attempted dealer rip off

Jim · 08-16-2005, 04:58 PM

I finally took the car to a local dealer (Brown's Honda, Arlington, VA) for the two recalls (parking brake and headlight switch) and to have a new driver's window run channel installed. I've started getting the EGR valve herky-jerky and told them about that. I've also had more recals than....

They called me and told me I need a new A/C compressor ($1,300.00 installed) - that the battery charges fine with the A/C off. They said when they took it out on the interstate and turned the A/C on at 60 mph, it was like putting the brakes on. They figure something came apart in the compressor, causing the ICE to bog down. Well, it wasn't doing that when I took it in - it was cooling like a champ even at idle. If what they claim is happening, I don't think the car would idle very well.

Think I'll go online and buy an EGR valve, replace it myself, and of course, call Honda customer service.

Resist · 08-16-2005, 09:43 PM

What do you think Honda customer service is going to do? I've gone that route with numerous manufactures, it didn't do a thing. Nissan customer service even hung on me. But I got the last laugh by using a lemon law lawyer to have Nissan take the vehicle back and pay me off.

Jim · 08-16-2005, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resist

What do you think Honda customer service is going to do? I've gone that route with numerous manufactures, it didn't do a thing. Nissan customer service even hung on me. But I got the last laugh by using a lemon law lawyer to have Nissan take the vehicle back and pay me off.

And your point is?

bfivelover · 08-16-2005, 10:53 PM

Jim, if it's not to far, try Hagerstown Honda in the future. They have been very good with me and seem very knowledgeable about the car.

Jim · 08-16-2005, 11:02 PM

Thanks, Bill. Hagerstown is a hike - a little over an hour. I'm going to pick the car up from Brown's tomorrow, and if I have time, take it over to Bill Page (I haven't trusted these guys for years!) to see what they say.

If the A/C is cooling, and the compressor isn't noisy, I can't figure out what they're thinking! Oh, wait a minute

I figured it out! They thought they could get me to pay them $1,300.00 for a new compressor that I can buy online for less than $400.00 - even though I don't need one (or at least I didn't yesterday).

Resist · 08-17-2005, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim

And your point is?

My point is, customer service did nothing to help my situation. I had to take matters into my own hands and get a lawyer. Then the manufacture listened.

Jim · 08-17-2005, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resist

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim

And your point is?

My point is, customer service did nothing to help my situation. I had to take matters into my own hands and get lawyer. Then the manufacture listened.

I don't expect customer service to do anything other than document the call and the reason for the call. As long as I have these two warranty issues documented, they will remain under warranty until resolved (as far as I know). When I called Honda yesterday, I told them I would program the 800 number in my cell phone and call them every time I have a recal - that way they can keep track of the recals.

I won't hire a lawyer to take on Honda - I know others have done this and won, but I'll try working with the service dep't. at Brown's. We'll see how it goes...

Jim · 08-17-2005, 06:11 PM

I got the call today - your car is ready. Stopped at the dealership on my way out of DC to have a chat with the shop foreman. I explained my concern about the A/C diagnosis (I used to repair automotive A/C years ago) - told him that IF it was cooling properly, AND the compressor wasn't noisy, I didn't understand how they came up with that diagnosis. I asked him if he had a minute to listen to the car with the A/C on - he told me to wait, and he'd bring the car around.

When he pulled up in the car - he said "hop in, let's go for a ride". We drove through the neighborhood to an Interstate ramp (he drove the car MUCH harder than I do) - at the bottom of the ramp, he floored it in first - NO ASSIST! I think "good sign". He says - "hey, there's no assist!". Then he says "did you notice that hesitation and jerking?" (which was very slight) "might be that EGR valve". I think "hmmm, that's another good sign". We do a short stretch on the Interstate, turning the A/C on and off with no unusual strain on the engine - pretty much ruled out that diagnosis...

We talked about the EGR valve a bit. I'm sure I read on the board here that the valve had been modified without a part number change. He maintains it wasn't modified, or Honda would have changed the part number. I'll look for that post - I think I printed it out. If anyone has more info on that, please let me know.

As we drive back through the neighborhood - with the air off - the almost full battery gauge (the tech charged it up) starts dropping. With the shop foreman driving, battery gauge at two bars, all of a sudden there's no charge - another good sign. We get back to the dealership - he holds the rpm's at about 3,500 to charge the battery back up. While we're sitting there with the engine revving, the EPS light comes on - not sure what that indicated - it's never done that before, but hey, any light at this point is indication of a problem. Another good sign. Takes him a long time to get the battery charged up, and I explain that another short (4-5) mile drive through the neighborhood will run it down again.

To make a now long story short - he decides to keep the car, run some more tests, and have a chat with TechLine. I'm keeping my fingers crossed - I think I have him on my side.

Resist · 08-17-2005, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim

I won't hire a lawyer to take on Honda - I know others have done this and won

I didn't either, I did mine via the Lemon Law. So I paid nothing unless we won and that was hardly anything.

Rick · 08-17-2005, 10:14 PM

Jim, for some reason the EPS freaks out when you sit there and rev the engine to force charge the battery. If you have them look in the service manual it says to pull the EPS fuse before doing the "recharge" procedure so you won't confuse it. So the good news is nothing is wrong with the EPS, might just need to pull the fuse and replace it.