I'm from Vancouver, BC and here is my story.

DON'T EVER BRING YOUR CAR INTO BURRARD ACURA

For those of you who are too lazy to read through the whole thing, there's are Cole's Notes on the bottom.

Details: I have a 99 Integra Type-R and am the only driver and I bought this car new. No accidents, no mechanical problems EVER. ~31,000kms on the odometer as of today.

I brought my car into BCAA for inspection, because the 3 yr/36,000km warranty was expiring and wanted the full inspection to make sure that there were no problems with the car, otherwise I could get them fixed under warranty. Anyways, BCAA said that my car was basically perfect. I even spoke to the mechanic who checked my car, and he said..and i quote "This car is basically brand new. I wish all of the cars I tested were this perfect." He tested the compression, engine parts, suspension, etc. etc. Anyways, he suggested that I get my valves adjusted because they were slightly off, but he said there was no rush for this, and that I could even get away with not even getting this problem fixed. He said that the worse thing that was going to happen was that I was going to burn through my valves slightly faster than stock, but he said there's no rush to get it fixed.

Anyways, this Saturday July 10, I decide to bring my car into Burrad Acura to get the valves adjusted - BIG MISTAKE. I pick up my car just as the service department is closing and I noticed that that there was an extra 20kms on my car, which I thought was weird. Then, as I drive away, I notice that my engine felt kind of choppy. I thought that maybe I was just tripping out, so I drove a few more minutes and then definitely noticed something was wrong. I stopped the car and then started it and then the check engine light came on. I drove it a few more blocks and the engine seemed to be fine again, but I was getting kind of worried, so I drove the car home. Burrard Acura was closed already, so I waited until today (Monday July 12) to bring it in.

This morning, I started the car and my idle was extremely rough. It'd go to almost 0, then 500rpm, then over 1000rpm, and I was thinking "Oh God, what did Burrard Acura do". I drive it straight to Burrard Acura and speak to the Assistant Service Manager (the actual service manager was out). He said he'll check it sometime later.

I got a call 15 minutes ago and he said "You've got a real problem with your car." I ask him what the problem is and he says that I've got a bent valve. I tell him that the car was perfect when I brought it in, I've even got the BCAA reports, and I wanted to know what he's going to do to fix the problem. He then has the audacity to tell me "NOTHING. We didn't cause this problem. You caused this problem by over-revving the engine. He says a problem like this is caused by someone overrevving to 9500rpm". I tell him that I have NEVER overrevved the engine, and the car has been NOWHERE near redline since the car was returned from Burrard Acura. He tells me that it's not his responsibility and that he'll have his mechanic check it out tomorrow to confirm the problem, but that I"ll have to pay to get this fixed. I'm extremely irritated at this point because I took my car in to get the Valves adjusted and next thing you know, there's a BENT VALVE?!??!?! Does no one else find this suspect? I then tell him that I'm not going to pay for the damage that Acura has done and I told him that there was an extra 20kms put on my car since I dropped it off there. I told him that I've heard bad stories about Burrard Acura, but I decided to give them the benefit of the doubt and get my car fixed there. He then AGAIN tells me, well it's not my fault you over-revved your engine. This is a problem that you're going to have to pay to fix. They won't give me a courtesy car or anything and I have to call them tomorrow.

I then am pissed off and ask my dad to call from his office. (I sound like a little kid on the phone, so I was hoping that he would be more reasonable with a more mature voice) He calls and gets the same response. The assistant service manager then says "Most Type-R's have this problem".

If I had over-revved my engine, then I would take the blame and pay for it. However, those that know me, know that I BABY my car. I take care of this car like it was my first-born child and there is NO way that I over-revved. I've never taken my car to Mission and have been extremely careful with it.

All that I can say is **** BURRARD ACURA. I want some resolution, otherwise I'm going to call for a MASSIVE boycotting of the service department and the store.

I'll post an update as soon as I hear from them tomorrow afternoon.

Cole's Notes:

1) Took car to BCAA, said car was damn near perfect, but could get valves adjusted, but not an impeding problem, could be done whenever.
2) Took car to Burrard Acura to get valves adjusted.
3) Got car back, noticed an extra 20kms in the odometer and then when driving home, car kept sputtering. Check engine light came on and idle was very erratic.
4) Took car back to Burrard Acura and they said it was a bent valve and that it was MY FAULT from over-revving the engine and they will not fix it.
5) Waiting to hear back tomorrow from mechanic to confirm the diagnostic.

 

Do you have a documentation noting the drop-off & pickup odometer readings?

What sort of a proof do you have to put those scumbags liable? We know you're telling the truth, but unless you can prove your story, you won't get anywhere. That's how fugged up some dealerships are (not all).

Also, contact Better Business Bureau (if you have one in Canada)...

 

my local acura dealer have become some serious ******** as well.

 

I would bring the extra 20km to their attention. If they test drove it, which they should have, 20km seems a little excessive. Sounds like someone at the service department had a little fun with your R after doing the adjustment (if that service was even performed at all). For the engine sputtering and check light, by procedure, the service department is supposed to make a note of it before starting any work. At my shop we are liable for any damage not previously noted. The part about R's having bent valve problems sounds like total bullshit. If your valve was bent they should have called you before adjusting them--their story makes no sense. I would file a complaint with the Bureau of Automotive Repair, that will get their attention hopefully. Sorry to hear about your shitty experience man.

 

Stuff like this is why I avoid bringing my car into the dealerships I hope everything works out for you..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Boston &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Stuff like this is why I avoid bringing my car into the dealerships I hope everything works out for you..</TD></TR></TABLE>

You find some good ones and some bad ones. Rarely do many owners have the option/ability to take it somewhere else they feel they can trust.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by onyx00 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

You find some good ones and some bad ones. Rarely do many owners have the option/ability to take it somewhere else they feel they can trust.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

True. At the same time, that's why there is a board like H-T.com... so, one can at least ease the pain a bit when looking for the right dealership/shop. I'm pretty lucky to have one dealership & a shop that I can trust in my area.

 

Bring it to the dealership's attention that it was JUST inspected IMMEDIATELY prior to the valve "adjustment".
And that the inspector is willing and able to testify to that effect. HTH Ed

 

I hope that you'll be able to get your problem fixed. If not by the dealership, hopefully someone from honda canada will be able to fix it for you.

If not, I suppose there is always small claims court...

 

Does Canada have a Better Business Bureau or an Attorney's General Office? If so, hopefully they have other complaints filed against them, which will add credibility to your story. In court, it will be a matter of circumstantial evidence at best.

A valve adjustment takes a flat head screwdriver, a 10mm socket wrench, a pair of pliers, a set of feeler guages, and about an hour to complete. This is unfortunate.

 

Being that I love my Integra I convinced my dad to check out the 2004 TL on opening night....he loved it so much he bought one on the spot

Fast forward to the 7500 mile checkup...tire replacement (the initial ones had a weird compound), and the headliner was falling off (replaced under warranty). He gets the car back and it's got a visably buckled trunklid, a DEEP scratch on the trunklid, a good 25 miles on it (no explanation), the right front leather seat has a 2 inch tear, and the headliner is covered in greasy finger marks.

Suffice to say it was disappointing, especially when the dealer owner lives in our neighborhood.

The service guy just says "we'll make it right" and gets a bit pushy.

I never will bring my car to a dealer. There's some great techs and some of the higher-turnover techs, and the latter are whom my family seems to get

 

Time to call Honda of Canada and report them about this dealer. I think they stand by the customer since they know all dealers are ripoff, especially warranty claim!

 

A lesson I think a lot of us have learned. Many many acura dealerships have absolutely horrible customer service and techs, i've had a shitty experience as well. very shitty. Try to search for a good one around your area, and definitely report that one to the BBB

 

i bring my R into the dealership as a LAST and ONLY resort. when i do, i dont leave the premises....at all. i worked at an acura dealership for sometime, and the one i was at was pretty decent to its customers, took care of its customers' cars, mostly. however, the environment alone and dealing with close to a hundred cars everyday, i know the potential for disaster is there.

if you can prove on paper the previous "health" of your R prior to going for a valve adjustment and the sequence of events leading up to your claim, it should help your situation. you said that you had gone earlier and was given a perfect bill of health. do you have that record written on paper? if so, a third party investigating this would see that it wouldnt make sense and would help your case. in my opinion, the 20kms difference on the odo if recorded on paper is a huge piece of evidence against the dealership. there is no way a dealership should log on that many miles for fear of liability.

good luck, and ask around for a good lawyer for leverage.

 

i think its time to start having protests infront of the dealership, and try to have media attention to this dealership. Basically screw them over dere business until they make things right.

 

...this whole story is making me lyree about taking my casr in for the 105k check up. now i kno to take not eof the miles, and other things that would help me in this case.

 

ask for your local district service manager. (DSM) explain to him your situations.

 

thats fuggin gay.. im NEVER goign to deal with burrard acura!!!!!

 

How do they know it has a bent valve? did they tear the head off?

If you adjust the valves too tight the car will do exactly what you described. Back off on the spec a little bit. Hook up a vacuum gauge to check your adjustment. It should be pulling ~20-21 inches at idle.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Dogginator &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">In court, it will be a matter of circumstantial evidence at best.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm not sure that this is the case.

If this was a criminal case, there wouldn't be enough evidence to convict, but in a civil case, the burden of proof is substantially lower.

With a document signed by the dealer indicating a clean bill of health, and a problem being reported the day after the car was in for servicing, I'm not sure that you are correct.

The auto manufacturers have set up an arbitration process that may be a better option -- though I am not sure if it was set up to only cover defects in new cars, or service problems as well.

 

You never should have taken the car home. When you picked the car up to take it home was the showroom open? I would have drove it off the lot and realized it was screwed then took it back. DEMAND that they open the garage and store the car inside over the weekend. Then you have proof that you did not use the car and that you shut it off as soon as something was wrong. You would have the salesperson attest to this.

If nobody was there when you picked it up, I can see why you took it home regardless. I would not want to leave an R in the parking lot. Hell my 4dr GSR HAS to be stored in the garage when it gets dropped off at the dealer.

Don't let these guys screw you over. Talk to the guy that originally worked on your car and have him say AGAIN that the car was and is mint. You took it there for a valve adjustment and you paid for it. So there should be NO problems with that.

I would bring it to another dealership and have this one pay for them to do the repairs as they would never be allowed near my car again.

 

screwd yourself my taking the car home period.
and adjusting valves is not as easy as you think, i think he bent the valve by adjusting them incorrectly.
overrevving is highly unlikely, unles it was some kid

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MugenHonda &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">unless it was some kid
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Happens all the time. Some young tech thinks he deserves your car, or that you don't drive it enough and decides to take it out.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tweakmeister &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Happens all the time. Some young tech thinks he deserves your car, or that you don't drive it enough and decides to take it out.</TD></TR></TABLE>

last dealership i went to the kid who wanted to beat the **** out of the car didnt even wait. i had the courtesy car going around 65 mph on the free way and he flys by me at around 90 mph with taillights on when passing me. (he saw me, and was like oh ****?)

never the less i had a nice word to the service manager regarding the retard.

 

wow I would want to kill everyone. You should confront the tech that worked on your car, ask him what he did, and why there are so many extra miles on the car. See what the tech has to say and see if you get conflicting stories.

I also think the excuse "this happens to a lot of Type Rs" is lame. That has no ground whatsoever and dont let them use that as another excuse. Im also curious how exactly they know its a bent valve. If they claim its a bent valve, in this case shouldnt they have to prove that it is the problem, and therefore take the head off and prove their case? Otherwise its just speculation and trying to avoid covering the damage.

hope it works out bro