Recently one of our 4 Hondas, a 2000 Accord V6 has run into some trouble. To put it simply the dealer said it has a spun bearing and wants us to buy a new engine.

One day, the oil light came on while driving and my brother pulled over. When he got out he saw oil all over the rear quarter panel and rear wheel wells. He checked the oil, saw that it was low and refilled it. When he started the engine, it made odd noises, so we had it towed to the dealership.

There they determined that the engine had a spun bearing and needed a new engine. The reasons they had given me sounded like bs, a improperly put in dipstick and non oem oil filter. The improperly placed dipstick they claim caused the car to lose at least 2 quarts of oil, and thus starve the engine of oil.

Any ideas on what I should do? Honda corporate looked at the engine as well and they agreed with the dealer. I really don't see how the engine can lose that much oil through the dipstick and I know that the dipstick was in properly. The problem is that I can't prove that.

Any help would be appreciated. It's disappointing to be such loyal Honda customer (we bought 4 Hondas in the last 6 years) and for them to disregard their warranty duties like this and pawn a new engine off a spun bearing.

 

Did you do the oil change yourself?

If so you are pretty much screwed since you have no way to prove you did it right.

as for different parts being used than honda oem.... as long as the parts meet honda specs there should not be a problem....


Go to a regional manager......

 

Like he said. You have to climb the latter, and get to someone that makes decisions. Don't be to **** about it but be firm. Let them know how disapointed you are and that you're a loyal Honda customer. Remember the # rule, "The Customer is Always Right"

 

I hope I can climb the ladder. The dealer just quoted 7800 dollars to repair the damage.

 

When you mention "Honda Coporate", did you mean the "district Honda representative"? This is the person you want to talk to, Tell them you own 4 Honda's, show them any receipts to show the car was maintained properly and well cared for, they are pretty well minded and will work with you on getting your car fixed..remember, you want to speak directly to the district Honda rep!

 

The District Service Manager looked at my car as well. He was the one who agreed with the dealer. They wouldn't even give me his number.

Unfortunately, I have no reciepts, I did all the maintainance myself. Mainly oil changes, since the car has only 32k. I don't think it's an issue of maintainance for such a new car as I don't think something like this would have happened even if I ignored it for all 32k.

 

Well I have never heard of a District Service manager and don't believe there is such a person in the Honda corporate world.. The dealer may be giving you the run around to make quick cash off of your misfortune.. But, you can still go above the dealers heads and speak to American Honda directly via letters and phone calls, the numbers and addresses may be found in your owners manual, again let them know you own 4 Honda's and your cars have been well maintained by you.. These people are pretty generous and help more people than they **** off...

I have recently seen a motor replaced in a 99 Civic for the same circumstances as yours, this car had over 70,000 miles and Honda covered the cost of the motor, however,the customer did have to pay the labor cost since the car was well over the warranty period.. still a good deal..

 

The district service manager was assigned by Corporate Honda themselves so who knows. When I called again today to talk to a Regional Manager, one actually picked up the phone. I'm skeptical though, cause why would they be the ones who answer the main customer service line?

Great to hear, thanks for the advice! Keeping my fingers crossed...

 

Although you didn't directly say this word-for-word. The oil that came out onto your engine bay and wheel wells spouted from the dip-stick chute, right? I hope this is not the case, because then you could point to the area around the dip-stick and show that there was no oil present there from any expulsion related to an improperly seated dipstick.

If I were you I'd read up on the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act passed by congress in (i think) 1975.
In section 102(c) it establishes that "Tie-In" sales are prohibited in most circumstances. An example of such a warranty statement is: "Using non-Honda brand oil filters will void your warranty."
That seems to negate one of the dealer's arguments.

Just one of the resources (generic interpretation of the Act) is here: http://www.mlmlaw.com/library/guides...s/undermag.htm

You need to review your written warranty, and be adament to that you did have the dip-stick securely seated. Also read about the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, and inform a regional representative that you are aware they [dealer/district rep.] tried to mislead you regarding their oil filter statement.

Prepare yourself with some knowledge here, seek out a regional representative, that will allow you to state your case again, and then command the attention and care you deserve as a customer. Ther are also consumer services groups all over the country that help lend advice (and influence) in these types of situations.

Just FYI, I ran my car over lunch with the dip-stick dislodged, and the engine oil pressure warning light did not come on, and no oil spouted from the dip-stick chute.

Good Luck,
Karl

 

I forgot something:
I'll check my Helm's Service manual for my Integra, to see if there is a "one-way" type of valve where the dip-stick enters the block. If there is in my car, then there should be one in yours as well.
That would be good news, because then it wouldn't matter if the dip-stick was not seated properly.

Laters

 

Thanks for the advice, I'm currently working with a regional manager, but he didn't return me call today

Good to know there's additional resources and consumer groups. Unfortunately I don't have anythign to document their bs reasons yet, just things they have told me over the phone.

 

There have been serveral cases like this that I've read, where the engines just failed for no reason (probably a factory defect) but Honda/Acura has been unwilling to replace the parts under warranty.

The only consolation I can offer you is to keep trying. If he didn't call back today, call tomorrow, leave a message ASKING him why he didn't call back. If he says he's busy, tell him you are busy, too, and you need the car to commute to work/school/etc. They'll always come up with some bullshit excuse, so try to think of as many comebacks (not regative remarks or insults, but logical reasons to refute his excuse) for those excuses to catch him in his own lies.

If they say they can't help you anymore, keep bitching for his mananger, his manager's manager, all the way up until you get to the dealer president if you have to. The more you bitch, the more service you're going to get.

If that doesn't help, take it to another dealership and have them look at it. My friend, somehow convinced, with a enough bitching, Tustin Acura to replace all the vavles due to a misshift. The Acura dealer in Alhambra where he got the car wouldn't even consider repairing it, and neither would Cerritos. I dunno how the hell he convinced them it was their fault (car was under warranty), but they replaced his vavles for free. Since I think they knew he was trying to pull a fast one, they didn't do a good job, and the work had to be redone. Anyways, don't do something stupid like that, because karma's a bitch. But the moral is to keep bitching, keep trying, and don't give up.

If you make 7000 dollars in 1 month, then give up after one month of bitching. But if you don't, you can kinda see my point why it's worth it to bitch. Unfortunately, this doesn't only apply to car stuff, but most other things in life. Just my two cents...

 

so you get the engine fixed?

 

Hey thanks for the advice so!

So far Honda higher ups have been reviewing the case. The regional manager says he's trying to get the denied warranty repair overturned, but I bet it's a line he's feeding me.

I'm looking for a lawyer currently though just in case.

Thanks for the support guys, I apprecite it though.

 

Any Update?

It sucks that Honda does not cover vehicle (rental/demo) replacement while they deliberate over what to do on yours. It specifically states that in the warranty.

 

SO WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? your getting a new motor at their cost right?

 

They are still deliberating. I'd really like to know what's taking them so long, but I don't know what to do to give them a push.

 

i had a huge probloem wit honda warranty repairs too. my gears were grinding when shifting into second at high RPM, and soon after stated popping out of gear. i asked them multiple times what to do about the gear grinding and they said to bring it back when it does it every time, so they can diagnose it. so then its tarted popping out of gear, so i took it back. they tok the tranny out, and dissassembled it. and then said there were problens internally and sent some parts off to get inspected to see if its under warranty or not. well it turned out it wasnt under warranty becasue of a bent shift fork, and they wanted to charge me the labor to put it back together (~800 bux for everything) i ended up getting it done for free, but here is what i did......
i grabed my warranty bookelt. read the first few pages, itll tell you what to do if your having problems with your warranty being disputed. they ahve a "customer service" of sorts in the warranty dept. and u call them. let them handle the problem, and im sure within 2 days ofu calin them the honda dealership will call you back and tell u they are going to fix it under warant.y....

 

Thanks Teken, I will definately take that advice to heart. Good stuff.

Johnzm, would you be able to get that number? I can't seem to find my warranty booklet... thanks.

 

wow, i'm sorry about your situation. i've been screwed by the dealers a few times to but enough bitching (like obd2gsr said) and seeking addtional help/advice can solve alot of problems. hope everything turns out well for you and keep us updated.