My car's Maintenance indicator is on . what should I do ?

Question

the maintenance indicator is on and the oil life it says is 15 %
do you think this is badd?
i am living on a tight budget , i may have 50 bucks to spare,
do you think this will cover the oil change ? Also do you think I should go to the Honda dealer or just any mechanic?

Answer 1

perform maintenance

Take care of your car and it will take car of you. Regular oil changes are essential to long motor life

If the car is still under warranty and you have the cash the dealer will provide you with the complete service your vehicle requires to maintain its warranty

You a clever young person. Why don't you do a search for "how to change your own oil" and find a nice instructional web site. You can try a goog... er I mean yahoo search for your year and model and find out where the filter is (hint; it's near the bottom)

If you do the oil change yourself you can save some serious money. You can use the excess to invest in a higher quality synthetic lube. Also you will probably have to borrow or buy ($1.99 - $9.99) a oil filter wrench

Be sure to collect every drop of your used motor oil and dispose of at a recycling center or at most automotive supply places

Answer 2

wally world does a good oil change. had no problems yet. If not DIYS ai'nt that hard.When U have more money to spare try synthetic oil you can actually run your vehicle longer than the recommended 3000 mi. I change mine every 65-7000 mi and thats on all the vehicles I've owned: new and used. Been using synthetic since 1990. Also always change the drain plug it's not needed but I do it at every oil change.as for the maint light you can turn it off Most Honda dealers can show you how to re- set it. The maint light is just a warning that you need a change

Answer 3

Go to jiffy lube or you can pay almost half as much like 18 bucks for an oil change at walmart.

Chances are your car doesn't have a viscosity sensor so it is merely keeping track of how many miles you have on your oil. Don't let the 15% freak you out. You can wait till pay day.

You are due for an oil change and perhaps more. Check your owners manual for the service recommended for the miles on your odometer. It could be that you are due for a 15K or 30K service. These are more extensive and therefor expensive. If this is the case, I would check out a couple of independent Honda mechanics and get them to quote you the service on the phone. Go with the low bidder (when you can afford it).

Answer 4

0% is bad. 15% means you still have life left. I always go to a non-dealer. Dealer's have exhorbinant mark-ups on there products and services. The best idea is to go online an look up coupons on the internet for oil changes in your geographic area. In addition, look in the newspapers (but internet is better). Assuming you have a 4 cylinder, which you said Honda so it probably is, you should be able to get out the door with an oil change for no more than $25.00. However, this is assuming that you looked online and pulled a coupon from Firestone, Mienke, Goodyear, Amaco, or whatever is in your area, and it's not hard to locate one. Otherwise you will be at the dealer paying $65.00 or at one of the above stores paying their non-special rates.

Answer 5

Have you checked the radiator and oil? Don't go to the dealer, they always charge way more. I think you can get oil cheaper than $50! And $50 could save you having to buy a new car which is what will happen if you're running out of oil. If it runs out, your whole engine will seaze up and your car will be f*cked. Buy some oil and put some water in the radiator! Check all your fluids, but those are the main ones and I'm pretty sure that light comes on when you need oil... It sounds like you'll need to drain the whole lot of the old stuff out anyway because it's bad to keep old stuff in there...

Answer 6

Bye a newer ford for the same price you can buy an older honda! Honda is over rated and over priced. If anything goes wrong with a ford its cheaper to fix. I just bought a 2000 focus se with the sport package for $3500! It has 94k on it and runs like a swiss watch, the only problem Ive had was a bad throttle position sensor! The paint is excelent too. The dude I bought it from sold it because the engine was cutting out because of a bad spark plug wire which cost me about $15! I got it a few thousand dollars cheaper because of a $15 part and the guy got scared it was gunna blow lol! Thank you Jesus! WOOT

Answer 7

You have absolutely nothing to worry about. Just make sure you get your oil changed about every 5,000 miles.When you do an oil change the mechanic (dealer or independant mechanic) will reset the "warning" indicator.

Answer 8

Whatever you need to spend on your car...spend it gladly. If your maintenance light is lit, you're due for a service! Look in your booklet to see what the service entails then call Honda to ask how much the service will cost. If you have a reputable mechanic nearby and it isn't a major service, be sure he does what needs to be done or you may void your warranty.

Answer 9

Don't just top up your oil, you need it changed
Usually an oil change will run about 40 bucks, don't go to the honda dealership unless your warantee depends on it.
Just go to anyone, it's not a hard job

Answer 10

like it's an actual indicator that means your car needs maintenance or is it just a check engine light? If it's the latter, then check to be sure your gas cap is on tight (it has to click like 3 or 4 times or something).