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SJ230
09-19-2003, 09:22 PM
Hello All!
Lets see if this is cause for concern. After about 15000 miles of meticulous driving and maintenance the check engine light comes on, brought the car to the dealer and had them check it out. I did not her from them for a couple of days and I had to inqire as to what the problem was. This is where the big runaround starts. They did a compression and leakdown check and found #3 cylinder was around 35%. They said (the service manager) that it was most probably a bent valve!? kind of telling me it was driven improperly, telling me it would happen if I went from 6th to 2nd popping the clutch at high speed, I told him if I did that there would be a host of other problems besides just a bent valve on #3. Anyway, long story short, they pulled the head and I had to pull the information out of these people as to the progress and to try and figure out what the damage and repair would entail. After 2 weeks of waiting the verdict finally arrived, worn valve guides! and I also found out there was 2 other cars in for the same problem. The car has since been ok but with the experience with that particular dealership and dealing with Hondas consumer department I am a little more than concerned. What gives?!

rstark
09-19-2003, 09:51 PM
It's too bad you've had a bad experience from the dealer. I would stop going to that dealership and find a new one. I would also write a letter to American Honda customer service and send a copy to the General Manager as well as the Service Manager from that dealership expressing your negative experience and your concerns. Make sure you address it to AHM and at the bottom of the letter put in the people you've cc'd so they know this letter went to AHM.

Hopefully you'll have better service at another dealership. Good luck!

SJ230
09-20-2003, 01:59 AM
Thanks Rick!
Anybody else with this problem?

Rowland
09-20-2003, 05:18 PM
Originally posted by rstark
It's too bad you've had a bad experience from the dealer. I would stop going to that dealership and find a new one. I would also write a letter to American Honda customer service and send a copy to the General Manager as well as the Service Manager from that dealership expressing your negative experience and your concerns. Make sure you address it to AHM and at the bottom of the letter put in the people you've cc'd so they know this letter went to AHM.

Rick has some very sound advise, I would actually call the General Manager of the dealership and talk to him directly and follow up with the letter. Let the GM know if you have bought other cars from them or used their services before; this adds dollars to you, a valued customer. Tell the GM that you are going to follow up with a letter and expect a written reply. This holds him to committing to find the problem and responding to your concerns. Make sure you include specifics; dates, times, and names on who and how they handled your problem.

Good luck, it will be important to follow through with your complaint.

Rowland
09-22-2003, 04:12 PM
SJ230,
Please keep us informed on what is going on with your situation.

hecash
09-22-2003, 06:03 PM
The next time that someone tears your engine down for a serious problem, you may want to visit them with a digital camera and take pictures of the parts, including each cylinder, each piston top and side (with rings on if possible), the underside of the head (one shot for each valve set) and any rods, cranks and bearings that you can locate.

Bear in mind that these pictures are a double-edge sword. They may shoot you in the foot.