Honda please educate your dealers

[stinger]

Made an appointment and took the R/L in for Transmission, Transfer Case and VTM-4 fluid replacements @ 48000 Kms,
The service advisor insisted that Ridge has no separate Transfer Case and just replacing the Transmission fluid is good enough.
luckily I had the Honda's "Canadian Maintenance Schedule" in my pocket, showed him clearly where it states all 3 fluids,
1-Use only Genuine Honda VTM-4 rear differential fluid.
2-Use only Genuine Honda ATF-Z1 automatic transmission fluid.
AND
3-Use only Genuine Honda Hypoid gear oil GL4 or GL5 with a viscosity of SAE 90 or 80-90W Transfer fluid.

He went to check with the guy in the "Glass Office" and said "NO! the transfer case is a part of the transmission and the transmission fluid is all we need to change"
so why do they mention 3 different fluids here in the maintenance schedule?? I asked.
he said "Its a PRINTING mistake! and I want you to show me where the transfer case is"
I just told him to give me the keys back and I just wanted to leave,
he finally makes a couple of phone calls and says "OK! we can do that"
but to me he still didn't look very convinced,
2 hours later, I got my truck back, I see on the invoice that they replaced transmission, transfer case and VTM-4 oils and have 3 separate charges for them,
I just hope to God that they done the work because the next one will be at 96000 Kms
in worst case scenario I have the bill to prove.
what bugs me is they keep saying "Bring It Home To Honda" and "No One Knows Your Honda Better Then Your Honda Dealer"
Oh, and they made a note on the invoice"After Market Oil Filter"(because I do my own oil changes and use Mobil-1 and K&N oil filter)

[avenger]

That place is not good. If you have another dealer close, I would go to them.

[X-Brawn]

Kind of sounds like the service department at my dealership. Sorry if they sound incompetent. I'd definitely suggest looking elsewhere for your next appointment, if possible.

[HondaTech]

That's one of the problems with service advisers. They are just salespeople. I cannot count the number of times I have listened to my service adviser explain something to a customer over the phone and been taken aback by what he's said. The advisers have no real technical knowledge.... sometimes a computer based video is all the instruction they get on a typical vehicle. It pays to know the tech personally... I personally field a lot of calls from the advisers about product specifics. Just the other day I had a customer wander back into my service bay and ask about the VCM system on the 08 Accords. The salesperson did a very poor job of explaining it.... big surprise there.

I am probably one of the few that knows about the transfer fluid at the dealer here. It is not done as part of the routine maintenance packages. If it were up to me it would be... but I don't make that call.

IMO - its not that critical of a fluid to change. It needs to be there, but there is very little wear in that area, and the fluid will likely last the life of the vehicle. But, if you want it changed, you can go right ahead.

It's a little unnerving when the customer knows more than the business...

For example, I was discussing the theory of an airplane on a giant treadmill, with a friend while at the airport. The basic problem is the treadmill runs in the opposite direction on travel. as the plane tries to go forward, the treadmill turns backwards making the plane stay put..(or maybe not?)

Anyway, the discussion went on and some pilots were brought into the conversation. All I will say is I know I am right, its simple physics.... and it is worrisome when the pilot - the person flying the aircraft - doesn't get the concept of airspeed vs. ground speed.

I digress.


HT

[stinger]

Originally Posted by avenger

That place is not good. If you have another dealer close, I would go to them.

This is the 3rd and supposed to be better of 3 dealers I have tried so far.
1st one: (where I bought the R/L)after the 1st oil change they didn't know how to reset the maintenance minder, took them 45 minutes to reset the MM, and when they were done, the driver seat was covered in grease.
2nd one: First time, smashed the front bumper on my wife's Civic during routine maintenance,
Second time, during routine service, they backed my R/L in to a concrete light post and scratched the rear bumper RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY EYES off course they fixed it all up, BUT, I don't need that.

Honda Tech: an informed customer is a PITA isn't it
thanks to ROC and helpful members like yourself that even people like me know our R/L better then some Honda dealers.

Don't get me wrong, Honda makes great vehicles, this is the best vehicle I have ever owned and driven, I love it. but not happy with the dealerships and their service departments so far.

[wrenrj1]

Originally Posted by HondaTech

.

...and it is worrisome when the pilot - the person flying the aircraft - doesn't get the concept of airspeed vs. ground speed.

I digress.
HT

Further digression for nostalgia sake. You have to watch the whole thing, well, just because....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3rXK7NhWN8