Is everyone ready for another dealer service story? When I bought my S back in April, the dealer told me what a wonderful perfect service department they had. I went to an open house/service seminar where I won a door prize to get my 15K service done for free.

OK, fast forward to 15K miles of pure bliss and fun! I make an appointment for my 15K servicing, when I go in I ask for the severe service since I do a LOT of stop and go city traffic driving (the other half is very spirited driving LOL)

Well, they do the service and I leave a happy camper. About a month and 2K miles later, I pull off the air box cover to show someone something and I notice that the air filter is extremely dirty, way more dirty than it should be in just 2K miles.

In the meantime, I had found a "mom and pop" auto shop that only services Hondas and Nissans, and the people who all work there are master Honda mechanics AND car enthusiasts! At last, a place that I feel comfortable taking my car. I got them to check over the my S, and they told me that the air filter had never been changed, and neither had the diff fluid, both items to be replaced under Honda's severe service for 15K miles.

I even checked the dealer's literature they gave out for the S2000, they ven state they change those two items as routine for 15K service, which costs around $260 at their service department.

Yes, I know I should have probably checked to see if they had actually done this, but dammit! I just don't feel like I should check behind someone else's work! I know I got this done for free, but still, they should do a professional job. Even though it was free, I feel like I was cheated and lied to.

I haven't decided if I will go back and confront them or not, since I doubt I will ever go back there again. They were the same dealer service department that told me it was "flat out impossible" for the spark plugs to loosen, a week before I got the TSB done...

I dunno - maybe I am just overreacting?

 

Can you let us know of the "mom and pop"s name and location?

 

All the more reason not to go in for an "X" number of miles service. When you take your car in, specify exactly what you want done to the car. Don't ask for BS things like "CV boot inspection" that you can do yourself. List the things you want done to the car and they will do those things and nothing else. It's a good lesson we can all learn from.

 

Yep - Custom Car Care in Grafton, VA is the place. They have a page from an article in some car magazine where they were rated in the top 100 of small car repair places in the US. The owner goes out to Summit point in his car (I think a 300Z), so he knows all about the special needs of sports cars....

I found them when I bought tires thru the Tire Rack, they were on the list of suggested installers and had a great rating.

 

Don't be shy...go back and let them know. You'll regret it if you don't!

 

My $.02, get a helms manual. I've quickly learned to stay away from honda. I am not the most technically proficient when it comes to cars but I'm handy with tools. Also the knowledge of some of the people on this board is overwhelming, after multiple searches on different problems I've been able to do most work myself. I recently just changed my drive shaft by myself and it cost me 6 bucks to rent the lift. It took me about 1 hr, something honda said they would do in 2 hours for $213.

 

You paid for a Severe Conditions service but received a Normal Conditions service which does not include replacement of the air filter. Air filter under normal conditions is not replaced until 30K. but under normal service it should of been cleaned. Since you paid for the extra service it should have been noted on the repair order. I would go back to the dealer and ask for a refund and to see the tech copy of your repair order to see if the service from the tech was noted as being completed. If the service on the repair order was not noted by the service tech I would ask why it was not done. If your dealership has not sold very many S2000 there service department may not be up to speed with the needs of an S2000. If there is any resistance to a refund you can call Honda Customer Relations at 800-999-5901.

 

Read his post. He didn't pay anything. It was free! He won it. However he should still haven gotten a copy of the work order and should have checked the list of parts replaced to see if A/F and Diff. fluid were included.

 

Yeah, and I have religiously kept a copy of every receipt every time I have had anything done to my S. EXCEPT this one time!! I cannot find it anywhere to check to see what the service bill says... oh well, I will keep looking...

 

Sad to say, looks like he got what he paid for!