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View Full Version : Good Sydney Mechanic for Prelude Problems



floydo
18-02-2008, 04:14 PM
Hi all,

Am new to this site and looking for advice/recommendations.

I have a 1996 Prelude Si 4WS with just over 100,000 kms on the clock. I’ve had a few problems over the last 9 to 12 months and haven’t been happy at all with the service I’ve received from Scotts Honda (Artarmon).

1. 4WS warning light. This came on a couple of years ago and was checked with ECU. They found 3 trouble codes: 51 (motor malfunction), 74 (driving with park brake on) and 63 (4WS fault). The faults were cleared and they said if the light came back on it would need renewal of the rear actuator motor. All seemed OK until it happened again last August. They cleared the light and roadtested and said the light didn’t come back on. Of course, within a day of picking the car up, the light was back on and has been ever since. Looks like all they did was turn it off. My complaints were ignored.

Is it worth renewing the raer actuator motor?

2. ABS warning light. Scotts wasn’t able to reset this warning light. They said the ABS modulator is faulty. A new modulator assembly was required and would have to be ordered in especially from Japan. Cost: $3,742.25, all of which would have to be paid by me in advance!

Again, is it worth bothering with this?

3. Aerial motor. I got them to replace the aerial mast but for the aerial to work at 100% they said I needed a new aerial motor. Cost: $537.65.

Again, worth it?

4. Steering lock. I was finding that the steering lock wouldn’t engage 1 or 2 times out of 10 so I asked them to have a look at it. They said it was worn and needed to be replaced at a cost of $692.10. Funny thing was, when I got the car home, the steering lock wouldn’t engage at all, let alone 8 or 9 times out of 10. Again, my complaints were treated with derision. Would like the additional security of a fully-functioning steering lock, so would think it's worth it. Agreed?

5. Rear brake pads. I knew these needed replacing (and still do!) but they had none in stock.

I would really appreciate advice re the above (e.g. assuming it’s worth it, can these parts be sourced - and fitted - more cheaply?) and recommendations for a good mechanic who doesn’t charge like a wounded bull, preferably in the Gladesville area or the Sydney eastern suburbs.

Looks like I need the mechanic sooner than I thought 'cos getting strange scraping sound!

Thanks in advance.

floydo

bennjamin
18-02-2008, 04:16 PM
take your car to

HANNYS PERFOMANCE , located in Smithfield off victoria street

9725 5115

Ask for Robert or Peter , and book a time to come in and show them everything you told us above. They will give you some good free advice and probably a free check up.

floydo
18-02-2008, 04:19 PM
Thanks a lot Bennjamin. That's quite a distance from where I am but I'll give it a go.
Cheers.

bennjamin
18-02-2008, 04:20 PM
it is a distance , but hit them up and chances are you wont go back to your honda dealer. Hannys , is one of the better Honda professionals in All of OZ.

Not dirt cheap , but cheaper than any honda dealer will ever be and more trustworthy too.

floydo
18-02-2008, 04:23 PM
Gotcha!

NVD52K
18-02-2008, 10:39 PM
hannys is a good mechanic anything with honda he will deal with any other car brands lol he gets pissed off at ya

Benson
19-02-2008, 07:46 AM
OMG... sell the car... 3000 for the ABS module... have you tried looking at the wreckers for one..??

But yeh try hanny's they work on honda's

floydo
22-02-2008, 03:13 PM
Thanks all who recommended Hanny's. I went there yesterday and they sorted out some new rear brake pads for me on the spot, replaced a faulty windscreen washer motor, and got 3 worn tyres replaced. Service very friendly. Peter and Robert were very approachable.

It didn't seem like much if anything could be done about my warning light problems. They thought for the ABS it was likely it was just an accumulator (?) that was required rather than a whole new system. As for the 4WS he said something about needing a new computer test to sort it out. Couldn't do anything about the steering lock either.

It was a longer visit than I anticipated (mainly because of the need to get the 3 new tyres fitted off site) but I came away happy and feeling like I'd saved money and been treated well. I'll definitely be going back.

Thanks again for the recommendation.

floydo

Limbo
23-02-2008, 07:34 PM
yeah they are nice guys, had them do quite abit of work on things i didn't want to do. I wonder if they will work on my car now though ;)

dwn_boi
23-02-2008, 07:42 PM
i agree 100001% best place i've ever been to, like wow i would never go anywhere else.

when my car broke down i had it towed from kingsford to smithfield, coz i would never trust anyone with my car. i just went tehre today to get my baby chcked out, peter and rob know how to work honda's better than anyone else lol theyr the best and ultra friendly also the other guy, steve i think his name was. Ooo and there was a verrrry sexy nsx there thisafternoon *droolz* lol

pc100h
11-06-2009, 07:30 PM
How do you get to / from Hannys @ Smithfield from the Eastern Subs / CBD (by public tpt) to dropoff or pickup --- there isn't any easy way to Smithfield is there ?

RtN
11-06-2009, 07:43 PM
well when I went there I wasn't satisfied with what was done, well half of it anyway... they supposed to fix my air con but didn't and charged for regas then later I had to find out that there was a receiver drier seal leaking. But they did good job on my ABS. Yeh well would they work on our cars with suspension mods, etc? heard they are anti mod or something need to get my major 80 000 KM service soon, might give them another try since so many recommendations still. Their drive way is hideous..

Chriskoss
11-06-2009, 07:48 PM
Wow Floydo, I am in debt to you for telling me about scotts honda

I havent herd anything positive from them but thought maybe it is a once off, and was going to book my car there for service. Til firstly I rang up about a replacement drivers window after my car got broken into, they said 500 dollars upfront, im like 500 for a peice of glass they are like yea you wont find it anywhere else. Yet I found another for 30 bucks.

And secondly, you telling us about your problems with them. They seem to just take advantage of people thinking they are 'honda' specialists because of their franchisee name but really they do not know anymore and in fact alot less than genuine mechanics who care for cars..

If your near Artarmon judging by you taking it to scotts, go to Midas. I am going to book my honda in for a service there. They dont F you around, I put my 79 holden in there for a clutch change, they said yep done. 1 day later all done its a pretty big job for an old car like that. I called up many other places they wanted 700 for a bloody install.. I paid 250 for the install and got the clutch kit myself which they didnt mind at all about yet ''clutch specialists'' didnt want to give me the price of the clutch kit they just said '700 installed', and this is how they rip people off

Hope you find a good place, and if you do please let us know my car is due for a service soon