Your Car Maintenance List

[RagingBITCH]

Hey guys. I own a 04 Accord which runs pretty flawlessly with 190K. The only things I've replaced on it have been the starter, battery a few times, drive belt and idler pulley, and alternator. Also do the routine oil change, tire rotation, replace brakes, air filter, and transmission fluid drain/fill. Also replaced the spark plugs once.

I admit though - minus that "routine" stuff listed, I'm in the camp of being reactive and fixing/replacing only what breaks or I remember. An example of that is said spark plugs - some ppl recommend changing out every 50K miles...well, it's only been done once. Others recommend replacing the drive belt every 60K miles...it's only been done once. Some ppl recommend replacing the O2 sensor every X miles, so on and so forth.

I guess what I'd like to start here is your list of what you change on your car at what intervals. I'm sure I'm missing stuff that should be replaced (before it breaks), but not being overly mechanically inclined or having turned wrenches as a kid, just not something I'd know to replace.

Point isn't to get into a debate b/t people about when something should be replaced, but more of a what do you do for your own vehicle. I'd love a new car, sure, but the Accord gets me from pt A to pt B and I'm perfectly happy with that - would love to be more proactive and take care of things before something colossal breaks and I'm stuck with a repair bill later on.

Thanks

 

[jlee]

Brake fluid and coolant should be replaced at some point.

 

[nakedfrog]

If the timing belt/water pump haven't been done on there, I'd put that fairly high on the list...

 

[nakedfrog]

Brake fluid and coolant should be replaced at some point.

Yep, those too... coolant would tend to be done as a side-effect of the TB/water pump.

 

[NutBucket]

'04 I believe has a K24 so timing chain.

But yes, coolant and brake fluid would be wise. Power Steering fluid too. Cheap and easy.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Whatever is called for in the owners manual. Other than that I don't really do anything other than repair/replace things as they wear out.

 

[razel]

Some I wanted to say are already mentioned, but don't forget the fuel filter (I recommend running Techron/Gumout Regene prior) and brake fluid, check the pcv valve, next time you change coolant, change the radiator cap.

Chances are with v4 Hondas of that era, it's your transmission that may go. If you haven't already changed the fluid at least three times @ 190k, continue to change it at the drain bolt every other oil change.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Why change the radiator cap? If there is no problem, why bother? I still have the factory radiator cap on my 02 Chevy with 213k. It just doesn't strike me as a routine replacement thing since it is only mentioned as a "check" item, and to replace only if necessary. Same with O2 sensors honestly. If the sensor is working fine and isn't being lazy or anything, then why bother wasting money on a replacement? I ran original O2s on my old car to 160k miles until I didn't have the car anymore (same with the hub bearings and ball joints). On the other hand, my other vehicle had both hubs go bad before 140k miles and the O2 sensor died and needed replaced somewhere around 114k miles. My old Ford had a failed water pump before 120k miles, my 02 Chevy still has the factory water pump.

Basically, some stuff doesn't need replaced until it is worn out, and that doesn't happen on a set schedule.

 

[jlee]

Radiator caps are cheap enough that it's something I wouldn't mind replacing while doing a water pump (kinda like thermostats, except radiator caps are infinitely easier to replace).

 

[razel]

Yup above. With year-age and mile-age especially mileage that high, you KNOW that it's all about keeping an eye on rubber parts. They only do one thing with age/time/heat/cool cycles... GET worse.

 

[gururu2]

I got an 05 accord V4 and have changed everything you have except the alternator or drive pulley. I did the starter just this summer. Your radio/HVAC backlight might go out soon if not already. I did the O2 sensor 3 years ago because of a OBDII reading (get one if you don't have already).
I don't do anything special otherwise. Keep the ATF and coolant Honda grade. Be very nice to your transmission at this point.

 

[kitatech]

Check the spare...if older than 6 years, replace it with the best of the 4 on the car that get changed next...

 

[bryanl]

Check the spare...if older than 6 years, replace it with the best of the 4 on the car that get changed next...

Many cars have been designed so the spare tire storage space is too small for anything but a small temporary spare.

 

[WackyDan]

Why change the radiator cap? If there is no problem, why bother? I still have the factory radiator cap on my 02 Chevy with 213k. It just doesn't strike me as a routine replacement thing since it is only mentioned as a "check" item, and to replace only if necessary. Same with O2 sensors honestly. If the sensor is working fine and isn't being lazy or anything, then why bother wasting money on a replacement? I ran original O2s on my old car to 160k miles until I didn't have the car anymore (same with the hub bearings and ball joints). On the other hand, my other vehicle had both hubs go bad before 140k miles and the O2 sensor died and needed replaced somewhere around 114k miles. My old Ford had a failed water pump before 120k miles, my 02 Chevy still has the factory water pump.

Basically, some stuff doesn't need replaced until it is worn out, and that doesn't happen on a set schedule.

One of my bikes has a pressurized overflow tank. Cap went bad... Tank burst.

They are cheap. They are simple in that they just plain work for a very long time... But when they fail they leave you fucked.

 

[JEDIYoda]

I usually empty the air out of my tires once every 6 months and put fresh air in the tires!