8th Gen Honda Civic2006 and up is the 8th Generation Honda Civic. It adds a new look to the Civic line-up. A really smooth front end separates it from previous generations while still carrying the reliability of the Civic name.
I understand that you are in business and I understand that you will not get paid to repair a problem that you can duplicate.
I agree that Green's reponse was very rational and spot-on. Especially the part where he said "I do agree with the fact that they should take care of the problem"
You seem to be unwilling to accept that the problem exists. So in essence, you are calling all of the people who are experiencing this problem liars or fools. Your opinion on the subject is in contradiction with Honda's opinion, because they don't issue a TSB for a problem that has not reached a level of critical mass.
Speaking for myself, I can tell you that I am neither a liar or a fool. I am a very technically inclined person who has years of (admittedly) hobbyist experience in working on cars. I know how a manual gearbox works and I know that, no matter if it is a corvette or a civic, it should not be so hard to shove the stick into the 3rd gear slot. Nor should the stick pop back out of 3rd after you engage it!
Again, I am not attacking you. I understand your perspective. I also have experience in my industry with attempting to diagnose problems with medical instruments when i can not duplicate the customer complaint. It is frustrating indeed.
But there is no question about this problem. people don't like to waste hours of their lives going to dealers to try to resolve imaginary problems. The problem exists. it is well documented and a TSB has been created to address the issue.
There are already contless blogs on the internet with reports of people who have had the problem fixed and are now happy with the performance of the vehicle. I will be one of the people who gets the problem resolved, by following Green's advice and interfacing with my Honda dealer in a rational and polite manner. They will duplicate the problem and fix it. I am 100% confident about that.
It seems that you are dead set against even considering the fact that there really is a problem. You have already made up your mind that the problem can't exist. So me and all the other people who have this problem are idiots, liars, and fools. Honda is full of idiots and fools also, because they acknowledged the problem and created a TSB to deal with it.
Man, I'm glad you don't work for my local Honda dealer!
Last edited by Mosfet32 : 05-08-2008 at 05:02 PM.
Reason: typo
Well I actually agree 100% w/ gearbox....it's not that I am dismissing the customer before I even work on...you guys really think I would still have a job or gross 40k a month for my dealership? Not happening.
I listen carefully to ever detail, I ask alot of question to better understand my customers, I test drive with em, whatever they need. I am here to help....I don't just turn people away like you guys think, wait, I guess you guys are here everyday?
This is how it goes..............duplicate complaint first, diagnosis 2nd, & repair third. If I can't complete the first step how am I gonna do the 2nd? It's like saying you got hit & run, reporting it to your insurance, & just expecting them to pay for it....no way are they just gonna cut you a check. There are procedures for everything. I don't think you guys understand still. So you guys are saying that everyone that walks in w/ a tsb should get a transmission rebuilt? Thats why it's a tsb & not a recall. Because not all vehicles are affected. Obviosuly I have not seen one of these affected vehicles yet or I would have fixed it. Thats money in the bank.......SO NO I HAVE NOT MADE UP MY MIND, I AM TELLING YOU WHAT I HAVE SEEN OR EXPIERENCED
As far as dealerships go....I know exactly what gearbox is talking about. I grew up without alot of money. When I finnaly managed to get a car I had no money or no means of having someone fix it. It was me and my craftsman tool set figuring things out. I couldn't afford jiffy lube if I wanted! This is how I got started in this field.... and yes....just because we are a dealership does not mean we don't have idiots.....Yes there are people out there who think mufflers cause transmission issues, thats not my fault, or honda's.......just stupid people working at professional places.....
One thing I have learned in this business......I am never right....
TSBs, let me reiterate, are NOT because the problem is massive, or reaching critical mass or whatever u said, it is simply a diagnostic tool, there are thousands of TSBs out there for cars, it is simply an aid, i used to think the same way u do, and belive me, its not the case, because if u are out of warranty, and u say, well this has a TSB on it, the dealer will still make u pay for it, period, it is not anything even close to a recall, just something to help techs, i agree with fosho, if there is no duplication, there is no problem. its like going to the doctor, and saying my foot hurt yesterday, but doesnt today, now fix it
Green, I realize a TSB is not the same thing as a recall. But TSB's are not issued willy-nilly. A TSB is only issued when there is a PROBLEM to be corrected. The reason I have raised the issue of the TSB to FoSho is because it is an admission by the manufacturer that the problem is big enough to warrant a document providing specific instructions to the dealer on how to handle it. And it is a very useful tool for the consumer to find details about the problem and confirmation that the mfgr has acknowledged the problem and has a prescribed fix for it.
From edmunds.com, the definition of a TSB:
"a technical service bulletin is actually an advisory issued by a manufacturer for use by dealership service departments. Most TSBs are released during the first year that a vehicle is offered or the year following a redesign," our road test editor, Neil Chirico (a former service advisor for Ford, Lincoln-Mercury and Volvo), observed - in order to address areas that might have been overlooked when designing the car.
These bulletins differ from recalls in that they are not considered safety or emissions issues and they usually apply only when your vehicle is in its warranty period (whereas a recall is "open" until the work has been performed). TSBs frequently (but not always) address a recurring problem and include illustrated instructions for repair, a list of the parts needed, the warranty status and the labor charge"
To all of those who are experiencing the Civic SI 3rd gear problem. Print the TSB, take it to your dealer, and ask them nicely to test drive the vehicle and try to duplicate the problem. If they can't duplicate the problem, make sure your complaint is on file, and take it back again in due time. If the problem is real (as it is in my case) it will eventually be duplicated by the dealer. The TSB will let them know that you have done your homework and are aware that this is not a one-off issue with your car.
To all of those who are experiencing the Civic SI 3rd gear problem. Print the TSB, take it to your dealer, and ask them nicely to test drive the vehicle and try to duplicate the problem. If they can't duplicate the problem, make sure your complaint is on file, and take it back again in due time. If the problem is real (as it is in my case) it will eventually be duplicated by the dealer. The TSB will let them know that you have done your homework and are aware that this is not a one-off issue with your car.
Quote:
Originally Posted by greeen01civic4d
....... take the TSB to them, and prove that ur not dumb, they will cover it, before the problems get into the rest of ur trans. I also work for a dealership(not honda) and see problems like this all the time, and if a problem is not persistent enough to happen while i test drive a car, the problem cannot be verified, and we cannot fix it under warranty, it wont get paid for by Ford(dealer i work for) This is good information to share, so people get taken care of, but this is not easy, or small work, be patient, and calm, u might actually get somewhere with them if u are a calm, rational customer, who acts like they just want the problem solved
not to quote myself, but that is, i believe, what i said...
seems like honda can't find a way to solve this problem.
it's very clear point, money. if they do it for free to all customers, they lose lot of money. i have read enough stories about 3rd problems on SI and rsx. maybe s2000 will be my choice. gear problem is a real headache.
All - I put the new Honda MTF in today. I have read a ton about Amsoil and how great it is for resolving or improving the 3rd gear issue. But I didn't want to risk doing anything that would void my warranty - so I can get this tranny replaced or rebuilt under warranty when the time comes.
So far the new Honda MTF gave me an immediate improvement. The car shifts smoother all around now and the 3rd gear issue seems significantly better. I will post more as I drive the car over the next few weeks.
Update on new honda MTF. Been driving the car for 4 days now with the new honda MTF. The shifting is better than it was before, but there is still a big difference between 3rd gear and any other gear. Just much more effort required to engage 3rd and a definite "notch" when engaging. However, i have not had any grinding or pop-outs since I put in the new MTF. I will continue for a few thousand miles and then maybe change to Amsoil to see if there is any additional improvement with the synthetic MTF
My 07 SI's 3rd gear grinds, is hard to engage, and has popped out if that means anything. BUT...I told Honda and they agreed to fix it for free and they told me they do 2-3 06-07 SI's a month. He said before they didnt have a fix and thats why they didn't fix it, but now they do.
OK for the record. I bought my Honda Civic SI in February 2007. A week later I noticed irregularities with the 3rd gear. I took it to the service center and they said there was no problem.
It does exactly what its doing for other who have the problem. it pops out of 3rd gear and its difficult at times to put into third gear.
This is extremely dangerous when you are moving it quickly because you can rev your engine because of it or even cause an accident.
I have owned 3 prior 5 speed manual EX civics and never had any issues with any of them.
I knew after one week there was an issue with this SI. I basically wanted to return it because of the trans.
They would not take it back too late according to them and the service center said no problems. Most service techs working for dealers are horrible. Don't know their a....s from the hole in the ground.
Month after month I took my car in complaining of this issue and all documented. Not until March 2008 did Grand Honda tell me my trans was bad.
It took them over 12 months to realize this.
I bought my car at Community Honda in Oak forest Illinois. I work close to Grand Honda where I get my oil changes and they told me its bad.
I called American Honda Customer service telling them I wanted a new car. We know the results from that of course. Anyhow the best they will do it drop a brand new Transmission in.
So I decided to wait it out a bit and got a letter to trade my car in for a new civic and my payments would only be slighter higher.
I am going from 200 a month to 230 a month and I am downgrading to an EXL instead.
I am still debating on what to do. While I was with sales I had my car in for an oil change and to rotate the tires.
I complained of other issues with the car. The Door handle would stick out at 90 degrees at times. The electrical will do crazy things at times. For example I found my dash light on after turning my car off. Only The dash light and the only way to have it turned off was to start the car and turn the car off. I actually had to do this twice to make the dash light go off. Don't tell me there is a delay I know this already.
I told sales I would think about the offer. After riding off I noticed a rumble sound and took my car back to service. They removed the tires and upon careful inspection they saw wear marks on the inside of the rear tires which were moved to the front after rotation. I made them put the tires back to the rear for now until I contact the Service manager on Monday.
So there you go another problem with the car. I never hit any pot holes and drive on the highway.
This car is a lemon to the MAX. The SI is a piece of sh....t
I might get a lawyer and make them exchange the car and go to a EXL instead.
I have documented all of this with Honda and in my opinion I should be entitled to some kind of modified lemon law.
I knew the trans was a problem the first week and they did nothing and blew it off.
By the way the service tech told me that there will be a recall soon on the 2007 SI transmissions.
All I want out of this is another vehicle. Even if they put a new trans in I don't trust the car any longer. I want to go back to the EX or the new EXL.
People on this thread ignore the moron service guy that sais there is no problem with the car. He will eat his words when he sees the recall and when he sees my lawsuit.
Edited:
TSB. It was around April, Grand Honda in Illinois looked up and found a TSB for me and printed it out. They said the stock Transmission fluid may have been the problem so they changed it. it seem to be ok for a couple of weeks but the problem soon came back.
