Diff broken .......
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Joined: Dec 2001
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From: Falkirk
Originally Posted by Ric,Aug 11 2004, 08:37 PM
Well - they need to replace the differential at a cost of just under 4 grand. The claims office, however are still umming and aahing as to whether or not they will cough up. It's a nightmare waiting for their decision! I don't know what process they need to go through to decide - will they send someone to the dealership to inspect the car? Or will they call me to ask me questions? Does anyone have experience of claims and how long they usually take to decide?
Crossing all fingers and toes for your warranty claim....
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,279
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From: Suffolk
Wow 4 grand for a diff, what does Honda do on warranty work think of a number and double it and add 40%?
If they don't pay out there has been a few S's stacked lately so should be some diffs in the breakers yards.
Hope it comes good in the end.
If they don't pay out there has been a few S's stacked lately so should be some diffs in the breakers yards.
Hope it comes good in the end.
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,589
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From: Isle of Man
That price sounds right for a replacement unit from what I've heard from my dealer. What's wrong with the diff? It would be pretty extraordinary if the whole thing was broken. I reckon it's 4k because they can't be a**ed or haven't got the skill doing a repair and treat it as warranty.
I had a problem with my diff last year and a 3rd party specialist did the work as the car was out of warranty. Whole job cost about 1500 incl labour and VAT - needed new crown wheel and pinion, new bearing and shimming (shim kit costs hundreds
) so there wasn't much not replaced. If you have to go that way, I would get a higher ratio gear set and have that fitted instead of the OEM - better acceleration and lower top speed 
I had a problem with my diff last year and a 3rd party specialist did the work as the car was out of warranty. Whole job cost about 1500 incl labour and VAT - needed new crown wheel and pinion, new bearing and shimming (shim kit costs hundreds
) so there wasn't much not replaced. If you have to go that way, I would get a higher ratio gear set and have that fitted instead of the OEM - better acceleration and lower top speed
Thread Starter
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Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Wrexham
Well, I got my car back today complete with new diff - and thankfully Hondacare paid for it. Apparently the diff oil was 'heavily contaminated with metal fragments', the LSD gears were 'noisy' and the crown wheel pinion bearings were worn. Interesting - my car has only done 26000 miles, but the diff has only done about 12000 miles, as the previous owner also had a new diff put in. The reason stated on the records in the service history for why he had it replaced? Metal fragments in the diff oil. Hmmm - I can't help thinking that I'm going to be needing a new (4th) diff in another 12 000 miles.
And the slight sting in the tail - I understood from the dealer, and hondacare when I spoke to them, that the 2 hours labour involved in diagnosing the problem would be covered under warranty so long as the problem they found was covered by the warranty. Yet - even though the claim for the diff and fitting it were upheld, I was forced to pay them 128 quid for the initial inspection before they would release my car!
Now if that is normal practise, then it's annoying that I was given false information in the first place. But has anyone else here ever had to pay the inspection costs for an upheld claim?
By the way - lower - new engine? Does jeremy Clarkeson know about this??
And the slight sting in the tail - I understood from the dealer, and hondacare when I spoke to them, that the 2 hours labour involved in diagnosing the problem would be covered under warranty so long as the problem they found was covered by the warranty. Yet - even though the claim for the diff and fitting it were upheld, I was forced to pay them 128 quid for the initial inspection before they would release my car!
Now if that is normal practise, then it's annoying that I was given false information in the first place. But has anyone else here ever had to pay the inspection costs for an upheld claim?By the way - lower - new engine? Does jeremy Clarkeson know about this??
