Claiming that because I changed the exhaust pipe and installed a superior air filter that I caused a leak at the valve covers
I purchased a '02 Honda VTX1800C motorcycle in February of '02 and also opted for the extended warrantee.
The down-stroke was over $8,000 and I financed the balance with the Honda Financial Services. Total cost over 14k.
This is the fourth Honda I've owned, and when asked why I always buy Hondas', I always reply, " They always start, never leak, and they're bullet-proof"
At 6000 miles I noticed that oil was seeping from the rear valve cover. I took it to the dealer and told them as long as the bike was in for the leak, to do the periodic service as I was going on an extend trip soon and I wanted the bike to perform at its best.
They Claimed to have done the 8,000 mile check at a cost of $490.82 but said they would have to tie up the bike for a week to resolve the oil leak. Since it is my principle form transpotation to and from work, I found it totally unreasonable in that they had it all day and should have fixed the leak.
It seems to me that they should have resolved the leak problem first, under warrentee, rather than charge me for a premature service interval.
They claimed that they would have to pull the engine in order to ascertain the cause of the leak, and then order the required parts.
I've been reading the VTXOA Tech. Tips (VTXA.com) and there have been many VTX owners that have been experiencing the same leakage problem.
From what I can gather, it's simply a matter of dropping the engine a slight amount, unbolting the valve covers, raising them and smearing some "Gorilla Snot" (sealant) on the seam and closing everything back up.
Then the front valve cover startd leaking at about 12.8 k miles, in addition to a disturbing clicking noise coming from the engine.
When I percieved the eyes of the write-up guy sort of glaze over, I figured, maybe he's not tuned in to the nuances of this particular bike.
The straw that broke the camels back came when I brought the machine in for a brake failure.
They claimed that the warantee was void because I had replaced the exhaust system system, installed a superior air filter, both of which their parts department had sold me.
I firmly believe that Honda put a "butt ugly" exhaust system" on this bike knowing full well that most really cool bikers would replace it nad there-by void the warrantee!
Their notation on the back of the most recent service write-up, on 10/16/02, says;
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