Save Some $$$$ Turn Wrenches

"Nerd-Vol" (Nerd-Vol)
05/07/2015 at 12:59 • Filed to: Honda, service

Took the S2000 into my local friendly Honda dealer to have the transmission fluid and rear end fluid changed. The price of the service? $212.

Wowzers. I’m not certain how tough of a job it is on the Honda, but I found the same work on the miata to be very easy. Plus I think between buying the fluid and the pump I was out the door for $50.

Oh well. Live and learn.

What other basic/easy services are pretty expensive?

DISCUSSION (23)

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Nerd-Vol
05/07/2015 at 13:03

Timing belts on many cars. With the tools dealers have it’s maybe 2 hours labour on a simple car, they usually charge more like 5 or 6.

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > Nerd-Vol
05/07/2015 at 13:04

Oil changes, Tire rotation, transmission fluid, diff fluid, brakes, and suspension work are all MUCH cheaper to diy, including the time.

Things like the clutch, belts, and water pump are cheaper to buy, but usually take longer than a shop. So More time = less money.

(Full disclosure, I have access to almost every tool I need, and a lift, engine hoist, jack, jack stands, and transmission jack.)

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
05/07/2015 at 13:04

Timing chain FTW!

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car
05/07/2015 at 13:05

I used to have one on my old car, new one has a belt though.. and it’s due a change in August :(

extraspecialbitter > Nerd-Vol
05/07/2015 at 13:05

I don’t know how accurate this is, but a buddy of mine said Pep Boys charged him $30 to check the error codes on his car. Last I checked, most places do that for free...

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
05/07/2015 at 13:13

Sorry to hear that. At least I have a lift and tools to make those kind of things easier.

But with my little car and transverse engine, it’s a bitch to work on. My next car HAS to be RWD and manual. I only get one with my DD. (‘98 b14 nissan sentra gxe, ga16de and 5-speed manual.)

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > extraspecialbitter
05/07/2015 at 13:14

Auto zone does.

Or a bluetooth obd2 scanner is under $10 and a good app is $5.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > Nerd-Vol
05/07/2015 at 13:16

I’m debating right now on swapping my lower control arms myself. I have tools, Jack, stands, etc but not sure how big of a PITA it’ll be without any air tools. Looks like I may have to hulk smash my way through.

E. Julius > Nerd-Vol
05/07/2015 at 13:18

Some drunk smashed my passenger side mirror of last year. Went to the Honda dealership to price a replacement, installed. They told me it would be $240. I laughed, got a replacement mirror for $30 and changed it myself in 5 minutes with a wrench and one socket.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car
05/07/2015 at 13:23

Mine’s very simple but FWD so access is not great. I could do the swap but I don’t really want to. I’ll consider it if the quotes I get for the job are really high. I have all the tools I need (except a lock for the cam which I can buy cheaply) but not a lift.

Nerd-Vol > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul
05/07/2015 at 13:23

How new is the car?

If the car is rusty those LCA bolts are an ass!! A good air wrench makes the job much better!

I’m gonna have to cross that bridge in a year when I upgrade the suspension on my 95 Miata.

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
05/07/2015 at 13:25

Where are you located? If you are near Denver I have a lift you can use.

I hate transverse engines so much.

The Powershift in Steve's '12 Ford Focus killed it's TCM (under warranty!) > Nerd-Vol
05/07/2015 at 13:27

Cabin air filters. Most are located in an easily accessible tray behind the glove box. Swapping the filter is quicker than taking the filter out of the box, and dealers usually charge $70+ for the service when the filter itself is only $20.

My Focus is an exception - getting that bastard in and out is a pain in the ass and requires removing several plastic trim panels and unscrewing/temporarily moving a fuse block. Screw that. The dealer cost is worth it.

*Edit* They’re actually clips, and technically you don’t have to move the fuse block, but it makes access a lot easier. It’s still an awful design though.

Sn210 > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car
05/07/2015 at 13:28

Tire rotation is a good one. A local garage had a SPECIAL on tire rotation for $79.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > Nerd-Vol
05/07/2015 at 13:28

Almost 10 years. I figure a good PB blaster soaking while I change the oil then soak them again after may help.

Nerd-Vol > The Powershift in Steve's '12 Ford Focus killed it's TCM (under warranty!)
05/07/2015 at 13:31

It's a pain on my mazdaspeed 3. I'm not surprised cousin focus is tough.

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > Sn210
05/07/2015 at 13:55

That’s maybe 15 minutes to diy, with nothing but a jack. Cars come with tire irons.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car
05/07/2015 at 14:38

England haha, nice of you to offer though.

Yeah they’re a pain to work on most of the time, especially with engine bays being so tight these days.

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
05/07/2015 at 14:51

I know. A friend of mine has a ‘93 ranger. 4L v6, 5-speed manual.

That thing is so easy to work on. Big engine bay, not a transverse engine, rwd, and manual. It runs like a tank.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car
05/07/2015 at 14:55

I wish all cars were that simple. My last car was an absolute nightmare.

Kinja'd!!!

I changed a turbo on that thing. I hated it.

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
05/07/2015 at 14:57

That looks like the first circle of hell.

Kinja'd!!!

Here’s the 7th.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car
05/07/2015 at 15:01

I have many scars to prove that working on that car is a nightmare haha.

That may be one of the most complex timing chain set ups I’ve ever seen. Isn’t that the Audi where the guides go at 100k and the engine has to be pulled to fix it?

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
05/07/2015 at 15:19

Yes it is.