pdiggitydogg
08-01-2003, 03:56 PM
Today started off pretty decent. I went to bed early and got a good amount of sleep...which I needed to catch up on.
Earlier in the week I made an appointment at my honda dealership for an alignment and to see if they could fix the "mystery noise". The appointment was made for 10am, by the way.
So, at 9am I left the house and headed to the bank atm to deposit my check and withdraw a bit of spending cash before I went to the dealership (I left so early because I was expecting heavy traffic...unfortunatley...
I arrived at the dealership at 9:25am and decided to leave for awhile, drive around, and maybe get something to drink. I drive back toward the shopping area, stopped at Target, and bought an orange juice with the only $5 I had (decided not to withdraw $ afterall). Taking my $3 in change I left and headed back to the dealership...
I walked into the service dept and stood around for a few minutes at one of the new pooly designed desks (they face away from people who come in...). Finally I was helped and I said "Hi, I have an appointment for an alignment @ 10"
"Ok, it will be about 45minutes...we have a long waiting list"
"Uh...I made an appointment...that means that my car goes in at 10...thats what appointments are for"
"Well...we had a lot of people come in today...the list is long...I'll see what I can do"
He leaves and comes back a few minutes later, "Ok, sorry about that...its goin up at 10"
I nod and sign the form...and show myself...to the waiting room, down the hall and around the corner. Good thing Ive been there before...
After about 15mins the guy comes in and says "Theres a problem...would you follow me please?" Now at this point I dont know what to expect... He leads me back to the shop at points out that the alignment rack is too steep of an incline for my car to go up onto...(Now, it being a honda dealership I would think that they would just remove the front bumper and drive it up np...but no)
Also, they tried to tell me that the "mystery noise" is just the tire rubbing on the weather gaurd...which of course sounds nothing like metal on metal. I inform the tech that he is mistaken and that it is something else...unfortunately he doesnt listen and refuses to beleive that he is wrong.
I take it up the ass at this point, get in and drive off totally confused on what happened there and wondering what Im going to do to get an alignment and a fix.
I decide to stop off @ murrays discount auto and buy some lithium grease in a spray can (I needed some). Of course the total comes out to $4...I only have $3...I have to buy a $4 can of spray with my credit card...I feel like such an ass...
Driving home was long and stressfull...I had recieved the worst sinus headache of my life. It was so bad that I could not hear well out of my left ear. Once I got home I ran inside and took some sinus medication and some asprin (I didnt care that taking 2 things is "a no no"...I wanted it gone).
Immediately after taking them I realized that I could take this, no fixed opportunity to get a rear camber kit and fix the rears before I got an alignment. So I went online and saw that stefan was online. He said "I can only get kits at .75 degrees" which isnt enough. Sadly, I had to purchase them elsewhere...but at least I did.
After laying around for about 30mins the headache relaxed a bit and I decided to watch some tv. Not more than a few seconds later did my dad call me on my cell. Now, my cell is a total pos and I have to go outside for it to work at all. I go outside and start to talk to my dad, who "just wanted to see whats up".
So, Im walking around outside and in the driveway "shootin the shit". I just happen to look at the front of my car and see...that honda broke my damn front lip. It was marked and scratched all to hell, with red paint in all the scratches (same color as the alignment rack...) and completely broken off on the passenger side. Now, the reason I didnt notice this at the dealership was because they had pulled it outside and parked it facing away from the garage. I told my dad I had to go, and called up honda.
After talking to several people who didnt know what to do, I just asked to speak to the GM. "Clayton" then picked up and I told him the problem. Unfortunately, of course I had to bring it back in so he could see it. So...back into the car and fight traffic all the way back to honda.
I walked into the service center again, and after a few minutes of being completely ignored (again) someone asked if I needed help. I told them I needed to speak with clayton and they showed me to his office. When we got to the door, he was on the phone and he motioned "only me a minute"...you know the 1 finger gesture...no not that one...the index finger. So I just waited in the hall.
After a few minutes I realized that this guy is talking to his wife! After about 30minutes of me just standing there...in the door at that point with my arms crossed and looking completely pissed, he says "We'll I guess I'll let you go...see you tonight" He hangs up and says, "Hi, Pat, lets head outside and take a look" ....THE PRICK! He knew who I was AND what I was there for! He didnt do shit until 30mins later!
Alright, finally outside now, and hes taking a look...."Doesnt look like we caused this damage at all...looks like a curb or something" I point out the red paint and the broken clip and we begin to argue back and forth. After a while he says "Wait outside here...let me talk to the tech who handled the car...be right back"
I wait for 5mins, I wait for 10...now, it was 88degrees today w/ 100% humidity (those that know humidity...you know how hot it was...but for those that dont...think more along the lines of 110degrees...and wet). I now wait 15minutes, walk inside the new car sales floor and am asked "I see you waiting out there...something I can do?"
"Oh no thanks, I was told to wait outside, by clayton"
"oh...I...see...."
I walk back outside. 20mins later clayton walks back out and says that the tech never got it onto the ramps...obviously...he just plowed into them a few times instead. We argue again for a bit and then he says "Wait here again, I'll go talk to our detailer"
Now, sadly for him, I am pissed beyond normal human capacity. I say "OH NO...there is NOTHING any sort of "Detailing" can do to fix a nonpainted torn up piece of ABS plasitc. I am telling you that youre going to buy me the new one that I am asking for or I will see you in court!"
At that he just stares at me blankly..."Well...we have an si lip in stock...you can have that...but its blue and we wont install it" I totally begin to freak out...quickly calm down and say "You know nothing about hondas do you? This isnt an Si, its not even an 99-00 series"
A tech, who was standing nearby, on a cigarette break overheard me and walks up and says "Yeah thats an Si"
"WHAT?! Youre telling me that all Si's came with a d16y8? Youre saying that Si's were produced in 1997? Can you see the bumper? Can you see the interior?!" He looks for a second and says "I'll be right back" A few seconds later he comes back with a second tech, who again swears up and down that I am driving an 00 Si.
I just laugh at this point (I think I lost it) and walked right up to the windshield, slam my finger on the vin and say "EJ8! CIVIC EX LOOK AT THE BUMPER! 96-98 SERIES!"
The two techs shake their heads, dont speak a word, and walk off.
Clayton, at this point sees that I am through with all of this says "ok, we can order the part for your car...but Im going to have to ask you that you not come back for service....not that we dont want your money, but its too low for us to work on it. If you had taken off the lip, maybe none of this would have happened"
"Oh, right...I should have removed the lip...the next time I go somewhere for engine work, I'll be sure to remove the hood before hand"
".....ok lets get this part for you"
We walk back inside and he shows me to the parts counter. After a few minutes of total failure..."I cant find this part for your Si..." I have accepted the fact that they're retarded and I say, "no its for a 96-98"
"oh...the paper says..."
"yeah I know what it says...clayton is wrong"
"oh...ok then"
So he starts to look for it under the correct generation...and fails. turns out they cant find it because they never carried it. Then he wants to sell me the lip for a 92-95. I then have to explain that those are different as well...(seems NO ONE at this place knows about hondas).
After another few minutes, I snapped...I say "You know...forget it. I'm going to go home, find the part number and call you back. Then you can buy it for me, and ship it directly to my house" Oddly enough, they agree with me.
So I fight traffic again all the way home, hop on hparts.com and within 1minute, have the number. I call them up and tell them.
That was the end of my day. Now, the only thing I need to happen, is that they cant find a lip for me...but that wouldnt surprise me in the least...
F*CK HONDA BLOOMFIELD, MI
Earlier in the week I made an appointment at my honda dealership for an alignment and to see if they could fix the "mystery noise". The appointment was made for 10am, by the way.
So, at 9am I left the house and headed to the bank atm to deposit my check and withdraw a bit of spending cash before I went to the dealership (I left so early because I was expecting heavy traffic...unfortunatley...
I arrived at the dealership at 9:25am and decided to leave for awhile, drive around, and maybe get something to drink. I drive back toward the shopping area, stopped at Target, and bought an orange juice with the only $5 I had (decided not to withdraw $ afterall). Taking my $3 in change I left and headed back to the dealership...
I walked into the service dept and stood around for a few minutes at one of the new pooly designed desks (they face away from people who come in...). Finally I was helped and I said "Hi, I have an appointment for an alignment @ 10"
"Ok, it will be about 45minutes...we have a long waiting list"
"Uh...I made an appointment...that means that my car goes in at 10...thats what appointments are for"
"Well...we had a lot of people come in today...the list is long...I'll see what I can do"
He leaves and comes back a few minutes later, "Ok, sorry about that...its goin up at 10"
I nod and sign the form...and show myself...to the waiting room, down the hall and around the corner. Good thing Ive been there before...
After about 15mins the guy comes in and says "Theres a problem...would you follow me please?" Now at this point I dont know what to expect... He leads me back to the shop at points out that the alignment rack is too steep of an incline for my car to go up onto...(Now, it being a honda dealership I would think that they would just remove the front bumper and drive it up np...but no)
Also, they tried to tell me that the "mystery noise" is just the tire rubbing on the weather gaurd...which of course sounds nothing like metal on metal. I inform the tech that he is mistaken and that it is something else...unfortunately he doesnt listen and refuses to beleive that he is wrong.
I take it up the ass at this point, get in and drive off totally confused on what happened there and wondering what Im going to do to get an alignment and a fix.
I decide to stop off @ murrays discount auto and buy some lithium grease in a spray can (I needed some). Of course the total comes out to $4...I only have $3...I have to buy a $4 can of spray with my credit card...I feel like such an ass...
Driving home was long and stressfull...I had recieved the worst sinus headache of my life. It was so bad that I could not hear well out of my left ear. Once I got home I ran inside and took some sinus medication and some asprin (I didnt care that taking 2 things is "a no no"...I wanted it gone).
Immediately after taking them I realized that I could take this, no fixed opportunity to get a rear camber kit and fix the rears before I got an alignment. So I went online and saw that stefan was online. He said "I can only get kits at .75 degrees" which isnt enough. Sadly, I had to purchase them elsewhere...but at least I did.
After laying around for about 30mins the headache relaxed a bit and I decided to watch some tv. Not more than a few seconds later did my dad call me on my cell. Now, my cell is a total pos and I have to go outside for it to work at all. I go outside and start to talk to my dad, who "just wanted to see whats up".
So, Im walking around outside and in the driveway "shootin the shit". I just happen to look at the front of my car and see...that honda broke my damn front lip. It was marked and scratched all to hell, with red paint in all the scratches (same color as the alignment rack...) and completely broken off on the passenger side. Now, the reason I didnt notice this at the dealership was because they had pulled it outside and parked it facing away from the garage. I told my dad I had to go, and called up honda.
After talking to several people who didnt know what to do, I just asked to speak to the GM. "Clayton" then picked up and I told him the problem. Unfortunately, of course I had to bring it back in so he could see it. So...back into the car and fight traffic all the way back to honda.
I walked into the service center again, and after a few minutes of being completely ignored (again) someone asked if I needed help. I told them I needed to speak with clayton and they showed me to his office. When we got to the door, he was on the phone and he motioned "only me a minute"...you know the 1 finger gesture...no not that one...the index finger. So I just waited in the hall.
After a few minutes I realized that this guy is talking to his wife! After about 30minutes of me just standing there...in the door at that point with my arms crossed and looking completely pissed, he says "We'll I guess I'll let you go...see you tonight" He hangs up and says, "Hi, Pat, lets head outside and take a look" ....THE PRICK! He knew who I was AND what I was there for! He didnt do shit until 30mins later!
Alright, finally outside now, and hes taking a look...."Doesnt look like we caused this damage at all...looks like a curb or something" I point out the red paint and the broken clip and we begin to argue back and forth. After a while he says "Wait outside here...let me talk to the tech who handled the car...be right back"
I wait for 5mins, I wait for 10...now, it was 88degrees today w/ 100% humidity (those that know humidity...you know how hot it was...but for those that dont...think more along the lines of 110degrees...and wet). I now wait 15minutes, walk inside the new car sales floor and am asked "I see you waiting out there...something I can do?"
"Oh no thanks, I was told to wait outside, by clayton"
"oh...I...see...."
I walk back outside. 20mins later clayton walks back out and says that the tech never got it onto the ramps...obviously...he just plowed into them a few times instead. We argue again for a bit and then he says "Wait here again, I'll go talk to our detailer"
Now, sadly for him, I am pissed beyond normal human capacity. I say "OH NO...there is NOTHING any sort of "Detailing" can do to fix a nonpainted torn up piece of ABS plasitc. I am telling you that youre going to buy me the new one that I am asking for or I will see you in court!"
At that he just stares at me blankly..."Well...we have an si lip in stock...you can have that...but its blue and we wont install it" I totally begin to freak out...quickly calm down and say "You know nothing about hondas do you? This isnt an Si, its not even an 99-00 series"
A tech, who was standing nearby, on a cigarette break overheard me and walks up and says "Yeah thats an Si"
"WHAT?! Youre telling me that all Si's came with a d16y8? Youre saying that Si's were produced in 1997? Can you see the bumper? Can you see the interior?!" He looks for a second and says "I'll be right back" A few seconds later he comes back with a second tech, who again swears up and down that I am driving an 00 Si.
I just laugh at this point (I think I lost it) and walked right up to the windshield, slam my finger on the vin and say "EJ8! CIVIC EX LOOK AT THE BUMPER! 96-98 SERIES!"
The two techs shake their heads, dont speak a word, and walk off.
Clayton, at this point sees that I am through with all of this says "ok, we can order the part for your car...but Im going to have to ask you that you not come back for service....not that we dont want your money, but its too low for us to work on it. If you had taken off the lip, maybe none of this would have happened"
"Oh, right...I should have removed the lip...the next time I go somewhere for engine work, I'll be sure to remove the hood before hand"
".....ok lets get this part for you"
We walk back inside and he shows me to the parts counter. After a few minutes of total failure..."I cant find this part for your Si..." I have accepted the fact that they're retarded and I say, "no its for a 96-98"
"oh...the paper says..."
"yeah I know what it says...clayton is wrong"
"oh...ok then"
So he starts to look for it under the correct generation...and fails. turns out they cant find it because they never carried it. Then he wants to sell me the lip for a 92-95. I then have to explain that those are different as well...(seems NO ONE at this place knows about hondas).
After another few minutes, I snapped...I say "You know...forget it. I'm going to go home, find the part number and call you back. Then you can buy it for me, and ship it directly to my house" Oddly enough, they agree with me.
So I fight traffic again all the way home, hop on hparts.com and within 1minute, have the number. I call them up and tell them.
That was the end of my day. Now, the only thing I need to happen, is that they cant find a lip for me...but that wouldnt surprise me in the least...
F*CK HONDA BLOOMFIELD, MI