I live in a small town with a worthless Honda dealer - they have only sold 6 or so S2000's (in a 16 month time frame I bought $55K worth of Hondas and none came from this dealer, although I gave them every chance in the world - but that's another story...). The problem is that the next nearest dealer is about 40 miles away and they are also very small. The first time I called them about the TSB, they told me there wasn't one (after the TSB was issued, but before I got my letter). Then, after I got my letter, I brought it to the service manager and asked them if they had the new plugs. He checked, and said no. I asked him if they had ordered the new plugs, and he said that they weren't available yet. After reading on this board that several people had begun to have the TSB performed, I went back to the service manager and asked him if they received the plugs yet and was told that they still weren't available I pointed out that several people had their plugs replaced (in Dallas, Houston, etc.), so that the plugs WERE available. He then told me that I couldn't believe everything I read on the internet So, I asked him again if he has at least ORDERED them, and he said that he couldn't if they weren't available. I suggested that he call the serive manager for John Eagle Honda in Houston, who had performed many of the TSB's, and find out how they had gotten the new plugs, but he refused. I was so mad, so I decided to call the AHM Customer Service number on the bottom of the notice and vent my frustration with these local clowns. They assigned me a "case number" and an agent, and was told that they would get in touch with me. About a month went by, so I decided to call AHM back and find out the status. To make a long story short (I know, too late...), this case slipped through cracks, but I talked with the "case manager" who was very appologetic when I told her that if this dealer couldn't operate Honda's part system, I was deathly afraid to leave my car with them. She said that she would see what she could do. Well, an hour later she called back and said that she would have 4 plugs shipped overnight to the dealer with my name on them and I could just pick them up today.

Now, I'm a happy camper

 

Sorry to hear about your troubles.

I live in a big city, and can already tell that servicing this car is going to be a mega PITA. I've been trying to do the spark plug recall for 3 weeks now.

 

Hmm. I have been putting off the spark plug issue, since I didn't want to let the dealer touch it. Did you say that you could install them yourself? I wonder how difficult it would be to do the same here...

 

As I have said I live in Charlotte, NC and took my 01 in for a bunch TSBs including the plugs. They said that they did not have any paperwork on it, but they would check on it. The car was there for 3 days and everyday they called and gave me an update and on the last day when they said it was ready they had gotten the plugs and did the TSB. This was about a month ago. I must be very lucky to have not had any of the dealer issues that others seem to be having. However it does sound like the issues I used to have with the Porsche dealer.

 

Well, here's the update - my troubles are still not over....

Went to the dealer to pick the plugs up, and lo and behold, they were there - they even had my name on them. However, when the parts guy handed them to me, he asked me if it was going to be cash, check or charge. I said that I was told that AHM was picking up the tab, but he said that he talked to my "case manager" and she just made sure that the plugs were going to be there. So, I tried to call my "case manager" and got her voice mail saying that she was going to be in training all day

I don't have a problem paying for them, if I could get re-imbursed. So, I asked the parts guy how much they were. Get this - $96.87 before tax!! I told him to set them aside and I will get it straightened out.

When I laughed at the price of $25/plug, the parts manager came over to see what was up. I told him my story at which point he asked why I don't just have them install them for me. I told him that I just didn't have any confidence at all in the dealership, at which point he told me that they fired their service manager a couple of weeks ago. In all fairness, this guy was nice enough and was trying to help me out - I'll just be damned if I leave my car at that place.

 

So did ya pop a cap in his ass?

 

Will these nightmare stories of idiotic dealers ever stop? Did you know you can get a set of Iridium plugs for $48.00 US? A hundred bucks US for a set of stock plugs is a "screw the customer", plain and simple, especially when they are supposed to be free on the recall.
If you can get the plugs and do it yourself, all the better. It simply is NOT worth rounded off plug cover bolts, scratched paint and the likelihood that the "lot boy" will take your car for a high speed joy ride like "GaryJ".
Don't let these bozos have your car unless you are allowed to chaperone it the whole time. Hell, they can even do it in the parking lot in 10 minutes and don't let them tell you they need to "test drive" the car after a spark plug job. If I were you, and since you have no other close Honda dealers that are any better, tell them to shove their plugs where the sun don't shine and get a set of Iridium plugs instead. Then write a letter (with copies to appropriate places) to the actual "dealer principle" (owner) about this crap. This is totally inexcusable.

 

No, I didn't pop a cap in his ass

But, I was very thankful that I didn't have a V8 under the hood

 

Well, you know they do come with some very expensive looking stickers

 

Sorry about your prob. I too live in a small town. The closest Honda dealer is about 45 mins away from my house.

Thank god I do most of my maintence on my own