well the finance guy didn't explain anything all he said was it was a alarm not a shock sensor. if they install a different alarm on it I would have a separate tool to arm it and disarm it? I didn’t get any separate manual on the alarm beside what on the car manual and stuff. so.. they lied to me i am going give them a call agian saying if i don't get a refund i am going call channel 7 7 onyour side

 

dang...while you are at it, try searching hondacare extended warrantys on the internet. there is several different dealerships that offer extended warrentys on the fit for less than $1000....if i remember correctly you can get all the way up to like 120,000 miles for way less than you paid. they saw you coming dude.

www.curryhondacare.com try to get your money back from them and go buy a warrenty here.....its gotta be cheaper than what you paid.

 

well got email back from BBB lets see what happen.
"Your complaint has been applied to the following business:
Menlo Honda
601 El Camino Real
Redwood City, CA 94063-1317

The case has been reviewed by one of our Dispute Resolution Specialists and has now been forwarded to the business for their response. Should you hear directly from the company and the complaint is resolved, please notify us immediately."

 

I have a written complaint into my dealership about the shock sensor as well. I'm pretty mad that it was sold to me as a full security system and not just a shock sensor add-on. For all my other cars (like Toyota), I received a complete security system add-on (with siren, sensors at the hood/trunk, etc.), not just the shock sensor. It's my fault for not researching this fully, but I find the tactic of how they sold it to me to be dishonest. If I receive no response, I'm escalating it on up the food chain.

Again, sorry to hear about your situation. Be persistent... in the end, they probably don't want to lose your future business, and the last thing the owner of that dealership wants is bad publicity.

-Mike

 

i also sent a letter do honda what should i do next if nothing happens from BBB? take it to small claims court?

 

kodo- i honestly think you will get faster and better results talking to American Honda corporate office.

they should be able to refund your ext warranty in full.
the alarm, they should give it to you at cost for the hassle
caused by the dealer.

make sure you end the interaction on good terms with the dealer
as you might need help later on with your car....plus, they know
where you live and you dont want it getting out of hand.

 

well i called honda, they said they can't handle dispute and that they can only call them and ask them to handle this issue.

 

sounds like you need to talk to someone higher...

 

who's higher where do i go?

 

^^^ Ask for the Owner or General Manager of your dealership... do it in person if you can. Don't go through your salesperson or finance manager.
Sheesh, that would be really sad if it ever came to that. Agreed that you should keep it diplomatic, neutral, but direct. Be clear about the situation, but don't let your emotions cloud your statements and requests.

-Mike

 

kodo,
I did some research on what is KARR using these days.
You probably have KARR 4040a alarm system and not just a shock sensor (LX-1 or EX-1) if the box is the size of deck of cards. Shock sensor is definitely smaller.
4040 compliments factory key less system (no alarm just convenience of remote unlocking/locking) by adding features of an alarm system (with a shock sensor) and allows you to retain your factory Honda remote/key.
Yeah, I know sounds stupid that they installed it on the top of the Fit Sport alarm system! If anything they should have just added shock sensor to factory Honda alarm.
The only explanation might be that KARR upgraded that 4040 alarm to function in "dealer mode" for the sake of lot security.
Let me explain what that means. Factory alarms are no obstacle for professional thieves. KARR alarms have dealer mode which enables dealer employees to have "dealer" remote with a very short distance (3-5 ft) to unlock cars and drive them. Alarms get installed by KARR even before cars go through PDI(pre-delivery inspection). Almost as if they get pulled of delivery trucks! That virtually eliminated car theft off dealer lots. One large dealer in Sacramento had constant losses on their storage lot. Cars were literally driven off of it over the weekend! When KARR secured it thieves were so outraged they could not steal a single car they slashed tires, broke windows, damaged paint and interiors. That occurred once and it was over. Dealership was thrilled!
Once you (buyer) purchases a car and buys "the alarm" they reprogram the alarm out of the dealer mode (deleting dealer remote code) and program customer remotes.
If 4040 has ability for dealer mode that is why it was installed on a car on the first place. That helps dealer, but not you as a buyer. KARR alarm even as 4040 piggyback to factory alarm is much better protection against thieves. With that said, good car thief with a right equipment can crack anything. It is much harder to come up with something new for protection than to figure out how to crack it. Here is the example: Audi few years ago was so proud of their security system they advertised the car as one of it's strong points in Europe. Thieves responded by stealing record number of Audi's as if they had nothing to protect them. They figured that Audi's fire sensor under the car than unlocks door in case of fire is the way in. They used $1 lighter to trigger the sensor under the car. Once they were in they unplugged harness for instrument cluster (that contained security system) and plugged in the one they brought themselves along with a new ignition switch with a key! Car was stolen in lest than 10 seconds!
Now it is BMW on the hit. X5 are disappearing from Western Europe for the benefit of mafia in former Soviet Union republics. New market for SUV craze we started in USA. They just do not pay retail like we do.

Kodo, what you have done so far is good with BBB and bringing it to Honda Corporate. I doubt warranty you purchased is from Honda itself. KARR offers comprehensive packages to dealers from alarms, warranty, paint protection, fabric protection, training of dealer personel,......
You need to read every piece of paperwork you signed and received a copy off. All you answers are there. Read the 'DUE BILL" it will tell you what alarm model you ended up with. You will also find whose warranty you bought. If it says "Northern California Dealer Services" it is parent company of KARR Alarm.
Once again keep in mind that they only provide all this to dealers for a price far smaller than what dealer sells it to you! In your alarm case 1/10 to be exact!
Dealer finance manager you signed papers with took advantage of you. He is the one that pitched it to you. Not even salesperson you test drove the car had anything to do about it. They are thought to mention alarm and point out it's benefits. Salesperson maybe gets $10 for sold alarm and works toward wining a contest against other salespeople. Finance manager makes all the money and splits it with a dealership. Everybody in a dealership dreams of becoming a finance manager. They would rather be finance managers than general sales managers or even dealership managers. They make $10k+ a month sometimes.
Autonation is changing that by paying them salary. They are changing the way business is done. Old timers are outraged and leaving the business.
Autonation makes money for their corporation and further finances purchasing and building of new dealerships increasing their conglomerate.
Back in the days sales manager had the authority to even sell you car below cost and now they need to call corporate to even get permission to go below MSRP.

KARR is a slave pusher toward their employees. That is why I left them and I was not even an installer. I was much higher up. Their products are very good and made by leading US electronic manufacturer to KARR's specs. They had an engineering team dedicated to KARR while I was with them. They even use KARR alarm features in their own, retail version of the alarm with some delay. It is not even a brand most of you would recognize. I do not won't to name names openly obviously.
I do not need legal problems even 6-7 years down the road.
KARR alarm is worth $300-400 installed on a car without any alarm, but not more than that. Shock sensor upgrades to OEM alarms without them about $200.
Once again, all this is my personal opinion. You take it for what is it worth to you.
I hope all this helps you Kodo. As well as others.

 

well due of bill just say "Alarm" no model # or anything..
and pre contract disclosure says "Karr sec" thats it.
the device is smaller than a deck of cards i would say is the size of those mini deck cards or smaller that they put in. didn't get any maunal for the car alarm that said they install only what in the honda manual.

 

Kodo, how did your situation turn out? were you able to get a refund?

I am in the same situation and want my money back on the alarm and want it completely removed. I only paid $400 for it but I am upset it was mirepresented as I did not know the car already came with an adequate alarm, and I worry that this third-party alarm may some day break and cause headaches or void warranty.

 

nope try calling couple times no luck. hope you have a better luck than me.
BBB didn't really do anything. i sent a couple letters to honda no luck from them.

 

It looks like I had luck, after raising my stink and more or less threatening to give a bad survey via my broker (who was a great help to have his representation after the sale), my dealer called me apologetic about the alarm and agreed to refund it. I think they know on some level that it's over exagerrated, to put it mildly. They could have at least presented the product with thorough documentation during the sale or afterwards--the fact that they left the documentation sparse and ambiguous smells of a coverup...

I actually want to get a few extras like bumper applique, cargo tray and cover, plus the custom carpet matts, so as I put it with them I want my refund applied towards that and I'd leave happy with that as a compromise and that little green light completely removed!

--update 4/23/08
Went to the dealer this weekend and had alarm removed. They just pulled out the light and put in a dummy place-holder, and was told they were "removing the chip" . My car was moved but I believe the sales guy did the de-installation himself which may go to show what a crock this is since the whole thing happened in like 10 minutes. They left in the mount and wiring so I guess If I ever want to reactivate the shock sensor or install it or whatever I can do that probably for much less than $400.

Dealer's new story (via manager himself) was that they were "unaware" that the sport model came with factory alarm and thought it had no alarm like some other hondas that only have immobilizier. I do not know whether I should believ them since the scarce documentation I was given did state that the "upgrade" only worked with the factory installed alarm systems... I do beleive though they were despereate to make extra bucks off of me since I was sold the car at below MSRP and on the day I visited the lot to remove the alarm I saw my exact same car, color and all, on sale with sticker price showing about $1800 above MSRP... my advice to everyone is hire a broker to do the haggling, you cannot trust dealerships, period. I saw a list on my sales guy's desk that showed cars at or below MSRP which I believe was their "sell fast" list to make room for more cars and to perhaps bring customers in via word of mouth on good deals (but of course stick it to them on other extras etc)

Also check out this link: Rip-off Report: Karr Security Ultimate Auto "Security" Ripoff Centennial Colorado

 

I just bought my first New Car, the FIT Sport!!!
But I was angry to find out my shock sensor cost me an additional $895!

I didn't think about what was involved, but then I checked under my dash to find out there was a ghetto sensor drilled into my new Fit! arg! They simply tapped into a few wires to add this component.

My plan of attack is to photograph the way they installed it, and record what model of sensor was used. Then if they resist refunding my $900, I'll show them that I know what they are charging me for.

 

Welcome back to 3 years ago! LOL

Anyways I should have gotten the Karr Alarm. The stock alarm sucks.

 

Big city Honda dealerships play very dirty, the ones in smaller towns to a slightly lesser degree.

 

Every dealer plays dirty in the NW. Beaverton Honda tried to tack on an aftermarket warranty on my car for $1300 without telling me. I only caught it after I got home and reviewed a sheet I never signed. I made a stink, got it taken off.. but I will never do business with them again.

There isn't a Honda dealer in Oregon or Washington that's decent. Decency is gone in the car business.

 

yah really, would think people would learn by now. jk