So I took the plunge after getting the car back from the body
shop and dropped it at the not-quite-local dealership for service
(SUPPOSED to have one of the best Honda techs around).
Unfortunately, the very knowledgable and easy-to-work-with
service advisor that I'd originally scheduled service with (before
the need for body work) is no longer there.

I brought it in for a few very specific issues, many related to the tranny.
- 1-2 grind
- noise when decel. in gear btwn 4500-2500r (pressure plate?)
on warm tranny
- some will remember that i'd lost 6th gear for a while.
I found it eventually. not a good thing to happen. issues there.
- as of last saturday (sort of suddenly) while driving along at
speed (65 or so) the clutch just let loose. now it's "hit the gas
too hard and watch it rev" As far as I know, a clutch should last
more than 27k miles, even under hard driving conditions (and I'm
actually pretty easy on it - no launching, burnouts, etc)
- change rear diff fluid

What response to I get from the new service advisor? An attempt to sell
me:
- 30,000 mi service (i had to tell him you can't rotate the tires)
- oil change (did i not say i did this myself?)
- new rear tires (doh. you think i don't know this? did you notice they're
not OEM and you can't get me these for the price i pay?)
- a new clutch, as the only thing they were able to reproduce was the
clutch slipping. (to the tune of $700)
- still no price on the rear diff change (had been quoted $30 before)
- no response on the reasons i brought it in for
- a response of "I'll look into that if there is such a thing" re: the seatbelt
recall... argh.

I had to tell HIM what to do... i.e. "don't you think it would be good if
you had your people drop the tranny and examine it before recommending
a course of action, such as "replace the clutch"? 27k miles? sudden
slippage? perhaps something ELSE is fouled and causing the problem?
Perhaps you should CONSIDER the other problems I've described and
stop trying to sell me stuff I don't need"

I haven't mentioned anything about the TSBs just yet, and haven't heard
back from the guy since yesterday, but I have a feeling i'm going to need
to escalate the situation to get a decent level of service - not just an overblown sales pitch.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

- chris

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by animeS2K
[B]So I took the plunge after getting the car back from the body
shop and dropped it at the not-quite-local dealership for service

 

Shady business. I can't stand it when people even touch my car, let alone work on it. Man, gives me the chills just thinking about it.

 

Knowledge brings up a very good and very interesting point. No one cares for your car like you do. I am the type that will do everything myself if at all possible. (oil change, trans. and rear gear oil change, brake pads, rotors, etc.) I still have the seat belt recall notice on my desk and have not had it done because of this. I just don't trust what they will or will not do to my car. I have a slight intermittent problem with the 1-2 shift on my 2000 S2K but again am very fearful of letting the dealership tear into my car. I know I will have to do the transmission thing before my 3 yr. 36,000 mile warranty runs out. (currently 10,500). Anyone else out there putting off recall type service because of this similar fear?

 

I'm so paranoid that if I get a flat tire, I take it off of the car and drive it up to a tire shop in a different vehicle. Those TSB's are scary enough but after seeing pictures of the interior torn apart for the seatbelt replacement, I'd put it off as long as possilbe too. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and take it to the shop... I hate it when that happens.

 

Good point, Sev. I just moved down to Arlington, VA from the Gaithersburg, MD area and had been dealing with Hersons (as I am currently). I just called for the second time today and they couldn't find my paperwork and the service advisor was still out at lunch.

There is a Honda dealer right near home now, but I don't know anything about their service record... can't remember the name of the shop...

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

- Chris

 

UPDATE...
They haven't done anything. They keep saying it looks like it
points to the the clutch and that they should order a new clutch
(as soon as they get my verbal okay) and then go from there.
They haven't done anything else.

Argh. Help? Any suggestions for a better shop?

- Chris

 

Are you in Arlington VA?

If so.. I reccomend you going to Rosenthal Honda in Tysons Corner VA and speak with VICKI in the YELLOW TEAM. Dont mess with anyone else, I cant reccomend them, VICKI is the woman.

She has done nothing but good for me.

New clutch, flywheel, back window replacement, stereo cover, the list goes on and on.

Tell her Patrick Scott sent you, god knows I could use brownie points with her!

 

I'd keep my baby out of there if I were you, sounds like a bunch of tards running the place....Would you take your child to the vet when they were sick?

 

animeS2K,

Since they haven't done anything to the car after leaving it there, I'd just go in and take it to another dealer. After all, customer service is everything.