Poll: Water Leaks by Build Dates

[Mish]

I called the dealership I bought the car from and they sure enough turned on the stupid for me. But after I mentioned that water retention of such magnitude is a near total, they became a lot more cooperative. Tomorrow, Monday I am dropping it off for the entire week, so they can research the problem, fix it and replace carpeting while they are at it. It has been nearly a week now and floor is still soaking wet, even after I pumped out at least a gallon of water with my wet vaccum cleaner.

I respect Honda cars and friendly sales staff, that never pushed me into buying any of my 4 new hondas in the past, but Honda Service is a total waste of skin. Thank g-d my Hondas are not my past Mitsubishis, or BMWs and I never have to fix much, but whenever I get some problem, even the little ones Honda Service always plays dumb and tries to cheat me out of repair with whatever means possible.

I will post an update as soon as I get my car back from the delaership and post an excuse they give me of why they could not find any problem and did not fix anything

[Chiasma]

We are now on leak number 3 - front right, front left and now back right (I think - no diagnosis yet but the back right carpet is soaked), and dealership number 4.

The Ridge has been out of commission almost a month in the past year so far, and has to go in again next week. Have not had (or been offered) a carpet replacement to date, but, I have told them that I expect one this time - full cabin. Will also ask to be present when all carpet is ripped out, to check for rust damage as this water has been sitting there a while I would say - I just didn't see it because of the removable carpets.

Interestingly enough though, our Honda doesn't smell 'moldy' per se - although I think it has been wet inside almost all its life. It gets a heavy, almost 'sweet' smell when it has been sitting a few days, closed up. I am now getting to recognize that smell and dislike it intensely - though luckily it doesn't make me ill. Even my leather seats have 'discoloured' - either from humidity or perhaps there is a drip I still haven't found. Honda won't acknowledge that issue.

Love the truck - hate this problem. I think I should open a new file at Corporate for this new leak - they need to know the extent of this problem. Though I know not all Ridges have this problem, if you have had one leak, it seems you may be more than likely to find more on the same vehicle. I am somewhat baffled by the manufacturing process that would cause this and I wish Honda Corporate would take a more proactive role in recalling or replacing these multiply-hole-riddled vehicles. I would certainly accept a replacement, and I would not trade this truck in on any other brand than a Honda.

P.S. .. Why, when I use the word 'dealership' does that cause a link to another site I did not link to? Is this a 'feature' of this board? hmmmm Spam knows no limits!

[Dragonslayer]

I do not have a leak, my rl's build date is 05/05 , it has almost 5,000 miles on it now . I see that 05/05 is one of the lesser leak build dates, but I do not see any common denomintor . I for one have never taken my rl off roading, my 2cents . Have any of you with leaks taken their rl's off roading?
If there were a leak I would have known by now, we have already been drenched with 66 inch's of rain this year with two more months of typical, for here, of rain to go . This looks like our rainiest year ever .

[JOZ RIDG]

Originally Posted by Chiasma

We are now on leak number 3 - front right, front left and now back right (I think - no diagnosis yet but the back right carpet is soaked), and dealership number 4.

The Ridge has been out of commission almost a month in the past year so far, and has to go in again next week. Have not had (or been offered) a carpet replacement to date, but, I have told them that I expect one this time - full cabin. Will also ask to be present when all carpet is ripped out, to check for rust damage as this water has been sitting there a while I would say - I just didn't see it because of the removable carpets.

Interestingly enough though, our Honda doesn't smell 'moldy' per se - although I think it has been wet inside almost all its life. It gets a heavy, almost 'sweet' smell when it has been sitting a few days, closed up. I am now getting to recognize that smell and dislike it intensely - though luckily it doesn't make me ill. Even my leather seats have 'discoloured' - either from humidity or perhaps there is a drip I still haven't found. Honda won't acknowledge that issue.

Love the truck - hate this problem. I think I should open a new file at Corporate for this new leak - they need to know the extent of this problem. Though I know not all Ridges have this problem, if you have had one leak, it seems you may be more than likely to find more on the same vehicle. I am somewhat baffled by the manufacturing process that would cause this and I wish Honda Corporate would take a more proactive role in recalling or replacing these multiply-hole-riddled vehicles. I would certainly accept a replacement, and I would not trade this truck in on any other brand than a Honda.

I just returned Tuesday from a 3043 mile round trip up through Oregon (from So. Calif.)
I had my dealer do the right front TSB 05-045 before I left just incase.

Drove through heavy rain quite a bit but not for long periods. Drove through lots of snow and wet roads up in Sumpter and no sign of leaks yet.

Had to stop at a Honda dealer in Medford when my OLM hit 5% to have oil and filter changed with 790 miles left to get home.

I asked the Service writer if he heard of leaks and he said no.
I asked the mechanic changing my oil and he said yes, he had seen a couple leakers.

He described the right front fender as a panel, why I don’t know, and said this panel (fender) had to be removed and pointed to where water runs down the windshield at right A-pillar, under a gasket he pointed at and down in front of the firewall where water enters unsealed areas and into the cabin area.
He did not explain how water gets into the A-pillar above the sound block. Not sure if this is all fact or if they really know for sure how water enters.

I have read that the right rear could get soaked from a bad right front water leak - water running to rear area. Hopefully you don’t have the right rear leak. Pictures that are posted of this leak only indicate a small trickle entering.

You mentioned a left front water leak. There have only been a couple of these mentioned here on the ROC.
Would be very interested in learning more about this one. Keep us posted with any information on that one.

From what little I have learned from a few dealers the front leaks are hard to get to and repair (must remove a lot of sheet metal)
I’m thinking that’s were the TSB 05-045 came from, much easier to drill a hole in the sound block to let water out.

Insist on new carpets.
Can’t understand how any dealer would not offer or deny new carpets with the leaks you describe.

[Chiasma]

Well, here's where we are right now. In a nutshell, so far, nowhere.

Someone at American Honda called the dealership after I started my file. I am not sure exactly what happened, or who that person talked to, but, when I called my service advisor back the other day to ask the status of the work, he complained to me a number of times that he had been 'reamed out' (his words) because I started that file (even though I had told him in advance, given him the number and told him what I told them so he knew what I had understood from what he told me the day I took the vehicle in).

In the end, the customer (me) was the one forced to 'apologize' for 'misunderstanding' HIM (just to keep the peace). I don't know how I could have misunderstood and I am sure I did not - but, I need to work with this person and I needed him calm to do so (not that it helped in the end it seems). Apparently, that was not enough to soothe him though.

I had taken 61 pages of comments and pictures from this board (which took me 6 plus hours to excerpt - with no names - and highlight) to him the day before because my understanding from his initial talk with me when I brought the vehicle in was that they would not have a clue where to start looking for leaks and so he didn't know how they might find any but they would replace the carpet - which was soaking wet and they acknowledged that there is a problem.

I thought it was silly to replace the carpet and leave the leak problem unsolved so I asked him then if he wanted some hints for where they might look for the leak. He very obviously didn't believe me when I listed off a few spots I know you all have found problems, so I brought him the information. I could have just taken a page or two plus pictures but I wanted them to have it all in context so it would not look as though it was just me who had written it all up.

I called him again Thursday since originally he had said that the carpet should be in Thursday (and they had not called me with any update). I had asked to see the interior when the carpet had been removed. He said that the carpet came in Wednesday but the underpad and clips were on critical backorder. The truck had not been touched since I brought it in and would not be until the carpet was ready to go in. I asked him to find out when the clips etc were expected to get there as I would like (unless the truck was ripped up) to have it back for the weekend. He said he would call me back. It is Saturday and no word at all.

I called the service manager yesterday (Friday) afternoon and left a nice message saying I thought I should speak with him and that I had asked to have the truck back for the weekend if possible (and would return in on Monday when they opened again). No response.

American Honda finally called me on Friday morning (more than 48 hours after my initial call but no big deal). I didn't say so but I was annoyed that they/she (?) called the dealership to bawl them out before talking to me again, but, I kept my cool. I did tell her (Julie) that I had been told by the service advisor that HE got in trouble because of me and that I felt that was not good practice for him to relate that to me to make me feel guilty. Oh well. On to the meat of the matter. She took my story again basically. We discussed that it is hard to find these leaks (full agreement on that - never said it wasn't). I told her what information I had given them to 'help' them determine where to start looking. No comment - good or bad. I think actually 'looking' might help but I kept my mouth shut on that too.

In the middle of the conversation we also discussed the auto door unlock 'feature'. I had not asked this dealership to fix that for me- for pay or otherwise. I had asked American Honda for 'information' about what might be done by them, but, I had NOT asked American Honda to fix it (at this time). But, apparently just me bringing it up gave them leverage. I got the 'goodwill' thing, and the 'I' (the CS person at AM) 'could' authorize that (or anything) if they wanted to. When I asked why some were getting it done under 'warranty' she said it was goodwill, not warrranty, and then mumbled something about how ... well ... that didn't mean I was less deserving of goodwill than anyone else ... but ... maybe she could negotiate a discount for me. I now truly fear she will talk to THIS dealership about this when I had not, and did not want, to get THEM to do this for me anyway - and make them even more angry with me.

The only other thing the AM rep mentioned was that it might be possible, if this dealership does not find the leak, for me to find another dealership who can work with a 'leak specialist' to find the leak (or leaks) - and that they MIGHT pay for that service. But there are no more dealerships close by here so I guess I will have to take the truck back to TX if that is necessary.

So, here it is Saturday. No truck. No word about the truck. As far as I know not one stitch of work has been done on the truck and we are now 6 days into this. AM and the dealership mad at ME for trying to help them help me (at least as far as I can figure out). I never yelled. I never demanded. I was firm and I was very helpful.

What the heck is wrong with this picture?

P.S. Just snuck down to the dealership and found my truck to take a look at it to see if anything has been done at all. It looks as though they have been in the truck and it also looks as though they may have done some kind of smoke test. Hope that kind of test is from the outside only? I couldn't get in as they have the only key but on the outside of the driver's door at the top there is a lot of what looks like smoke residue. The carpet is still on the floor and it is sitting in the lot. There is a piece of plastic on the driver's seat and paper on the driver's floor. The extra mats have been turned back or removed - hard to see the back, but the front passenger side is flipped partially over. Otherwise the truck looks as it did when I took it in on Monday.

I am now so frustrated that I could not bring myself to go in and talk to them for fear I will blow up. Perhaps that was their aim - to keep me away till they darned well feel like communicating with me. That is how it feels anyway.

[Dragonslayer]

My 2 cents, I have been known to blow up , many times , but hey , I'm a redhead and a capricorn to boot . But I know one thing when I do blow up , I get wht I want, THE SQUEEKY WHEEL GETS THE GREASE

It looks like they want to play pass the buck . It sucks when you know that you are right and they try to make you feel guilty . I do not play anyone's game, I make them play mine, or else .

[spence2316]

i was wondering about the leaks.is it something that is noticeable or soething that is hidden(hard to notice)mine was built in 12-05

[tlaudio]

Where is the choice for NO Water Leaks? That would be a good comparison to those that have had water leaks......

TL

[cdepuydt]

Originally Posted by tlaudio

Where is the choice for NO Water Leaks? That would be a good comparison to those that have had water leaks......

TL

That's a great idea. Then you could see how many trucks have leaks compared to how many don't. I mean, if you didn't know any better and you came out to this forum, you'd think the RL is nothing but a gas sucking, leaky, sqeaky, piece of junk.

I too would like to see how many folks here have leaks compared to the total number of ROC members.

[sleepdds]

I have a 4/05 build with the A-pillar leak.
Dealer has had the truck in 3 times for repair and had the carpet replaced twice.