Latest news with #HondaDealership
Motor 1
30-07-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Dallas Man Quoted $7,000 at Dealership After a Light Goes Off In His Car. Then He Takes It To His Mechanic. They Fix it for $125
In the span of a single day, a red airbag light in a late-model Honda Odyssey triggered two radically different diagnoses—one from a dealership, the other from a trusted local mechanic. The difference? $6,875 and a whole lot of trust. In a viral TikTok clip, Dallas-area Realtor Jonathan Morsinkhoff (@morsinkhoffrealestate) takes viewers through the dread and disbelief of allowing a little bit of trust for the staff staffing the repair center at his local Honda dealership. Morsinkhoff's story starts with a common, nagging warning: a red airbag light on the dashboard of his wife's 2020 Honda Odyssey. Although the van was less than three years old at the time, its odometer had surpassed the 36,000-mile mark, placing it outside the three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty window that Honda offers. Worried it might signal something serious, or that the issue might qualify as a recall, he booked an appointment at the dealership. Two days later, after carving time out of a hectic family schedule with three kids, Morsinkhoff dropped off the Odyssey at his local Honda service department at 8 a.m. Several hours later, a text message arrived with a quote: $7,000. According to the dealership, the likely culprit was a fault in the passenger seat's airbag system wiring harness, a deeply integrated component that would require removing a large portion of the vehicle's interior to access and replace. Modern vehicles, such as the Odyssey, feature complex airbag systems with sensors located in multiple areas, including driver and passenger frontal airbags, seat-mounted side airbags, and side curtain airbags. Some even include seat-integrated airbag modules , which can further complicate repairs. The dealership's message explained that their technicians were unable to pinpoint the exact fault location and thus recommended replacing the entire airbag wiring harness. That's a labor-intensive job that Morsinkhoff was told involves stripping back the trim, lifting the carpeting, and removing the seat rails to access the buried cabling. While Morsinkhoff understood that post-collision electrical gremlins could be complex—his wife's Odyssey had been in a front-corner crash about eight months earlier—something about the quote didn't sit right. So, he did what every seasoned car enthusiast recommends when faced with a four-figure service estimate: He got a second opinion. 1 Mechanic, 2 Hours, $125 The next morning, Morsinkhoff brought the Odyssey to his longtime mechanic, a shop he described as honest, experienced, and familiar with the family's vehicles. He followed his wife's advice not to say a word about the dealership's diagnosis. Let the shop run their codes, troubleshoot the issue independently, and see what they find. Less than two hours later, the phone rang. The mechanic had already pulled the airbag fault codes, identified the issue as a loose connector under the driver's seat (not the passenger's), removed and reseated the wiring harness plug, and verified that the airbag system reset cleanly. Total cost: $125. No interior teardown. No multi-day wait. No thousands in parts and labor. This is a prime example of how real-world experience and logical diagnostics often outperform the 'parts cannon' approach sometimes taken by dealership service departments. While many factory technicians are highly trained, dealership shops operate under strict time-billing and warranty reimbursement structures , which can push them toward replacing large systems rather than pinpointing the most cost-effective fix. And the loose connector? That kind of issue, which is often caused by vibration, previous repairs, or just time, is common enough to warrant basic inspection before reaching for the parts list. According to national estimates, airbag sensor repairs or harness issues typically range from $100–$600, depending on the location and severity. A $7,000 job is a statistical outlier unless a complete supplemental restraint system rebuild is involved. For Morsinkhoff, the conclusion was simple: 'This is why I don't trust anybody else with my cars.' Motor1 reached out to Morsinkhoff via phone. We'll update this article if we hear back. Now Trending 'I'm Still Not Telling People I Drive a...': Driver Buys the 'Temu Range Rover.' It Keeps McDonald's McFlurries Cold 'It Was Cheaper Than if You Bought It Normally:' Woman Says Everyone Always Asks About Her Car. She Got It Off Amazon Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Motor 1
29-07-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Driver Takes Honda to Walmart to Get Air in Tires. Then They Take it to a Honda Dealership
A Honda driver said a routine tire fill-up at Walmart turned into a safety nightmare. TikTok user @roychachacha claimed in a recent video that he went to Walmart to get air added to his tires, but something felt 'weird' as soon as he drove away. Concerned, he headed to a Honda dealership, where techs discovered just how bad the issue was. 'They checked my air pressure and it showed 111 psi, 56 psi, 85 psi, 96 psi,' he wrote in the text overlay of his clip. As of this writing, the video had racked up more than 36,500 views, with viewers weighing in on just how risky—and ridiculous—the situation was. What Should My Tire Pressure Be? For most Honda vehicles, the recommended tire pressure falls between 32 and 36 PSI (pounds per square inch). But it's always smart to double-check, as specific models may vary . You'll find the exact number in your owner's manual or on the sticker inside the driver's side doorjamb, usually near the latch. Tire pressure can fluctuate with the weather—colder temps tend to lower it, while extreme heat can raise it—so adjustments may be needed seasonally. If you're hauling a heavier load than usual, a slight increase in pressure might also be recommended. Again, the manual has your back on the specifics. Not sure you've got it right? Just like @roychachacha, your best bet is to stop by a dealership or service center for a quick check. What Happens if Your Tire Pressure Is Too High? Tire pressure that's too high isn't just a minor issue; it can be dangerous. Since most passenger vehicles recommend staying between 30 and 36 PSI, going much higher than that, like the triple-digit readings @roychachacha reported, can seriously affect your car's performance and safety. When a tire is overinflated, it becomes too stiff. That means a bumpier ride, reduced traction, and more wear right down the center of the tread. You'll lose grip on the road, especially in wet or slippery conditions, and your braking distance could increase. It also puts extra strain on your suspension and steering, making your car harder to control, especially when turning or swerving. Overinflated tires are also more vulnerable to damage from potholes and debris , and in extreme cases, they can blow out —especially in hot weather or at high speeds. In short, too much air can cost you in comfort, control, and tire life. Commenters Warn Against Taking Cars to Walmart After watching @roychachacha's video, several viewers made it clear: They wouldn't trust Walmart with so much as a windshield wipe. 'I wouldn't let Walmart wash my windshield,' one person joked. 'That's why I wouldn't want Walmart to do anything with my car,' another added. 'Nice! That's another reason I wouldn't want Walmart to do anything with my car,' a third echoed. 'I'm not even a real big car guy, and even I know to never to go Walmart,' a fourth chimed in. Others weren't laughing, pointing out how serious the overinflation could've been. '111 psi on a passenger tire is legit dangerous,' one commenter warned. 'Like, just the force of it blowing off the rim could be fatal.' 'My tires on my car are supposed to be around 40,' another wrote. 'Was he trying to blow the tires up?' '111 psi? The tire didn't blow?' a third asked. Motor1 has reached out to @roychachacha via TikTok direct message and to Walmart through its online press contact form. We'll update this article if either responds. Now Trending 'What Vehicle Is It?': Man Shows How AutoZone Workers React When You Ask For Custom Parts 'Holy Cow:' Woman Goes to Pump Gas. Then She Saves $1/Gallon With Amazon Prime Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Auto Car
07-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Car
The Honda Civic Type R is the best hot hatch - let me tell you why
I was quite a lucky child growing up. We lived at the end of a cul-de-sac, on which were four other houses with driveways. I could see each one through my bedroom window, meaning I had five cars to choose from in the fantasy world where I owned all of them – and had a driving licence aged 10. My favourites were always what our next-door neighbour used to bring home (sorry, Dad). He worked in a Honda dealership, and I remember my first encounter with his FN1 Civic. Despite the best efforts of its bland grey paintwork to dull the 'wow' factor of its futuristic, spaceship-inspired silhouette, it was utterly captivating – especially so in the context of what its Ford, Vauxhall and Volkswagen rivals looked like. I loved the thing, and an obsession was sparked. Posters went up, passenger rides were requested and the rest of my time was spent watching endless videos of Hondas on this up-and-coming website called YouTube, which introduced me to the spicier Type R versions. Fast forward to my mid-twenties and I finally had the money to scratch the itch, and with a sensible Volvo V40 diesel coming to the end of its lease, I decided I would buy a Civic Type R. More specifically, an FN2. I wanted the UFO. And even after everything I had read, everything I had watched and everything I had dreamed, first impressions didn't disappoint. From the big, enticing starter button to the split dashboard and those wonderfully comfy red bucket seats, this was a car just made to make you feel special and engaged. I just wanted to drive it, and drive it hard. But this, sadly, brought out its flaws – flaws that you couldn't see on a poster. It was sprung too hard, the gearbox was a bit crashy and the metal shifter top would be either too cold or boiling to touch, depending on the weather. But it was the dearth of low-end torque from its 2.0-litre four-pot that was the killer for me – and the main reason I sold it about three years later for the BMW Z4 that I still own.
