jsm59

Car: '02 Accord V6 EX coupe, about 122k miles
I won't bore with details that led up to this question other than to say that I am questioning whether my local dealer really replaced my battery as they claim.

I question this because the "new' battery looks like the old one as far as dust/grime and has a date sticker of manufacture date of JAN 12. I bought the original batt from Honda in 5/2012. Obviously I didn't note the date on the original and didn't take a PIC before the "replacement'". The dealer was also very squirrely about even wanting to give me the paper work for the replacement. I had to finally demand it and they got agitated; something's not right IMHO. Also, this "replacement" was done under the Honda battery warranty.

Is there a way to really tell if I indeed have a new battery or not? The paper work for the "new" one has the same exact P/N as stated on the original which I still have. Neither mentions serial numbers.

-- jsm

NightHawk92

you could test the voltage if the old battery had low voltage. and if you test the battery the Dealership installed and if it low then Possibly the dealer ripped you off. So.. your Accord has 122K miles that seem's pretty low. My 03 Accord EXV6 has 135K just hit 2 days ago. I always think my Accord has High Mileage. for my Year of Accord but I don't know. Anyway if you think your Honda Dealer didn't replace the battery I would talk to the service advisor or Manager. if you suspect they didn't replace the battery.

MAD_MIKE

If it was done under a warranty plan at a Honda dealer, I would just go to a different Honda dealer and ask them to check the warranty history, and ask them do they think the battery was changed.

NightHawk92

or yea I would go to a different Honda Dealership like Mad Mike said that's also a very good idea.

jsm59

I already called another dealer and they said there really is not a definitive way to know. I want to go by the battery itself, not my paper work (which I finally got) or the history. This other dealer did also say that it seems odd that it has a date sticker of JAN 12; that a "new' battery has been in stock for 2 yrs.

Even forgetting whether the batt is new or not, there was no reason that the service writer became an a**h*ole after us asking for the paperwork again (in a reasonable manner; not yelling). He made an excuse why he couldn't give it to us the day he "replaced" the batt and said to come the next day (which was last Fri). We went the next day and he started making excuses again; that someone needed to sign something? Finally, he said "OK, I'll print it then we're done". He then ran to the printer, ran back to me and my wife and basically threw it at us and said "We're done". When I simply started asking out of curiosity, how would we really know it's a new battery that it looks dirty like my old one and has a 2-yr old date, he got even madder and said "We're done" and walked out of the service area!

A call to one of the owners provided a very half-hearted apology--he didn't seem that sorry that we were mistreated by this service writer and kept on about how he has the highest CSI. I reminded him that we bought the car there new and have been servicing it there ever since. I also told him that with such high miles, we will be likely looking for another Honda soon and this was not a good PR move. He said if we have lost confidence in the dealer, maybe we shouldn't go there anymore. Wow, business and wanting to retain good customer relationships is not what it used to be (I'm 54).

Up until this, they have been very good to deal with. I can't help but think there is something VERY fishy about this batt and their behavior.

-- jsm

Lost Again

Did you pay for a new battery or was this done under warranty?

And yes, a two year old battery being sold as "new" - well someone should be shot. Many places have a policy about "stock rotation" and re-charging batteries based upon date codes....and even some say that at some age the battery cannot be sold "as is" with a warranty. At least the company I work for has this type of policy.

Either way - the way you were treated isn't right. More calls, "other owner", Honda of America, BBB.

Last, I'm about the same age so I know what you mean.

jsm59

What was done (if anything) was Warranty. Honda's batt policy is a replacement FREE within 36mos and you start paying after that all the way to 100mos. The strangest thing is that after being dead,getting jumped and brought to the dealer, they said it was then testing OK and starting the car. We insisted on a new one and they grudgingly agreed. (They said they normally can't charge Honda if the Batt tested OK).

Part of why I am not going Zone/BBB/YELP/Name them, etc (yet) is that they are VERY close and convienent 9and have been OK in the past). In the far North Chicago suburbs there is a lack of choice as compared to the closer in areas. Once I complain on them, I don't want to go back (and probably vice-versa).

What I don't get is their behavior and evasiveness about the "new" batt and obtaining the paper work? it's a batt that probably costs them $30.

Lost Again

Well, your worry/fear is porb true. They did not replace the battery.

Just hang onto the paperwork that "says" they did. At least that is a "re-set" of the 36 month free replacement - then the pro-rate kicks in.

I guess the real question now is "why was it dead to begin with"? A battery that discharges (for some reason) can be recharged and still last - ok, maybe a bit of life was taken away.

jsm59

I asked about a reset when I "got" the battery. They said it does NOT reset. My warranty started in May, 2012--period. I do have another year FREE on it. Of course, replacement is only valuable if someone replaced it!



If they simply recharged the original (although we were only there about 1 1/2hr) and told us that is what they did, and to go from there--that's one thing and it would have been OK. But the y TOLD us they replaced it with a brand new one and then complained about how Honda won't pay since it didn't fail the load test they said they kept running.

holmesnmanny

batteries dont sit on shelves for two years

if it looks dirty its not replaced

MAD_MIKE

If there are no witness marks on the bolt threads that hold hte battery in, then it may have never been removed.

I would call Honda of America, I had a few questions in the past regarding service history and they were able to point me in the right direction with little fuss.

jsm59

I appreciate the support you guys are providing on such a seemingly trivial issue...

Not positive what "witness marks" are but the Honda Batt that was supposedly replaced was bought at the dealer being discussed in May, 2012. It was probably the 2nd-3rd Batt that was put in over the years, so there are probably marks on the hold-down bolts from previous installations/removals. The Batt's previous to the one bought in May 2012 were not Honda Batt's (except the true original from car purchase).

Again, there are two issues here:
1) The issue of whether this is a NEW Batt as per what they said AND my paperwork
2) Regardless of 1), why the service adviser was such a d**k about finally giving me my paper work and unwilling to even discuss that I was questioning it was a new Batt. Also, I was very put off by the supposed partner/owner not seeming to care much about my experience. This shows the level of idiocy that some businesses operate under these days. I am need of a timing belt replacement and new tires, both of which I had discussed with the dealer and gotten quotes for to purchase in the very near future. These are NOT cheap items. Also, being that I have an older, high-mileage Honda and will likely being replacing it soon, you would think they would treat you nicely in anticipation of a likely new car purchase/service. I don't understand the thinking now-a-days?