The A135 Honda maintenance code represents an oil change, tire rotation service, transmission and transfer fluid replacement, and engine coolant replacement.
The “A” stands for an oil change, the “1” stands for a tire rotation, the”3″ stands for a transmission fluid replacement and transfer fluid replacement, and the “5” stands for engine coolant replacement.
The A135 service is similar to the A13 service but it coolant replacement. It is typically performed by a Honda dealership or with a local mechanic.
Honda A135 Service Cost
The A135 service typically costs $330 to $595. The cost will depend on the specific Honda vehicle you have and the labor cost rate.
| Item | What it covers | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| “A” | Engine oil change | $50 – $100 |
| “1” | Tire rotation | $30 – $45 |
| “3” | Transmission fluid (and transfer fluid on AWD) | $100 – $200 |
| “5” | Engine coolant | $150 – $250 |
| Total Honda A135 service | $330 – $595 | |
For simple maintenance services like the A135, most dealerships and 3rd party auto shops offer coupons and discounts. We suggest calling several locations beforehand to get the best deals.
“A” Service Cost
The “A” service, or oil change, typically costs $50 to $100 depending on the Honda model you have. It is a 30 to 40-minute service with the cost mostly from the parts. Some Honda vehicles, like the 2022 Pilot, require synthetic oil which is more expensive.
RepairPal also offers an “A” service (oil change) cost estimate for your vehicle and location:
Oil Change Estimator
“1” Service Cost
The “1” service, or tire rotation, typically costs $30 to $45. The tire rotation takes about 15 minutes of labor time. However, we suggest calling your Honda dealership or 3rd party auto repair shop for exact quotes.
RepairPal also offers a “1” service (tire rotation) cost estimate for your vehicle and location:
Tire Rotation Estimator
“3” Service Cost
The “3” service for Honda vehicles can cost $100 to $200 from the fluid depending on your vehicle. However, we suggest calling your Honda dealership or 3rd party auto repair shop for exact quotes.
RepairPal offers an estimator transmission fluid but not the transfer case fluid replacement portion of the “3” service:
Transmission Fluid Replacement Estimator
“5” Service Cost
The “5” service for Honda vehicles can cost $150 to $250 depending on the amount of coolant your vehicle holds. However, we suggest calling your Honda dealership or 3rd party auto repair shop for exact quotes.
RepairPal offers an estimator for engine coolant for your vehicle and location:
Engine coolant Replacement Estimator
Honda A135 DIY Cost
Want to save money or prefer to rely on yourself for your Honda’s maintenance? Performing an A135 service yourself will cost $100 to $200 depending on the brands and oil type you use.
We suggest using Honda parts or any aftermarket equivalents. Below are some oil and oil filters made for most Honda vehicles. Check online or at your local auto parts store for exact part numbers.
Oil Filter
Genuine Honda/Acura filters typically run $10–$15. Check the current price on Amazon.
Honda A135 Maintenance Minder Description
The Honda maintenance minder code sheet above lists all the main and sub service items with A135 highlighted.
“A” Main Service Item
Honda describes the “A” service as an engine oil change only. Although it recommends oil change only, it is best practice to replace the oil filter whenever the oil is changed.
“1” Sub Service Item
Honda describes the “1” service as a tire rotation. In addition to rotating the tires, dealerships will also check the tire pressure and treads for wear or punctures.
“3” Sub Service Item
Honda describes the “3” service as a transmission fluid replacement and transfer case fluid replacement. Only Hondas with 4WD or AWD will have a transfer case and need the fluid changed out.
“5” Sub Service Item
Honda describes the “5” service as an engine coolant replacement.
When Is the Honda A135 Service Due?
The Maintenance Minder displays A135 when remaining oil life drops to 15%, which for most drivers falls between 5,000 and 7,500 miles after the last oil service — sooner with heavy city driving, towing or lots of short trips, later with steady highway use. Because the system reads actual operating conditions rather than counting miles, the exact figure differs from car to car.
The sub-items attached to this code run on their own longer intervals:
- 1 — Tire rotation: Every oil service
- 3 — Transmission fluid + transfer case fluid (if equipped): ~90,000 mi
- 5 — Engine coolant replacement: ~100,000 mi (then every 50,000)
That is why the code changes over time: an A1 becomes A135 once those additional items fall due in the same visit.
Honda Models That Show the A135 Code
The A135 code can appear on any Maintenance Minder–equipped Honda, including the Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Honda CR-V, Honda Pilot, Honda Odyssey, Honda HR-V, Honda Passport, Honda Ridgeline and Honda Insight. The services it calls for are identical across the range, but oil capacity, fluid specification and labor time vary by engine — and AWD or SH-AWD models add transfer case fluid to sub-item 3. Always confirm the specification your engine requires in the owner’s manual.
Related Honda Service Codes
- Honda A13 — the same service without engine coolant replacement
- Honda B135 — the same items, but with an oil filter change and full multi-point inspection
- Acura A135 — the Acura equivalent of this code
- All Honda Maintenance Minder codes — the full reference table
The Coolant Change in A135
Sub-item 5 is engine coolant, and it is the longest-interval item in A135. Honda’s factory fill is Type 2 blue long-life coolant, and the first change is not due until roughly 10 years or 120,000 miles — after which it comes round every 5 years or 60,000. Many owners never see a 5 on a car they bought new.
Use Honda Type 2 or a coolant explicitly rated as compatible. The green universal antifreeze on the shelf at a parts store uses different corrosion inhibitors, and mixing chemistries can produce a gel that blocks the radiator and heater core. Honda’s coolant is pre-mixed and does not want diluting further.
The job itself is more than a drain and refill. These engines trap air, and a pocket left in the system produces a hot spot and a temperature gauge that swings. Proper bleeding through the bleeder screw with the engine at temperature is what separates a good coolant service from one that leaves you with an overheating problem you did not have before.
Where this sits in A135: the “A” is a plain oil change, sub-items 1 and 3 add the tire rotation, the transmission fluid, and sub-item 5 is the item described above. Each is tracked separately by the Maintenance Minder, so A135 is a bundle of independent jobs that happened to come due together, not one procedure with a single price.
Honda A135 Service FAQ
What does the Honda A135 code actually include?
Reading it left to right: the “A” is an oil change, and each number after it is a separate job. For A135 that means a tire rotation, a transmission fluid change, an engine coolant change. They arrive together because the Maintenance Minder counts each item down on its own schedule and shows you whatever has come due at the same time, which is why the same car shows different combinations at different points in its life.
How long can I leave the A135 service?
The oil portion is what has a real deadline. The wrench appears at 15% oil life, sharpens at 5%, and at 0% the display starts counting how far overdue you are. The remaining items in A135 tolerate a few hundred miles of delay, but there is no benefit in stretching it.
Can I do the Honda A135 service myself?
Partly, and it is worth splitting the job. The oil and the tire rotation are straightforward at home. The coolant needs proper bleeding afterwards, which is the step most home jobs skip.
Is the A135 service covered by Honda Service Pass?
No. Honda Service Pass covers the basic A1 and B1 services — oil, filter, tire rotation and inspection — on 2025 and newer Hondas for one year or 12,000 miles. A135 includes work beyond that scope, so the extra items are chargeable even on a car still inside the term. Ask for an itemized invoice: the oil and rotation portion may still be covered while the rest is not.
Does A135 mean something is wrong with my Honda?
No. It is the maintenance schedule, not the diagnostics. A135 shows as a wrench symbol and simply means the algorithm has counted those items down to zero. A check engine light is a different system reporting a stored fault. If both are lit they are unrelated, and the check engine light is the one to investigate first.
How do I reset the A135 code?
Touchscreen cars: Settings, then Vehicle, then Maintenance Reset. Older models: hold the SEL/RESET button or trip stalk for around ten seconds with the ignition on. Reset only the items actually done — on multi-item codes like A135 you can reset individual sub-items, and clearing the whole code after doing only the oil will hide the jobs you still owe the car. Our Honda Maintenance Minder reset guide covers it model by model.