problems with service writers!

It’s funny, I logged on to tell my own tale of woe then I started reading past posts. It seems as if the little troubles we have with our car become exaggerated by the poor service writers we encounter.

My own complaints were excessive wind noise through the sunroof, at 40 mph its noisy at 70 mph is downright annoying, and a growling from the breaks. I was bringing my Ridgeline to the dealer for the 5,000 mile oil change so I gave Coast Honda in Sea Girt NJ my complaints. The service writer said wind noise is normal and the breaks were just surface rust. I expressed to him that these noises were not normal and I wanted them checked out. He mad a handwritten note on his desk and said he would see to it that it was checked.

(I then found out that their loaner car is an Enterprise Rental Car and I had to fill out all paperwork and purchase my own insurance. I have never come across this at any other car dealer, or service station for that matter, that I have dealt with.)

The service writer called and said all was ok, yet when I went to move my car the breaks are still growling. I went back into the shop and he insisted that the noise was normal. I didn’t spend 33k for a car to make noises such as these. It is an embarrassment. People riding in the car question the noise level. They did nothing to address my complaints, the sunroof is still noisy. And worse than that, he dismissed my complaints as irrelevant.

My past posts have been about other little nuisances. This car was back in the shop the first week of ownership. Don’t get me wrong, I love the car and the salespeople went above and beyond. But the service department has been lacking. I finely fixed the water leak myself with help from these boards.

I must say Coast Honda could learn a thing or two if they would take a car to Gold Coast Cadillac for service.

My Service Writers have been good up to recent Auto Unlock issue.

Are you sure the wind noise is from the Sunroof. I ask because your description is the classic windshield issue. Noise starts around 40 and gets worse until about 75. There is a TSB on this issue.

As for the brakes, this is absolutely crap. Mine are super quiet and have very little discoloration on the rotors after 11 months and 15K miles.

Is there another shop local that you could take it to and get it fixed? You might also call AHM and let them know your displeasure with the SD at Coast Honda.

Thanks for the input. Maybe it is the windshield, but they still should have driven it to find out!

Paul.

I don't have any of these problems either, but I wanted to comment on the brakes. This is the first car where the new brake pads did not cause any brake dust or anything on the wheels. That is one of my biggest annoyances, seeing a car with, what are supposed to be, silver wheels, where the front are a nice dark brown or charcoal color, and the rear are near normal color.

That is one of my biggest annoyances, seeing a car with, what are supposed to be, silver wheels, where the front are a nice dark brown or charcoal color, and the rear are near normal color.
Thank you Honda for using ceramic brake pads.

It’s funny, I logged on to tell my own tale of woe then I started reading past posts. It seems as if the little troubles we have with our car become exaggerated by the poor service writers we encounter.

My own complaints were excessive wind noise through the sunroof, at 40 mph its noisy at 70 mph is downright annoying, and a growling from the breaks. I was bringing my Ridgeline to the dealer for the 5,000 mile oil change so I gave Coast Honda in Sea Girt NJ my complaints. The service writer said wind noise is normal and the breaks were just surface rust. I expressed to him that these noises were not normal and I wanted them checked out. He mad a handwritten note on his desk and said he would see to it that it was checked.

(I then found out that their loaner car is an Enterprise Rental Car and I had to fill out all paperwork and purchase my own insurance. I have never come across this at any other car dealer, or service station for that matter, that I have dealt with.)

The service writer called and said all was ok, yet when I went to move my car the breaks are still growling. I went back into the shop and he insisted that the noise was normal. I didn’t spend 33k for a car to make noises such as these. It is an embarrassment. People riding in the car question the noise level. They did nothing to address my complaints, the sunroof is still noisy. And worse than that, he dismissed my complaints as irrelevant.

My past posts have been about other little nuisances. This car was back in the shop the first week of ownership. Don’t get me wrong, I love the car and the salespeople went above and beyond. But the service department has been lacking. I finely fixed the water leak myself with help from these boards.

I must say Coast Honda could learn a thing or two if they would take a car to Gold Coast Cadillac for service.

I'd call back and ask to speak with the service manager. Explain your situation with him. Sometimes the advisor is not knowledgeable or cares enough. Sometimes the manager or the tech will want you to ride with them to duplicate the noises. As far as Enterprise, that's true in places that have Enterprise agents in the building. They are acting as a separate company and have a binding contract with insurance regulations. It has nothing to do with that dealership other than the convenience of being on site. Dealerships with their own rental fleet can write up their own contracts. It's a pain as people return cars without gas and with damage more than you know. Hopefully that helps.

O.K., LISTEN UP PEOPLE! THE RIDGELINE IS A TRUCK, NOT A "CAR"!!!!!!!!!!! :mad: Please stop refering to it as a mere "car"! Rant over.........

I had sun roof noise when the ridge was new... they changed the gasket and it was fine:)
Also, due to my vast GM nightmares I was known on a 1st name basis at enterprise car rental! they were in the shop so many dang times it's scary... anyway you don't need the insurance! don't let them bully you, that's there job to scare you into revenue for there insurance!.... your insurance will cover you! Ask your agent.... good luck with the rest of your issues

damn, i would be pissed if a service writer or tech decided to pull that crap in front of me. Thank goodness I befriended head service tech and he's was cool to check out all the noises and creeking. We helped each other to fix the random noise that was coming from the front right speaker inside the dash. No more random rattle, and also fixed all the minor scratches and sticker glue that was left behind by factory stickers. If anyone already suggested this, i will bring it up again or the first, talk to the manager, and yes you are right, you didn't spend 32K for a truck that shouldn't sound like truck that cost 14K.

It’s funny, I logged on to tell my own tale of woe then I started reading past posts. It seems as if the little troubles we have with our car become exaggerated by the poor service writers we encounter. snip, snip, snip........
I must say Coast Honda could learn a thing or two if they would take a car to Gold Coast Cadillac for service.

Hmmmm...........

I don't know about Honda dealers in your area, but where I live (Vancouver, BC, Canada) all of them (about 7) have been absolutely marvelous. Don't know why that is. Even though they know I bought my RL from another dealer, they treat me like gold.

Maybe your Honda dealer is having a hard time finding good workers, because all of them work at the Cadilllac dealership.:D

From the past posts I've read, and I think I've read more than you, I think the service at Honda is exemplary, no matter where you go. Like I said, I've never been to Jersey, but I can't imagine it's different from the rest of North America.

I think the sevice writer missed my b-6 code when I brought it in ... I thought all I needed was an oil change so that's what I asked for. Never thought I needed more until I realized that I was approaching 20k miles and all I was getting was an oil change code (a-1). I'd bet they just did what I asked for and reset the darn thing. To me, that's inexcusable, but the rest of my experiences with that dealership have been fantastic.