What regular service is necessary for a 2008 Honda Civic?
April 5, 2010 1:25 PM Subscribe
What regular service is necessary for a 2008 Honda Civic?
I have a 2008 Honda Civic with about 28,000 miles on it, and I've always been diligent about getting oil changes. Recently, though, I've noticed a constant vibration in the car, which gets faster as I go faster, and I'm guessing that means I need a tire rotation and alignment.
What other regular service should I be doing? I know generally dealers have some service plan for every X miles, but what is actually necessary?
When I bought the car, I remember it being advertised as needing very little service over its lifetime, but I'm guessing that referred to more significant work, right?
Also, since I'm still within my warranty (3 years/36,000 miles), is anything like this going to be covered by that? (I'm guessing not)
I have a 2008 Honda Civic with about 28,000 miles on it, and I've always been diligent about getting oil changes. Recently, though, I've noticed a constant vibration in the car, which gets faster as I go faster, and I'm guessing that means I need a tire rotation and alignment.
What other regular service should I be doing? I know generally dealers have some service plan for every X miles, but what is actually necessary?
When I bought the car, I remember it being advertised as needing very little service over its lifetime, but I'm guessing that referred to more significant work, right?
Also, since I'm still within my warranty (3 years/36,000 miles), is anything like this going to be covered by that? (I'm guessing not)
Regular maintenance won't be covered by your warranty. Your owner's manual should have a service schedule in the back; that's what I've been following for my car, bought new in 2005. It does specify oil changes, tire rotations, and at wider intervals checking of various other things.
posted by not that girl at 1:30 PM on April 5, 2010
posted by not that girl at 1:30 PM on April 5, 2010
Best answer: Congratulations on buying one of the best made cars on the road. You don't mention how you drive and what model Civil (Si models are kinda different animals). However just because it is reliable does not mean it is maintenance free, and this means more than oil changes. At the 30K service most are things you can do yourself with a decent manual or friend who knows cars, and youtube will often have great videos on how to do it. There are also entire website devoted to DIY tinkering on civics. I would stay away from the articles on how to make your car sound bad (new muffler that adds 100 hp) but there are usually good articles on general maintenance as well. Things I would expect to need checking and possibly replacement on your vehicle are:
-Battery (usually about 3 years out of OEM Battery)
-Tires (i would expect 50K out of OEM tires on a civic, but 30K isn't that unusual). Your vibration problem is most likely an out of balance tire, but could be something more serious, get it checked. Also get it aligned if you get new tires, its worth it. Also the tires should be getting rotated and balanced at elast every 10k and 5k is better. I try to do every other oil change (usually 7-8k for me).
If you are going down bad roads everyday (like washboard dirt roads bad) you might need new struts but I would be really surpised if a civic needed them at 30k.
-Windshield wipers (just replace them-they're cheap and an accident because you couldn't see isn't)
-air filter (past time if you haven't changed it yet)
-spark plugs. Most plugs can go 100k without needing changing, but if you leave them in that long you may never get them out due to galling. They are also cheap, and easy to do yourself with a few simple tools.
-Belts need to be checked for conditions and tightness, and just generally anything rubber (hoses, constant velocity boots, bushings, etc) should be throuroughly inspected, the vast majority of these items will be just fine and probably fine at 60K. This is one you should have done by a good mechanic as inspection requires a fair amount of experience to determine condition
I also like to periodically just go around and tighten screws and bolts all over my cars, you would be amazed how many work loose over time. This is mostly due to buying cars that have over 100k on them however, so one at 30k probably doesn't need it.
and laslty your owners manual (you did read it right?)will have a complete list of items to check at 1K, 30k, 60k, etc. Most of them are easy things to check you can do yourself and won't require any work.
I would also try to get it checked at a independant reputable shop, which will be cheaper than the dealership. If you have a warranty claim take it to the dealer or if you can't find a reputable shop.
posted by bartonlong at 1:46 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
-Battery (usually about 3 years out of OEM Battery)
-Tires (i would expect 50K out of OEM tires on a civic, but 30K isn't that unusual). Your vibration problem is most likely an out of balance tire, but could be something more serious, get it checked. Also get it aligned if you get new tires, its worth it. Also the tires should be getting rotated and balanced at elast every 10k and 5k is better. I try to do every other oil change (usually 7-8k for me).
If you are going down bad roads everyday (like washboard dirt roads bad) you might need new struts but I would be really surpised if a civic needed them at 30k.
-Windshield wipers (just replace them-they're cheap and an accident because you couldn't see isn't)
-air filter (past time if you haven't changed it yet)
-spark plugs. Most plugs can go 100k without needing changing, but if you leave them in that long you may never get them out due to galling. They are also cheap, and easy to do yourself with a few simple tools.
-Belts need to be checked for conditions and tightness, and just generally anything rubber (hoses, constant velocity boots, bushings, etc) should be throuroughly inspected, the vast majority of these items will be just fine and probably fine at 60K. This is one you should have done by a good mechanic as inspection requires a fair amount of experience to determine condition
I also like to periodically just go around and tighten screws and bolts all over my cars, you would be amazed how many work loose over time. This is mostly due to buying cars that have over 100k on them however, so one at 30k probably doesn't need it.
and laslty your owners manual (you did read it right?)will have a complete list of items to check at 1K, 30k, 60k, etc. Most of them are easy things to check you can do yourself and won't require any work.
I would also try to get it checked at a independant reputable shop, which will be cheaper than the dealership. If you have a warranty claim take it to the dealer or if you can't find a reputable shop.
posted by bartonlong at 1:46 PM on April 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
There's an interactive thingy at edmunds.com that you could consult. I'm assuming it recaps what's already in your owner's manual.
(The standard answer for a Civic, of course, is "very little".)
posted by gimonca at 2:09 PM on April 5, 2010
(The standard answer for a Civic, of course, is "very little".)
posted by gimonca at 2:09 PM on April 5, 2010
Best answer: Your Owners Manual knows the answer to this question. Starting on page 223, the manual describes the operation of the service indicator, oil life percentage, and what the difference between an A and B service is.
Nobody can advise you better about the correct maintenance for your vehicle than the Owners Manual. Not me and not any other mechanic can put into place a better service schedule than Honda did in the manual they wrote for your car. Follow this service schedule like it's a bible and you'll be fine.
As a side note, you almost certainly do NOT need an alignment at 28k. Unless you've been driving your car off road or have been speeding over the concrete parking logs at the mall, don't throw your money away on an alignment. Save your money for the new tires you're about to need. If your Civic came with Goodyear Eagle RSAs (which I'm pretty sure it did) they are probably reaching the end of their crappy life by now. I've never seen a set of Eagles last more than 35k. Mine didn't, and neither did any of my customers. I'd rotate them and balance them to make the ride more bearable for the next couple thousand miles, but, just guessing, your vibration is most likely related to normal tire wear rather than alignment.
posted by Jon-o at 2:29 PM on April 5, 2010
Nobody can advise you better about the correct maintenance for your vehicle than the Owners Manual. Not me and not any other mechanic can put into place a better service schedule than Honda did in the manual they wrote for your car. Follow this service schedule like it's a bible and you'll be fine.
As a side note, you almost certainly do NOT need an alignment at 28k. Unless you've been driving your car off road or have been speeding over the concrete parking logs at the mall, don't throw your money away on an alignment. Save your money for the new tires you're about to need. If your Civic came with Goodyear Eagle RSAs (which I'm pretty sure it did) they are probably reaching the end of their crappy life by now. I've never seen a set of Eagles last more than 35k. Mine didn't, and neither did any of my customers. I'd rotate them and balance them to make the ride more bearable for the next couple thousand miles, but, just guessing, your vibration is most likely related to normal tire wear rather than alignment.
posted by Jon-o at 2:29 PM on April 5, 2010
Best answer: General practice for a car in warranty:
1. Follow the maintenance instructions in the manual, but have no other "suggested" work done unless it is also covered by warranty.
2. When a potential problem raises its head, have the dealer diagnose it. If it is covered by warranty, have it done.
3. If the dealership says it is not covered by warranty, take it to another dealer and have them diagnose it without telling them what the previous diagnosis was or even that one was made. Then, go to a web forum where enthusiasts for your car gather, state the out-of-warranty diagnosis (or diagnoses, if they don't match), and say "Love the car, it is still in warranty, but the front end has been vibrating, worse as I speed up. Dealer says this, other dealer says that, both say it is not a warranty repair. Anyone here have a similar problem, and what did you do to fix it?"
posted by davejay at 2:36 PM on April 5, 2010
1. Follow the maintenance instructions in the manual, but have no other "suggested" work done unless it is also covered by warranty.
2. When a potential problem raises its head, have the dealer diagnose it. If it is covered by warranty, have it done.
3. If the dealership says it is not covered by warranty, take it to another dealer and have them diagnose it without telling them what the previous diagnosis was or even that one was made. Then, go to a web forum where enthusiasts for your car gather, state the out-of-warranty diagnosis (or diagnoses, if they don't match), and say "Love the car, it is still in warranty, but the front end has been vibrating, worse as I speed up. Dealer says this, other dealer says that, both say it is not a warranty repair. Anyone here have a similar problem, and what did you do to fix it?"
posted by davejay at 2:36 PM on April 5, 2010
ecently, though, I've noticed a constant vibration in the car, which gets faster as I go faster, and I'm guessing that means I need a tire rotation and alignment.
You are most likely completely correct. Check your owners manual for standard servicing items and do these, but take independent advice on additional items recommended by the dealers - the will try to upsell you parts and maintenance, but not all will and not all will do so unnecessarily.
Follow your manual as best you can, get you tyres checked and balanced+rotated and you'll most likely not spend too much money on servicing a Civic.
posted by Brockles at 2:47 PM on April 5, 2010
You are most likely completely correct. Check your owners manual for standard servicing items and do these, but take independent advice on additional items recommended by the dealers - the will try to upsell you parts and maintenance, but not all will and not all will do so unnecessarily.
Follow your manual as best you can, get you tyres checked and balanced+rotated and you'll most likely not spend too much money on servicing a Civic.
posted by Brockles at 2:47 PM on April 5, 2010
If you dirve the car on a smooth surface at <5mph, can you feel a periodic bump or jiggle more-or-less in time with the rotation of the wheel? On each tire, run your hands over the tread, looking for lumps (careful of exposed wires if they're really worn). Also look at the sidewalls to check for ripples. In my limited experience, tires usually start bulging and that's what causes the vibration (though I drive on more dirt roads than most).
posted by klanawa at 2:49 PM on April 5, 2010
posted by klanawa at 2:49 PM on April 5, 2010
I disagree on following the owners manual service schedule. It's not agressive enough. Honda has a vested interest in selling you a new car in 4 or 5 years. If you want a car to last 200K miles or more, the service interval in the manual is not your friend. Try the schedule from Pat Goss.
posted by COD at 3:22 PM on April 5, 2010
posted by COD at 3:22 PM on April 5, 2010
Response by poster: I should've mentioned: it's a LX 4-door, automatic.
Thanks everyone so far for the great answers!
posted by deansfurniture5 at 5:17 PM on April 5, 2010
Thanks everyone so far for the great answers!
posted by deansfurniture5 at 5:17 PM on April 5, 2010
Response by poster: Hm, I was looking through my manual and it doesn't have a maintenance schedule, just how to do things like replace your air filters, oil, etc. I could've sworn I found one when I first got the car and was reading through everything, but I can't find it now.
posted by deansfurniture5 at 5:40 PM on April 5, 2010
posted by deansfurniture5 at 5:40 PM on April 5, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
i've only been getting oil changes and recalls done. i tried to figure out what 'service A' and 'service B' meant but i couldn't get a straight answer. whever ever the 'maintainence minder' says it's time, i take it in and they charge me the same regardless of light. maybe calls honda corporate?
posted by maulik at 1:30 PM on April 5, 2010