I purchased a used 2003 Element about 4 months ago (private party sale) and noticed it was leaking oil in my garage. I stopped by my local Honda dealer to have them look at the problem. After 2 visits they couldn't tell me where it was leaking. On my next visit to get the oil changed I asked again if they could track the problem down and they said they could add a UV dye to my oil to help track down the problem. They added an extra $9.00 to my oil change for the dye and told me to drive for a few hundred miles and come back to have someone look at it. When I returned to the dealer for the diagnosis they said I had a leaking oil pan seal and the charge to repair it would be $633.00 because they have to remove part of the sub-frame to get to the pan. Over $500.00 was in labor alone.
I told them I would have to wait on this repair and they charged me a $65.00 that day. They said this charge was the labor to check the vehicle but it would come off the total bill ($633.00) if I got it repaired at the dealer.
So, I stopped by a mechanic friend of mine to get a second opinion and he couldn't find a leak at the oil pan gasket. It turns out that the crank pulley seal was where it has been leaking and a $10.00 part fixed my problem. This repair took him less than 20 minutes and involved just removing the passenger front wheel and 1 bolt holding on the pulley. I think the dealer owes me my diagnosis fee back or something!!! They have lost my trust when it comes to repairing my Element.
What would you do??????
I told them I would have to wait on this repair and they charged me a $65.00 that day. They said this charge was the labor to check the vehicle but it would come off the total bill ($633.00) if I got it repaired at the dealer.
So, I stopped by a mechanic friend of mine to get a second opinion and he couldn't find a leak at the oil pan gasket. It turns out that the crank pulley seal was where it has been leaking and a $10.00 part fixed my problem. This repair took him less than 20 minutes and involved just removing the passenger front wheel and 1 bolt holding on the pulley. I think the dealer owes me my diagnosis fee back or something!!! They have lost my trust when it comes to repairing my Element.
What would you do??????