Honda service: Keeping your reliable car reliable
Hondas are said to be one of the most reliable cars available in the marketplace today. Alongside Toyota, people buy Hondas because they want a car that will always trundle home somehow, no matter what has happened to it! If you own a Honda, there are several Honda- specific issues that your mechanic should be aware of. Today, we’re looking at how to choose your car service provider or mechanic if you own a Honda, and some of the issues that these little cars have.
Honda car service – what to look for
If you are searching for a new mechanic to take care of your Honda (whether it is new or used), there are a few things you should take in to consideration.
- Does the mechanic do log book scheduled servicing for your model of Honda? This is a great indicator that the company is familiar with your model of car and the manufacturer’s requirements for keeping it in good shape. Even if you own an older version of the model and don?t need log book servicing, this is a good sign that you’ve chosen the right mechanic.
- If you own a hybrid Civic, is the mechanic familiar with working on hybrid engines?
- As with vetting all mechanics, look at whether they provide a written quote before starting work, whether they offer a warranty on both parts and labour, and how far (in time, kilometers, or distance) that warranty extends
Popular models of Honda
Every model of Honda that a mechanic works on helps them get a better understanding of the make in general. If your mechanic has worked on the following popular models of Honda, you can be confident about their ability to do a good job on your car repairs:
- Accord
- CR-V
- Breee
- Civic
- CRX
- HR-V
- Integra
- Jaz
- Legend
- MDX
- Odyssey
- Prelude
The Honda Care Program – Right for You?
Honda offers an in-house servicing and reapir program for their cars – the Honda Care Program. You buy a plan (of which there are varying levels), in order to get things like:
- Roadside assistance
- Concierge emergency service
- Rental car reimbursement
- Trip interruption allowance
- Comprehensive component coverage
The Honda Care program is sort of like auto club membership. You pay for coverage for a specified period (usually a combination of years and kilometers driven, whichever comes first), and the benefits are available to you. However, if you don?t need any servicing in that time, the money is wasted.
Look past the dealers
If you’ve just bought a new Honda, you don?t have to go back to the dealer to have it serviced or repaired. Going to a third party will have no effect on your new car warranty – this has been guaranteed by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. However, you should always ensure that you new Honda service is done according to manufacturer’s specifications – the term ‘log book servicing’ indicates that your mechanic does this.
