Third time was the charm with my engine noise. Just a quick summary, but after the recall I was one of the ones with lots of engine noise. Mine could actually be heard inside the cabin and was loudest at idle and lower speeds.

Anyway, I took it in for a third time and asked for a more experienced tech as suggested and this time seems to have done the trick. Unfortunately the service order is very vague and it just says that he adjusted the valve clearance again. Several people have said that there's an art to adjusting the valves, so I think it's just a matter of getting the right tech or getting them when they're not swamped with other work and rush through it.

 

Whether it's true or not, I've decided to convince myself that this thread I started on March 19 had something to do with Honda updating the procedures. From the start, I tried to make this as informational as possible, and avoid it just being another thread full of rants and complaints. Maybe one little customer can actually generate a positive nationwide reaction from a giant like Honda (I know it's unlikely - don't burst my bubble!).

 

YOU DA MAN!!!

IT's ALL you!

couldn't resist. in all seriousness:

I'm sure honda keeps an eye on Internet chatter and a google search for "honda Fit Recall" shows this as the 1st forum with info (and multiple links).

~SB

 

Most of the issues posted here have been of the cosmetic fit and finish type so tweaking only. They posted an update as cost of cowls probably starting getting high.

I plan to wait a little longer for my recall work, until Honda's inventory of replacement cowls gets replenished just in case. Do any of the Honda employees here know if there is a time limit to get recall work done? Could I wait one year or longer? And if I wait and during this time have an issue with my valve springs will Honda cover all work under good will warranty?

_

 

Here are the copies of everything: https://picasaweb.google.com/1025845...eat=directlink

 

Absolutely! See post above sir.. ^^

Looking back, my service advisor did an extraordinary job addressing the issues. It's a shame the first tech mauled the job, but overall the service experience was truly commendable and made up for it.

 

A huge step in the right direction......especially to be more explicit by adding steps 8 and 9 from the service manual for those who would otherwise just zip off the rocker assembly with an air ratchet...!!!

Thanx

geo

 

I took my Fit in for the recall procedure on Friday and when I got it back, I noticed a shaking on idle (either in gear with clutch in or in neutral). It was small, but noticeable and shook the entire driver's seat.

Called the dealer (Airport-Marina Honda in LA) and brought it back in this morning. The service writer and two mechanics swore they couldn't hear or feel anything, even when I pointed out to them the vibration every 2-3 seconds (like something happening at the exact same stage of the engine firing). If the car were 10 years old, it would probably idle like this, but it's only 2 years old and used to be the quietest smoothest idle in the world (before I had the recall work done).

They've now had it for 10 hours and I haven't heard anything back from them yet. I told them to compare it to a NEW Fit because that's how it ran before they worked on it.

Grrrr... Don't have high hopes for this.

 

got my recall done today. didn't noticed any thing different for now. but will keep an eye and ear out to see if anything is out of the ordinary

 

To keep the recall info consistent be sure to visit these:

https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/2nd-...es-recall.html

https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/2nd-...ll-letter.html

https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/2nd-...call-done.html

https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/2nd-...come-poll.html

 

Update: Spoke to the service manager just before the end of the day. He asked why service advisor didn't have me sit in NEW Fit this morning for comparison and I said I would have loved to. Mechanics did not compare it to new car as they said they would. I agreed to leave the car overnight so service manager can personally examine it and compare it to NEW Fit tomorrow morning.

Meanwhile, I've read the updated service bulletin and plan to question service manager closely about whether they followed updated procedures issued on Friday.

So far: they've had the car for 22 hours over 2 days and I'm very unhappy. (Especially considering how much I love the car. Now wishing I'd never taken it in.)

 

UPDATE (4/14/11): The cowl came in on 4/11, so it didn't take that long despite being on 'national backorder.' I had it put on yesterday at the same dealer that broke it, and unfortunately this simple fix was not without problems. I noticed once I got home and started poking around under the hood that one of the cowl clips was smooshed under the cowl itself. Others have remarked about this in their posts, and, like them, I was able to fix it by pulling the clip out from under the cowl and positioning it properly. Also, the right end cap (the black, round plastic piece that secures the cowl to each side of the car; there are pictures in others' posts) was about to fall off; I had to reposition it and insert if firmly. These were all minor, easily fixable issues, although they do display the huge inattention to detail shown by the technicians at my dealership. The biggest problem, however, was that the plastic pieces that attach to the lower sides of the windshield were not secure AT ALL; I could just lightly pull on them and they detached. It was also unsightly, as the pieces looked like they were just sort of loosely fitting into their grooves. So, I took the car back up to the dealer (be aware this is now the FOURTH time I have been up to the dealer in this whole recall process) and they seemed a bit flummoxed. The service rep, who is a really nice, professional guy, and was a lifesaver in this whole nasty process, pulled an '11 Fit right next to mine to try to see how these pieces were attached to the new Fit. Well, it turns out that when Honda sends these side pieces to the dealer, they assume that the dealer has and knows how to install the proper clips. (Silly Honda, thinking its technicians know how to install its equipment . . .) Well, the dealer didn't install any securing clips; they just put the plastic pieces in the pre-made grooves on the car and didn't secure it to anything. So, they installed the extra clips in 5 minutes and now all is secure. I hope that now, finally!, this whole business is over with. Luckily I'm not having any weird engine noise--yet.

 

On closer inspection this evening I found the dealer scratched the side cowl, broke a body clip, and half the cowl doesn't seem completely secured.

So back to the dealer we go. Honda's ranking for me just went down a notch, this was just sloppy work.

 

By the way, here's something important that people need to be aware of:

If you contact Customer Service at American Honda, they will go behind your back to the dealer.

When I reached out for them to get help, they made things infinitely worse by going behind my back and giving the dealer incomplete and innacurate information that then made the service manager overly aggressive and made a bad situation infinitely worse.

This is reprehensible behavior --and I wish someone had warned me about it.

 

Well, if the service manager became overly aggressive, either he feels his "turf" has been threatened or he's trying to bluster his way out of something he may feel guilty about.

I would have expected Honda to immediately go to the dealer to inform them of a complaint......because they expect the dealer to fix it and maintain good customer relations.....and that's why I'd go right back to them with a complaint about that person's behavior. Accompanied by a request to deal with someone who perhaps has smoother communications skills.

geo

 

Well, the problem is that Honda Customer Service called literally as I was going to the dealer to try to work things out. Honda then gave the dealer incomplete and inaccurate information in the 10 minutes before I got there, eliminating any leverage I had in dealing with the service people and making them overly aggressive and extremely unpleasant.

The next day, a supervisor at Honda Customer Service actually came out and told me that it was more important to them to have good relations with the dealers than to help their customers.

The entire episode was completely shocking to me -- especially since I have been a very loyal Honda customer for 20 years.

Take a look at their twitter feed if you want to see how more examples of the epic fails that are Honda's "Customer Service" department: http://twitter.com/HondaCustSvc

 

You're just one customer- the dealers are more important to them. It's like reporting your boss to HR- they're gonna tell you whatever gets you out of their office, then side with management.

 

Update:

Still waiting for a cowl replacement [2wks+] so I just traded in my 09 Fit Sport for a 2011 Mini Cooper S.

Bye-Bye Honda!

 

I know a few Honda employees post here. Any definitive Honda policy or practice for this? I won't wait if I'm taking on a risk, but otherwise would like to give the techs some more practice as it sounds like they need it.

_

 

Yep, I agree that the techs in general seem to need some practice. That revised bulletin to the dealers sounds a little like a lecture. Since Honda in general has made extremely reliable engines, the techs here have no familiarity with this stuff. Even the best need some practice. I wish Honda would back off that 1.6 hours fantasy. I plan to wait a loooong time.