Hi everyone, I’m just under 10,000 miles away from reaching 100k on my 2019 Fit. I know there’s some maintenance I’ll need to do, and I’m trying to figure out what I can handle myself. My brother-in-law has a ramp and some basic tools, so I’ll probably recruit him to help.
I got this estimate from the dealership when I had my oil changed recently. I haven’t called any local mechanics yet because I want to see if I can tackle some of this first.
Has anyone here done any of these jobs yourself? Are these prices reasonable? Any tips or advice would really help.
Dealerships love charging extra by splitting up the time for overlapping jobs. Valve adjustment and spark plugs take almost the same effort if you’re doing both.
Arian said:
Dealerships love charging extra by splitting up the time for overlapping jobs. Valve adjustment and spark plugs take almost the same effort if you’re doing both.
Yeah, I wasn’t planning to go to the dealer for most of this. It’s just the first quote I got to help me start planning.
@Cai
When they actually charge you, they usually won’t double up the labour for overlapping jobs. But yeah, if you’re adjusting valves, you’ll need to do the spark plugs too since they have to remove them anyway.
@Caden
I’d want to see that written down before I believe it. I’ve learned to trust no service advisor unless I know them personally, and I don’t know any. So I’ve just taught myself with YouTube.
Arian said: @Caden
I’d want to see that written down before I believe it. I’ve learned to trust no service advisor unless I know them personally, and I don’t know any. So I’ve just taught myself with YouTube.
Are you asking about the process for adjusting valves or about whether the labour charges are calculated separately? Happy to clarify.
Those prices seem really high, but that’s pretty normal for California. I’d definitely get quotes from local independent Honda shops. All these jobs are straightforward for experienced mechanics.
With some patience and a couple of YouTube videos, you could probably handle these yourself. Make sure you have a backup car for runs to grab tools or parts if needed. No need to stick with a dealership—find a trusted local mechanic and give them a shot.
I got a belt from an online store for $15 and a tensioner for $115. Changed both in under 45 minutes.
Spark plugs are about $10 each, and I swap them when I adjust the valves—it takes me about three hours.
Brake fluid costs around $15 a bottle. You can make a simple draining tool with a Gatorade bottle and some vinyl tubing and flush your brakes in about 30 minutes.
I’m still on my original rear drum brakes at 257,000 miles. Unless you’re slamming the brakes like crazy, you probably won’t need to replace the rears.
Front pads and rotors are easy to change, and you can go for budget-friendly options or spend more on premium ones.
Coolant is $30 a gallon at Honda. It’s an easy drain-and-fill job—gravity does most of the work once you jack up the front.
@Flynn
Surprised they didn’t recommend pads and rotors if they’re down to 2mm. That’s usually easy money for a dealership. As for the belt, check for cracks or tears on the ribs. If it looks fine, it can probably wait. Honda rear drums rarely need replacing—they wear down super slowly.
Storm said:
If you’ve never worked on cars, I’d say leave this to a pro, but definitely shop around. Those prices are steep, even for Southern California.
I was in the same boat—no real experience aside from oil changes. Once I started working on my Fit, I realised that with YouTube and forum advice, it’s all doable.
