Honda Dealership experience....

[CometVR4]

I took my car to Crown Honda in Greensboro, NC. to get the trasmission fluid changed. I would have did it myself but I read about how tight the drain plug was. Well they said they could get my out in about 45 min. I waited on the car. Then about 30-40 min later they page me to the front. It turns out that they took off the fill plug(which I thought you had to add fluid through the dip stick) and instead of the fill plug coming loose, it stick and a nice chunk of the bell housing came out with it. They told me the only way to get that fix is if I get a new bell housing. They patched it up with JB weld and tried to send me on my way. I told them no I wasn't leaving until they annotate on the work order that the tech broke the bell housing and they used JB weld and a temp fix. So the service advisor types a new one. It reads: "Trasmission casing cracked, used JB weld temp." I still wasnt satisfied, so I told him I wanted to say the tech broke it. Then they tell me it was probrably already cracked before. I said no, my car was fine before I brough it in and now I'm leaving with a patch up job and I cannot change the fluid ever again. So they type me a new one saying " Casing cracked while tech removed fill plug, JB/ Temp. "

So I dunno. I'm going to see if my dad can handle it from here.

[Inspector1]

Well at least they told you about it and just did not patch and sent you on your way. :)

I1 :)

[SSMV6]

Did they offer to replace the housing at a later time?

[Fredsvt]

Huh? How tight was that fill plug?
I'd think the 17mm head on the plug would strip before the transmission case would break.

Can you take a pic of the plug?

[Wonka]

I bet the tech used heat on it. Aluminum doesn't spread the heat evenly. You should check for torch marks. The problem with aluminum is that it's oxides don't flake like iron/steel. They lock stuff in. Penetrant and light, really light, heat, some times works. Really soft impact wrench settings over a long time.
It seems all the techs are trying to beat the flat rate book. If it's sealed you could use a rubber case plug next time.
Good luck with it.

[Fredsvt]

I just don't see that plug oxidizing in the thread area. There's tranny fluid splashing around on it when in operation.

The head of the steel bolt doesn't touch the top of the case directly, there's an aluminum crush washer there to seal it.

I'd love to see a pic of this damage. Just seems really strange, almost like an impact gun may have been taken to it.

[CometVR4]

Well they patched it up with JB weld. I'll try to get a pictures today. I can't tell really where the crack is....but I'll try to good pictures today.




Did they offer to replace the housing at a later time?


No, they told me I would have to get a new bell housing.

[SSMV6]

No, they told me I would have to get a new bell housing.
I don't get it. You bring in the car for a tranny fluid change. Housing is in one piece. Tech cracks the housing. Customer pays the bill? :dunno: It's almost as bad as the guy working in "prince's" service dept. breaking $1000 worth of stuff from being careless and trying to stick the bill to the customer...

[hermann]

I don't get it. You bring in the car for a tranny fluid change. Housing is in one piece. Tech cracks the housing. Customer pays the bill? :dunno: It's almost as bad as the guy working in "prince's" service dept. breaking $1000 worth of stuff from being careless and trying to stick the bill to the customer...


to me it sounds exactly the same. :thumbsdow :dunno:

[CometVR4]

My father spoke to them this week. The Service manager investigated and called him back as they said they didn't nothing to the tranny to cause it to break and agreed I did nothing either so hes going to give me a new bell housing and install it free of charge. I love Honda.

[ItsaHonda]

Reminds of me when I brought my 96 Accord into LaFontaine Honda in Dearborn, MI for a simple transmission fluid change. As soon as a I pulled out of the shop to go back home, my CEL light came on and my car was shifting from 1st into 4th! (skipping 2nd and 3rd alltogether) I also noticed that my D4 light was blinking. I immediately turned the car around and went back to the service dept. To make a long story short, they told me that I needed a new transmission. I had just moved up to Michigan, so I didn't know a soul. I called my mechanic in Orlando, set an appt. and drove the 1300 miles back home w/ CEL on, D4 flashing and no 2nd and 3rd gear. Turns out, the TCU (TCM?) had been disconnected! Apparently, the auto shifts from 1st to 4th by default, which allowed me to cruise just fine on the highway once the car finally got up to speed (my engine took a beating!) I sent HOA a nasty letter, but not sure if anything was ever done.

[Accord4Life]

Reminds of me when I brought my 96 Accord into LaFontaine Honda in Dearborn, MI for a simple transmission fluid change. As soon as a I pulled out of the shop to go back home, my CEL light came on and my car was shifting from 1st into 4th! (skipping 2nd and 3rd alltogether) I also noticed that my D4 light was blinking. I immediately turned the car around and went back to the service dept. To make a long story short, they told me that I needed a new transmission. I had just moved up to Michigan, so I didn't know a soul. I called my mechanic in Orlando, set an appt. and drove the 1300 miles back home w/ CEL on, D4 flashing and no 2nd and 3rd gear. Turns out, the TCU (TCM?) had been disconnected! Apparently, the auto shifts from 1st to 4th by default, which allowed me to cruise just fine on the highway once the car finally got up to speed (my engine took a beating!) I sent HOA a nasty letter, but not sure if anything was ever done.
Dang. Thats bad.

[CometVR4]

Just got back from the dealer. It took them 1.5 days to complete the swap.
This even though the internals are the same the car shifts quicker and smoother. A lot better than when I 1st purchased it

[SSMV6]

Just got back from the dealer. It took them 1.5 days to complete the swap.
This even though the internals are the same the car shifts quicker and smoother. A lot better than when I 1st purchased it
:thmsup: :thmsup: :thmsup:

[OwAce]

did you guys hear bout the one in which a maglite got dropped in the engine bay in such a way that when the car moved forward the maglite lifted the car up fron the transmission case? and broke through leaving a sizeable hole.


the maglite apparently didnt have a scratch on it. transmission case had to be welded back.

[stevencrosbie]

That was on V6P.net. Says a lot for the maglight :notworthy

But, those are the characteristics of Cast Al. Can be brittle.