So the 2012 Fit's Maintenance Minder seems to do a comprehensive job of alerting us to routine minor maintenance. There's Codes A & B and 1-5 (pages 195-197 of the 2012 owner's manual).

Should I just maintain the vehicle when the Maintenance Minder tells me so or should I do regular interval maintenance? The former is probably more economical.

My independent Honda mechanic recommends the usual intervals of 7.5k, 15k and 30k miles (4 intervals to 30k). The Honda dealerships are now pushing 5k, 10k and 30k miles. It seems as if the dealerships are trying to squeeze more maintenance out of folks to increase their cash flow (6 intervals to 30k).

 

I personally would go by the MM for everything but ATF. To confirm the mm approach, used oil analysis can offer some assurance.

 

..........

 

Yeah. I did some searching on the board after I submitted my post. Even Honda Customer Service told me to just follow the MM.

This older post and this Q&A from a dealership also seem to suggest that following the MM makes the most sense:

https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/2nd-...tml#post794626

Richfield Bloomington Honda | New Honda dealership in Richfield, MN 55423

 

UOA's on almost every new car with a OLM (or Honda's MM) seem to suggest that the system works once there has been a few oil changes. Despite Honda's recommendation to keep the factory fill in until the MM tells you to change it, there is a high amount of contamination from break in. It is suggested by many to change it early, but to each his own. I actually ran my FF and every oil change since on the Fit until the MM indicated 15%. My wear isn't terrible after 30k miles...

 

everything but rotating the tires. Mine ate through it's front tires and I ended up rotating them well before the MM said to.

 

^^^explain please^^^

 

9,000 miles (about when the MM asks you to change your oil) is far to long to go on a front wheel drive car with a heavy nose before rotating the tires. Unless you don't mind just replaceing the front tires far more often then the rear. About 6,000 miles for rotation is a good number.

 

This depends how you rotate your tires and for what purpose you are rotating.


Assuming your alignment is spot on and you're not driving so speedracer or so meticulous that you got to keep everything pristine:

you only really need to rotate your tires once to balance Front:Rear wear to end up with all 4tires worn out at the same time. Most of us with directional tires can only do F:R rotate in practice anyway.

I notice that front tires wear about 2x as the rear tires. So you should be able to go 66% of the front tire life before your 1 rotation.
So if you're saying 6k is too low, that means your tires are only lasting you about 10k miles in the front.


For all of you so bent on tire rotation, it really is not a huge deal that eeks a lot of difference. There are tons of cars out there with corner specific tires. They don't undergo any tire rotations. If you're wearing out all 4 tires when you need to change them out, you got your use out of them.

 

When I was a young man (late 70s), I worked as a mechanic at a Ford dealership. At that time Fords recommendation for tire rotation was at the first 5K miles on the tires rotate them (important). Then rotate them every 10K thereafter. This is how I've been rotating my tire ever since. Works fine.

 

15% maintenance minder for oil, but figure out the rest on your own schedule. If you have an auto assuming normal usage (no towing, or plenty of heavy ass loads in the trunk), do a fluid changed every 30k miles (not the full system flush, just drain fill). Brake fluid every 3 years.

Those are the 3 main items - I'd personally DIY air filter/cabin air filter/wiper inserts. Tire rotation everyone seems to have a different approach. Given the lifespan of the stock tires, I'd say every 7.5k miles, then change them when you hit 30k (could go further depending, but they're junk to begin with).

 

My just-bought used 2013 model has 55,000 Miles on the clock. I plan to change the ATF, Coolant, Brake Fluid and Cabin Air Filter. Is there a way to reset the Maintenance Minder for these before it warns? By doing this, it'll be counting with accuracy in recognition of my work.

The reset instructions all seem to show how to reset after the MM warns.

 

I would not reset the MM. It is pretty accurate of when and what maintenance to do. I usually keep a spreadsheet of maintenance I do on my vehicles. Just document what you did, but wait for the MM to start alarming to tell you what is due and follow it from then on (along with the OM).

 

You can't reset individual maintenance items on the maintenance minder, just the current/next code. There's no way to tell it "I just changed the ATF," for example, with no other work done.

 

Okay, thanks guys. No problem. I'll just keep an old skool Excel sheet and log my work with date, mileage, description and cost just like I've done for many years on our other cars.

 

102k miles following the MM and everything is fine (except the pesky airbag recall not completed yet). I always trust the designers and developers of the vehicles and its' systems over dealers. Dealers whom barely know jack about the vehicles they are setting up maintenance schedules for.