The biggest problem when owning the Honda Fit is the rip-off Honda dealership service departments. Most of the time, these guys will try to charge you shocking amounts for an oil change. You should look on the dealership websites for service coupons. Most of the time you will find a coupon for around 30-40 dollars for the regular semi-synthetic oil change. For a fully synthetic oil change, that should not run more then $60.


When you go into any service department or repair center, get a written estimate first. If you find yourself getting charged more then just for an oil change then really question what all this is for. For example, I know a woman who went into a Honda dealership with her CRV. She got charged $170 for an oil change, air filter change and tire rotation. The rest was for mechanical inspections. $170 is way way too much for an oil change and tire rotation. Then, to make matters worse, she got handed an estimate for $1100 for such things as brake fluid change, power steering fluid change, drive belt change and the list went on. I looked at the long list and determined that none of that stuff was actually needed. The service advisor at the dealership was trying to make their numbers...those guys work on commission not salary or hourly wage. The more they charge the more they get paid.

Most Honda dealerships will try to sell you the A or B inspections. Forget all that. Tell them "All I want is an oil change.". I wouldn't buy any complex mechanical inspections unless there was a noise or something leaking then maybe the car really needs to be inspected. If you find yourself getting charged more then $60 for an oil change/tire rotation and you are totally confused, leave that dealership, do some google searches and post it up here in the forum so we can help you out.


So, in conclusion, the regular oil change should not cost more then $60 at the very most and that's with full synthetic oil. The regular semi-synthetic standard stuff should run no more then $40. If the dealership hands you this large estimate then leave the place and consult online. Don't stand there and simply pay it. Question it. Seek help and consultation.


I post this warning as a public service announcement to all. 90% of the time when you pull your car into the service department all you need is an oil change and that's it. You don't need the Fit thoroughly inspected by trained mechanics....

 

I've never had anyone change oil in my car since I've owned my first car in 1997. My fit used Mobil 1 Full synthetic 5w20 at 23$ at walmart + bosch oil filter from autozone for around $6. So an oil change is about $30 and 30 minutes of my time every 6-7 months.

To each their own.

 

In a better conclusion, where you don't need to take on all the concerns of the world onto your shoulders; find an honest mechanic that actually does great work for a fair price, then you don't need to be so paranoid all the time and have to spend time to research every single service quote.

Even if it's a little bit more then the dirt-rate lowest price; it maybe worth your time and effort to form a relationship and pay a fair price for excellent service (note fair price, not cheapest price).

 

correct Ray. If you don't have a relationship with a local mechanic, go to www.repairpal.com and find yourself one. Word of mouth from an educated neighbor will also work. It is sad that dealers are still in business. For oil changes, use your local "Pep Boys" for their $19.99 coupons. For regular maintenance items beyond oil changes, use your local mechanic. If you feel that a repair may be beyond your local mechanic's ability, send out an e-mail to 5 "Honda" Service Managers and have them bid on your business. I saved over $150 on a valve adjustment for my Fit. The internet is your key to keeping control, whether it be to buy a new car or whether it is used to get bids for repairs. It is time to turn the tables. Driving into a building that has a big shiny dealership logo will only ensure that you donate your hard earned money to help keep their lights on. That is a fact that has been known for many decades. Why people still continue to fool themselves into thinking otherwise is baffling in this day/age.

 

Good thread.

I've suffered being married to a woman who insisted the dealer service dept knows best. After suffering a wild rip-off at Toyota, and subsequent repeated service recommendations at Honda that were recently done at the same dealer she finally realized they don't have her or her car's best interests at heart.

Even the fabled honest mechanic can't know what your service record is, and may recommend services you don't yet need. And even he will overcharge for cabin filters (maybe that's a litmus test?).

Last I checked independents don't do Honda factory warranty work so you're forced to deal with Honda service salespeople at times.

Keep records. Read the manual. Be a shrewd shopper.

 

My wife was driving to a dealer over 80 miles away to have her Forester serviced.. I thought they were charging an outrageous amount for what little service was performed.. Another dealer 45 miles away recently began handing Subaru and she decided to take it there.. An oil change, air filter and tire rotation was $180 but they did a half ass wash job, gave her a Subaru leash for her little mutt and let them hang out in the little on site doggy park.. They didn't even use synthetic oil.

 

Good info and I hope it helps others.My dealership recently had a change of ownership and most of the service writers are new.

I went in for a oil change and they started with all the crap and wanted to charge 100.00 for a full syn oil change.This was with a coupon lol

I hated to have to do it but I tore in to this young service writer.I told him to cut the crap and stop trying to rip me off.I told him to pull up my service history and he could see that even after the change over I was never charged that much.

He quickly apologized and honored my $39.99 coupon for my oil change.I noticed he put in his notes on my invoice that I needed both air and cabin filters.

I asked him did they check them because I just replaced them a couple weeks ago.He gave me a blank stare and said I'm not sure if they checked them

This kind off thing goes on all the time and they really prey on Women and elderly customers who usually do not question them.

The only way to keep them honest is to educate yourself and know when you are being taken for a ride.I will not name the dealer but they also sell Toyotas in Culver City

 

My local honda sent me a 10 dollar oil change coupon right on time for my yearly oil change. They only asked me for a tire rotation at 10k but I said its pointless since I just put on winter tires and ill rotate the stocks when I put them back on.

 

After they had rotated the tires on my wife's Forester they told her it wouldn't pass the state inspection because the tires were worn out... I feel more anxiety in a car dealership than I ever did when directing a medevac helicopter into a hot LZ while a firefight was going on.. I have never let anyone work on my Fit but the guy at the muffler shop, tire store or a 16 year old kid I've known since he was a baby.. I always have my eye on them when they are doing what I want done....

 

I took my Fit into the dealer because they were convenient to me that day...Just wanted an oil change. They did the window repair recall without asking me or telling me that they had done it (I knew because the window switch didn't work right!), and that made me really angry with them. I didn't want that stupid recall work to be done since it's not going to be a risk for my car. The least they could have done is to ask me before doing it. I wasn't there for that repair in the first place. They always say they have a 30 minute guarantee and then you're there at least 90 minutes. How does that work??

 

$6? I just spent $12 for the bosch filter from walmart. I guess I'll try autozone next time.

 

Juliane: how it works is that whenever you bring your car to a dealership for paid work of any kind, they are obligated to perform any outstanding recalls on the car. You can imagine if they didn't have this policy and for instance, you didn't get the "sudden accelerator" recall done and you have an accident a few days later after you went in for your simple oil change. The dealership would be deep in lawyer doo doo. Makes sense??

 

Oh, I understand from their POV. I do wish they'd have let me know they were planning to do that, because I would have gone somewhere else for the oil change. Most of these recalls are not safety issues, though.

Happily my window switch did eventually get back to normal. There might be another recall outstanding though. That means no dealer for me.

 

By definition, all recalls are safety issues. If they weren't, it'd be your dime to fix it.

I'm not sure I understand your feelings about it. The switch could have resulted in your car catching fire. In the case of 09/10 GEs the engine could grenade.

What do you have against having design defects that affect safety repaired for free (except for your time and loss of use of the car)?

 

I have always gone to the dealer for the oil changes since i bought the car back in 12/2008. But they never charged more than 30-40 with tax for an oil change. I usually try to bring a coupon for 20-25 if i have one thats not expired.

The last time i went, i had a coupon for a free 30 point inspection with an oil change. The cashier understood the coupon to be a free 30 point AND an oil change..lol
So yeah, i got a free oil change.

 

Steve has it right. recalls are safety related and often a shop has a policy to do them mandatory.
However, if you are very particular about your car, it is on you to be self-aware of your pickiness and really tell the service writer to call you to pre-approve all work including recall work.

Sure it's probably best to have more communication, but if they failed to get preapproval they can't read your mind to this level. 99.9% of the customers won't complain when they get free recall work, and waiting for approval causes delays and they'll get complaints why the car isn't ready for pickup instead, so they can't win that way too.


But, if you decline recall work, they can also choose to just return the car to you with no work done and a half hour fee just for inspection.

There are other defects too that are not safety related, those are usually handled as TSBs and often you have to request/complain about them. They may vary if it is covered under warranty or have a fee related to them.
An example is the folks who had the AC setting issue, free repair if you complain about it during warranty. If you don't want them to fix it, they won't.

 

The way I understood that recall, the only risk was if the window was down and rain was pouring into the open window slot. Very small risk in my estimation. Of course I am not a lawyer trying to protect Honda from lawsuits. I think these recalls are usually overblown. If even ONE car has a problem, the companies are told to recall all of them, just in case.

If it is truly a safety issue, I will bring the car in, but if it is something I didn't mention when I brought the car in, they should at least explain that they are obligated to do it. They never told me, I just knew they did because the switch was messed up for a while. It may have been on the paperwork but I can't remember.

My middle name is Capricious. LOL

 

So you sell the car, the next owner leaves the window down (a small amount of water is all that's needed) causing a short and their children die in a fire. I think you would share liability for capriciously ignoring the safety recall.

(in reality, Honda tracks if the recall has been done and will keep sending recall notices to the current owner, but if the timing is poor... This is what sparked the recall)

 

Meh i agree and disagree with this. ive worked for dealers for past 7 years and now in parts for last year for Kia motors. I work with only 3 techs and all are excellent at diagnosing customers vehicles, never selling more than what is needed. If its not completely falling apart or it will in the next year then it gets passed on to the advisor.. with that said we do over price the hell out of everything. oil filters cost us 4 bux oil not much more for synthetic blend and charge 39.95 as a full synth close to 70. we like many others quote on a matrix system which is 95% over cost of the part we bought it at. for example a 15 buck filter will run a customer around 30 bux. this allows us to work with the customer so we can still get a profit. so don't hesitate to ask for any kinda a discount most places will go lil lower 10, 15 percent. our advisors get paid salary and commission. they make some damn good money, one of our guy pushes more than 60k year and has less than a year experience. he gets 5 percent of the parts he sold and a percent of each hour of work he sold. i on the other hand make lower salary with 5 percent of each over the counter sale i make. i wont lie were greedy and will always push that extra dollar to see what we can sell lol.
in my opinion though id always bring your car once in a while to your local honda dealer as its always good to have a tech who works on your cars daily and know common issues that need to be looked at.
sorry for the horrible writting and hope this was somewhat informative to some people =D

 

Oh for God's sake....Are you a lawyer or what...