A very bad experience with Larry Hopkins Honda

[edmundle]

Hello All:


Just wanted to post my recent experience with Larry Hopkins Honda in Sunnyvale, CA. I took my 99 Accord Coupe V6 in for 90k service and timing belt replacement. About a few days later, I noticed a knocking noise coming from the engine. So naturally, I thought that it was probably something they messed up on. When I took it back, their first reaction was to immediately say that there is no correlation between that symptom and the timing belt change. The service advisor even tried to threaten me by saying that if they took apart the engine and found out that it wasn't their fault, i would be charged for a 9 hour job. Luckily, I spoke to the service manager about this before taking the car in, and he said that they would take a look at it with no charge. They dragged their feet for a few days and everytime I called back asking about the status of my car, they would tell me that they are still looking for the issue or that they didn't get to my car yet, or we would have to charge you more to find out the problem. Not until I pulled in to their store after waiting for 4 days, did they give me this incredulous story:

They said that it wasn't their fault for the knocking noise in the engine, then proceeded to show me a broken off headbolt from my car's engine block was the "culprit" of the knocking noise. They said somehow it broke off on it's own and fell into the valves causing the knocking noise. They were extremely nice about it EVEN though it took them 1/2 day to take apart engine to do this and replace a tensioner on my engine for free. Flags when up in my mind when I noticed this 180degree change in attitude. I suspected that they are trying to cover up a major screw up. The really stupid thing they tried to do was to convince me to buy a new car because of this "unfortunate" turn of events.

They said due to the damage of headbolt coming off and the screw still being left in place it would be very expensive to repair the engine because when you extract it, it could cause damage to the aluminum block. So they even proposed for me to pawn this car off to some other dealership with this known fact and trade it in. That totally pissed me off, cause how could they even dare suggest a thing like this to their customer. More flags came up in my mind that this was some elaborate cover up for a mistake they made on my car's service. Not satisfied at all with their service, I took my car in the next day to private mechanic.

He told me after reading their written reports that it was total BS. Basically they were crazy to even let me drive a car in that condition off the lot. I could have been in a serious accident if the engine had failed in the middle of a freeway. I am going to pursue this matter to the fullest. I will have more updates later since I should be getting back to work. But I just thought that I should share this story just in case if anyone else in the Bay Area decides to take their car into this shady dealership.

[mwmcginn]

Sorry to hear it. I had a similar experience with my Subaru at Lou Fusz. They did a timing belt and water pump on it. They left some of the gasket material in the engine and blocked an oil passage. It started clicking really bad on the way home, on the interstate. So I had to pull off and take it back. Still, they treated me like an ass through the whole thing.

Did they end up fixing yours?

[maddog0z]

I've had similar things happen to me as-well. Not as bad though. I took my old 98 to Lee Dodge to do a ~100k Maint and timing belt change. When i took it off the lot, the power steering belt started squeeling then went away. I figured I'd run it out to see if it would stop. It didnt, and started fraying on my way to work so I lost power steering. Took it in, they claimed it wasnt their fault, things just "happen". As I showed him the frayed belt, he noticed a wrench jammed underneath the fuse box. He quickly snatched it up and said "this looks like our wrench."

He walked off and replaced the belt. Charged me 45 bux. The part that pissed me off was the 1000 dollar bill for the maint and timing belt, and I had to go back to get other things fixed and readjusted, and they tried charging me more for it.

Wrote them a nasty email, and havnt been back since. They still email me offers though.

In hind sight i wish I had said more. I hope things work out for you man. Stick it to 'em where it counts.

[James.uk]

Did they explain why (if) they messed with the head bolts? They have nothing whatsoever to do with changing a timing belt?
.

[brickman]

Did they explain why (if) they messed with the head bolts? They have nothing whatsoever to do with changing a timing belt?
.Was thinking the same thing.

[edmundle]

hey thanks all for your comments.... I talked to this other mechanic and he said what you guys said about the headbolt having to do nothing with the timing belt change.

So he thinks that something like this happen:

1.) timing belt change
2.) they screwed up something to cause engine to knock
3.) took it back they found out it was their fault
4.) tried to fix it, had to remove valve covers, broke bolt off while messing with it.
5.) they re-torqued all the bolts, which to me indicates something cause those bolts to come loose, and told me to go on my merry way.

According to mechanic, he told me that I should drive my car since it is dangerous to have my engine in that condition.... i am now car pooling :(.

Anyway, I already filed a complain to California's Bureau of Automotive Repair because of this fiasco. They just called me today and told me to fax them all of the paperwork and evidence. No one I've spoke to that knows more about cars than me said they ever heard of a headbolt breaking off by itself on a Honda engine in their life.

I will keep you guys posted thru this so that if this kind of thing happens to others they might be able find some proper way to make these dealers own up to their mistakes.


Cheers!

[James.uk]

Off hand, I can't think of anything they could do wrong during a timing belt replacement, that would require the head being removed to correct it?? :scratch: :dunno:
.

[namegoeshere]

Yes, please keep us updated. God forbid that this should happen to anyone else here... but if it does, at least we'll have an idea of what steps to take to rectify the matter.

[ezshift5]

Anyway, I already filed a complain to California's Bureau of Automotive Repair because of this fiasco.

I will keep you guys posted thru this so that if this kind of thing happens to others they might be able find some proper way to make these dealers own up to their mistakes.


Cheers!



.....good for you (if more folks filed with the BAR after this kind of dogshit work, outfits like Larry Hopkins would suffer internal management changes from resultant loss of business......................

As it stands, Larry Hopkins is probably having some internal changes as we speak.........please keep us posted.....................

..best, ez..

[SatinSilver]

If you paid by credit card you could call the credit card company up and dispute the charges. The c.c. company will investigate the matter and perhaps save you some $$$. The faster you dispute the charge the better. Maybe that will get the dealer's attention!

[edmundle]

Hello All:


More updates. I talked to the Bureau of Automotive Repair and they basically they told me that Larry Hopkins Honda was unwilling to budge on this issue. However, the service manager was very surprised that they let me drive the car off the lot in that condition. At first he denied that they would ever say such a thing, but he retracted it as soon as he realized that I had the service advisor put his "STORY" in writing. So now I basically have to pursue them in court in order get any kind of compensation back for the mess they've caused. Does anybody have any type of experience with suing them on the grounds that they endangered my life by telling me to drive a car in such a condition? I am thinking if they are going to give me hell, I should take it all the way and give them maximum pain for this kind of crap.

The BAR also said that they've dealt with many cases of dealers deliberately sabotaging cars so that they could get repeat business from customers. This is pretty scary.... from now on, I am never going to take my car in for service at a dealership anymore for anything. There is just too much of a conflict of interest and questionable practices.

Hope this gives all of you a heads up.

[abmn]

Dealer smashed my 06 into a guardrail at appx 50mph last fall. Still in court...

You'd think an insured company would be a little less apt to screw people post-error.

[princess]

any more updates????

[thesteve151]

man that $ucks. i never take mine to the dealer. i have a very good cheap mechanic that is less than a mile away from my house that i use. he has never done me wrong, he has cheap prices, and will even tell me when work i want done, doesn't need to be done. he could easy just do the work and take the money.

it is not easy to find a good honest mechanic:thumbsdow
the thing i don't like about most places is you have to tell someone at a desk what you want done, and they have to wright it down for the mechanic.:paranoid:
i like talking to the mechanic to make sure he knows what he is doing, and make sure he knows what i want done.:yes:

hope you get it fixed.


According to mechanic, he told me that I should drive my car since it is dangerous to have my engine in that condition
:lmao:

[princess]

The are some V6's that a headbolt will back out & cause the symptoms of a head gasket issue, not noise. It's been the vans & trucks though.

An after timing belt growl/clatter is usually simply that they either over tightened the tensioner or neglected a bolt all together.

I'd say IF it has a broken head bolt that it has nothing to do with the service, just bad luck. None of the head bolts are messed with & you NEVER torque or check the torque of a head after it's been installed. It will mess up the gasket!!

At my prince's dealer you would be charged to find the problem, if it were a tensioner/tech screw up, then no charge for repair & refund the diagnostic charge....technically never actually charged. If it were a broken head bolt or whatever else found, then it would be customer pay.

If the "knock" started a few days later, then why would they not "let you drive the car off the lot in THAT condition".... Until the noise, no one would've known of a condition......:dunno: I'm confused.

If it goes to investgation of a serious nature, there are "forensic" techs. They have been used for settling arguements...but I'm pretty sure it's customer pay & I have no clue how much or how they're contacted. I've heard of them, but no experienced them. You may have to send it to SoCal or something......:dunno: This doesn't sound like conditions that would merit it. I think it's used primarily for accidents.

I will say that in 25+ years my prince said he's only seen "broken" head bolts when brittle from getting over heated & is usally in for getting the head replaced or redone in some way. The alum. would give before the bolt in nearly any circumstance by pressure.

Over tightening the tensioner wouldn't hurt the head. It would be noisey! Removing the valve cover isn't the head bolts.....

The rate of dishonest/undertrained techs at a non dealer shop is actually higher accoording to a report on dateline & another on 20/20 a few years back. A non dealer you only have a 25% chance of proper repairs the first time. At a dealer it was 65%, I think..... Your best bet is to create a relationship with your tech no matter where he works. They're usually more honest..... maybe not more trained.....but anything helps!!

[Bruce Hawkins]

Hi all,

When I had my 84 Accord I went to Los Gatos Honda, all the time, and had good luck. I mostly bought parts. So when I bought my 01, I went back to them. Now their called South Bay Honda. And owned by some one else.
(Back in the late 1980's-1990's, I made a friend in the parts Dept. He later went on to be in a well known band.)

I had my trans fluid changed, and had the cars Vin scanned for recalls.
I waited for my car, and I watched. Long story short, they did not change the trany fluid, and said they did. I took them to BAR, and BAR, said Dealer ship did not want to negotiate - take them to court...

I think the BAR is useless...


I use Gilroy Honda. I'm not all that happy with them.
Had timing belt service done, $900 (100% everything done).
Replaced Trany, free.
Trany has issues, I took it back 3 times, now they wont look at it, with out charging me...


Bruce