I agree the cost at the dealership seems ridiculous. I'm not in the automobile business but, in all fairness, there's something you have to keep in mind.

The hourly rate at a dealership includes the time it takes the tech to pick up the work order, read it, take the keys and walk out into the parking lot to find the car. Drive the car into his stall. Do some wrenching. Walk over to the parts department to get the necessary parts to finish the job. Go back to the car and put the new part in/on. Put away his tools. Drive the car out to the lot and park it. Take a leak and wash his hands. Complete the paperwork and turn it in with the keys.

A guy could easily spend an hours time when the actual wrenching was less than 15 minutes.

That non productive time is figured into every function in a parts and labor manual. If you ever have more than one function performed you are looking at what's called "overlap" (both functions allow the time for the tech to do all the non productive work stated above) and you would not be out of line to ask for a discount from the stated labor rate because of this overlap.

 

whaap I would agree with you for most service procedures. However for cabin filter replacement it takes no wrenching, no tools, no walking, no parking, etc. It literally can be completed in two minutes while car is still in service dept check in line. I would put it on par with replacing a blown fuse or putting air in a tire. Since the dealer is already getting an inflated parts purchase by doing replacement I would say it should be done for practically free. Charging $85 labor is blatantly taking advantage of the unknowing and borderline fraud. And I don't think anybody should have to pay for the Tech to take a leak and wash his hands. haha

One other possibility is the dealer has a flat rate cabin air replacement charge for any vehicle. For many car models replacing the cabin filter is not an easy job. On my Ford it takes multiple tools and a minimum of 30 minutes to replace if you've done it before. First time or having to refresh yourself reading the service manual then 45 minutes.

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I agree that perhaps the cabin air filter isn't the best example but knowing what I posted can help a person save money. Example: if someone wants their tires rotated and the cabin air filter replaced they would not be out of line to agree to the labor rate for rotating the tires but negotiate the labor rate for the air filter replacement down to 15 minutes.

Another example that comes to mind is called "included item". Let's say you're wanting the brake pads replaced and the tires rotated. It would be acceptable to pay the labor rate for replacing the pads but there should not be any labor charged for rotating the tires as they have to come off the car to replace the brake pads and put back on the car when the pads are done. There should not be any charge for puting a tire back on the car at a different corner of the car as the removing and replacing of the tires is included in the job of replacing the brake pads.

 

thanks for the blog post w pics, saved us about $60! We realized that their were directions in the new filter but weren't as descriptive as the photos.

 

Glad they helped.

Just send my 20% commission to...

 

Thank you skuban for the DIY
And Thank you

 

I was quoted $76.50 at Balise Honda in West Springfield MA. I said no. I assume replacing the engine air filter isn't hard either. That was quoted at $38.

 

It's ten dollars on Amazon.com and it takes maybe 4 minutes to install. I am a mom and I can do it. My oldest son has mild asthma so I am up on filters and cleaning stuff.

 

i bought the cabin filter from a local Honda Dealer when I dropped off my mom's prescription. then i changed it myself once I got home. I think I paid $20 for it... but really, once a year (actually, 15 months), $20 isn't a big deal to me. It might've gone longer if I hadn't taken my road trip.

 

def right. Criminal.
especially considering i just bought mine last week for $20
Gotta love the StealerShips

 

I think what's criminal is...

being told about it,
allowing them to do it,
then bitching about it later.

You could've said no.

I'm sorry... but I've never once... been told by a dealer, mechanic or oil change place (Jiffy lube) that SOMETHING had to be done... and they were the ONLY place that could do it.

Jiffy lube has told me often that my previous car needed an oil and coolant flush. After about six years or so of having that car and NOT ever doing anything like that... I thought about it... and let them do it, as expensive as it was.

If I didn't need it... well, lesson learned.

The only way I would consider it criminal... is if they charged me, but DIDN'T do it.

 

Just left the stealership yesterday and they quoted me $120.00 to change mine....Thank god for this thread, I'll be changing my own...now that I know where the hell the dayum thing is.

 

Yes indeed, this is a most excellent post. Thanks!

 

Please post the link to this $10 GE8 filter. I searched before replacing mine and the Honda $20 filter was the cheapest I could find. If your Fit is GD3 then don't bother posting link as I know those can be found for $10 or less.

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It is troubling. And Honda corporate condones it by not including instructions in the manual on how to service the filters.

instead the manual states (page 268)
for something that takes 2 minutes, requires no tools or skill, and is eminently more owner/user serviceable than the oil filter.

The manual doesn't even mention the engine air filter.

This qualifies for a rip-off award of the highest order.