Rep Power: 0

Ok, here's the problem, i know that clutches are a wear and tear part so its not covered under warrantee. I experienced some clutch slipping problems so I decided to take it in to the dealership (Pacific Honda) in san diego. Neway, the guy tells me that its a half hour labor charge and I'm coo with that, but i also had them check my suspension (lowered with ground controls). When i got the car back, he tells me that there's an hour charge for inspecting the suspension, but nothing was wrong.

Now, they are charging me 1.5 hours of labor for just saying "you need a new clutch, and nothing's wrong with your suspension" They quoted me $925 for the clutch parts and labor, that's bull ****...but its the dealership so that price is normal for them. I don't want to pay the freakin labor charge for the suspension becuase that should be under warrantee right? I don't mind paying the .5 hour charge for the clutch inspection, but the other hour charge is retarded.

What can i do?

Oh...to top it off, they handed me my keys and I drove off w.o paying...i was pissed and confused, by the time i realized, the guy calls me up and threatens me saying that I didn't pay, if i don't pay they'll send my bill to "collections" ... can they do anything bad to me? they have my VIN #, address and phone #

I thought i had got away w.o paying, but those guys are quick! plz help me out here...can i at least fight the suspension inspection charges?

thanks!

 
Rep Power: 306

You have a full aftermarket suspension system that you wanted them to check out, and you're pissed because they're charging you for labor it cost them to inspect it?

Are you serious about this?

 
Rep Power: 0

pay the clutch and dont pay the supsension thats what i would do.

 
Rep Power: 0

no...sorry for not clearing things up...i have only ground controls...i'm still using stock struts...and they've been making noise and stuff and that's what I wanted them to check out. And they won't admit that there's a recall on the 2001 civic suspension. Is that right for them to charge me for inspection? SHouldn't it still be covered under warrantee? its their fault to begin with.

 
Rep Power: 383

you sound stuck and have to pay next time ask if there is a charge for inspection but just pay it and be done with it

 
Rep Power: 0

they didn't charge me... and there's no way in hell i'm going back there again, they told me the inspection charged would be covered under warrantee for the suspension unless the ground controls were the culprit causing all the problems...but with the faulty struts of the 2001 civics, i doubt that it was my coilover's fault.

can they force me to pay? lol

 
Rep Power: 0

i would do a drive by on the dealership let them know you mean business lol

 
Rep Power: 0

haha...i wish i could...they have my info!!! they could kill me!! >_<

 
Rep Power: 306

If you go in on a warranty claim for the struts, EVEN WITH KNOWN ISSUES INHERENT TO YOUR YEAR AND MODEL, those Ground Controls on there is all they need to deny you a claim. Serious . . . if you were going to take it in for the suspension in particular, why didn't you put the stock springs back on to avoid this loophole?

 
Rep Power: 424

So just call Honda Customer Care and explain to them whats up. The worst that could happen is you gotta pay for it.

 
Rep Power: 0

if there is somting done to the susp at all I think all of it is void since it all works together

 
Rep Power: 0

general customer care or the one at the dealership i went to?

 
Rep Power: 424

Call HONDA's Customer Care. There's a phone number somewhere on Honda.com. You gotta fish for it, I don't remember where it is.

 
Rep Power: 0

Exactly what I was going to say. If you swap out any part of the suspension with an aftermarket part, the other suspension pieces warranty is null and void. They have enough to deny your wannanty claim because all the pieces are meant to work together. Sorry dude.

 
Rep Power: 0

they will send it to a collection agency...just pay man, u asked to inspect, thats how they make their money. and besides, asking them to check your modified suspension?!?!?!

 
Rep Power: 0

dont pay

 
Rep Power: 0

By Phone: At our toll-free number: (800) 999-1009
By Fax: (310) 783-3023 (24 Hours)
By Mail:

American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Honda Automobile Customer Service
1919 Torrance Boulevard
Mail Stop: 500 - 2N - 7D
Torrance, CA 90501-2746

 
Rep Power: 0

why did you ask to inspect it tell them to fix the noise, and they didn't fix it, but you wanted it inspected so just tell them that you mean for them to fix it, and you never got it fixed.

 
Rep Power: 0

i would do that and I did that once, I barely got away with it after I called honda customer care

 
Rep Power: 0

You should absolutely have to pay - you asked them to do inspect a part of the car that now experiences greater wear because of your aftermarket parts. The spring and strut go hand in hand, if you start mixing and matching (stock to aftermarket, anyway) of course something might break. Yeah, the struts on the 01 Civics suck. Mine aren't doing so hot right now either, but it's Honda's fault because I'm still using stock springs. Running out without paying the bill is probably the stupidest thing you could have done. They obviously know all about you, and anything they don't know they can find out with your VIN. Pay it and complain later just so you don't screw yourself over in the long run.

 
Rep Power: 306

It's their word against his . . . AND he's got aftermarket springs around them. (The #1 reason shocks fail prematurely) Who you think they're going to believe, anyway?

Commiting fraud is not the answer here.

You asked them to inspect your suspension, so they did. What if the noise is one of your AFTERMARKET springs that didn't settle correctly? Or perhaps the tophat for your strut isn't properly lined-up with the chassis? These are both known problems that can result from putting on new springs. You think they should be responsible for that if it's the problem?

Either way, you're going to have to pay.

 
Rep Power: 0

i'm going to call first...then pay later!

 
Rep Power: 0

everyone makes a good point but i still think a drive by is in order lol j/k but come to think about it honda did their job by checking it did they tell you it was going to cost you for them to check it?

 
Rep Power: 0

All I have to say is, if you came to my dealership with ground controls, they charge anyone that has any aftermarket parts to look at it. The reason being it is not a honda warrentry part. If you mod it, you fix it. Also your going to have to pay it no matter what, the clutch shouldnt be that high, the stock parts are around 350.00 last time I looked. If I was you I would be looking into a aftermarket shop to install the clutch. Either way your going to have to have te fly wheel resurfaced aswell.
Jeff

 
Rep Power: 0

they said that if it was covered under warrantee, they wouldn't charge me for the suspension. He followed up with "it will be covered under warrantee if the aftermarket coilovers aren't causing the problem" when i got the car back he said "nothing's wrong with the suspension, just a few bolts were loose and we tightened those for you, you owe us 1 hr worth of labor charge"
at first i was willing to pay, but then i thought about it...if nothing was wrong, then that means the coilovers aren't the problem, so the inspection should be covered under warrantee. That's when i started to question the whole thing.

AGAIN, for those of you who think i'm trying to cheat dealerships ... *cough cough* yukonart ^_^ ... i'm not, i will pay what i need to pay, but not what i feel is unjust for me.

Thanks for all your input guys, i'm going to call tomorrow in the morning, and if i can clear up the suspension thing, i can save myself $100, and just pay $50 for the clutch inspection.

 
Rep Power: 0

oh...i didn't put the stock springs back on becuase i dun have the proper tools to remove my suspension, not good enuf to do it myself ^_^

 
Rep Power: 0

Your right if he said it will be covered under warrentry if it isnt the ground controls. The reason why they charged you was because they had to fix somthing you changed, meaning you modified the stock suspension with non-honda parts. Sure there going to be charging you. If I was you though because I can see both side of this, I would surly talk to the service manager first before calling honda.
Hope everything works out
Jeff

 
Rep Power: 321

You asked the mechanic to CHECK your suspension for problems.
But you NEVER authorized him to FIX it. Correct? Maybe you can use this to your advantage?

Anyway, they have eveything they need to screw you over credit wise, if they have to go that far.
I'd say go and pay for it, because you asked them to look at it.
The loose bolts were caused by you probably during installation of the springs, so they have a right to charge you now. It's not covered by warranty.

But I also think I the dealership should have been nice enough to let you go on the springs, because it isnt thay big of a deal.

 
Rep Power: 306

Pretty much what I was trying to say. . . .

. . . with aftermarket parts in there, and no problems reported, warranty doesn't even come into play. So they're going to charge you for the labor to CHECK it since warranty work was unnecessary. The fact that they tightened a few bolts just means they were doing you a favor. Like I said. . . it was probably your tophat loose, misaligned, etc. If the noise persists, I'm willing to bet it's a result of having had the springs put on.

 
Rep Power: 296

$100 doesn't seem worth it when it comes to screwing with your credit. It something that can come back and bite you in the a$$ when it comes time to buying another car, house, etc... Just talk to them, see if you can get out of it. If not, just pay it. It's not worth it. Good luck.