Monday, March 4, 2013

Honda - love the card, HATE the dealer

Been a long time since I have been here, but sometimes you need to say something loud for the world to hear:

Honda of Joliet is the worst dealership on the face of the earth.

Took my wife's CR-V to the dealer because it wouldn't start. My daughter was using the car. Tried to back out of a parking spot and the car died. When I got over to look at it, it was similar to an issue that happened less that 2 years ago. Timing chain. I spent a grand back then. Not 50k miles later and the problem is back. Had it towed to the dealer to see what was wrong, I was hoping it was under warranty, but 12 months or 12k miles on a part that should never fail. Hmmm.....

Anyway, the dealer calls be back. Timing jumped 6 teeth. Yeah, I figured. Also the camshaft is worn. And maybe the valves are bent. To be safe, you need to replace the engine.

WHAT?

First of - the car has 202k miles on it. The camshaft SHOULD be worn a little. Second, you are just guessing the valves are bent. No proof? Third - seven grand for a new engine? Are you frigging joking with me? Needless to say, I was not happy, and I expressed it as such. No thanks - I'd don't think it's as bad as you claim. I'll just take it to someone that wants to fix my car. Sure, I wasn't very nice, but would you be happy with being told you needed a new engine?

I guess saying no to Honda of Joliet is akin to saying no to the mafia, because you are pretty much a pile of crap to them at this point. I was working overtime, so my wife went to pay their $120 for a diagnostic. My daughter went with, and the service center was nothing but rude to her. Hey - if you are pissed at me, fine. But you show my wife respect. They have her pay the fine, and then disappear. Um.....keys? Ya know - we need those things to start the car when a good mechanic fixes the timing? It took 20 minutes until my daughter walks up to the guy and tells him to give us the keys. So nice, Roger.

I head out there Friday to get it towed to my local car repair shop that had just fixed my daughter's car. Ironically, her issue was also timing. Anyway, I get to the dealer to find my car so I can help the tow truck, and boy, do I find it. First, it's jammed in this corner of the lot. Second, the car is in pieces. Some of the engine parts are on the passenger seat. Other parts, like screws, oil dipstick and the spark plus, are sitting on the wiper blades in the weather. I pop the hood and there is the engine cover just laying there. It was nice to be able to see the "worn" camshaft. Yeah - it looked like it had 200k miles of use on it. The car started find just before the timing jump, Honda - there are no performance issues.

So I paid $120 to basically be told "screw you". I guess if you don't just open your pocket book to Honda of Joliet and let them take what they want for crappy work, you are treated like dog crap.

Here's the comment I sent them. I am sure I will get little response except some half-assed "sorry you were upset" non-apology. No - I am sorry I ever set foot in your business - I won't ever again.

I am done with your dealership. Whether or not I am kind or considerate, you do NOT treat a customer's car they way you treated mine. Because I don't bend over and just accept to spend 7 grand to replace an engine that is not that badly damaged doesn't mean you leave my car in pieces, push it out the door and treat myself and my wife like crap. I guess the adage of the customer being right doesn't apply with Honda of Joliet. With your company, it's just accept what we say and open up our wallets, or we'll treat you like dirt and not complete to work I paid for. I paid $120 for a diagnostic, and since I didn't want to drop in a new engine, you leave my car in pieces by the fence? Head cover off -  screws, dipstick and plugs sitting outside by the wiper blades - coils sitting on the passenger seat. How the hell is that "good customer service"? Maybe that's just "Honda of Joliet you didn't bow down to our greatness so f*ck you" customer service. Didn't even do the common courtesy of putting the engine cover back on and the plugs back in. You did half a diagnostic - you owe me $60.

I will never, EVER come to your dealership for anything. I will let everyone of my friends that own Hondas to get their service and parts done at other dealers. I will purchase my next Honda from another dealership.

You could have been helpful, but you have been so much more.

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