Honda maintenance reminder keeps resetting
Honda doesn’t offer maintenance schedules in their manuals. You’re supposed to use the letter codes as they pop up. Unfortunately the reminder keeps getting reset at 5000 miles for oil changes and I don’t have a chance to see it. It’s a 2010 Fit with 96000 miles. Have I passed the time for tuneup? — Paul in San Ramon
I agree an indicator based maintenance recommendation system doesn’t provide information on what atypical services may be looming in one’s future, or accidentally skipped in the past.
Tune-ups are a thing of the past, as other than renewing spark plugs and checking/resetting valve clearance (at 110,000 miles), renewing coolant (at 120,000 miles), and inspecting idle speed (at 160,000 miles), there just isn’t anything to tune on your L-4 1.5 liter engine. Replacement of the fuel filter is not recommended unless fuel pressure drops below the specified value. Doing so is also a pain as it’s integrated into the fuel gauge sending unit/fuel pump/pressure regulator assembly within the fuel tank. The engine air filter, along with cabin air filter, are to be renewed every 30,000 miles.
Your 5000 mile oil/filter changes appear to be based on the severe service schedule, as the normal service schedule lists oil changes each 10,000 miles. Severe service is defined as folks who (any of these): drive less than 5 miles per trip or in freezing temperatures, drive less than 10 miles per trip, drive in hot (over 90°F) conditions, encounter extensive idling or long periods of stop-and-go driving, drive with a rooftop carrier or driving in mountainous conditions, or drive on muddy, dusty, or de-iced roads.
Your Honda engine is equipped with a timing chain rather than a timing belt to connect the crank and cam shafts. This is a blessing as a timing belt replacement can be a rather expensive service to perform each 90,000 miles or so. Chain replacement isn’t specified as a maintenance item, although to insure long life proper oil changes using high quality oil are a must. Additionally, modern engines typically employ sophisticated mechanisms to vary valve lift/duration/ timing, and engine oil is used as the hydraulic fluid to make this magic happen. Tiny passages and control actuators are subject to sludge and clogging, again making routine oil changes important.
Likely independent of the indicator based services, renewing brake fluid each three years is recommended, and transmission fluid would best be replaced every 60,000 miles (30K if towed behind an RV or other). Recommended owner monthly checks include exterior lights, engine oil and coolant reserve tank level, brake fluid level, tire inflation, and it’s certainly not a bad idea to keep an eye open for fluid leaks, odd sounds, parking brake effectiveness, unusual odors, and unusual tire wear. Inspecting/ renewing windshield wipers is a good idea with upcoming weather, perhaps hold on to the old ones to be your summer wipers, switch back to the newish ones for winter/ spring?