The Honda dealers around here are tough to deal with. I tried to buy a Pilot in 03, and gave up. I did not like Honda sales people or paying $1k over sticker. The 4Runner I did buy was a plesant experience, got a good discount and am very happy with the vehicle. The Totota Service Manager went over the TSB's for 4Runners, with me. There was one on the throttle control for the V6 (I bought a V8), and a sunroof one for a rattle (which was applied to mine at about 10k miles, when the rattle finally showed up). He also said that the batch mine came in with had one spare tire damaged, and they wanted to take mine down and check it before I left. When I was looking at the Pilot, I asked about the Pilots that were being recalled on the lot for an idler pulley. I had the range of SN's and asked if they were doing the service before delivery. I was told that there was never a TSB for any Honda and that their maintenance record was spotless, this from the service manager. He also said they never had any transmission problems and that it was just an internet hoax. So I went into the parts department and asked about the transmission kit for the fix. The counterman said they replace a transmission every other week or so, and install about 3-5 kits a week, this in 03. I asked about the idler pulley on different V6's and he said they had replaced 11 of them and more waiting for parts. He said they were not replacing them until after the vehicle was sold, and brought back for service, but sent the paperwork in while still on the lot. Other Honda dealers made similar statements. One said the the TSB were confidential and none of my business. Two said that taking a Honda to anyone besides a dealer would immediately void the warranty. One service manager told me that Honda fluids were special and if I mixed them with other inferior fluids I would void the warranty and damage the vehicle. One told me that they did not recommend 5w-20 because they had better knowledge of local condition and used 5w-30. That's technically legal, but the statement that they know better is difficult to believe, especially from a service manager that said that synthetic's cause leaks, swell gaskets and will damage the engine if mixed with conventional oil, all this from a service department that had 'Valvoline 10w-30' on the bulk oil barrels in the back of the service department (I looked), after recommending 5w-30. One service manager told me if I had so many questions about Honda's that I should go buy some piece of cr@p like a Toyota, and I did.
