What do Honda Maintenance Minder codes mean? (A, B, 1–7)
Honda and Acura's Maintenance Minder shows a main code and sometimes sub-codes. "A" means replace the engine oil. "B" means replace the oil and filter and do a set of inspections. The numbers add items, 1 is tire rotation, 2 is air filters and drive belt inspection, 3 is transmission fluid, 4 is spark plugs and valve clearance (and timing belt on some engines), 5 is coolant, 6 is rear differential fluid, and 7 is brake fluid. So "B12" means oil and filter, inspection, tire rotation and air filters.
Main codes
| Code | What it means |
|---|---|
| A | Replace engine oil |
| B | Replace engine oil and oil filter; inspect front and rear brakes, parking brake, tie rod ends and steering boots, suspension, driveshaft boots, brake hoses and lines, fluid levels, exhaust and fuel lines |
Sub-codes
| Code | What it adds |
|---|---|
| 1 | Rotate tires |
| 2 | Replace engine air filter and cabin (dust and pollen) filter; inspect drive belt |
| 3 | Replace transmission fluid (and transfer case fluid if equipped) |
| 4 | Replace spark plugs; inspect valve clearance; on engines with a timing belt, replace the belt and inspect the water pump |
| 5 | Replace engine coolant |
| 6 | Replace rear differential fluid (AWD models) |
| 7 | Replace brake fluid |
Some newer models add additional codes for items specific to them; your owner's manual lists every code for your car.
How to read a combination
- A1: oil change and tire rotation
- B13: oil and filter, inspection, tire rotation, transmission fluid
- A15: oil change, tire rotation, coolant
- B1247: oil and filter, inspection, tire rotation, air filters, spark plugs and valve check, brake fluid
Why the Minder is worth following
The Minder adjusts to how you drive, so a car doing short trips in San Mateo traffic will ask for service sooner than one cruising to Sacramento. Following it is the simplest way to keep a Honda running for a very long time. We came from Honda; these codes are second nature to us. Honda service
From drivers who came to us
They also told me they worked at Honda before so I knew my civic would be in good hands. Headlight installation was fast and when I came back to the shop, they also inspected my car to make sure it was in excellent condition.
Took in my third-gen Honda Fit (2018) after the VTC actuator failed on me and these guys were quick to diagnose and resolve the issue… appreciated his thorough assessment and knowledge of the issue, especially with Hondas.
Excerpts from verified customer reviews on Yelp.
More questions
What does B12 mean on a Honda?
Replace engine oil and filter and perform the B inspections (1 + 2), rotate the tires (1), and replace the engine air filter and cabin filter and inspect the drive belt (2).
When does the Maintenance Minder come on?
It counts down oil life as a percentage. At 15% you'll see a "service due soon" message, at 5% "service due now", and at 0% the service is past due and the car may count negative miles.
Can I ignore the sub-codes and just change the oil?
You can, but the sub-codes are how Honda schedules everything else. Skipping 3 (transmission fluid) and 7 (brake fluid) are the most common, and they protect two of the most important systems in the car.
Do you reset the Maintenance Minder?
Yes, after the service, so it counts down correctly to the next one.