long story about my service experience with Honda

[dimbutnice]

I took my wifes SUV in for its 48,000 KM service and the CSR recommends to me that I should have the 4x4 VTM fluid changed as well and I agreed. So my wife drives it for week and normally parks it outside the house so I didn't notice anything odd until yesterday when she parks in the garage overnight. The next day, I notice that there was a puddle of pink fluid on the garage floor where the car was parked so I crawl under the SUV and see that it was dripping from the back. I check the owners manual I find out its where the VTM component was. The manual shows two bolts one where the fluid is emptied and one where the fluid is filled from. I wipe the whole area down to remove the dripping oil and then wait for a min or two and I see it dripping again from the bolt which is used to drain the fluid. So my conclusion was that the Honda service guys didn't tighten this bolt properly after it was serviced and that the car was leaking the 4x4 VTM fluid for a week.

So I took the SUV in to the Honda dealer and told them what I have found. The CSR guy gets a tech to look at the car and asks me to wait in the reception area. Half an hour later he comes back and gives me this story that there wasn't a leak from the drainage bolt and that everything was fine and that the oil I was seeing was from the 'after run' from when the oil was changed. I know this wasn't true as I already checked that the leak was coming from the drainage bolt. I asked him if the tech at least tightened the drainage bolt and he said that they checked it and it was already tight. So I tells me to check it over the next few days and come back in the next few days if there was a problem. So I take the car home and checked it and indeed the dripping had stopped so I figured they must have tighten the bolt. I then check around the other bolt and for signs of new VTM fluid been added to replace the fluid which was lost from the car in the last week. And I saw absolutely no sign of it (even if they wiped around that area, I figured I would still see something in the thin groves at least).

I phoned up the honda CSR and ask him if they checked and refilled the fluid and he says that our tech would always check the fluid level. I didn't believe him and asked him if the tech explicitly told him that they refilled the missing fluid. So he gets angry and tells me if I am not happy with their service, I should go somewhere else and slams the phone on me. So annoyed I, I drove the car straight back to the dealer and talk to the CSR again. I tell him I want them to open up the bolt used for filling the fluid so I can check the level. So first he starts by telling me to make an appointment and bring it in on Monday for them to check it. Then he relents and gets the tech to get the car lifted up. Then he takes me there and I tell the tech I wanted the fill bolt opened so I can check the level of the fluid. So I put my finger in the hole to check but it was difficult inside to check as as something was inside that was preventing my finger from getting inside deep enough to guage the fluid level. A senior tech comes over and puts his finger in and says to me the the fluid was adequate. The CSR then shouts something about that the techs were all certified Honda engineers and the I think I know more than them...blah blah blah (I wasn't listening fully to what he was saying) and then he storms off somewhere. I then explain the whole story to the senior tech and tell him that I have seem a big puddle of the fluid when the car was parked for one night and so I am concerned about how much fluid was lost over the seven days since the leak started and I just want them to fill up the fluid until I see it start to over flow. He emphasis's and gets the other tech to do it whilst I was watching.

So I am not trying to have a go at the Honda tech quys as they seemed nice enough but the CRS giving me grief when it was obvious that it was their fault that the service wasn't done correctly and that they didn't check for fluid leaks after the service.

And the moral of the story is, if you have your car serviced, check it over the next day or to see if there are any signs of fluid leaks on the floor....

So sorry for he long post - just airing out my frustration...

[nwmrkt]

most dealerships really "suck"...but there are some reputable ones out there that are recommended. Next time bring your cars to a reputable shop, read around. sorry to hear of your bad experience.

[thephenom]

It was probably an honest mistake on the tech's part, (understandable for the tech to deny the mistake to keep his job), just poor customer service on the part of the CSR. Should of taken it up to the service manager and squeeze a few free oil change from them.

[DragonZealot]

I was seeing was from the 'after run' from when the oil was changed.

After run 7 days after the oil change? What at lame lie.

You can't tell by sticking your finger into the hole. You finger will be wet even if the level is down a bit becuase the inside of the housing is all wet with oil. You have to put oil in until it overflows. By judging the amount of oil you put in you can tell how much oil was lost. This dealership is not trustworthy you should check it again somewhere else (by filling till overflow).

Send an email to their service manager they should admit fault because there is no way the after run can last 7 days. The CSR was handling this in a unprofessional manner. The tech was also not checking it properly.

Tell them you are not coming back because of this. They will probably send you couple of oil change coupons. Sell the coupons at half price.

[Avatar]

That's why I never bring my car to the dealership. I have my own trust worthy mechanic to look after it. They are expensive and always trying to suggest you to replace something that's not need.

[Vasyl]

The question remains, however, where is the best place to service a Honda car to keep warranty? And which dealerships are reputable? Can any licensed mechanic perform the required maintenance? If somebody could share his/her experience and could give some leads, such help would be greatly appreciated.

[bobbings]

maybe you mentioned it in your initial post but i may have skipped it. which dealership was it? i usually take mine to markham honda

[evolution921]

Exactly, where did u went? If you're in Toronto, is it the dealership at Kennedy at Ellesmere?