Servicing Second service advice

[shinigami]

Hi

I'm looking for some advice regarding my second service interval for my 1.8 civic. It had its first service at my local Honda dealer about 1yr ago when it had done just over 10,000 miles.

Now recently the dealer has sent me a letter saying its been a year on and now due for its second service, but between this time I have only done about 3,500 miles in it, making the total mileage roundabout 13,500.

I was just wondering whether it is worth servicing it now for the second time when so few miles have been put on? Or should I wait until I have done near 24,000 miles to service it again?

Thanks

[Munro]

Servicing is both time and mileage dependent. You need to get it serviced every year even if you do a low mileage to keep the warranty up (and your car properly looked after)

Service Cost - Civinfo Wiki

[angie4m]

As Munro says, you gotta get it done every 12500 miles or every 12 months whatever comes first.

My car will have its first service at 1 year and will have probably done about 4500 miles if that and probably less the next again year, but that was something I knew when I bought the car.

[jazzman]

Never miss a service. Mention your low mileage to the dealer as I know in my case with my Jazz they offered an intermediate service instead of a full service because of low mileage.

[angie4m]

Originally Posted by jazzman

Never miss a service. Mention your low mileage to the dealer as I know in my case with my Jazz they offered an intermediate service instead of a full service because of low mileage.

The Jazz is the Most expensive car for Honda to service hence why you can't get the Honda Happiness 5 year Servicing deal on it, so that maybe why you dealer did that for you, I doubt they will do that with the Civic.

[Dimplyred]

Originally Posted by jazzman

Never miss a service. Mention your low mileage to the dealer as I know in my case with my Jazz they offered an intermediate service instead of a full service because of low mileage.

I've had dealers offer me this option with my other cars, it's worth asking what they advise.

[jazzman]

Originally Posted by angie4m

The Jazz is the Most expensive car for Honda to service hence why you can't get the Honda Happiness 5 year Servicing deal on it, so that maybe why you dealer did that for you, I doubt they will do that with the Civic.

Don`t know Angie until you ask. I`ve got Honda Happiness with the Civic but the only reason the Jazz was higher cost was the engine, 8 plugs and manifold removal on main service and remember the same engine is used in the 1.4 Civic and the Hybrid. It is certainly worth asking is`nt it.

[Brodick]

Originally Posted by angie4m

The Jazz is the Most expensive car for Honda to service hence why you can't get the Honda Happiness 5 year Servicing deal on it, so that maybe why you dealer did that for you, I doubt they will do that with the Civic.

Honda only started the Honda Happiness when the civic was launched. The new CR-V has it aswell and as far as I am aware they are applying it to the all new accord at a guess I would say that they will apply it to the all new Jazz when it is launced back end of this yr/ beginning of next

As far as dealers doing a cheaper service on a low mileage civic - some will do it - but only for the first service

[shinigami]

thanks for replies, better get it booked in then. May as well ask them to fix the handbrake problem too, received a letter from Honda UK a few weeks ago about that. Have been putting it in gear whilst parked ever since

[pcr]

Don't forget, for low mileage second service it should be a bit cheaper, no spark plugs to replace, etc.

[Dimplyred]

Originally Posted by shinigami

thanks for replies, better get it booked in then. May as well ask them to fix the handbrake problem too, received a letter from Honda UK a few weeks ago about that. Have been putting it in gear whilst parked ever since

Now you are in the habit, it is good practice to leave it in gear even with the new handbrake assembly fitted.

[DonOne]

My Previous car was a Mini Cooper (stolen and wrecked). It was covered by BMW TLC five Year servicing (£125 all in). I also do low milage (4k years) as I use a motorbike for 7k a year. They were insistent that I only need to bring the Mini in when the Car computer says.. It was serviced every 2.5 Years..
seems to me that when you are paying for it, it's every year.. if they are paying for it it's every 12k..
Keep it clean and inspected. check all fluids and tyre pressure's regular, get it MOT'd. But I won't be servicing every year, (not after the 3 years warranty period anyway).

double standards or what.

[Munro]

Originally Posted by DonOne

My Previous car was a Mini Cooper (stolen and wrecked). It was covered by BMW TLC five Year servicing (£125 all in). I also do low milage (4k years) as I use a motorbike for 7k a year. They were insistent that I only need to bring the Mini in when the Car computer says.. It was serviced every 2.5 Years..
seems to me that when you are paying for it, it's every year.. if they are paying for it it's every 12k..
Keep it clean and inspected. check all fluids and tyre pressure's regular, get it MOT'd. But I won't be servicing every year, (not after the 3 years warranty period anyway).

double standards or what.

The BMW computers that decide service intervals are a bit more sophisticated. I think they measure the type of use , number of cold starts, how hard you drive etc. Lots of short journeys from cold needing more regular servicing than occasional long journeys for the same mileage

[DonOne]

That is true I suppose, but lots of cars have a count down to service on start up. The next Mini service schedule was due at 25k but the car said to take it in at 23.5k in general the car was driven 4 miles to work, with the odd 50-100 mile trip once or twice a month. It just strikes me of the hypocrisy of dealers, I'm sure BMW tell their 3 series drivers to bring them in once a year. The question is "what wears out in a year", does the oil lose it's ability to protect? or do some fluids become contaminated, by absorption of water? Oil has been in the ground for 64 million years and so long as the vehicle is used daily I shouldn't think any of the fluids will go off.
I'm yet to hear a convincing argument against
1 keep an eye on your own car
2 check fluids regularly (say every wash)
3 have it serviced regularly but not every year if the milage is low.
4 and if you do say 10k per year then waiting a couple of months won't hurt
5 BUT during the warranty period get it serviced yearly

[Munro]

Originally Posted by DonOne

That is true I suppose, but lots of cars have a count down to service on start up. The next Mini service schedule was due at 25k but the car said to take it in at 23.5k in general the car was driven 4 miles to work, with the odd 50-100 mile trip once or twice a month. It just strikes me of the hypocrisy of dealers, I'm sure BMW tell their 3 series drivers to bring them in once a year. The question is "what wears out in a year", does the oil lose it's ability to protect? or do some fluids become contaminated, by absorption of water? Oil has been in the ground for 64 million years and so long as the vehicle is used daily I shouldn't think any of the fluids will go off.
I'm yet to hear a convincing argument against
1 keep an eye on your own car
2 check fluids regularly (say every wash)
3 have it serviced regularly but not every year if the milage is low.
4 and if you do say 10k per year then waiting a couple of months won't hurt
5 BUT during the warranty period get it serviced yearly

I agree with you. The main reason I go to dealers for servicng is for the warranty / proof of service for resale value + complicated bits. It still grates a bit when charged £130 for not much more than an oil change and a quick check over.

I think the oil gets contaminated quite quickly with lots of short journeys from cold. Something to do with the rich mixture at start up - unburnt fuel ends up in the oil I supose??

[DonOne]

Break fluid also absorbs water, this water can turn to steam when the brakes are used vigourously, and as gas can not be compressed the same as fluid in a hydraulic system the brakes would feel spongy.. but then the service interval on brake fluid is usually 3 years anyway..
I think the oil would be ok for a couple of years.

so: save the planet, don't have it serviced?
(well after the warranty anyway)!

[angie4m]

Well BMW state in the mini handbook, too much pedal to the metal and you'll need a service quicker, the estimate its every so many miles but it all depends on driving style as for Brake fluid change is 2 years in BMW'S and Mini's. I had the Mini TLC and TLC XL which was a 80,000 mile package which they said should last 8 years, I used it all up in 5 years and 54,000 miles due to my driving style and just before I sold it at 6 years old I had to get another brake fluid change as it was up too.

[angie4m]

Originally Posted by Brodick

Honda only started the Honda Happiness when the civic was launched. The new CR-V has it aswell and as far as I am aware they are applying it to the all new accord at a guess I would say that they will apply it to the all new Jazz when it is launced back end of this yr/ beginning of next

As far as dealers doing a cheaper service on a low mileage civic - some will do it - but only for the first service

Yes, but they cannot apply it to the Jazz at present as it is the most expensive to service and dealers would lose out if they offered the Honda Happiness on it.

Will be interesting to see if they do offer it, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

[Munro]

Originally Posted by DonOne

Break fluid also absorbs water, this water can turn to steam when the brakes are used vigourously, and as gas can not be compressed the same as fluid in a hydraulic system the brakes would feel spongy.. but then the service interval on brake fluid is usually 3 years anyway..
I think the oil would be ok for a couple of years.

so: save the planet, don't have it serviced?
(well after the warranty anyway)!

On my last car I had a main service where they changed the brake fluid. I needed a stiff brandy after seeing the bill but the improvement in the brakes was well worth it