As you know, your Honda needs proper regular maintenance to continue giving your optimal performance.
Honda is equipped with a special piece of tech called the “Maintenance Minder,” which gives you various service codes when every time maintenance is required.
One of the service codes that often occurs is the Service A14. So what does this code mean, and how much will this service cost you?
In this article, I am going to explain everything you need to know. Let’s get into it!
Honda “A14 Service” Meaning
In simple terms, The Honda a14 service code represents three different maintenance tasks. The A means your car needs an engine oil change and replacement of the oil filter.
The 1 means your car needs a tire rotation service, and the 4 means you need to replace the spark plugs, adjust the valves and replace the timing belt.
What Does the A14 Service Include on a Honda?
Now, let’s break down what each code means:
1. Engine Oil Change(A):
This maintenance task is often required after 3750 miles or after every six months. It is done together with engine oil replacement, and it’s among the most important maintenance tasks.
The engine oil is what lubricates the internal parts of your Honda engine. It also helps to dissipate heat and reduce friction, making sure the engine operates smoothly.
During this maintenance service, the technician will drain the old engine oil and add fresh oil.
2. The Rotation of Tires (1):
Code 1 means your car needs a tire rotation service. This maintenance task involves changing the position of each of your Honda tires.
You will typically need to move the front tires to the back and the back ones to the front. You can also move the tires from one side to the other side. Why is tire rotation important?
Tire rotation ensures there is even tread wear on the tires. It also extends the tire’s life and helps to maintain traction and balanced handling of the car.
This service also helps to improve the longevity of the tires and promotes comfortable and optimal driving.
You also get to save a lot of money that you otherwise use to buy new tires. Tire rotation is required every 7500 miles or after every 12 months.
3. Spark Plugs Replacement (4)
The 4 in this code alerts you to various maintenance tasks that should be performed every 105, 000 miles. You will need to replace your car’s spark plugs to help maintain proper ignition of the car.
Worn-out spark plugs lead to engine misfires and reduced engine performance. They also reduce fuel efficiency so you end up spending a lot of money on fuel.
The second maintenance task here is valve adjustment. This ensures the engine valves are performing at their best. Your technician will adjust the valves properly so that there is optimal combustion and airflow.
The task also helps to prevent such issues as excessive wear and valve train noise. You will also need to replace your car’s timing belt.
This component is important as helps synchronize your engine’s crankshaft rotation and the camshaft. This ultimately ensures there is precise piston and valve movement.
Overall, the timing belt replacement maintains the engine’s timing accuracy, besides avoiding potentially catastrophic fails.
You now understand what the Honda a14 service code means. The code alerts you to very important maintenance tasks that your car needs to improve its longevity. These replacements needed will also improve the performance of your car and ensure reliability.
Honda A14 Service Checklist
If you are planning to do this service yourself, here is a useful checklist to use as a guide.
| Checklist Item | Description | Done |
|---|---|---|
| Engine Oil Change(A) | Changes engine oil to lubricate the engine and reduce friction. | |
| The Rotation of Tires (1) | Reposition each tire for even wear, extended life, and balanced handling. | |
| Spark Plugs Replacement (4) | Replace spark plugs for proper ignition, fuel efficiency, and optimized combustion. Includes valve and timing belt adjustments. |
How Much Does Honda’s A14 Service Cost?
It is important that you understand the costs of the Honda a14 service tasks.
While the overall costs will depend on various factors such as your location, the model of your car, and labour costs, below, I will an estimate of how much each of the maintenance tasks will cost:
- Engine Oil Change: Note that when changing the engine oil, it is recommended that you change the oil filter. The cost of these two services will range from $30 to $80. The price may go higher if you decide to use a specialized oil filter and premium synthetic oil.
- Tire Rotation: This is a relatively straightforward task and many service centres will include it as part of their regular maintenance package. Expect to pay anything between $20 and $40 for this service.
- Valve Adjustment, Spark Plug and Timing Belt Replacement: The price of this service task will depend on factors such as the type of engine your Honda has, the model of the car, as well as labour rates in your location. It is, however, quite costly; you should expect to part with $500 to $1000.
It is important to note that none of the service tasks under code 4 should be skipped. They are definitely crucial for your car to keep it going for a long period of time.
When you change the timing belt, most service centres will recommend the replacement of the water pump, drive belt, timing belt tensioner, and engine coolant.
These are reasonable maintenance tasks that are also highly recommended to help prevent other potentially serious problems.
You can get a more accurate estimate of the Honda a14 service costs by contacting your Honda Service Center or a certified technician. They will give you a detailed breakdown of how much you will need to cover the entire Honda a14 service tasks.
Additional Sources
https://www.hondauniverse.com/parts/parts-tips/how-often-to-change-spark-plug/
https://www.hondaofescondido.com/service/diy-car-care/how-to-do-a-tire-rotation-at-home/