Tune up
 

I have a 2001 Accord LX with close to 195,000 miles. I am considering performing a tuneup on it. Is this a do-it-yourself possibility? If so, can I get some advice/help? I like to handle this stuff myself whenever possible.

What all is involved in a tuneup that would be adequate for my situation?

Spark plugs if they're worn, spark plug wires if they're cracking or worn, distributor cap and rotor, new air filter (I'd recommend popping for a K&N drop in, but it's all personal choice, you can read the pros and cons of a K&N elsewhere on the forum), fuel filter, clean and fill the battery and have it tested if you want, check all your fluids, and while you're doing all this give everything else a visual inspection. You could also clean your EGR ports and replace your PCV valve if you want to, both are cheap and easy.

That's all I can think of at the moment, maybe others will cover some things I may have missed.

Some long-interval maintenance that many people forget...?

Fresh brake fluid every 2 or 3 years (old stuff absorbs moisture & gets corrosive)

Fresh antifreeze every few years (old stuff loses it's anti-corrosion protection)

Fresh power-steering fluid. It's not on any Honda maintenance schedule, but I refuse to believe that any working fluid will last FOREVER.

Drain & fill your ATF? (unless you're already doing this on some schedule)

How are the brake pads wearing out? There's no schedule for replacement, but look at the wear thickness every 10k or so.

Those are some good points that I never thought of. In the past you were lucky to get 100,000 miles on a car now that they seem to go forever it would only seem the fluids would need to be changed out at some time. I had never heard of the brake fluid retaining water. One thing you should get for any DIY projects is a good manual. That will also give you maintenance ideas and how to's.