[JazzMat]

So I called my dealer today to make an appointment for the A1 service that my 2008 Odyssey is telling me I need. The service "advisor" asks me how many miles are on the car. I tell him "31,500." He says, "Well, then, you need the C Service that was due at 30,000." I tell him my car is telling me that it's due for the A1. He tells me the maintenance minder is wrong.

I ask him how much for the "C Service," (knowing full-well, there ain't no such thing). He says $379. I tell him I'll take the appointment, but we'll talk when I get there about what is really needed.

Just to be sure, I check my owner's manual, which, indeed, confirms that there is no "C Service" required for my car.

Now, before any moderators get on my case about another maintenance thread, I have searched high and low for a thread about this and haven't found one.

Anyone else ever get told they needed a "C Servicing?"

The car is only 2 and a half years-old. Is there anything I should get done at this point, other than the simple A1 service? Thanks!

 

[Dirkdaddy]

Well you can ask him exactly what C service is for starters. I don't recall there being a lot of things you need at this mileage. I'd check brakes in front, tires, if you live in a humid area bleeding the brakes with fresh fluid a good idea, check things. Some may say change transmission fluid, and that wouldn't be bad but I don't think its needed until maybe 40k - on this gen model. also look at rear shocks they leak.

 

[dvpatel]

The SA made a mistake. He meant to say you need the S Service. S for Shaft.

 

[JazzMat]

Love it! I'll ask him tomorrow what services are scheduled between B and S. Or maybe inquire if the C is the combo of the B&S service...

 

[psu ody fan]

You guys must be slow....it is not "C" service.

It is the "sea" service......which means the service advisor needs to bend you over in order to help him make this months payment on his yacht!

 

[GR6RR]

hhahhaha, hahahaha,...

 

[kenny1773]

and dealers wonder why people hate/distrust them...

 

[JazzMat]

Conclusion of the story...

I took the car in. The SA, Chris, met me and confirmed that I was there for the 30K mile C servicing. I, of course, told him there was no such thing as a C service according to Honda and the owner's manual. He refused to let me finish saying so, instead waving a dealer-generated flyer in my face that described all of the various wonderful things they were going to do for my car for a mere $379.

We went back and forth on this issue for at least a minute, before he switched tacks and gave me the "whatever makes you happy" response.

I told him I was there for the A1 service and that his behavior, attitude and the dealership's insistence on trying to extract money for needless service was exactly what causes folks like me to look for a new dealership.

Well, the service was done, although I'm pretty sure the SA jerk placed me at the back of the line, because what he told me would take 45 minutes to an hour, actually took almost an hour and a half before my car even made it back into the service bay.

The jerk handed me off to another advisor, who completed the transaction after the service was completed. But when he handed me the paperwork to take to the cashier, I found the following scrawled across the top sheet: "Customer states he wants 5000 mile servicing only. Says there isn't a C servicing. It's all BULL****!"

I think it's time to find a new dealer.

 

[payor_co]

The SA made a mistake. He meant to say you need the S Service. S for Shaft.

You mean the S-a Service!! Shaft In ASS!!

Pat

 

[psu ody fan]

Conclusion of the story...

I took the car in. The SA, Chris, met me and confirmed that I was there for the 30K mile C servicing. I, of course, told him there was no such thing as a C service according to Honda and the owner's manual. He refused to let me finish saying so, instead waving a dealer-generated flyer in my face that described all of the various wonderful things they were going to do for my car for a mere $379.

We went back and forth on this issue for at least a minute, before he switched tacks and gave me the "whatever makes you happy" response.

I told him I was there for the A1 service and that his behavior, attitude and the dealership's insistence on trying to extract money for needless service was exactly what causes folks like me to look for a new dealership.

Well, the service was done, although I'm pretty sure the SA jerk placed me at the back of the line, because what he told me would take 45 minutes to an hour, actually took almost an hour and a half before my car even made it back into the service bay.

The jerk handed me off to another advisor, who completed the transaction after the service was completed. But when he handed me the paperwork to take to the cashier, I found the following scrawled across the top sheet: "Customer states he wants 5000 mile servicing only. Says there isn't a C servicing. It's all BULL****!"

I think it's time to find a new dealer.

Personally, I wouldn't drop this so easily. There is a huge difference between what Honda officially recommends as maintenance on this vehicle vs what your dealership proposes as their own schedule. To tell you that the MM is incorrect, and that you have to have all this other service, is total BS. Sure, they can RECOMMEND it, but it is not REQUIRED. I would talk to the dealership management about this. I would also recommend that you post the name of the dealership here, so folks in your area know where to avoid.

 

[kulas138]

Amazing!

These dealers are really one of a kind! They beat their chests to show their loyalty to Honda, but when service time comes, they sidestep what is being said on the MM and instead trot their own interpretation of how maintenance should be done.

There is a dealer here in Pennsylvania that until now their maintenance service interval is still based on the 7.5K, 15K, etc. even for Honda vehicles that already have the Smart MM like our 2007 CR-V and 2010 Odyssey. It's a bit okay for the Odyssey since the MM interval clocks in at around every 7.5K, but for our CR-V that roughly gets 10K in-between maintenance, it's hard to reconcile.

My solution: go to another dealer for services that require other than A1.

 

[dvpatel]

There is a dealer here in Pennsylvania that until now their maintenance service interval is still based on the 7.5K, 15K, etc. even for Honda vehicles that already have the Smart MM like our 2007 CR-V and 2010 Odyssey.

In that case, our local fleet of dealerships have you PA guys beat. They wanted me to continue with the 3K (3750 miles to be exact) oil change intervals and the 15K minors and 30K majors. So, they wanted to go strictly by the old system which wasn't even true in my 2001 Accord as that has a 7.5K miles OCI by the book. The 3750 miles service is for severe schedule in my 2001 Accord's owner's manual and they wanted me to stick to the same schedule with our 2007 oddy.

Oddy hasn't been to the dealer for any service but once for a wheel alignment.

 

[SaabKen]

You're ALL WRONG. This is the "C"-service as in:

Ca-ching ! (ok, I know it should be 'ka')
Cajole
Cashcow
Cheat
Coax
Con
Cozen

 

[diligence]

I get these service reminders occasionally from my dealer telling me that I need to bring my Ody in for servicing. Usually they start out with an oil change and then go on to list all of the inspections they are going to perform. Such as topping off fluids, checking the serpentine belt, shocks, tires, brake pads, etc. Well, I do all of my own oil and filter changes, rotate my own tires and inspect the brake pads, top off the fluids, and am not blind so I can inspect the serpentine belt, shocks, and tires. What do I need to pay them a couple of hundred bucks for? They make it sound as it they are really doing alot of work, but it is all just routine checking. That's why it only takes an hour. Talk about scamming people.

 

[diligence]

Another thing, if a service manager wrote that derogatory comment on my service slip, a copy would be going to Honda of America HQ. That is totally uncalled for. I would have asked to see a manager before I left the dealership and demanded that the Service Manager apologize to me and the "C" service be free.

 

[SaabKen]

Another thing, if a service manager wrote that derogatory comment on my service slip, a copy would be going to Honda of America HQ. That is totally uncalled for. I would have asked to see a manager before I left the dealership and demanded that the Service Manager apologize to me and the "C" service be free.

And tell him to bend over

 

[fusionrx]

I make it a policy to avoid dealerships altogether.

After having a check engine light come on within 10 miles of the dealership, when I bought my first Saab, crap replacement parts (replacement all seasons that were the cheapest ones you could find for the dealer uprated tires), and then a bad pre-purchase inspection when I bought the second saab (you tell me that you didn't see that the entire exhaust system was as holey as swiss cheese??), I avoid them with all costs.

The dealer that I bought the ody from (local Ferrari, Aston Martin, Maserati, Bentley dealer, that had this on a trade in) actually did put decent shoes on the minivan (Destination LE's, looked them up on Tirerack.com prior to purchase, if they'd been crap I would have had them put on tires of my choice, or knock the cost of new tires off the purchase price). However, when I asked them for floormats (came with none, not even stock mats, and this was the dead of winter), they cheaped out and 'special ordered' $20 target specials.

 

[DavidGSR]

I would have asked to see a manager before I left the dealership and demanded that the Service Manager apologize to me and the "C" service be free.

I think going the Honda route would be most effective. I am guessing the manager at the dealer is the one telling the serivce advisors to tell customers they need the C service. I wouldn't be suprised if the service advisors actually get a bonus for each one they sell.

 

[sinbad]

Conclusion of the story...

I took the car in. The SA, Chris, met me and confirmed that I was there for
The jerk handed me off to another adviser, who completed the transaction after the service was completed. But when he handed me the paperwork to take to the cashier, I found the following scrawled across the top sheet: "Customer states he wants 5000 mile servicing only. Says there isn't a C servicing. It's all BULL****!"

So how much extra gravy did they add on for those dreaded "shop supplies"?

 

[02tac]

Agree 100% - if the douche is doing it to you he is doing it to others.

Another thing, if a service manager wrote that derogatory comment on my service slip, a copy would be going to Honda of America HQ. That is totally uncalled for. I would have asked to see a manager before I left the dealership and demanded that the Service Manager apologize to me and the "C" service be free.