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Acura RL Maintenance and Repair

895 messages,  Last post on Jan 05, 2013 at 9:45 AM

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What is this discussion about? Acura RL, Sedan

Messages Page 65 of 91

#634 of 895 2005 RL Service? by fighterwso

Apr 13, 2006 (9:24 am)

Moving to the north shore of Long Island, NY. I thought I would start using the dealer near by. I called Rallye Acura, Roslyn, NY -- for an appointment for routine service. Simple enough? Nope!
 
I thought it kind of strange when the first question was "Did you buy it here?"
 
They asked for my name/number and said they would call me back. (Again, a little strange!) No call ... I called back the next day! They said they would call - "When they had an opening!" Huh??? I haven't heard from them in a week! Talk about being "Blown off!"
 
So ... While searching for a 'better' dealership online -- I found that Rallye won the "Precision Team Dealer of Distinction" for 4 of the past 6 years. Huh??
 
Conclusions:
1) They only service the cars they sell ... Wow, they must sell a lot of cars!
2) They must really suck up to the customers they already have.
3) They have Acura SNOWED big time!
 
Later, I asked about the dealership from someone that lived here her whole life. I was told to never buy there! They are a bunch of "stuck up snobs"! She was judged the minute she walked in the door by her 'relaxed attire' -- The salesman assumed she wasn't able to afford the car. Quote: "Are you sure you can afford this car?" What the ...!!!
 
They have lost at least 2 sales/future sales via this arrogance!
 
Go ahead -- Give them a call. I'll bet you get the same response. (Mind you - they didn't even bother to check the schedule!!)

#635 of 895 Re: 2005 RL Service? [fighterwso] by nebraskaguy

Apr 13, 2006 (10:43 am)

Replying to: fighterwso (Apr 13, 2006 9:24 am)
That is so surprising, for two reasons. First, at many dealerships, service and repair is a great profit center. Second, if they provide good service to someone who didn't buy there, it encourages them to buy there the next time. That's how my dealership got me as a loyal customer. I bought my first Acura elsewhere because I got a good deal, but I took it to this dealership for service because it was close. The service was so great that now I wouldn't go anyplace else to buy an Acura, even if I could get a somewhat better deal elsewhere.
 
My dealership provides bennies to customers who buy there - preferential appointments, free oil changes and free state inspections, etc., but I know they take all comers because I see many other dealer names on emblems, license plate holders, etc. on cars when I go there.

#636 of 895 Re: 2005 RL Service? [fighterwso] by gwestbound

Apr 13, 2006 (1:13 pm)

Replying to: fighterwso (Apr 13, 2006 9:24 am)
Acura doesn't seem to look after its customers or supervise the dealers very closely. Ours is pleasant but performs extra services without consent, and gets offended when payment is refused.
 
I'm very happy with my Acura, but I won’t buy another because of the regrettable dealer experience.

#637 of 895 Re: 2005 RL Service? [fighterwso] by acuraphile

Apr 15, 2006 (4:55 am)

Replying to: fighterwso (Apr 13, 2006 9:24 am)
I'm sorry that your experience at Rallye was so disappointing. It's true that I bought all of my Acuras there for the past eleven years, and that I have established a relationship with them, but knowing Michael, the Service Manager, I can't imagine him behaving in this manner or precluding people who aren't Rallye customers. I suggest that you call and ask for him personally and explain your problem. Be forthright. Please post again after you've spoken with him.

#638 of 895 Re: 2005 RL Service? [fighterwso] by drgkje

Apr 16, 2006 (1:56 pm)

Replying to: fighterwso (Apr 13, 2006 9:24 am)
This is definitely surprising and not like my experience in northern nj.
 
First, I don't think Acura, as a brand, stands for this. So, if you haven't already, you should write as well as call Acura's regional customer service. Your opinion MAY count. Recently, there was an issue with my post-service survey, surprisingly, a few minutes after the survey call, I got a call from the service manages asking why I was unhappy.
 
I bought my car (used 04) in Florida in Jan 06. In Feb I took to one of the local dealers for some minor issues & oil change- they were very accomodating in every way except they did not give me a loaner. In March I took it to another local dealer, they were even better and gave me a TL as a loaner.
 
I would definitely complain to Acura

#639 of 895 Re: 2006 Acura RL Dueling Keypods [friedoyster1] by scottjohnson

Apr 18, 2006 (5:11 pm)

Replying to: friedoyster1 (Apr 10, 2006 6:58 am)
It isn't actually random, it has to do with which key last unlocked the door. Whichever key unlocks it are the settings that are used. If my wife touches the door handle first, it goes to her settings, even though I've got my key and am on the driver's side. Drives her crazy - seems to bother her more than me when it happens.

#640 of 895 2006 RL dangerous transmission? computer? cat converter? Avoid like plague by sad06rlowner1

Apr 19, 2006 (10:35 pm)

I purchased an 06 RL in late December 2005. Loved the car for the first 2900 miles. Then it started to drag. Ran sluggish. Sounded "throaty". Check engine light came on, check emissions light, and check sh-awd light. Take it in, am told they cleared the codes, and since they didn't come back on, my car is fine. They determined that the codes were "thrown" because the car thought the engine got too hot. However, because they could not duplicate the code, they refused to do any work on it, or even check it.
   Called the hotline and was told that obviously this is a case of me not accepting that the dealership found nothing wrong with the car, and if the car is fine then there is nothing to be done. On the drive home, car acted worse than ever. Now it has no acceleration when you punch the gas if the car is revving under 2000 rpms. After punching it, the car takes between 1-2 seconds before doing anything, (I mean full seconds, one one thousand etc.)the odometer goes up to 5000 rpm and then the car lurches forward. So when cruising down the freeway, there is no passing power and no way to get out the way if an emergency situation arises. I was told I need to give the computer a second or two to determine what I am asking it to do. (Those two seconds can mean the difference between life and death.) This also happens on city streets when cruising, or slowing down to corner. Anytime the car is under 2000 rpms. Car also is now making a grinding metallic sound as it hits the higher rpms after being punched (above 5000). Car also is now shuddering when coming to a stop.
  Service director verified all complaints (except the shuddering) and then proceeded to tell me that he drove other RL's and they had the same issue, so these are not a "problem" to be fixed, they are a "characteristic" of the vehicle. He test drove it and repeatedly, when driving at 40 mph if he punched the car, the car sometimes shifted into 4th gear, sometimes 3rd, and sometimes 2nd. According to him, this is normal. This "normal" characteristic makes it difficult to drive when your car reacts differently each time under the same circumstances.
  American Honda Corp. sent DSM to test vehicle. He also test drove the other RL's on the lot and found they had the same problems. Therefore he agrees these are characteristics of the vehicle. They refuse to run any diagnostics on the vehicle or even attempt to fix anything. Mind you, the only thing that has been done on the car is that the service director drove it (he is not a mechanic he admits) the DSM drove it (he is also not a mechanic) and since they can't verify that my car drives
"differently" than other RL's they won't pay the mechanic to diagnose the vehicle. The corporate response is that you "don't need to be a mechanic to fix a vehicle" and why should they pay for diagnostics if two non-mechanics can't verify the problem. After all, they "can't chase every ghost when customers complain." I thought that is what the warranty was for?
  They have had my car two weeks and I don't think they have opened the hood. Am told if the car doesn't say it is broken in its computer, then it is fine.
  If this is fine, then Acura RL's have tremendous drag on their engines while attempting to accelerate, they have no reliable power for passing or accident avoidance, they make grinding metal sounds, and shudder when coming to stops. Buyer beware - this did NOT show up until I had had the car for 3 months. I loved the car at purchase but when the honeymoon was over, BAM!
Again, it is worth repeating - they have verified these complaints and say this is NORMAL.
Don't know if it is a faulty defective transmission, faulty defective drive by wire, faulty defective computer or faulty defective catalytic converter (the last one is the service director's hunch).
Whichever, anyone else enjoying these characteristics?
 
P.S. when choosing my name for this forum I made up sadrlowner but was told that name was already taken.

#641 of 895 Re: 2006 Acura RL Dueling Keypods [scottjohnson] by friedoyster1

Apr 20, 2006 (7:55 am)

Replying to: scottjohnson (Apr 18, 2006 5:11 pm)
Funny... same here. My wife took the keypod out of her purse so she wouldn't win the race to the door handle anymore.

#642 of 895 Re: 2006 RL dangerous transmission? computer? cat converter? Avoid like plague [sad06rlowner1] by friedoyster1

Apr 20, 2006 (8:04 am)

Replying to: sad06rlowner1 (Apr 19, 2006 10:35 pm)
Sadrlowner, that is bizarre... both that the car is behaving that way and that the dealership (and Acura) is treating you that way. I have a 2006 RL with similar mileage and the only symptom that even partially rings true is the drag on the engines at low RPM, but I did notice that on multiple RL's before purchasing. If they choose to ignore you the best thing that could happen is to have the transmission seize up completely...when the car is towed into the dealership they can tell you that all RL's tow the same way.

#643 of 895 Re: 2006 RL dangerous transmission? computer? cat converter? Avoid like plague [sad06rlowner1] by cavtec

Apr 20, 2006 (11:27 am)

Replying to: sad06rlowner1 (Apr 19, 2006 10:35 pm)
Problems aren't limited to you.
 
"They all do that" must be taught at Acura school. My RL had sluggish performance, severe throttle lag at 50 mph, poor fuel mileage (16 mpg) and a host of electrical gremlins. Acura's response " no defect, they all do that." Acura went as far as to sent another RL out for a test drive to prove they are right. The test car got 11 mpg, had the same lag, an a variety of gremlins.
 
Sorry Acura, the RL just doesn't cut it.

Messages Page 65 of 91

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