*FORETEXT*
-OK, this is all in development, so nothing is final yet. Currently, I have an issue, that MAY be escalated to higher ups on the Honda food chain.

-I don't think its 100% fair to reveal the dealer's name yet, but if many people think its appropriate, ill reveal it. Plus its not too hard to run a search on my name and find it. Anyways, out with it:


*HISTORY*
[1]March 2006, Bought car
[2]March 2006, installed a stereo system.
Power goes along driver side, enters the trunk (through the area behind the seat) near the fuel tank. RCA & remote goes the opposite side... very standard install
[3]July 2007, Dealership replaced teared top under warranty.
[4]September 2007, Dealership replaced dead battery under warranty.
**car driven very little**
[5]Winter 2007, Noticed crack in roll-hoop cover. asked s2ki.com for causes. s2ki.com answers... likely from working on soft top.



*CURRENT*
[6]March 2008. FINALLY have time to go to dealership. Drop car off dealership to inspect roll hoop.

Dealership calls back, service tech and service manager says my aftermarket stereo is the cause of the crack. (how in the hell???). Phone person could not say HOW a power wire causes the top of the rollbar cover 3ft away to crack.... phone person only "relays what service tech said".

He adds, just the fact that I have aftermarket parts installed, nulls my warranty to replace the rollbar cover.

He says, I must have installed the stereo AFTER getting the top fixed. If the power wire/aftermarket stereo HAD been there when they were fixing the top, they would have halted the process, because it interferes with their work. At the least, they would have called me, to have me remove the stereo, for them to continue.

*COUNTERPOINTS*
BULLSHIT!
a) ive had the stereo for 2 years. have receipts to prove it
b) the stereo was there, when they fixed battery, because power wire was clamped to the mfcker, and there was no problems there when they warrantied that


*COURSE OF ACTION*
At the current moment, I'm at work, and the person on the phone is the service advisor and not the tech/manager. He said what I should do next is talk to the manager. I'm waiting for manager to call me. Also, next week I will use my day off to go there and talk in person. Of course, if that doesnt get anywhere (and I have a feeling it wont), I will raise some sort of formal complaint with H of USA





So there is the situation, any comments or advice or anything is appreciated
Thanks

 

Do you have pictures of the crack roll-hoop cover. I don't think it's expensive to replace it if they refuse to, but I'd like to hear what the manage has to say first before commenting.

PS. Is it the platic cover of the roll bar?

Jason

 

yes, it is the plastic cover of the roll bar. the car is sitting at the dealers shop so i cant photo it right now. basically the entire thing is 2 piece - 1 for each half of the roll bar (ie slicing a bagel)

as it sits they are split about 1-2mm along the seam. doesnt sound like much but it looks annoying.

im not a big stickler on it. if there were snaps to hold them together i dont mind. they quoted 180$ for the cover, but 500$+ for labor due to having remove the seats, etc. whatever - i just want it fixed

 

500$ to remove pieces eh? Tell them you'll keep the $500 and remove the seats and rear panels in 15 minutes. If you can in that time frame they can do the rest for free. Play to their gambling emotions

 

Go to another dealer.

 

Is the car still under the original manufacturers warranty (ie the 3yr/36,000 mile)? If so the aftermarket radio doesn't void your warranty unless they can prove that the radio caused the failure...the burden of proof is on them. Check the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. Note that the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act does not apply to extended warranties.

 

Car is 2005, and it has got 30k on it

I also bought it CPO, and pretty much 03/08 is when CPO warranty expires

I would take it to another dealer BUT... 1) the other dealers around here suck worse than this one 2) it is likely that THIS dealer's soft-top-replacement cause the crack..more reason to keep it here than claim (to other dealership) that it cracked by itself