What Is The Honda B13 Service?

Honda’s Maintenance Minder system is designed to alert drivers of the required services that are due on their vehicle. Several service codes on Honda could alert you to specific maintenance work that should be done, including B13. Performing regularly scheduled maintenance services is a great way to extend your vehicle’s efficiency and lifespan. Many Honda owners will encounter the B13 Honda service code at some stage. In this article, we’ll cover exactly what the B13 code is, the work it entails, and which models are affected.

Honda Maintenance Minder

Honda’s Maintenance Minder system goes back as early as 2006 when it was first implemented. The system has remained in use in the Civic, Accord, Pilot, Odyssey, and other models since then. Honda’s service reminder system categorizes services into two sections: Main and Sub.

• Main services are categorized by the designation A or B.
• Sub services are categorized by numbers from 1 to 6.

We’ll now explain what B13 means in more detail.

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Breaking Down The B13 Service For Hondas

So, what does the B13 service mean? Honda has made it relatively straightforward to figure out, since each letter and number corresponds to a specific service item.

Main Service – ‘B’

Unlike the ‘A’ main service, the ‘B’ one is more comprehensive, as it requires replacing both the engine oil and oil filter. Additional component inspections should also be performed, such as:

Sub Services (1 to 6)

1 – Rotate tires, set tire pressures, and assess tire condition.

2 – Replace the engine air filter, replace the cabin air filter, and inspect the accessory drive belt.

3 – Replace transmission fluid and transfer case fluid*

4 – Replace spark plugs, inspect valve clearance, replace the timing belt (if applicable), and inspect the water pump.

5 – Replace engine coolant.

6 – Replace rear differential fluid*

*CR-V, HR-V, Passport, Ridgeline, and Pilot

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Using this information, we can identify that if the B13 Honda service code is being set, the following services need to be performed:

B – Oil and oil filter change with system inspection(s).

1 – Tire rotation.

3 – Transmission and transfer case fluid replacement.

Performing The B13 Service

These services can usually be performed by a confident DIYer with a basic set of hand tools. However, we advise approaching the transmission, transfer case, and rear differential with caution when it comes to maintenance. This is not because they are hard to do, but because they may require special tools to add fluid.

Oil And Oil Filter Change

The service will commonly begin with the oil and filter change. These are the steps you should follow:

1. Bring the engine to operating temperature and then turn it off again.
2. Remove the oil fill cap.
3. Raise and support the vehicle on jack stands.
4. Remove the engine oil drain plug.
5. Remove and replace the oil filter.
6. Replace the drain plug gasket.
7. Reinstall and torque drain plug. (30 ft-lbs.)
8. Add engine oil.

Tire Rotation

Some of the steps to performing a tire rotation are:

1. Loosen wheel lug nuts.
2. Raise and support the vehicle on jack stands.
3. Remove lug nuts and wheels.
4. Rotate tires according to the procedure found in the owner’s manual.
5. Install wheels and lug nuts.
6. Lower vehicle.
7. Torque lug nuts to correct specification. (80 ft-lbs.)

Transmission And Transfer Case Fluid Change

Most Hondas today will use a CVT. Like all automatic transmissions, CVTs are known to be sensitive about their fluid level and condition, which is why you should always use factory Honda CVT transmission fluid. Due to the transaxle design, the transfer case and transmission are ‘one’, sharing the same fluid. The following are the steps to performing a transmission fluid change:

1. Raise and support the vehicle on jack stands.
2. Remove the transmission ‘Fill’ cap.
3. Remove the transmission drain plug, which will begin the process of draining fluid from the transmission.
4. Reinstall the transmission drain plug.
5. Add fluid through the ‘Fill’ cap hole. This is more easily done with special tools or pumps.
6. Reinstall the ‘Fill’ cap in the proper direction.
7. Verify the transmission fluid level is correct. This is done through the ‘Check’ bolt.

Rear Differential Fluid Change

The steps involved with changing the rear differential fluid are:

1. Remove the drain plug.
2. Remove the fill plug.
3. Replace the plug gaskets.
4. Reinstall the drain plug.
5. Add fluid.

Reset The Service Reminder

Once the B13 maintenance service is completed on your Honda, you’ll need to reset the system to clear the service code.

To reset the maintenance reminder, follow these steps:

1. Turn the Key ON (Engine OFF)
2. On the left side of the steering wheel is a button that controls the menu screens. Press the button until the engine oil life page is displayed.
3. Press and hold the ‘Enter’ button until the maintenance reset page is displayed.
4. Navigate towards the services you’d like to reset. Press and hold the ‘Enter’ button to reset each service.

How Much Does A Honda B13 Service Cost?

So, how much does the Honda B13 service cost? The exact amount will vary based on the specific needs of your Honda, the area you live in, and the shop that performs the service. In most cases, the B13 service can be broken down by specific service costs. An oil change will cost around $120 for most models. A tire rotation can be performed for free at most tire shops. On average, if there is a charge for a tire rotation, it will be between $35 and $45, according to RepairPal. A transmission fluid service costs around $120, while the rear differential service is about $70. Using RepairPal, you can as a guide, you can expect to pay between $350 and $450 for a B13 service, depending on part and labor costs.

Ultimately, having your Honda’s B13 service performed is something you’ll want to be sure gets done. Like most repairs, you can save here by doing some of them yourself. According to Honda, it’s imperative to have the transmission and rear differential serviced if you use your Honda to tow.

2024 Honda CR-V

Model

CR-V

Base MSRP

$29,500

Engine

1.5L Turbo Inline-4 Gas

Horsepower

190 hp

Fuel Economy

28/34 MPG