RANT: I will NEVER go to Formula Honda (Markham Rd & Finch) EVER again

Wizard1 wrote: ↑No I asked them to help me do something that was RELATED to what I bought from them (they make more than enough extra money on "OEM Products"). And BTW your example of ODB codes b/c I bought coolant makes absolutely no sense.

Yes he told me to go look on Google, but he could have just as easily as said, oh... all you need to do is hold the button for 10 seconds.

Wizard1 wrote: ↑Again I ask why.... he says because its one action to reset both codes at the same time. At that point I stare at him blankly, while going WTF in my mind and I say, so you would help me with the A5 code b/c I bought the coolant from you, but because, it just so happens, I did my oil change myself then you wont help me, even though it's one action. He replies YES, then adds, its very simple just go on youtube or something.

Wizard1 wrote: ↑You're over thinking it,its a button that resets the odometer (and if you hold it long enough it resets the maintenance indicator). It is NOT mission critical nor will it reset the entire car or cause it to fail

He said he would be more than willing to do it (because I had the original receipt), had I not done the oil change.

You're both making it sound like I'm asking for a huge expensive freebie but in fact I'm just asking for followup service for a item I purchased from them.

...so there you go. He could not reset the system because it would clear both codes, and they cannot confirm the oil change was done correctly or to specifications. While you seem to raise this point in reply to my post to support your comments, it actually supports my earlier statement. If I had a Honda, I would actually take it to this company now because I know their staff do things by the book. Sure, it may be just to protect themselves legally, but it's by the book anyway.

...and that "followup service" has nothing to do with the item you purchased from them. "How to do I put this coolant into the car?" would be followup service.

Wizard1 wrote: ↑That doesnt make any sense, they are not liable regarding the oil change because they didn't do it in the first place.

It has everything to do with the item I purchased from them as it would be the next logical step after your above question...

...and THAT, which I might point out, WOULD open them up to liability.

ALLCAPS wrote: ↑

...and that "followup service" has nothing to do with the item you purchased from them. "How to do I put this coolant into the car?" would be followup service. The reset button for the repair indicator is not connected to your purchase of coolant. It wasn't a huge expensive freebie - I don't think anyone has said it was. But you went into a business expecting a freebie and then when you didn't get it, you slag the business just because they didn't want to help you finish off your DIY project.

Thank you for providing all the detail. People can see that your rant is misplaced and unreasonable.

Wizard1 wrote: ↑No I asked them to help me do something that was RELATED to what I bought from them (they make more than enough extra money on "OEM Products"). And BTW your example of ODB codes b/c I bought coolant makes absolutely no sense.

Yes he told me to go look on Google, but he could have just as easily as said, oh... all you need to do is hold the button for 10 seconds.

tdott wrote: ↑Liability, they don't want to touch your car unless you bring it in.

They could have handled it in a much more customer friendly way thou, but that's what you get when you hire high school dropouts (joking) and don't pay them well.

Which is why I hate dealing with dealerships. You can't really expect much from them, I suggest you lower your expectations of them and just DIY and Google things like this before wasting your time with them.

Wizard1 wrote: ↑So the following happened about two weeks ago, and it's been bothering me still to the point that I really want to post it here. Its been bothering me because I have to pass by their location nearly every day and just seeing their dealership just reminds me of what happened and re-pisses me off.

So here's the story:

A couple weeks ago I notice A5 (I think) maintenance code on my dash, which equates to Coolant Change time. So, as I mention above, since I pass by Formula Honda (Markham rd and Finch) daily, I decide to quickly drop in and pickup a jug of Honda OEM coolant. All is well, I go in, get what I need, get out and later on drain and replace the coolant in my car. I try to reset the maintenance code using my ODB dongle but fail to figure out how, dont think much of it and just leave it as is, since it doesn't really bother me.

Fast forward approx a week later, oil life 10% indicator appears, I decide that since I was able to learn and do my own coolant change, I might as well try out doing an oil change myself. Takes me approx half a week to buy the oil, jack, jackstands, oil filter etc. (oil non OEM), by that time oil life is down to 5%. I dont mind its not at 0% so I change it and no problems. Again the same thing with the coolant change, I don't bother resetting the oil life indicator.

The next time I pass by the dealership it occurred to me that they could probably reset the A5 and Oil change indicators for me since I did buy the entire jug of coolant from them. I drive in, and idle infront of the dealership to find the original sales page/receipt for the coolant, at which point the technician at the drive through maintance bay notices me and motions me to drive in. I drive in, park and just quickly explain to the technician that I bought a jug of coolant from them and also did an oil change myself, and was wondering if they could do me a quick favour and reset the code (showing him my original receipt for the coolant). He said sure its very simple, no problem, just go into the service department and just get their OK first. So I turn off the car, go into the dealership and explain the situation to the service rep and show him the receipt. He looks at it, confirms the date of purchase then flat out says NO. I ask him why, and he tells me its because I didn't do the oil change with them. Im like.... OK..... then can you please just reset just the A5 Change Coolant Maintenance notification, since I did buy the coolant from them. He says NO again. Again I ask why.... he says because its one action to reset both codes at the same time. At that point I stare at him blankly, while going WTF in my mind and I say, so you would help me with the A5 code b/c I bought the coolant from you, but because, it just so happens, I did my oil change myself then you wont help me, even though it's one action. He replies YES, then adds, its very simple just go on youtube or something.

I'm like, fine and leave (thinking to myself ill just go to the regular mechanic I deal with and he'll do it for me), as I go to my car, the technician asks me if they authorized it, and I just tell him they said no because I didnt do both the oil change and coolant flush with you guys. We both stare blankly at each other, and im like yeah, thank you personally for your efforts anyways, and then proceed to drive off. When I get to my destination and wait for the person I was picking up to come out, I quickly decide to google the method on how to reset the codes on my dash. I find out that it had nothing to do with the ODB and all I needed to do was hold a button on the dash of the car for like 10 seconds and it would reset. At that point I get extremely pissed and annoyed with the previous situation, because what I was requesting was so SIMPLE to do, to the point that he COULD HAVE JUST TOLD ME what I needed to do.

This is why I WILL NEVER give Formula Honda any Maintenance Business or Purchase a Car from them EVER.

I'd rather drive the extra KMs and go to Markham Honda (Kennedy and 7) as their service totally eclipses Formula Honda several hundred-fold. Anecdotally last year I went to Markham Honda to buy a replacement philips headlight bulb from them and tried to change it myself, in their parking lot. For the hell of me, I couldn't figure out how to do it, so I ask a technician, which just so happens to be passing by, if he can direct me on what to do. He says, don't worry about it... just drive your car into the service bay and ill do it for you. Im like really? he's like yeah, just drive in. He spends some time and has some difficulty doing it b/c as I then learn, they have to go through the wheelwell to change the bulb. But at the end it's done. I ask him how much and he just shakes his head and said dont worry about it. I thank him for his time and effort, then go across to the Shell, get him a drink , drop it off and continue with my day. This is not the only time Markham Honda has far exceeded my expectations with their excellent service .

THE END.