Last week, I dropped my car off to get the VTC actuator replaced. They said that they know it's a common issue and it shouldn't be a problem.

I'm at like 80,000 miles in my 2015, so the normal warranty is already voided... Despite the fact that I informed the dealership (West Hills Honda in Bremerton previously) that this was happening around ~55k miles, and them telling me that there was no fix for it yet.

I tell them (currently Autonation Honda of Renton) that I have the extended warranty/Hondacare or whatever it's called (the one that's refundable blah blah, which I'm sure now that part is total BS).

I change my oil at home and occasionally at the dealership. I don't feel that comfortable changing my oil at Honda, mostly since they always overtighten the drainplug. Do they use an impact gun on that thing?


Day 1 after dropping it off:

Dealership calls me and confirm that it's the VTC actuator causing the noise (obviously). They then say they need to call the extended warranty people and confirm that I have the warranty.


Day 2 after dropping it off:

Dealership calls me and tells me if I have proof of oil changes. I say I have the receipts that I purchased oil and did the changes at home. He says that the receipts should be fine. Cool! I head to Costco and they print off things that are like receipts.


Day 6 after dropping it off:

Dealership calls me and tells me that he (service manager) called up the warranty company and now they are requiring the exact dates and miles of my oil changes. Also, not a problem because I keep a handwritten log book of this. I ask him if there's anything else needed and he says "probably not!"

Day 7 after dropping it off:

Dealership calls me and tells me that now they need receipts of oil filters. Not sure if I can get these since I purchased them at the Honda dealership with cash, so I'll have to swing by today or tomorrow. I have a feeling that when I submit my oil filter receipts, they'll just somehow find something else that I need to submit. It'll be a never-ending cycle of shit.



I change my oil & filter roughly every 5,000 miles, full synthetic, OE oil filters.

Considering how often you see this problem in newish Honda engines, it's obvious that the problem lies within the defective part.

Has anyone else had a similar issue with the extended warranty, or is it just me? This car purchase has been an absolute nightmare and I would not suggest it to anyone.


/ rant

 

Got paperwork on it?
This doesn't SOUND like a Hondacare warranty IMO.

Sounds like some other company whose sole goal is to not pay out any warranty claims, and some can go to great expense to deny the claims LOL.

 

If your going to gamble and play the aftermarket extended warranty game, your also buying in to having the vehicle serviced by a shop,, even if its jiffy lube. Once you head down the path of self service,, your going to experience the drag and delay tactics of the warranty company. Rather than buy a warranty, put 2000 bucks in a bond fund and if something goes wrong you have the money there to cover it.. If you don't use it you'll have it for the next car..

 

OP: if you brought your car in (several) times for the actuator problem while the car was still under the original warranty, your dealer has a record of this. Go in and speak to the Service Manager (not the Service Writer) and have him verify that on their computer. They should work with you to fix the car either free or at a reduced rate.
As for your extended warranty, if you have never used it before and you have the kind where you can get your money back if you never use it, do so. I did this with my GM Warranty. I'll never buy one again. Lastly, make this the last time you ever go back to a dealer for service. Find a great mechanic in your area at Auto Repair and Maintenance Estimates | Auto Shop and Mechanic Ratings and start a new relationship today.

 

+1000 ^^^^

 

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

The extended warranty company isn't going to cover it because I didn't provide proof of enough oil for the oil changes.

What really irks me is I submitted those receipts on the second day. But they still had me pull more receipts and records after that. They (the warranty company or even the service advisor) could've told me that it wouldn't be enough.


What sucks is even though I told them about the VTC actuator noise, they didn't write it down anywhere. They didn't even take the car in and instead told me vocally that there wasn't a fix.

Guess I've learned these things:

• Don't get the extended warranty
• Make sure problems are written in the computer
• Keep receipts
• New Hondas have poor quality control

​​​

 

while I am very sorry to read all of this, as to what lesson you have learned, there is only ONE: NEVER GO TO A DEALER. They are obsolete and people need to stop supporting them. 1. buy your new car using a buying service; 2. find a trusted mechanic in your area; 3. always buy a used car from an individual owner who can tell you everything about the car. If they can't walk away. I'm amazed that it is 2017 and we are still drilling for and consuming oil. I am equally amazed that dealers still exist. Like big box stores, the internet will surely see them go away some day. If only people would stop getting service and buying used cars from them. Without these two sources of income, they surely would be gone by now.

 

yep don't trust the dealer at all. the finance guy was trying so hard to sell me one and trying to convince me to get the GAP insurance since that would pay for the difference in loss of value once the car leaves the lot if I get into an accident. I told the guy, I'm paying 20% down payment now, so what's the point?

 

And this applies to every single extended purchase offer, phones, electronics, appliances, etc... Always be your own insurance company, you'll be ahead in the end.

The only exception might be those things that are prohibitive such as home insurance, auto liability, etc. Otherwise, self insure everything possible.

 

So do you go to the doctor? Do you go to the dentist? They are both obsolete with all of the internet drugstore and webMD willing to diagnose any problem for you. When you do foolishly go to the doctor do you go to a dermatologist for back pain?

Stupid point #2: How do you find a competent mechanic? A honda is not a chebby which is not a nissan which is not a audi which is not a kia. A piece of paper on the wall stating credentials is worthless. ASE testing is a joke that any monkey can pass, or you can just photoshop a nice looking piece of paper to hang on the wall. I did photoshop one to cover my legit set. Made me laugh to watch customers reading wall plaques that certified I was qualified as "parts hanger" "door opener" "tool polisher" and "stirring specialist."

Point #3: Buying a used car from an individual. It will likely be cheaper but it is still a crapshoot. You can have a clueless seller that knows nothing about their car and is selling a very good car or you can have a very informed seller with a turd that they have screwed up with their own do-it-yourself skills.

Unnumbered stupid point: Buying cars online. Yup, good luck with that. Buy a new car online and you still have to go somewhere to pick it up. Where do you think that is? Your local dealer of choice. Have a problem with your new car are you going to send it back or take it to the dealer. No dealers equals no customer support. Try to get parts for a daewoo, saturn, saab, or a suzuki. This is what no dealerships gets you.

There are many different levels of quality of dealership and their employees. If you go in thinking that they are all crooks and treat them like they are scumbags wanting to steal your money you will leave unhappy. Dealerships sell vehicles and provide a service, some are crooks many are not. I can guarantee that I have forgotten more about servicing honda cars that 99.9% of the users on this forum will ever know. I work at a dealer. The guy that is 3 bays away from me has forgotten more than 99% of the independent shop mechanics will ever know. Sometimes you have to pay a little more money to get somewhere competent and experienced to fix a problem correctly the first time without a lot of money/time spent with guesses.

If you think cars and dealerships are a thing of the past I suggest you buy a nice Trek or china made Schwinn.

 

Like it or not, I don't see the dealer going away. Specialized tools, training from the factory on new products, parts. How many parts will Billy Bob's Garage break and charge you for, before he becomes a "specialist" and knows how it comes apart? Better yet, how many days will your car be sitting waiting for parts? Usually there's only so many Distribution Centers and the local dealer parts department is the "wharehouse" for the local Billy Bob's Garage and autobody shop. I'm sure your response will be that you have rental car on your insurance so it doesn't matter how long the repairs take while waiting on parts? I'm sure insurance companies will alter their policies and premiums to reflect the changes in business? Personally, I think most dealerships are scum. The dealer I bought my Subaru is scum in their sales and service department. The parts guys are alright and help me wherever and whenever they can. The Honda dealer I was originally going to buy my Fit from is scum as far as I'm concerned. Put a deposit down and waited for them to dealer trade to get the car I wanted. 5 days later they still hadn't done it and kept saying "we still have the silver one". End result was a different dealer told me the car I was looking for was within 30 miles of that dealership and that they could trade. Went old school and picked up the phone and called every Honda dealer within the radius from that dealership until I found it.

Anyway, you are not the customer, the dealer is. They inventory, sell and repair what you're looking for. Just look at Saturn's failed attempt when they first started selling cars as orders only, no dealer inventories. Didn't work well for the impulse buyer. Most car purchases are wants, not needs

Akso from the manufacturing side which I'm sure you know nothing about and I have a little knowledge of. The auto plant I worked at produced 1300 cars a day. Colors and packages were based off forecast of what research thought would sell. Who's going to inventory all those cars while people buy from their favorite car buying program? Who's going to prep for delivery since items that might get damaged in transport aren't always installed at assembly. Not to mention transportation costs. One car on a transport isn't the most cost effective way. Maybe everyone can pick up at the plant? That would work fine for domestic manufacturers, but your round trip plane ticket to Japan So you can take delivery might get pricy? You could also arrange transport on an ocean going vessel and deal with customs. Sure the whole process wouldn't take more than a couple months?

Min regard to repairs. Maybe everyone can diagnose any issue in forums or YouTube. Then they can order the parts off Amazon and have Billy Bob install? When Billy Bob goes out if business because he isn't making any money on parts, then you can go to his cousin Billy Ray who changes double for labor since he doesn't make any money on parts.

 

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