I just got an '04 s2k and have been driving it around for a few weeks. I saw a thread on the spring spacer and proceed to read all related threads. I went out to my car and checked, and sure enough, the spacers had not been removed from my front left spring. I went immediately to the dealership and had them remove the spacers and asked for $300 compensation. This would (hopefully) cover the cost of:
1) taking the car to an independent mechanic and having him inspect the suspension for damage (anything else? Is an alignment check necessary?)
2) pay for an independent mechanic to perform the 1st minor service (as a courtesy)

I downloaded the Honda bulletin that warns against driving the car faster than 12 mph with the spacers installed. The bulletin states that doing so reduces handling performance and can damage the car. The service manager and the sales manager both insist that it is perfectly safe to drive the car with the spacers in (!!!), and that no damage would occur.

I will not take my s2k to a Honda Dealership anymore for services, and will only go to trusted independent mechanics now.

Does anyone know what could get damaged on the car as a result of driving it with the spacers (the Honda bulletin does not say)?

I believe that $300 is reasonable compensation -- what do y'all think? Given what has happened here (and all of the other dealership service stories I have read on this forum), I also think it is reasonable for me to discontinue having my car serviced at the Honda dealership (the sales manager could not understand this either). btw, I'm not out to screw the dealership, I just want to be fairly compensated.

Thanks for info and advice.

 

I drove my car (MY 2001) for several hundred miles with spring spacers installed. This included the initial test drive and some runs in the mountains at high speed. I was just as mad as you at the selling dealer, and refused to go back to them for further service. I have since gone to two other dealers for warranty service, but do most of the routine stuff myself.

I have over 30,000 miles now, and as far as I can tell, there have been no lasting effects of the spring spacers being installed. I track the car and am auto-crossing every month or so. Another AZ member went several thousand miles with spring spacers and his car is fine too.

I think that you should insist on an inspection of suspension components, an alignment, and make sure that you get it on your car's maintenance record that this occured. I think monetary compensation is probably not going to happen.

 

No it is not reasonable given that you have not been harmed and the dealership did not benefit from the error. If you can prove that vehicle was harmed, then you should document it and present it as proof.

I certainly wouldn't advocate using that service department any longer, and you are certainly free to spread the word about the attnetion to detail exhibited, but I can't imaginge seeking compensation, especially such a trivial amount.

 

I bought my S2000 used with 2000 miles on it and it still had the spacers in ????

 

Whether or not the dealership benefits from their negligence does not seem relevant with respect to my compensation.

The fact that their service dept. forgot to remove the spacers indicates that they are sloppy and could have forgotten to check other aspects of the car during the PDI. I'm looking at my PDI now and they checked off the box that reads, "Remove spring spacers". For all I know, they may not have performed other important PDI checks (check for brake fluid leaks, trans fluid level, wheel nut torque, etc.).

The $300 is to pay for an independent mechanic to perform the PDI, perform an alignment if necessary, and perform the 1st minor maintainance. Having the dealer's techinicians re-perform the PDI does not really offer me peace of mind since they are the ones that were careless in the first place.

The sales mgr told me yesterday that he spoke w/ a technician, who told him that it is completely safe to drive the vehicle while the spacers are installed and that no harm can occur if driven past 12 mph. If this truly is the case, then I require no compensation. However, I do not believe this statement, and trust the document sent by Honda.

 

Can someone post a picture or provide a link that shows what they look like? And why are they put in there? Thanks...

 

There are numerous pictures of the spring spacers (both installed and uninstalled) as well as more information than you would ever want to know about why they are installed during shipping. Just do a forum search on "spring spacer".

 

The sales mgr agreed to compensate me $150 (but not before telling me that he thought it was unnecessary). This should pay for taking the s2k to an independent mechanic and having him perform the PDI. So problem solved.