Apparently Honda service and my wife don't understand cars

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dullard

dullard

Elite Member
May 21, 2001
25,747
4,272
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2002 Civic, 35970 miles. Warranty expires at 36,000 miles. Took it in for an oil change and found out that the box that holds the air cleaning element (air filter) cannot be opened. Honda did a poor design where the screws seem to screw into thin brittle plastic. The plastic cracked, one screw cannot be removed, and the oil change company told me they cannot check the air filter since they cannot open it. I take a look and in 10 seconds determine they are correct. 30 miles until it is out of warranty. I ask my wife to take it to the dealership service department to get the part ordered and have proof that it was broken under 36,000 miles (I cannot take it due to work requirements).

2 days later wife put 25 miles on it and now decides to go to the dealership. Neither of them can see a gaping hole and large crack in the part. I even called both and said the exact screw giving difficulty - the front center screw (there are 3 in the back, 3 in front, and one in the very center). Just got a call from the wife and she had driven home from the dealer. Neither could find any problem. Arg. Now it is past the warranty and I still have to go back later and beg for them to pay for the fix.

Mild rant over.
 
S

Shivatron

Senior member
Apr 9, 2003
342
0
0
Originally posted by: Sundog
You obviously did not communicate well enough.
Click to expand...

I don't pretend to know what was said, but you've got to be kidding me. Assuming he described the problem (and he couldn't have just been making it up, the oil service place noticed it first) and WHY the car needed to be taken back within 30 miles, I see no room for misinterpretation.
 
dullard

dullard

Elite Member
May 21, 2001
25,747
4,272
126
Originally posted by: Sundog
You obviously did not communicate well enough.
Click to expand...
True, I could have posted a rant saying that I cannot communicate. But I wanted posts like Kelvrick's post to make me feel better.

This is what I said to both: "The plastic container holding the air cleaning element is cracked and cannot be opened. The front center screw spins but will not unscrew."

I know I'm bad at communication, but it cannot get much more clear than that. What I should have said was this: "Change the air filter." If they tried, they'd see the flaw.
 
S

Sundog

Lifer
Nov 20, 2000
12,342
1
0
Originally posted by: dullard
Originally posted by: Sundog
You obviously did not communicate well enough.
Click to expand...
What I should have said was this: "Change the air filter." If they tried, they'd see the flaw.
Click to expand...



Ding ding ding......We have a winner!
 
M

m2kewl

Diamond Member
Oct 7, 2001
8,263
0
0
Originally posted by: dullard
Originally posted by: Sundog
You obviously did not communicate well enough.
Click to expand...
True, I could have posted a rant saying that I cannot communicate. But I wanted posts like Kelvrick's post to make me feel better.

This is what I said to both: "The plastic container holding the air cleaning element is cracked and cannot be opened. The front center screw spins but will not unscrew."

I know I'm bad at communication, but it cannot get much more clear than that. What I should have said was this: "Change the air filter." If they tried, they'd see the flaw.
Click to expand...

dude, it's not your fault. the honda tech is either a moron, or just plain lazy seeing that a woman brought in the car. how the fvck does the tech not know where the air filter is working at honda, THERE IS ONLY ONE!! that is all.
 
M

MisterMe

Senior member
Apr 16, 2002
438
0
0
Much can be said for going into the dealership and asking politely that this be taken care of. Go in there "expecting" they have to do the work will certainly sabotage any hopes that you can keep your checkbook at home. Explain the situation, be kind, and above don't go off on them...see what happens...
 
K

Kelvrick

Lifer
Feb 14, 2001
18,422
5
81
Originally posted by: m2kewl
Originally posted by: dullard
Originally posted by: Sundog
You obviously did not communicate well enough.
Click to expand...
True, I could have posted a rant saying that I cannot communicate. But I wanted posts like Kelvrick's post to make me feel better.

This is what I said to both: "The plastic container holding the air cleaning element is cracked and cannot be opened. The front center screw spins but will not unscrew."

I know I'm bad at communication, but it cannot get much more clear than that. What I should have said was this: "Change the air filter." If they tried, they'd see the flaw.
Click to expand...

dude, it's not your fault. the honda tech is either a moron, or just plain lazy seeing that a woman brought in the car. how the fvck does the tech not know where the air filter is working at honda, THERE IS ONLY ONE!! that is all.
Click to expand...

The tech was a woman?
 
I

isekii

Lifer
Mar 16, 2001
28,578
3
81
dude that sucks.
I'd made sure they do the warranty.

You have a record of your wife bringing it in before the warranty expired right ?
 
C

CFster

Golden Member
Oct 16, 1999
1,903
0
76
If all else fails call Honda Customer Service (there's an 800 number somewhere) and tell them you wont buy another Honda if they don't fix it.

They'll tell the dealer to kiss your ass.

It's true.
 
I

isekii

Lifer
Mar 16, 2001
28,578
3
81
Originally posted by: CFster
If all else fails call Honda Customer Service (there's an 800 number somewhere) and tell them you wont buy another Honda if they don't fix it.

They'll tell the dealer to kiss your ass.

It's true.
Click to expand...

I doubt honda would give a crap even if you called the dealership.
I hear horror stories of Honda/Acura customer service.
 
C

cchen

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 1999
6,062
0
76
actually your car should still be under warranty.... my friend's s2000 had 35999 miles on it when he pulled into the dealer (no joke) because something was wrong with the engine.... the guys there said even if it hit 36k miles it'd still be under warranty
 
I

IamElectro

Golden Member
Jul 15, 2003
1,470
0
76
Why did you not buy the extended waranty?
Service tech was just playing dumb due to your wifes inability to show him the problem.
Lazy ass tech probably did not want to do the waranty paperwork for an airbox which i can not see being under waranty.
 
Vic

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,422
14,337
136
It's not a poor design problem by Honda, it's because you let one of those minimum-wage "techs" at the quick oil change place check your air filter and they broke it in their stupidity. You can still take it to the dealer, but it's unlikely that they would cover this even inside the warranty (as it's the oil change shop's fault, not Honda's).
Do NOT let the quick oil change places like Jiffy Lube, etc. check or replace your car's air filter. That is all.
 
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