napkin, then a drop of FRESH ATF next to it and compare the colors. If the old stuff looks like its lightly brownish then change it now, if its nice and brown then its getting too late.

 

I have heard of stories. where that statement. "if the oil in the trans is too harsh, dont change it." several times. I have heard of people on here saying they changed there oil, then 2 weeks to a month later. they had to have the tranny replaced/rebuilt. Take it for what you will, but having a heavy poluted tranny and changing the fluid. there is definatly some risk involved.

 

I'd like to see you guys beat the 250K miles I did with my first max, an '88.

 

How on earth can you even say that because a crappy *** transmission that dies in under 50k does so at 30 because you changed the fluid? Unless you rally the car 30k is nothing for a transmission fluid.

Now, show me any connection between changing the fluid and transmission failure. Well?

The only thing that it might do is make present problems more pronounced since the old fluid can very well have a molasses effect and lag it all down.

 

Are you doubting my master mindness o humble transmission master ? I rebuild plenty of AT trannies, and MT trannies. 30K mile tranny flush on a Acura is asking for a tranny within a month of the service.

 

I just hit the 90k mark on my '03. My first max was an '87 that died by way of a large, four-legged, furry animal at 244k. If the frame wasn't bent, it'd probably still be on the road.

As for the tranny, I make sure to get my trans flushed and filled every 30-40k miles. Be very sure to include the flush. replacing the fluid will leave more junk in the case.

 

...sounds like a good reason to avoid Honda products...

 

Oh no, not at all.

Just don't see the connection, and as usual, no one can actually provide the link.

 

what do you need the link for ? http://cl.acurazine.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=126 here is a SPECIAL section of their forum- on which I am on cause I'm a Acura tech. When you go to their forum its like 1st gen CL 97-99 and 2nd gen 01-03s. When U go to the 2nd gen forum, they have another special page just for tranny failures. People constantly post there cause there is atleast one tranny failing a day there. Read some of the comments and come back to tell me how great Honda trannies are. Connection is, the nasty particle filled ATF is the only thing Holding that tranny togheter after so many miles. Once it starts to slipp its done. In the begining stages they had us flush the trannies - ACURA did, and the cars wouldn't even move after the flush. If you need proof- sell the Max, get a 00-03 TL and drive it for a while. Once it starts to slip, change the ATF Make sure to have your cell handy to call for road side assistance.

 

But the problem here is the transmission, not the fluid. It still make no sense to use this in any way as to make a generalization for all transmissions.

I did not mean an internet link. I mean an actual technical relation between fluid and transmission failure. Thing be told, this has been disputed time and time again, so i don't know why people still believe it.

 

I must agree with BlackBird. Not specifically on Acura's. Because honestly I have never done flushes on any Honda. But as for Fluid, and Tranny problems being related. I have heard of people who change there Fluid (however: Tranny must be very old) and then have to deal with tranny rebuild/replacment.

 

I don't have a link to any site or book or anything that will straight out tell ya this. But like I said. Buy a Acura, and flush the tranny when the fluid is dark. Then call Roadside asistance to tow it for a tranny repleacement to the dealer. All Automatic trannies work on the same principal, its a BIG hydraulic trans with clutches, and gears. Hydraulic fluid goes around inside the valve body and with solenoids controlling when the fluid needs to engage a specific clutch pack. Unless you rebuild trannies before, I don't see how I need to argue with ya. I do this for a living, you being 20 years old- I doubt ya ever done a tranny in your life.

 

So, do you leave the dirty fluid forever and ever?

 

Don't be hateful, it just sounds crazy. I was thinking of getting a TL for Xmas next year... I think I may stick with Max... How often should you change the fluid then? Earlier? Later? Never?