Disappointed by Motor Agents workshop once again

[chrisc]

I have had 4 Hondas since the early 1980s and they have been without exception marvellous cars

My Jazz motorplan was due to expire on 28th February so I took it for a 60000km service. The invoice for the service was just for oil, filter, air filter and a general check

The following week I noticed a spot (10mm) of oil on the cement floor where the car had been parked, and looking with a lead-light, saw what looked like a drop forming on the sump nut and a smear of oil on the bottom of the engine. I cleaned it off but within 2 days it was back, with a few more spots

Back to the agent who kept the car 2 days. I was told that two seals had worn, the sump gasket was compromised due to a bump or collision the bottom of the engine had with a hard object. The short story was a quote for R9250 for repairs and replacement.

My neighbour's son (52) is the workshop manager of a large commercial Ford workshop in Epping and he looked at it. In less than 2 mins he ascertained that the oil-filter was not tight and a dribble of oil was leaking past the seal. Using only his hand he was able to tighten it 1/2 turn and another 1/8 turn with a strap spanner. He washed the engine with detergent to remove any oil and dirt. In 4 weeks since then there has been no sign of a leak and no spots on the floor. He also said the underneath of the engine shows no evidence of hitting anything at all

I went back to this agent who told me it would cost R9250 and mentioned the loose oil-filter. He told me I was talking absolute nonsense and refused even to look at the engine, adding that I had now buggered my chances of getting any future help from them by getting a "back-yard mechanic" to touch the car. I asked about the alleged damage, but the workshop fellow waved it away and said it did not interest him

 

[ToxicBunny]

I have had 4 Hondas since the early 1980s and they have been without exception marvellous cars

My Jazz motorplan was due to expire on 28th February so I took it for a 60000km service. The invoice for the service was just for oil, filter, air filter and a general check

The following week I noticed a spot (10mm) of oil on the cement floor where the car had been parked, and looking with a lead-light, saw what looked like a drop forming on the sump nut and a smear of oil on the bottom of the engine. I cleaned it off but within 2 days it was back, with a few more spots

Back to the agent who kept the car 2 days. I was told that two seals had worn, the sump gasket was compromised due to a bump or collision the bottom of the engine had with a hard object. The short story was a quote for R9250 for repairs and replacement.

My neighbour's son (52) is the workshop manager of a large commercial Ford workshop in Epping and he looked at it. In less than 2 mins he ascertained that the oil-filter was not tight and a dribble of oil was leaking past the seal. Using only his hand he was able to tighten it 1/2 turn and another 1/8 turn with a strap spanner. He washed the engine with detergent to remove any oil and dirt. In 4 weeks since then there has been no sign of a leak and no spots on the floor. He also said the underneath of the engine shows no evidence of hitting anything at all

I went back to this agent who told me it would cost R9250 and mentioned the loose oil-filter. He told me I was talking absolute nonsense and refused even to look at the engine, adding that I had now buggered my chances of getting any future help from them by getting a "back-yard mechanic" to touch the car. I asked about the alleged damage, but the workshop fellow waved it away and said it did not interest him

Well you've out of motorplan, just take your vehicle to a better place then, even if it is a backyard mechanic.

Escalate it to Honda head office in SA with an official complaint about the workshop 1) doing shoddy work on your car and 2) trying to rip you off.

 

[bigboy529]

I'm on this same path with a dealer telling me something is wrong and quoting me a crazy amount to replace, but even I can tell that what they say is not the problem. The truth is they don't know what the problem is and are to lazy to properly search, now they reverted to replacing parts till the problem is gone.
I'm seeing a indapendant mechanic on Thursday, a proper mechanic and not a parts fitter, if he finds the problem and as I suspect it's not closely related to what they claim is wrong, then there will be hell to pay.

 

[upup]

and another 1/8 turn with a strap spanner.

fasten the oil filter with a spanner. Stay away from him.

 

[TheChamp]

I've lost faith in dealerships long ago, instead of specializing in fixing cars it seems the thing they do best is ripping people off.
And to OP, people who lie always get mad when they are exposed for the liars they, the manager's attitude is very consistent with this trait.

 

[chrisc]

and another 1/8 turn with a strap spanner.

fasten the oil filter with a spanner. Stay away from him.

Do you not know what a strap spanner is? This is the recommended method of tightening a screw-on filter.

 

[FatBoySlim]

Fact is these guys have no skills in modern day cars even if they are dealers.

 

[Hermes14]

I have had 4 Hondas since the early 1980s and they have been without exception marvellous cars

My Jazz motorplan was due to expire on 28th February so I took it for a 60000km service. The invoice for the service was just for oil, filter, air filter and a general check

The following week I noticed a spot (10mm) of oil on the cement floor where the car had been parked, and looking with a lead-light, saw what looked like a drop forming on the sump nut and a smear of oil on the bottom of the engine. I cleaned it off but within 2 days it was back, with a few more spots

Back to the agent who kept the car 2 days. I was told that two seals had worn, the sump gasket was compromised due to a bump or collision the bottom of the engine had with a hard object. The short story was a quote for R9250 for repairs and replacement.

My neighbour's son (52) is the workshop manager of a large commercial Ford workshop in Epping and he looked at it. In less than 2 mins he ascertained that the oil-filter was not tight and a dribble of oil was leaking past the seal. Using only his hand he was able to tighten it 1/2 turn and another 1/8 turn with a strap spanner. He washed the engine with detergent to remove any oil and dirt. In 4 weeks since then there has been no sign of a leak and no spots on the floor. He also said the underneath of the engine shows no evidence of hitting anything at all

I went back to this agent who told me it would cost R9250 and mentioned the loose oil-filter. He told me I was talking absolute nonsense and refused even to look at the engine, adding that I had now buggered my chances of getting any future help from them by getting a "back-yard mechanic" to touch the car. I asked about the alleged damage, but the workshop fellow waved it away and said it did not interest him

You don't say which garage it is.
Please name the garage so can all know which garage to stay away from.
If you have the time, report it on Hello peter as a lot of people check this site before purchasing something or if they are looking for a review of a product or service. https://www.hellopeter.com/

 

[SauRoNZA]

Do you not know what a strap spanner is? This is the recommended method of tightening a screw-on filter.

View attachment 433416

I also lolled because it's obvious he has no clue what a strap spanner is.

Half the point of using one is that it slips so you can't over-tighten it.

Odds are the original problem was caused through someone not using one.

 

[Username:]

Oil filters are hand tights only. Apply oil to the rubber seal before fitment.
Make sure the old seal is removed before fitment of the new one.

Those oil filter spanners are only for removal of the filter.

 

[satanboy]

They can't even be bothered to update their website (see March specials).

 

[Geoff.D]

and another 1/8 turn with a strap spanner.

fasten the oil filter with a spanner. Stay away from him.

Huh? Did you read the thread? he actually does know what he is doing. There is no need to use a spanner on a oil filer. In the wrong hands a spanner on a oil filter will lead to over thightening, damaging the seal!

 

[chrisc]

Lot of armchair mechanics here! Honda specify the torque to be applied to the oil filter and this is greater than can be achieved by hand tightening alone, hence the need for an appropriate spanner. This one has a release if you exceed the torque you set on the dial

 

[crackersa]

Lot of armchair mechanics here! Honda specify the torque to be applied to the oil filter and this is greater than can be achieved by hand tightening alone, hence the need for an appropriate spanner. This one has a release if you exceed the torque you set on the dial

What's the amount of torque required?

Never seen a strap wrench with a torque gauge on it.....

 

[Geoff.D]

Lot of armchair mechanics here! Honda specify the torque to be applied to the oil filter and this is greater than can be achieved by hand tightening alone, hence the need for an appropriate spanner. This one has a release if you exceed the torque you set on the dial

That makes it even worse! Surely the agents should have known this fact?

Will check my daughter's Hondas and see what the handbook says.
Last time I looked the oil filter fitted to her car did not have suitable nut on it to take a spanner of any sort.
And BTW, I am not an armchair mechanic! I have done plenty of my own car maintenance.

 

[stroller]

Lot of armchair mechanics here! Honda specify the torque to be applied to the oil filter and this is greater than can be achieved by hand tightening alone, hence the need for an appropriate spanner. This one has a release if you exceed the torque you set on the dial

This is interesting.
Could you please detail how one can correctly torque up an oil filter?
And please tell us more about the special tool.
Thanks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrYTFcvY9ho



The above clip shows how a Honda dealer does an oil change and the filter is hand tightened; no torque wrench is applied to the filter.
This happens at 2:46min in to the clip so you don't have to watch the whole clip.

 

[Hemi300c]

The problem with dealerships is they are no longer making money selling cars and now focus on ripping the ring out of it with the servicing side.

 

[sammi01]

I had a Honda Ballade for 14 years of trouble-free motoring.... But will never buy a Honda again, due to bad service at CT dealer. This was more than 10 years ago (and based on OP experience, seems like a good decision).

My experience:
I had just about no brakes a week after my car was serviced. Luckily, I was close to home and driving very slowly. Popped into the neighbourhood garage and turns out the brake fluid container was empty. A certified mechanic later found a slow leakage that would have taken a few months to drain the brake fluid container. The Honda service centre clearly did not check the brake fluid level, which they should have done.

The Honda guys also told me I needed to replace a left front control arm. Now I could recall replacing a similar part a year or two earlier, so I checked my old receipts... and it was the left control arm already replaced. When confronted, the service manager said it is 'left front when facing the car' ( or right front when sitting in the car... yeah right). Now only if it was the control arm. My mechanic diagnosed it within 5 minutes, as a seal requiring replacement. The car had done about 90,000 km then. The right front (aka 'left front' for Honda) control arm was still fine when I sold it with 180,000 km odo.

The cherry on top... Honda SA declined to intervene. I had to resolve it with the dealership.

 

[Geoff.D]

That makes it even worse! Surely the agents should have known this fact?

Will check my daughter's Hondas and see what the handbook says.
Last time I looked the oil filter fitted to her car did not have suitable nut on it to take a spanner of any sort.
And BTW, I am not an armchair mechanic! I have done plenty of my own car maintenance.

Just checked the Honda Jazz. Normal oil filter, hand tightened only with a strap wrench. No torque spec in handbook, no nut on the oil filter anyway -- Standard Honda filter.

 

[ponder]

What's the amount of torque required?

Never seen a strap wrench with a torque gauge on it.....

This is interesting.
Could you please detail how one can correctly torque up an oil filter?
And please tell us more about the special tool.
Thanks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrYTFcvY9ho



The above clip shows how a Honda dealer does an oil change and the filter is hand tightened; no torque wrench is applied to the filter.
This happens at 2:46min in to the clip so you don't have to watch the whole clip.

Just checked the Honda Jazz. Normal oil filter, hand tightened only with a strap wrench. No torque spec in handbook, no nut on the oil filter anyway -- Standard Honda filter.

http://www.coxmotorparts.co.uk/genuine-honda-petrol-oil-filter-removal-tool-p-1912.html

Genuine Honda Petrol Oil Filter Removal Tool
Model: 04151RBAF01

Details:
Genuine Honda Petrol Oil Filter Removal Tool


The Genuine Tool To Safely and Easily Remove The Old Oil Filter and Refit The New Filter.

Designed to fit the Genuine Honda Oil Filter-15400-RBA-F01

(Not suitable for Honda S2000)


Engine Oil Filter Replacement

Remove the oil filter with the oil filter wrench

Inspect the filter to make sure the rubber seal is not stuck to the oil filter seating surface of the engine.

Inspect the threads and rubber seal on the new filter. Clean the seat on the oil pan, then apply a light coat of new engine oil to the filter rubber seal. Use only filters with a built in bypass system.

Install the oil filter by hand.

After the rubber seal seats, tighten the oil filgter clockwise withe the oil filter wrench.

Tighten: 3/4 Turn Clockwise

Tightening Torque:12 N.m (1.2 kgf.m, 8.7lbf.ft)

*(Oil filter not included)

Basically a cup that fits over the end of the oil filter, I doubt they get used by honda dealers as most people just hand tighten them by hand (myself included). That torque spec applies to most hondas. snap-on also make these for various filter sizes.