[rej4449]

I related my experiences to date with Fremont Honda Kawasaki in a previous thread:
http://gl1800riders.com/forums/showthread.php?t=284950

I finally got my bike back today, 27 days after I turned it in for some minor warranty repairs. The three complaints I had were:
1) Seat and grip heaters were inop.
2) Clutch switch bad so bike could only be started in neutral. I metered the switch and verified that it was bad.
3) Fuel consumption went down from nearly 45MPG to 28MPG max. I didn't expect much help on that issue after reading the misadventures of others with similar issues.

They found the throttle grip heater bad and put the grip on order. They managed to break the replacement during installation so they ordered another. They claimed it had to be shipped from Japan, so nearly two weeks delay. During their troubleshooting, they managed to break the other grip heater so once the grip was replaced, the heaters still didn't work. So I had to wait while they ordered that grip.

They originally told me the clutch switch was good and a diode near the shifter was bad. (Remember, I did tell them that I had tested the switch and it was bad.) I checked the schematics and there is no diode, except in the reverse controller. When I asked the mechanic, he was clueless. Eventually they figured out that one of the connectors was bad. Then they found out the clutch switch was bad after all.

I had to give up on trying to get the MPG issue resolved. They wanted to run a ridiculous test, marking the side of the tank and seeing how much fuel was used in a test run. And of course, they would charge me for it.

I picked up the bike about 5:30. I was in a hurry so I tested the problems I had reported and left. I left the bike in my GF's garage and went out for the evening. When it was time to head home, I realized the headlights were not working. None of them. I had to ride home with my fog lights only. At 11:00 PM I was in the garage taking the bike apart so I could get the headlights working. They left a connector disconnected. I checked the rest of the bike. I found a screw cover for my Baker wings missing. They broke a wire for my garage remote. And the electric helmet release I just installed had the push rod pulled out inside the trunk. I was able to fix the low beams so I can ride tomorrow. I replaced the broken connector for the garage remote, but it looks like they pulled a wire off the switch, so I have to remove the top shelter to fix it. I fixed the electric helmet release. While the top shelter is off, I will have to figure out why the high beams aren't working.

Other board members have said good things about this shop in the past. Their wing tech is supposed to be the best in the area. But this is the worst service I have ever seen in my life. Is this how Honda shops are now or is this a fluke? Are there any decent Honda shops in the bay area that I can trust to service my bike? The list of problems is bad, but breaking other things and not even bothering to check the bike before releasing it seem serious to me. All after nearly a month in the shop... If that is how they treat my bike, then they have to be trashing other bikes. Who should I report these problems to? Forget the regional rep--he was the person who wanted the shop to put the magic dot on the gas tank and refused to authorize any other troubleshooting on the MPG issue.


Any solid advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[31261]

Two things come to mind about high fuel use on the 1800.

One is the fuel pressure regulator, a big factor.
A smaller factor would be O2 sensors, maybe, might, could be.

Dealers, why even discuss it, they are all the same, and the reason the majority of us do our own work.

 

[laen]

Take the bike to another dealer. Sounds like you got a bike made the day before a Holiday

 

[WestWing03]

I have never found a dealer in the South Bay that was willing/able to o good work on a GoldWing. Gave up years ago.

I now have a nice bay in my car hole where everything gets done.

 

[Cruiseman]

I have had my Wing at 3 different dealers in the Dallas area and each one has screwed something up. When I had my Bushtec hitch installed, they did not re-install the muffler guards correctly and I had to fix that. On a tire replacement, they apparently dropped the front wheel and bent one of the brake rotors. FOrtunately, another dealer replaced the rotor on warranty. Most recently I had a right hand control unit replace and now when I turn the front wheel I hear a squeek, like the harness is rubbing on something.

 

[Tankereng]

Most recently I had a right hand control unit replace and now when I turn the front wheel I hear a squeak, like the harness is rubbing on something.

Take a look to ensure that the cable routing down the right bar is correct... I have one cable that pops out occasionally causing that squeak... I think the cable routing diagram is in the service manual if you have one.

 

[HBarlow]

I am very grateful to be able to report the GW tech at Family Powersports in Lubbock, TX is outstanding. He has worked on GWs since the earliest ones. He knows the products thoroughly and is meticulous in his attention to detail. He is also willing to talk and listen to owners and will even escort owners back to the shop to show them what he is doing on request. I could not ask for better.

I didn't buy my wing from them, I found a much better price and trade allowance on my previous ST at Shawnee, OK, but will have all my service work done there.

Lubbock is a long way from "civilization" and not an area known for beautiful scenery but if any of you live within traveling distance and need a good Honda service department, Lubbock does have one.

 

[rej4449]

I have had my Wing at 3 different dealers in the Dallas area and each one has screwed something up. When I had my Bushtec hitch installed, they did not re-install the muffler guards correctly and I had to fix that. On a tire replacement, they apparently dropped the front wheel and bent one of the brake rotors. FOrtunately, another dealer replaced the rotor on warranty. Most recently I had a right hand control unit replace and now when I turn the front wheel I hear a squeek, like the harness is rubbing on something.

I get the squeak, too, where there was none before.

 

[Smitty]

Bruce, the GW mechanic at Fremont Honda has an excellent reputation. And his work for me had been mostly O.K. But the Service Dept. is VERY ineptly run. The service manage is a four-star bu$$****ter and crook who barely knows one end a motorcycle from the other. If he's there, the Service Dept is a complete mess and if he isn't (which is often) it's much worse. How Bruce can work for them is beyond me.

 

[tourman]

How can mechanics know so little about a wing? It's not like the model just came out! And it's a best seller year after year after year.
I just don't understand this crap when I read it.

 

[MrEd]

I take my Yamaha to Crazy Kevins in Gboro. They do a good job but when I mentioned the Wing their eyes glazed over. I take the Wing over an hour away to Rockingham NC to SPort Cycles. ( yeah sport cycles go figure) That head mechanic knows the Wing from the crush washer to both ends. And thus far when I take it in for anything he ends up doing a once over to ensure every thing is right.

Sorry to hear about your ordeal.

 

[tourman]

I bet a Honda car mechanic could easily repair a wing. Or do it much better than most of these poor dealers.
Almost Same engine in some of their cars!

 

[Too Tall]

Unfortunately, that's been my experience with nearly all the Honda dealers.

 

[31261]

How can mechanics know so little about a wing? It's not like the model just came out! And it's a best seller year after year after year.
I just don't understand this crap when I read it.

Some of them are pretty sharp. But they are the exception. Also a mechanic is generally busy with some major repair.

As for the rest of it, they hire young kids basically, wages are low, turnover is high, and so it goes.

Kinda like a plumber, who has glued plastic pipes all his life and you tell him to go fix this 40 year old rotten cast iron drain line, he does not have a clue. Cannot glue it, so how about some epoxy and duct tape?? And do not ask a modern plumber to sweat a three inch copper fitting, oh my........and the world will end if he has to weld a gas line.

Sign of the times.

 

[kimokk]

I think some of the issues are related to after market items you had installed. I don't think the dealer should have to deal with unplugging/uninstalling those non-stock items in order to get to the non-working item to trouble shoot the problem. If it were me, I would have uninstalled these after market items first. I had to deal with these issues when I was helping my buddy disassemble his radio, he had extra wiring that I had to uninstall first to get to his radio. What a big PITA! Just saying that the techs are trained to work on a stock bike not one with all the extraneous stuff on it.

 

[glarson3]

I get the squeak, too, where there was none before.

I had this issue as well after getting my bike back from accident repairs. While the patient was on the table I had them fix some other warranty items. left saddlebag latch, cruise control button, hazard switch, etc.

My bike had been in the shop for close to 6 months. I got on the bike, and found that the right handlebar(throttle cable) was rubbing when I turned them. I showed the service advisor, and he said... That's OK, it's because you have risers. I told him that they were never a problem before at which point I got a shrug. I rode the bike this way for a while, knowing that I had to go back to them to get other work completed since some miscellaneous parts had been ordered, but were not necessary for me to get out riding again. Eventually, I convinced them this HAD to be fixed, and they should replace my throttle cable. I told them to remove the risers while they were in there, so that they wouldn't have an excuse. I was surprised they actually told me this, but they said....
"Hey, we found out why the handlebar was rubbing. We found your riser piece under the top shelter" There's no argument that they were the ones that had most recently assembled the bike when this issue arose, and this is not a part that can 'slip' off. Might be worth checking if you have(or had) risers installed.

Huntington Beach Honda is where I had the work done. NO, I'm not going back. There were too many mistakes for it to have been a fluke. They were totally incompetent, and won't be seeing another dime from me. To the OP.. I feel your pain.

 

[Buzz Lightyear]

Bruce, the GW mechanic at Fremont Honda has an excellent reputation. And his work for me had been mostly O.K. But the Service Dept. is VERY ineptly run. The service manage is a four-star bu$$****ter and crook who barely knows one end a motorcycle from the other. If he's there, the Service Dept is a complete mess and if he isn't (which is often) it's much worse. How Bruce can work for them is beyond me.

Bruce worked on my 2007 Wing when he was at Milpitas Honda (before they went bankrupt and closed) and I found his work excellent. REF4449: do you know the tech who worked on your bike? I find it hard to believe it was Bruce (I presume he is still there :shrug.

 

[mngl1500]

The best Gold Wing wrench in MN ended up leaving his job at a dealership and opened his own independent shop last year. He is busy with lots of bikes coming in for work and he has done zero advertising other than having a stack of business cards for his friends to hand out.

If you are Minnesota look up Adam Miller (used to work at Motoprimo) who has his shop Midnight Motorcycle in Hastings, MN.

 

[rej4449]

Bruce worked on my 2007 Wing when he was at Milpitas Honda (before they went bankrupt and closed) and I found his work excellent. REJ4449: do you know the tech who worked on your bike? I find it hard to believe it was Bruce (I presume he is still there :shrug.

Buzz,

It was Bruce. At least for some of the work although he signed off on everything. That doesn't mean that he was the person who put the bike back together. I think he was under a lot of pressure. After I dropped my bike off, the shop filled to capacity. When I finally got my bike back, the shop was nearly empty. I did talk to Bruce for several minutes early on. He was upset and embarrassed about having spent a long time diagnosing the clutch switch issue. I've had to deal with strange problems like that, so I feel his pain.

I've got the problems fixed now except for one high-beam that is still out. I will have to pull the top shelter for that problem.

 

[glarson3]

I had the same problem with a high beam when I got my bike back. I went to replace the bulb, and found that it was not connected at the bulb. I suspect you've checked this, but I'd probably verify that the bulb isn't blown before I started pulling the top shelter off.