Honda TSB 08-020 April 12, 2008 (3RD GEAR)

[Johnold]

what would you guys consider to be a better made 3rd gear Si. Cause mine doesn't do it much...about 2% outa 100%. If it doesn't bother me much or at all, would that be considered ok to leave as is?.

[JenSi]

Originally Posted by ocspray

No, you don't. If it's not shifting smoothly, that's all you need to know. If you internet connection goes down, do you need to know how to fix it to get service? Nope; you call in the problem and hope for the best.

It's their job to figure it out, and luckily, Honda has provided them with a handy TSB. Take one along for support if you want, but be respectful, firm, and consistent with the service department and you won't need a guy around.

Thanks for the pep talk =) This will be my 4th time in there w/this problem.. And they already changed my transmission fluid, so hopefully they'll go to the next step smoothly. Fingers crossed.

[JenSi]

Originally Posted by Johnold

what would you guys consider to be a better made 3rd gear Si. Cause mine doesn't do it much...about 2% outa 100%. If it doesn't bother me much or at all, would that be considered ok to leave as is?.

Mine was off from week one... then kept getting worse.. so I can't give ya any advice there.. Every car is different though and some are more seriously effected than others from what I have read.

[Johnold]

Originally Posted by JenSi

Mine was off from week one... then kept getting worse.. so I can't give ya any advice there.. Every car is different though and some are more seriously effected than others from what I have read.

yeah see, mine doesn't really do it at all. maybe in the morning when the car is cold and i'm being a dumbass trying to shift hard and fast but still, it's REALLY rare even when I do that. So i'm thinking that my Si's tranny and 3rd gear are ok to leave alone. I'm hesitant to let someone mess with my Si's tranny cause it's like surgery, once you get it done to yourself, you'll never be the same. It's just sucha rare thing to happen and I don't wanna bring it in if it ain't really broken you know?. Might make it worse. Most people that say they brought theirs in to be fixed are still having problems. I don't want some halfassed Honda tech touching my shit.

[08civicman]

yea so far from these threads and having it done, there are more people with problems after the fix then there are people that the fix worked for them.

Im still waiting for that goddamn canadian TSB to come out so i can see if my 08 is affected. sometimes shifting into third i feel a very slight notch, but nothing close to a grind. Also my 2nd gear is a little harder to engage then when i first bought the car. i have 6000km on my car, build date 4th week of jan 08.

I expected the transmission to get smoother as its broken in, but my 2nd and 3rd gears are no where near as smooth as they were when the car had 0-1500 km's on it.

[METAL_DRAGON]

Originally Posted by JenSi

Had a major crisis with the car today... it was smoking crack! I seriously didn't know what the heck to do! Scared me alot.. thought my tranny was gonna fall right out on the road & I was out in the middle of no where. Between popping out of gear & it not going into gear while driving, the grinding & the horrible...very horrible notchiness in which I could feel it hit every tooth of the gears thru the shifter & hear it clicking into gear... I didn't know if I should call a tow truck or just keep driving. Freaked me out. I called the dealer after I calmed myself down...didn't even mess w/gettin service on the phone. I got the manager of the dealership that I got to know over the last few weeks due to him dealing w/the company I work for on the phone. I was like dude...my car is insane! He's like bring it in now.. I couldn't, no time. Last time they wouldn't even give me a loaner. He's like bring it in 1st thing tomorrow, I'll let the service mngr. know exactly who u are and that ur coming & I'll give ya a car to drive. The sooner ya get it in here the better to duplicate it. There is that duplicate word again.. UGGG! I hope my car doesn't decide to be a jerk tomorrow & pretend like it's just peachy! And I hope by going thru the manager & him knowing me that I have a better shot at gettin somethin done here... I really need a guy friend to go in with me here, cuz I know NOTHING about a transmission!

Let them check it out. Honda is pretty good. Tell them what its doing, and take the loaner. Let them fix it. Dont let them tell you theres nothing wrong. tell them you want it fixed. Not fun to break down. Talk to the service manager. He will usually help. But be firm you want it fixed.

[JenSi]

Ya, it's gonna get fixed one way or the other...that I am for certain. And if it still happens after all is said and done.. then I believe that the Lemon Law should come into play. Just frustrating as heck tho! I think mine is a little more than a 3rd gear thing.. It was happening in every gear yesterday. And with as much as I drive, it's way more than just an annoying little thing that happens here and there. We'll see what they say today... I'll give ya all an update when I get word on it.

[JenSi]

Ok, so I took it in... They drove it with me in it, but it wouldn't do it. Couldn't duplicate it at all. Get back into the office & the service manager comes in.. Manager told him what the deal is. And says well lets take a look at the TSB & see exactly what parts we need to order, get u set up in a car and get this taken care of once & for all. I was like, awesome... So, they ordered them for me and are replacing it all!!! Said if my car does it that bad again just come back in and they will give me a loaner until the parts are in & mine is fixed. I'm soooo happy! They treated me awesome! The new Service Manager & Parts Manager are totally nice... no questioning me at all & took care of everything right away while I was standing there. Now thats the service I've known this Honda to have. I'm very satisfied with how they handled it. Taking it in as soon as the parts come in.. This will be their first fix on this 3rd gear problem.

[Luca88]

I just called before reading this thread about getting 3rd gear replaced. It happens everynow and then. I get stretches where it happens all the time and some when it does not happen at all. I can live with it but I figured if they are replacing it I should have it done. But if people are having more problems after idk? What do you think?

[ocspray]

JenSi, not having to deal with jackasses feels pretty good, doesn't it?

I don't need to have the TSB performed, but if I did, I'm lucky enough to have a service department that would take care of it properly. I pity those of you that need to have the TSB work done and are dealing with poor service. If at all possible, find a new dealership. I've done it with other cars, and I'd do it again. Let Honda Corp. know about why you made the change, too. You'd better believe they want to know if their local representatives are treating paying Honda customers badly.

[joshmon71]

How do I contact Honda over these matters?

If car comes of warranty you think Honda will make good? Doubtful! I am less than pleased with Honda, and Hyannis Honda in particular. Contrast this to Toyota, and Orleans Toyota, whom just bought my 99 Tacoma back at 150% book value with a frame rusted out-local dealer treated me with utmost respect and handed me a check for 14.5K to boot!

I had to bring out the big voice on the phone to Hyannis Honda-started polite then got heated. First the Srvc Manager tells me has to duplicate issue 3rd gear, I asked him how possible when its Spring and warm out and I drive 45 minutes to dealer and would likely not happen then and wast 1/2 day off work ? Asked if he even read the TSB (nope) which states intermittent and cold weather effects and hard to duplicate and states my 07 Civic Si has bad part!! Asked him to speak to his 2-3 service employees I met one day who have SI and same issue! Then brought out the "let's have this conversation in person, in your Sales showroom about defects and TSB's, and my warranty and the lemon law for visit #1 on the issue" I do have the problem, is intermittent, noted much more when cold, and higher revs. Now it is almost summer. Not happened in while when warm. Have to deal with when under warranty is my take so be polite 1st crack-then bring out the TSB and quote it, then mention your state lemon law and visit #1, and document. Consult your lemon laws in state-usually get 3 visiits,then you can mail a legal letter to Honda in your state (not dealer).

On top of this the same dealer quoted me 8-9 hours to install the HFP suspension and I really got LOUDre-assembled struts and shocks for rear takes 9 hours I said? you better check the books, that is for entire HFP kit this is just suspension! They never admitted their mistake and made it sound like 400 dollars was doing me a favor. Stealerships-told'em straight up unconsionable, you do not want my business tell me ok with that (bought HFP for 500 off internet) but do not lie and steal outta my wallet-double check your Honda install time numbers. Gave you crack at list of HFP parts and not even close.

I wanted the extra warranty on HFP or woulda done self-or at friends garage. But I travel a ton and my time is money issue. Told em keep my car till they get it fixed. Gotta truck. Damn they nailed me for 400 bills. But I get-new 3rd gear, installed HFP suspension and 3 year warranty vs 1, and alignment.

Very poor on Hyannis Honda. Had to go from polite to customer arseHolio to get it done.

[Special Ringpop]

Originally Posted by ocspray

JenSi, not having to deal with jackasses feels pretty good, doesn't it?

I don't need to have the TSB performed, but if I did, I'm lucky enough to have a service department that would take care of it properly. I pity those of you that need to have the TSB work done and are dealing with poor service. If at all possible, find a new dealership. I've done it with other cars, and I'd do it again. Let Honda Corp. know about why you made the change, too. You'd better believe they want to know if their local representatives are treating paying Honda customers badly.

Kinda hard to do when even your American Honda regional representative is on constant PMS. Must suck to live in the projects, hey Kenitra? God I despise that woman. Even my dealership admits she's a worthless sack of shit.

[ocspray]

Honda Automobile Customer Relations - Worldwide
Customer Relations - the Official Honda Web Site

[ocspray]

Mike, at the risk of lighting off another rant, have you called AHC about her? If she's that bad, maybe your complaint will be the final one that gets her behind the wheel of a Buick service department's parts truck.

[Special Ringpop]

Originally Posted by ocspray

Mike, at the risk of lighting off another rant, have you called AHC about her? If she's that bad, maybe your complaint will be the final one that gets her behind the wheel of a Buick service department's parts truck.

Haha, no more ranting for me. But, I called back after having to deal with her twice (even after requesting to be put with another case manager due to "irreconsilable differences" and being told that was against policy), I was told that I could not complain about her, that..."Americna Honda doesn't offer complaint files.

....

Customer service deals with complaints with their cars, why can't they deal with customer complaints against unacceptable behaviors from their case managers. I got a survey the first time I dealt with the witch, and gave her failing marks. Evidently that wasn't enough because the broad still has the job.

It's just troublesome for me to hear my dealership say that "a lot of customers have voiced concern over Kenitra. She's a real firecracker."

That's unacceptable. Her job is to help oversee problems that the immediate dealership cannot necessarily handle. And she proved not only unable, but unwilling, to do such in the several painfully rude calls I've had with her.

Allow me to say that I am not trying to generalize that all AH customer service relations are this bad. This is just my only experience, you know?

[ocspray]

If she's such a peach, I wonder if your service manager would slip a corporate HR contact to you, since you've been working through the Customer Service (for cars, not "firecrackers") side of the house.

[JenSi]

Originally Posted by ocspray

JenSi, not having to deal with jackasses feels pretty good, doesn't it?

I don't need to have the TSB performed, but if I did, I'm lucky enough to have a service department that would take care of it properly. I pity those of you that need to have the TSB work done and are dealing with poor service. If at all possible, find a new dealership. I've done it with other cars, and I'd do it again. Let Honda Corp. know about why you made the change, too. You'd better believe they want to know if their local representatives are treating paying Honda customers badly.

Oh I got the run around at first.. this was my 4th trip. I think honestly tho cuz they didn't know about the TSB when I first brought it in there.. then 2nd time I brought the TSB & he didn't know about it yet still. I brought it to their attention. Then a new Service Manager took over, and I got to know the General Manager due to my work.. So I went thru him when my car went haywire yesterday. I had that on my side and the fact that this is my 3rd car from them. They ordered the parts no questions asked for me today.. w/out even duplicating. I was very pleased with how they handled it & how I was treated.
As far as AH. I had called & got a case number, just in case, a few weeks ago. I'm tryin to find the name of my case manager...can't remember it off the top of my head. I believe it was Kenitra... not 100% sure tho. If it was her, I didn't have a problem w/her.. however I've only talked once to her. Sorry to hear to whoever is havin a hard time w/AH. It's not cool. This whole TSB stuff isn't cool especially the cars who have more severe cases of it. I really hope after this fix, that it's the end of the problem. Seein too many cases of problems afterwards

[dt07Si]

Well my FG is at Honda for the second time (since my car just sat there last week and they didn't even test drive it) and I'm driving an Odyssey and they are going to test drive my car and try and replicate the problem. The guy in service tried to tell me it could take up to 3 months to get the parts for the transmission even if they are able to replicate the problem. I knew they were on backorder but that was the first I heard of 3 months.

It doesn't happen too often in my car so I am about to say screw it until it gets worse and Honda has parts available. I figure as long as I get it attended to before my warranty is up.

[atp1559]

Tony Honda (Hawaii)...3 wk national backorder