I have, last Wednesday on the M4 junction 4b, just after sorting out my girlfriend broken down brand new SLK in a Heathrow car park, it was a bad bad day.

We do get many Honda's breaking down said the RAC call centre and the very poor first breakdon truck driver (he used rusty pliers to try and unscrew the last bolt holding the twisted cover on) and the secound (a secound because the first would not pick it up, to low)

Anyway 600 miles after its first service a loose spark plug was forced back breaking the coil, pushing the cover off and stripping the threads. I stopped the car very quickly as it sounded like a valve going.

The dealer who supplied (Henleys London) and the dealer who did the service (Johnson Weatly) told me they do touch the plugs until 60k. Is that true?
Honda told me that it would be impossible for the car to leave the factory with loose plugs. The other plugs where also not fully tight.

I do not have a high regard for Henlys as I was driving the car for 6k when Johnson pointed out that the springs blocks where still in place was the car went in the steat belt recall.

The repairs where done quicky by Johnson (but the car was returned in dirtier state)under Honda warrenty but I am not impressed with such substandard quality.

And the SLK, is a complete lorry compared to the S2K but she loves it and hates the Honda. Just fine by me.

 

Peter,

the dealer is correct in saying they don't touch the plugs until 60K, they are platinum plugs and don't need replacing until then. All sounds a bit strange to me, however this car is hand build and hence its quite possible someone in the factory just had an off day when they were doing the plugs.

Good Luck

Jason

 

Bit of bad luck taking it to a Honda garage which clearly are not very good,definatly find another Honda service garage,you say all your plugs were loose? I wonder if before you got the vehicle the plugs were taken out for some reason by the supplying dealer,mabey because the car would not start because of flooding the engine? they then would take the plugs out to clean them and then put them back probably with out nipping them up correctly any way it would be hard to prove and you can bet they wont admit to it!Better luck with your next garage and running of the S2.

 

if it's any consolation, if this was the Henley's in Fortune Green Lane, Hampstead, they've gone bust and had their honda franchise removed.....

s

 

Peter,
I saw you as I drove home. I nearly stopped to help as I saw you under the shelter of a flyover. I was going too quickly though and thought that you probably had things under control.

Having just read the book by Dan Carney the sparks are platinum tipped and no dealer should be anywhere near them.

If you are in Hampstead have you heard that Honda are opening their UK showcase dealership in Chiswick within 6 months? Maybe this is one we should give a chance to.

Regards,
Simon.

 

Plugs should last 60,000 Miles, but on the first service sheet I got from honda it was highlighted they have a go at them @ 32,000 miles (or 3 years I think), might try some of them denso plugs then?