Maintenance Minder B-6

10849 Views 60 Replies 26 Participants Last post by BillB, Dec 27, 2005

RRPRTS

Discussion Starter · Sep 26, 2005

Just got done changing the oil and filter, started the truck to clear the oil life
% bell rang and the wrench was lit B-6 due soon was lit. Also the oil life went from 20% before the oil change to 15% when I started the truck. RL has 12,400 miles on it when B-6 came on. Book says, Replace VTM-4 rear differential fluid. Also when I reset the oil life I will reset anything else that needs service. I called a couple of dealers for price of fluid, its sold by the gallon, book says 2.79 qts. One dealer quoted $25.00 including 16% discount.
Dealer close to where I live $17.20 a gallon. Picked up a gallon and new washers. I also had to purchase a pump to install the new fluid. $12.00 at PEP boys. I wanted the truck to be level so I didn't jack it up. It's pretty tight at the rear diff. There is a hole in the frame to fill the rear.
The hardest part of the entire job was trying to explain to my friends the rear differential is nothing like the rears in their trucks. I received comments like, Man that thing is high maintenance, you have to change that fluid already? I never change mine. When they have to purchase new trucks and I'm still driving this one, I will remind them of their comments.

1 - 20 of 61 Posts

Nicholas

· #2 · Sep 27, 2005

Just done this service Monday (September 12th,) of last week. Jacked up and then put the vehicle on four jack-stands (level too) all the way around and it was much easier to work underneath. While up on the jack-stands, also rotated the tires, changed engine oil and oil filter. You might want to try this method next time...

vertrkr

· #3 · Sep 27, 2005

Are the washers the same size/type as the crush washers for the oil drain plug ya think? I have a bag of like 50 of those, hate to order more if they turn out the same.

RRPRTS

Discussion Starter · #4 · Sep 27, 2005

vertrkr said:
Are the washers the same size/type as the crush washers for the oil drain plug ya think? I have a bag of like 50 of those, hate to order more if they turn out the same.

Unfortunately the washers are different. The fill washer is huge, the drain washer looked like trans drain washer. I will send part#

vertrkr

· #5 · Sep 29, 2005 (Edited)

OK, just ordered 10 of each washer from College Hills Honda, who is my favorite supplier btw, and I've tried them all, they treat me very well and comp me goodies since I've been a loyal and long time customer, plus they take phone orders for items not listed on their site:

http://www.collegehillshonda.com/ridgeline/06_electronics.htm

Part numbers for each washer are (courtesy of RRPRTS):

# 90471-PX4-000 Washer Drain 18
# 94109-20000 Washer Drain 20

Grok Lobster

· #6 · Oct 7, 2005

I took mine to the dealer for this, paid $67.83 for the 'B' maintenance and $62.66 for the '6' maintenance. The B maintenance is an oil change + tire rotation + general inspection. I don't think I will pay for the B service again as they do an oil change for $27 and I am pretty sure I can handle the rest for <$40.

Dnucci

· #7 · Nov 21, 2005

[FONT=&quot]I had the MM B-6 come on this past week. Ran around to all the local part's stores and none had the Honda VTM-4 fluid. Ran to local Honda and was charged $23 for a gallon, $0.80 for one washer and $2.60 for the other ($2.60 for a washer!!!!!!) Of course, I now have the washer sizes so I will not be paying that again.

Vehicle maintenance began Sunday morning.
- Started by rotating the tires. Easily done with a floor jack and by using the spare as a temp, did not even need a jack-stand.
- Then changed the oil. I love the fact that you can change the oil and filter without having to jack up the truck - it is a bit snug, but it can be done, especially if you turn the tires to the left first to have better access to the filter.
- Then the rear differential. This one had me worried a bit, but once I got underneath, again without jacking the truck - no issues. Both the drain and fill plugs were very tight, but did break loose cleanly. Cleaning the drain plug magnet was interesting. There was only a small amount on metal pieces on the magnet, but the magnet did not want to let go of them. Refilling the differential was the most difficult part of the morning. I used a fluid transfer pump, but the line was too long and it was tricky to pump and hold the hose in the fill hole at the same time (would have been much easier on a lift). Next time I will probably use a large syringe, which will be easier to control.

Grand total the maintenance took about 2.5 hours (not counting the running the oil, filter, washers, VTM-4 fluid, ...).[/FONT]

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swampler

· #8 · Nov 21, 2005

Dnucci said:
[FONT=&quot]especially if you turn the tires to the left first to have better access to the filter.[/FONT]

Interesting comment...I turned my wheels all the way to the right for easier access to the filter (reached in front of tire). I did, however, notice that there was a plastic piece in the way. Do you avoid this by turning the wheels to the left? Seems it would be harder to get to from behind the wheel?

Tex's Ridge

· #9 · Nov 21, 2005

Dnucci said:
[FONT=&quot]I had the MM B-6 come on this past week. Ran around to all the local part's stores and none had the Honda VTM-4 fluid. Ran to local Honda and was charged $23 for a gallon, $0.80 for one washer and $2.60 for the other ($2.60 for a washer!!!!!!) Of course, I now have the washer sizes so I will not be paying that again.

Vehicle maintenance began Sunday morning.
- Started by rotating the tires. Easily done with a floor jack and by using the spare as a temp, did not even need a jack-stand.
- Then changed the oil. I love the fact that you can change the oil and filter without having to jack up the truck - it is a bit snug, but it can be done, especially if you turn the tires to the left first to have better access to the filter.
- Then the rear differential. This one had me worried a bit, but once I got underneath, again without jacking the truck - no issues. Both the drain and fill plugs were very tight, but did break loose cleanly. Cleaning the drain plug magnet was interesting. There was only a small amount on metal pieces on the magnet, but the magnet did not want to let go of them. Refilling the differential was the most difficult part of the morning. I used a fluid transfer pump, but the line was too long and it was tricky to pump and hold the hose in the fill hole at the same time (would have been much easier on a lift). Next time I will probably use a large syringe, which will be easier to control.

Grand total the maintenance took about 2.5 hours (not counting the running the oil, filter, washers, VTM-4 fluid, ...).[/FONT]

I envy you. You must have a small waistline. I definitely will need a lift

shortspark

· #10 · Nov 21, 2005

Hey Dnucci (got to be a good Italian boy!), do you have any idea what they would have charged to do nothing but the rear differential job? That is the only thing that I might want the dealer to do.

shovelhd

· #11 · Nov 21, 2005

My B6 is due, too. This weekend. The local dealer charged me $22 for the fluid and $3 for the washers. I got the pump at Advance Auto Parts, $5.00.

ninefive0

· #12 · Nov 22, 2005

swampler said:
Interesting comment...I turned my wheels all the way to the right for easier access to the filter (reached in front of tire). I did, however, notice that there was a plastic piece in the way. Do you avoid this by turning the wheels to the left? Seems it would be harder to get to from behind the wheel?

I turn mine to the right as well and reach in front of the wheel to get the filter out.

5S Dude

· #13 · Nov 27, 2005

shovelhd said:
My B6 is due, too. This weekend. The local dealer charged me $22 for the fluid and $3 for the washers. I got the pump at Advance Auto Parts, $5.00.

Good find Shovel. I'll get the pump, order the fluid from my dealer and be ready as well.

ninefive0, I turned full lock to the right and placed a piece of bent cardboard around the filter area so it would not run all over the plastic shroud and lower control arm from the filter.

shovelhd

· #14 · Nov 27, 2005

All done yesterday. I also changed the oil in the Pilot. She had it changed by the dealer last time. They used a Honeywell Honda filter. I could not get it off using my KD Tools graphite filter wrench. This is a high quality, precision machined, made in the USA filter wrench, not some cheap flimsy one. The filter body was undersized, so the wrench slipped. I had to use the strap-wrench-with-a-socket trick to get it off. Needless to say, the Super tech went on with no problems. Boo to Honda for choosing a cheap OEM filter supplier.

Dnucci

· #15 · Dec 2, 2005

swampler said:
Interesting comment...I turned my wheels all the way to the right for easier access to the filter (reached in front of tire). I did, however, notice that there was a plastic piece in the way. Do you avoid this by turning the wheels to the left? Seems it would be harder to get to from behind the wheel?

My mistake - "fins to the left" tires to the right for filter change.

Dnucci

· #16 · Dec 2, 2005

Tex's Ridge said:
I envy you. You must have a small waistline. I definitely will need a lift

Sorry to take so long to reply - been away for a while.

No slim waistline here - I'm pushing about 245 lbs. It was a tight fit, but not too difficult.

Dnucci

· #17 · Dec 2, 2005

shortspark said:
Hey Dnucci (got to be a good Italian boy!), do you have any idea what they would have charged to do nothing but the rear differential job? That is the only thing that I might want the dealer to do.

Good Italian Boy????? 100% Sicilian
As for the cost of the rear differential job, I really do not know - I just like doing most of the maintenance myself (grew up on a farm)

Ahab

· #18 · Dec 2, 2005

My dealer charged $54.96 for the rear differential fluid replacement.

Outfitter

· #19 · Dec 2, 2005

My trip to the dealer this week for the M M B-6 service was one of those good news/bad news experiances. My dealer has a Quick Service department for these types of services and when I got there I told them that I wanted the Oil, Filter and VTM-4 services done and that the MM would need to be reset(I have 12,600 miles on it).
Well I came back in an hour after a nice dinner with my better half to pick it up and they informed me that "Sir, we can't find anything wrong with your VTM-4". After a nice explanation from me about what the MM was and that yes I understand that nothing was broke but didn't they think it might be a good idea to follow Honda's recommendation and my request and CHANGE THE FLUID? It looked like I had stired up an ant bed in their shop, they had my RL back on the rack and had the fluid changed and ran it through their car wash in less than 20 minutes and I think 10 different people apoligized.
Bottom line, I got everything done and they only charged me $51.
I think they wanted me to go away though.

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G

· #20 · Dec 2, 2005

Dnucci said:
Sorry to take so long to reply - been away for a while.

Yeah..where the heck have you been??

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