In a nutshell, '01 Accord EX V6, 110,000, stock, threw an MIL. Friend's OBD-II scanner revealed P0401, EGR Flow Insufficient. I did some reasearch, and it looks like Honda prolonged the warranty on this defective system through 80,000 (or 7 years), and sells an EGR Pipe Kit, that should be installed to alleviate the problem. I am over the mileage, righteously pissed, and faced with a $400 repair quote. What are the options, right?

Next, a call to the dealer. This place has serviced this car for some time, and always treated me like a paying customer ought to expect. I am speaking with parts, getting a quote, and then asking for the part number (because, in this day and age of information, not to compare prices is silly). This guy named Steve tells me that it is against their policy to give out the part numbers over the phone. I ask if I would get it in person, and the answer is, again, no. <Without blowing my gasket somehow, still not sure how,> I ask for Steve's supervisor, who, it turns out, is on the phone at this moment. I hold a few minutes, Steve comes back to tell me that his supervisor is OK with me getting this part number. Yay!

So, I would like to keep going to this place. The service manager Charlie, with whom I've been dealing for years, is a great guy, the techs whom I know by name are really good, the location is convenient, etc. But, I need to nip this behavior in the bud, before I am forced to drive down there and have somebody's ***. Ideas?

 

sound to me like you dont really have an issue at all, if the problem arises again then go down there and get on em. the guy was probably either a n00b or just having a bad day. often times if he was transfered from a different parts department or dealership.. he would have different policies in his head. maybe it was just different from one dealership to the other?

 

Not totally clear on your problem. You wanted a part number, it took some prying but you got it. What's the issue?

If you don't like the way they handle you, go elsewhere. Nuff said.

 

Your options?

Buy the part, do it yourself
Buy the part, have an independent do it
Have the dealer do it.

Honda said no, why would the dealer be any different (they didn't build it)?
Unless their shop is absolutely dead, I seriously doubt that any kind of attitude will get you anywhere.

Let me know how the "a**s" thing works out

 

I bought my civic from autopark honda in cary. before i bought the car, there were a number of minor things I wanted relpaced, and everything was done within a day in very good condition. Thats really the only interaction ive had with a dealer locally, but they treated me really well so i figured id pass this along to you since you are in the area. Where do you live in raleigh? My family has been a customer at Merchants on sixforks/strickland for as long as I can remember. If you want to go there, pm me and ill give you my name to drop there. My family knows Toby, the manager on a first name basis. theyll take great care of you

 

You probably don't need to buy the part if you don't plan on the driving the car another 100k miles. I cleaned out my EGR myself. All you need is a socket set and an hour of your time.

As for the part numbers, I don't know why they wouldn't tell you over the phone. I've never had a problem in the past.

 

How is this an issue with the dealer? Someone didn't want to get you a part number (available online anyways) spoke to their manager and they gave it to you.

The issue is you don't want to pay $400? Refer to P_Adams post