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Honda Pilot Maintenance and Repair

3189 messages,  Last post on Dec 02, 2009 at 3:25 AM

You are in the Honda Pilot Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester

What is this discussion about? Honda Pilot, Electrical, Engine, Steering, SUV


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#3095 of 3189
Re: Catastrophic engine failure! '05 Pilot! [jse107] by Mr_Shiftright HOST
Jun 11, 2009 (7:52 am)
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Replying to: jse107 (Jun 11, 2009 5:28 am)

Well you know, statistically there will be, absolutely, a small percentage of ANY car made by human beings (or their robot slaves) that will screw up--be it a $15000 Scion or a $300,000 Maybach. It is impossible to avoid the occasional disaster. Also we can't regard the entire car a "lemon" because of one part failing, any more than we can write off an entire house because the furnace breaks.
 
Hopefully, Honda will find something unusual and step up to the plate for you. But if they offer you a fair settlement where you pay something out of pocket, I'd go for it and get this behind you. If you dig your heels in, they might up their offer, but they might dig their heels in---and once they've offered a compromise, they start to look good in the eyes of an arbitrator or mediator--if you catch my drift. Of course, it would be nice if this out-of-pocket on your part were minimal, maybe just labor to R&R a new engine. You do have to consider the 40K use you got out of the car and that legally you are totally out of warranty. So play your best cards.
#3096 of 3189
Re: Catastrophic engine failure! '05 Pilot! [Mr_Shiftright] by jse107
Jun 11, 2009 (8:07 am)
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jun 11, 2009 7:52 am)

Service manager requested all the maintenence records. Thankfully, although I tease him about it, my husband has everything on a spreadsheet from when we first bought the car--so he sent that off. He also said he could send reciepts from when we got the brake pads done and when another dealership fixed the bumper (it was in an accident that involved a tire rolling off another car!). All oil and parts have been purchased at the dealership servicing the car now, so we have records of that also.
 
I don't begrudge this dealership--I know they are working to find out what's wrong, and in fact, admit they are just as puzzled as we are. It's just a general frustration with the situation. That, and I have to drive a crappy rental!
#3097 of 3189
Re: Catastrophic engine failure! '05 Pilot! [jse107] by rodut
Jun 12, 2009 (5:33 pm)
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Replying to: jse107 (Jun 11, 2009 8:07 am)

The receipts you have for buying the oil do not prove that your husband actually replaced it. You cannot go in court because you have no proof of maintenance. So legally Honda can just walk away. I would suggest you smile nicely,and take any deal they are kind enough to offer.
 
You should never replace the oil by yourself during the warranty. Always have it replaced by any 10 minutes shop (or dealership), and keep the receipts. If your husband wants to play changing the oil, he should do it after the warranty expires.
 
Your spreadsheets, or receipts for buying pads or oil really mean nothing.
 
Call any other manufacturer on their 1-800 line, and ask if your engine blew and you have no maintenance proof ... will they give you a new engine ?!?
 
#3098 of 3189
Re: Catastrophic engine failure! '05 Pilot! [rodut] by steve_ HOST
Jun 12, 2009 (5:46 pm)
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Replying to: rodut (Jun 12, 2009 5:33 pm)

Oh, I don't know. I think a judge could probably look at the receipts and spreadsheet and listen to the owners and get a good idea if the maintenance claim was ginned up or not.
 
It might depend on what the judge had for breakfast too though.
 
Going to court is a big roll of the dice, so if you can negotiate something out, that's probably a lot less nerve-racking.
#3099 of 3189
Re: Catastrophic engine failure! '05 Pilot! [steve_] by kipk
Jun 13, 2009 (3:32 am)
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Replying to: steve_ (Jun 12, 2009 5:46 pm)

>"Going to court is a big roll of the dice, so if you can negotiate something out, that's probably a lot less nerve-racking"
 
I agree.
 
Buying the oil and filters and so forth, and having receipts for such are a good thing, but corporate lawyers (honda) can say there is no proof of whether or not the items were installed correctly or at all, If they wanted to play hard ball!
 
Also, going to court without an attorney would almost certainly spell disaster for your case. With an attorney, their fees can quickly dwarf any settlement you might get, even if you won your case.
 
I used to change my own oil and such, but came to the realization that the savings are not really worth the effort. Our Honda dealer does it for around $30. And that includes some inspections, topping off other fluids and so forth. And they throw in a free car wash. This dealer has also been good about checking for and installing "Technical Service Bulletins" while I am there. These are items that are not necessarily tied into any kind of mandated recall and might never be done if I'm doing my own service or having it done by "Jiffy Lube".
 
To do it myself, using the Honda filter and "Pennzoil" synthetic blend oil (they use) would cost in the neighborhood of $15 or so. Add in other related expenses, such as the time to do the change, the mess, properly disposing of the used oil and so forth. Of course there is the problem of "What if " there is an expensive failure. Will anybody believe that I did everything on time and properly?
 
"Stuff" can happen! Parts are made by vendors and occasionally something is out of specs. I want to know that I did everything I could to keep up my end of proper service. I don't know what goes on in the Honda service bays. Did the tech do it properly? I've still got the paper work, "Proving" I made every effort to do it their way. I do know that the few drive train warranty problems I had, involved the dealer looking at my service record on his computer, first thing! My understanding is that any Honda dealer, anywhere, can view my car, any problems I've had, and the service record by simply entering my vin number.
 
I just don't believe in being penny wise and dollar foolish!
 
Kip
#3100 of 3189
Re: Catastrophic engine failure! '05 Pilot! [steve_] by Mr_Shiftright HOST
Jun 13, 2009 (8:19 am)
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Replying to: steve_ (Jun 12, 2009 5:46 pm)

i agree, I'd take any kind of reasonable settlement offer even if it involved some out of pocket.
#3101 of 3189
Catastrophic engine failure! '05 Pilot! by bigdadi118
Jun 13, 2009 (8:20 am)
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can say there is no proof of whether or not the items were installed correctly or at all,
 
you do the stuffs yourself means not Honda certified, so not do a thing right or forgot something can spell disaster. The spreadsheet and receipts don't mean everything was done 100% correctly.
 
The Honda mechanics can't compare with your husband. They are Honda trained, insured and ASE certified while your husband is not.
 
If the Honda mechanic forgot to fill new oil to the engine after the old oil drained, engine is overheated, they will replace whatever needed, while your husband forogt same then don't scream. We are human, can make mistake any time.
#3102 of 3189
Re: Catastrophic engine failure! '05 Pilot! [bigdadi118] by Mr_Shiftright HOST
Jun 13, 2009 (8:26 am)
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Replying to: bigdadi118 (Jun 13, 2009 8:20 am)

All true bigdadi.......but let's wish her luck. Hopefully the engine tear down will put enough doubt in Honda's mind to make some offer.
#3104 of 3189
Don't pay any attention to the weak backbones by bamacar
Jun 13, 2009 (7:26 pm)
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I am a little surprised at the sheep mentality of a number of people on this board. Yes the Pilot is out of warranty and the driver is at the mercy of Honda in general. To make the leap that customer maintenance is going to be a significant deciding factor in what Honda chooses to do for this customer is a leap that auto manufacturers must love to hear. Use our maintenance or if you ever have any problem it is your fault. Congress has made it clear over the years that maintenance done by either owners or independent shops should not be seen as inferior.
 
If Honda finds that the problem was caused by a lack of oil, or oil used beyond its useful life, then they may blame maintenance and would be correct in doing so. If there is no clear evidence of an oil problem then they should say that it is a problem with their product. They should be willing to pay 1/2 up to the full cost of the repair if they truly are a customer service oriented corporation. If they don't blame the oil and don't pay a significant portion toward the repair, I hope the owner returns here and gives us that information. That should affect many people's judgement in making any future purchases from Honda. It would mine. I went through this issue with a GM product one time and have never returned as a customer. The future held bankruptcy for GM. Honda and Toyota are not immune from following a very similar path in the future if they don't take care of their customers.
 
Keep us informed as this story continues to unfold and good luck!

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