[ksukev333]

Originally Posted by ksukev333

Case number: N052008-06-1700562
WHO:
Kev Nichols (ksukev333)

WHAT:
2007 Honda Civic Si Sedan
MY PROBLEMS:
(a) notchy shifting to 3rd gear
(b) resistance going 3rd gear
(c) grinding related to 3rd gear
(e) transmission kicking out/popping out into neutral from 3rd.


SUMMARY:
Country: U.S.A.
Call Taker’s Name: Sara Sosa
Case Manager’s Name: Sara Sosa
What Happened:
I took my Si into Little Apple Honda in Manhattan, KS about 2 months ago, complaining about the fact my car wasn't shifting properly into 3rd. I told the service guy that it's happened about 20 times in the 12,000 miles I've driven my car in the last 9 months I've had it (since new). They took it for a 15 minute test drive and couldn't replicate the problem. They had the audacity to blame it on my shifting technique, noting that many owners "quick shift" their Civics and there was no problem with the car, even though I had the damn TSB sitting in the passenger seat right next to them, describing the problem and the FIX. Hey, I'm no spring chicken...in fact, I'm a 40 year old guy who's driven a stick since he was 14. I KNOW what shifts right and what is shifting wrong. Little Apple mentioned if they couldn't replicate the problem ( in 10 or 15 minutes), it's just not there. Morons.

So...I get a call from Honda asking about my service experience. Hah! Well, I held nothing back. They took all the info down and then had me fill out another survey via the web...then nothing...until a couple days ago.

Out of the blue, I get a call from Sara Sosa at American Honda asking me what the problem was. I told her the same spiel about the poor shifting and lack of customer service. She gave me the same piece of crap about having to replicate the problem so they know what to fix. I told her they KNOW what the problem is, they wrote a damn TSB on it, listing parts replacement!!! To make a long story short, they were absolutely NO help whatsoever. Little Apple Honda was recently hit by the tornado that went through Manhattan a couple weeks ago...unfortunately, it didn't level the F#$%ING place completely. What a bunch of dilweeds!!

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my Si, just wish Honda would take care of an obvious problem or at least wished my dealership was "stand-upish" enough to take care of a customer. I'm bummed out...

OK, I'm no longer bummed. I sent an email to Little Apple Toyota Honda. The following is BOTH the email I sent and the one I received from the owner. Just thought I'd share.

Title of email: Which decision was the poor one, buying a Honda or buying it from Little Apple Toyota/Honda?

Dear Sirs:

I have no idea how this email actually goes to. If you aren't the intended
recipient, please forward to the person who is. Frankly, I'm tired of getting
the runaround.

I bought a Honda Civic Si sedan from you folks last year. Over the last ten
months, however, I've had trouble getting my car into 3rd gear smoothly (about
25 times in 16,000 miles), a couple times it's felt like it was "in" only to
kick "out" when applying the gas. Weird...

I'm a member of 8thcivic.com and thought all of my prayers had been answered
when several members pointed out that Honda actually put out a TSB on the
problem. I hurried in to your service department, explained my woes, hoping for
a fix to what is becoming an increasingly annoying problem. They said they'd
take a look. Called me back a few hours later, saying they couldn't replicate
the problem. It's happened to me a couple dozen times in 10 months and it didn't
pop up in the 10 minutes they drove it?? How odd!! (Please note my sarcasm, I'm
laying it on pretty THICK). Your service department told me that until they can
replicate the problem, they won't perform the fix pointed out in the Honda
Service Bulletin. Hmmmm, what should I do, let your service manager drive my Si
for a couple weeks until it happens to him...I don't think so.

Like I said, I'm a member of 8thcivic.com, several members have stated that
their dealers took care of the fix without replicating the problem in-house. My
question to you is, why will their "big city" dealerships take care of them and
my "hometown" dealership treat me like I'm a liar?? I made it a POINT to do
business with a Manhattan business, thinking I'd be taken care of. Was I wrong??
Please let me know if I was and my next purchase won't be a waste of your time.

Sincerely,

Kevin Nichols

The Reply:

Mr. Nichols, I just received your e-mail. I have asked my service manager to contact you immediately to ask you to bring your car in for the TSB repair. If you do not hear from Kevin Campbell at Little Apple Honda please contact me directly, Tom Holcombe, 785-539-7441, as quickly as possible. Thank you for contacting us and please be assured you will be taken care of.

Tom Holcombe, Owner.