1} If I get my oil changed say at a Jiffy Lube type place, will the maintenance monkey wrench indicator light on my Base 2010's dash automatically go off, or do I have to go to a Honda dealer to get something reset in the car's computer?

2} Also at my last oil change at the dealer's (at 15.5K) he mentioned that my brake pads were at "4 or 5", and that I should maybe get them changed at my next oil change? Since my oil changes seem to be required at about 8K miles, that would mean new disk pads at 23 or 24K miles? -Doesn't that seem pretty low for needing brake pads replaced? (And we are older. conservative drivers also...!)

Also I'm wondering; since the mechanic didn't pull any of the tires off, how did he see the brake pads?
Hmmmmm...............??
Thanks,
Chazzlee

 

1. the maintenance minder light won't go off on its own, but you can reset it yourself in ~25 seconds. the instructions are in the owner's manual, you just turn your key to get the panel lit, press that odometer stick and hold it for 15 sec or something, then the digital display starts blinking, release the stick just to press and hold it again, and it will reset after 5 more seconds or something in that vicinity.

2. mechanics will always tell you that you need, even if you don't, one of the following: new brake pads, a new cabin air filter, intake filter, a radiator flush, or engine flush/cleaning treatment. it's possible the mechanic checked the outer pads' thickness since you don't need to take the wheel off to see those, but the inner pads wear faster on our cars with floating calipers, so those are the ones that would normally wear faster, and those are the ones he/she should have checked in the first place. 23k-24k miles is really early for new pads if you claim to be a conservative driver. but to be sure, have a friend, neighbor (anyone who won't be biased) inspect them for you.

if you do want to give it a shot yourself, you can google/youtube some instructional videos, but remember, safety first since you'll be jacking the car up and removing a wheel.

good luck!

 

a fact is, some shops/mechanics cannot be trusted, and they ruin it for the ones that are honest. here's an undercover investigation that was done on jiffy lube several years ago

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiCAJ8ULnaI

 

Yikes. That's why I never go to those places.

You can also wait for your brakes to tell you they are low, they should have built-in squeekers.

 

Thanks all for the info. I'll check out the manual for how to turn the maintenance-minder light off myself...

I thot 23K was too early to need new brake pads. And in the past I usually did wait until the brakes told me they needed changing. Once, on another car, I got "oh, your brake wheel linings need 're-grinding', as they're so low," but I didn't believe it and told them hey just put on the new pads, and everything worked out just fine with that!

I generally go to a local Pep Boyz or Meinike or Firestone for oil changes on my Toy Echo, and I replace the air filters myself, and have never had a problem with this... I went to the Honda dealer this time with the 2010 Fit because I had a rewards coupon. I do like this dealer's maintenance shop, but I get nervous in their waiting room as I always hear them telling someone (usually a woman) that they need this and that, and the charges ALWAYS seem to be adding up into the $400 or $500 level! (On cars that aren't that old?) -So I doubt I'll be going there once the Fit gets older and/or has more mileage!

Thanks,
Chazzlee

 

True that man, Jiffy Lube is terrible. I bought my Taurus there once when I had it and never went back, as the oil wasn't even changed!