Dealers UK dealers not the worst: cold hard proof

[Jeroen1000]

To make you guys feel just a little better regarding all the issues with the Civic...Here is the trouble we have to go through to get something done...

My boot would only open intermittantly and the dealer was having trouble diagnosing it:

I had to do the following:

- Give them the number of the supposedly defective part (with thanks to Scorcher and Holdcroft Honda)
- They were a little reluctant ordering the part because they felt the microswitch within the drive's side door was not at fault.
- Got a fax containing a service bulletin describing how to dianogse the fault, and how to repair it (again my thanks to the kind people of Holdcroft Honda).
- I had to push the dealers a little in order for them to hook up the diagnostic computer(as described in the bulletin). I could see with my own eyes, what I believed was referred to in the bulletin, as the checklights not behaving correctly. The light in question was called " door lock knob switch is showing on (green) with the door unlocked". It is supposed to be off (red) when the doors are unlocked. So the car 'thinks' it is locked, and refuses to release the boot.
- Even with the UK bulletin, they were unable to diagnose the problem.
Dealer said my info was only valid when locking and unlocking the car with the key. As to why he did not do to that (use the key)...my guess is as good as yours.
I examined the computers screen, and found that a description, as found in the bulleting, that very closely corresponded with the two green lights that should have been red.

Eventually he did order (I hope for real this time!) the part (yes indeed, I also said that last week, but upon consulting Honda Belgium he didn't order the part after all).

Sigh.. I believe it is my third week with the faulty boot now. And I've paid them about 4 visits...

[Kremmen]

I thought the technicians were supposed to be Honda trained and approved ?

[Gordons Honda]

I'm curious, was your Civic purchased from your Honda dealer in Belgium and have they sold a high quantity of them. I can't see why they wouldn't have encountered the same problems as our UK spec models, if not at your dealership then surely at HE.

[Jeroen1000]

@ Gordons Honda, yes I ordered it at a dealership.

I guess they have sold a fair few, but mainly diesels (Belgians are mad about them).
To my greatest surprise, and in a way this has greatly angered me, the technician pulled out a bulletin later today, that was exactly the same as the one I got from Holdcroft Honda (well apart from the language). I guess he was tired of me checking up on him... (I got a second bulletin that day from a dealer in the Netherlands because I thought the technician was having trouble interpreting English)

Neither bulletin covers the Type R, and it describes the fault for actually all '06 models but the Type R(judging from the VIN numbers on the document). This would explain why checking my VIN number at the dealers turned up empty. Nevertheless, the description of the problem on the bulletin perfectly matches to my complaint.
It feels like they are fobbing me off and making fun of me. If it wasn't for this forum and peoples good advice here, I would have certainly be lost by now...I like Honda's but my job is getting more intense. I will most likely never buy a Honda again as I don't have the time to chase them and do the research for them! Their service is absolutely appalling.

To round off a little, I was so surprised about the helpful uk dealership. Really, over here the would most certainly fob of foreigners. The good man at Holdcroft even put it to fax and put up with my somewhat lousy English.