Re: Is "the distributor" a bolt-on modular item?
 

Yeah, been there meself. 92 Honda, won't idle nicely, lopes or stays
high. I figure, idle speed gadjet like with every other car that has
this problem, but decide to take it to local mechanic who's pretty
good. End up with new distributor (not OEM) for $500. Now I have loping
idle and no VTEC and check engine light. Take it to another mechanic;
"new" distributor has position sensor broken off inside. Can't be
something that happened after distributor was assembled. Original
mechanic can't/won't get refund for me on said distributor; end up
cannbilizing old distributor. Now car only has lopey idle. Turns out to
be the idle speed gadget. Wow, what a surprise.

Elle wrote:
> Be aware that they may simply be trying to avoid a comeback.
> This is reasonable, IMO.
>
> I griped several years ago about a shop that insisted the
> problem with my 91 Honda's distributor was the jury-rigged
> fix I'd done on the rotor set screw problem. They slapped a
> new housing (salvaging the old coil and igniter) on. A week
> later the stalling problem I'd been having recurred. Turned
> out a new coil was in fact needed. At the time I figured
> they'd taken me for around $500. In hindsight, though, the
> old housing was pretty beat up, so I am more charitable
> about their decision. Though it still annoys me that they
> had the gall of accusing my jury-rigged fix as being
> unacceptable. Wrong-o. Their first diagnosis was
> extraordinarily unacceptable.
>
> "Dave O" <CycleZen@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1168266046.013864.140110@11g2000cwr.googlegro ups.com...
> > Thanks, Jim Beam and Elle, for your thoughts. I'm going
> > down to have a
> > chat with them about this now. Honestly I don't trust
> > these guys
> > technically (based on some dubious past experience) and
> > I'm tempted to
> > tow it away from their shop before I let them get to
> > deeply into it.
> >

Re: Is "the distributor" a bolt-on modular item?
 

z wrote:
> Yeah, been there meself. 92 Honda, won't idle nicely, lopes or stays
> high. I figure, idle speed gadjet like with every other car that has
> this problem, but decide to take it to local mechanic who's pretty
> good. End up with new distributor (not OEM) for $500. Now I have loping
> idle and no VTEC and check engine light. Take it to another mechanic;
> "new" distributor has position sensor broken off inside. Can't be
> something that happened after distributor was assembled. Original
> mechanic can't/won't get refund for me on said distributor

did you pay by credit card? if so, take it up with the cc card company.
you can get your money back.

>; end up
> cannbilizing old distributor. Now car only has lopey idle. Turns out to
> be the idle speed gadget. Wow, what a surprise.
>
> Elle wrote:
>> Be aware that they may simply be trying to avoid a comeback.
>> This is reasonable, IMO.
>>
>> I griped several years ago about a shop that insisted the
>> problem with my 91 Honda's distributor was the jury-rigged
>> fix I'd done on the rotor set screw problem. They slapped a
>> new housing (salvaging the old coil and igniter) on. A week
>> later the stalling problem I'd been having recurred. Turned
>> out a new coil was in fact needed. At the time I figured
>> they'd taken me for around $500. In hindsight, though, the
>> old housing was pretty beat up, so I am more charitable
>> about their decision. Though it still annoys me that they
>> had the gall of accusing my jury-rigged fix as being
>> unacceptable. Wrong-o. Their first diagnosis was
>> extraordinarily unacceptable.
>>
>> "Dave O" <CycleZen@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:1168266046.013864.140110@11g2000cwr.googlegro ups.com...
>>> Thanks, Jim Beam and Elle, for your thoughts. I'm going
>>> down to have a
>>> chat with them about this now. Honestly I don't trust
>>> these guys
>>> technically (based on some dubious past experience) and
>>> I'm tempted to
>>> tow it away from their shop before I let them get to
>>> deeply into it.
>>>
>

Re: Is "the distributor" a bolt-on modular item?
 

z wrote:
> Yeah, been there meself. 92 Honda, won't idle nicely, lopes or stays
> high. I figure, idle speed gadjet like with every other car that has
> this problem, but decide to take it to local mechanic who's pretty
> good. End up with new distributor (not OEM) for $500. Now I have loping
> idle and no VTEC and check engine light. Take it to another mechanic;
> "new" distributor has position sensor broken off inside. Can't be
> something that happened after distributor was assembled. Original
> mechanic can't/won't get refund for me on said distributor

did you pay by credit card? if so, take it up with the cc card company.
you can get your money back.

>; end up
> cannbilizing old distributor. Now car only has lopey idle. Turns out to
> be the idle speed gadget. Wow, what a surprise.
>
> Elle wrote:
>> Be aware that they may simply be trying to avoid a comeback.
>> This is reasonable, IMO.
>>
>> I griped several years ago about a shop that insisted the
>> problem with my 91 Honda's distributor was the jury-rigged
>> fix I'd done on the rotor set screw problem. They slapped a
>> new housing (salvaging the old coil and igniter) on. A week
>> later the stalling problem I'd been having recurred. Turned
>> out a new coil was in fact needed. At the time I figured
>> they'd taken me for around $500. In hindsight, though, the
>> old housing was pretty beat up, so I am more charitable
>> about their decision. Though it still annoys me that they
>> had the gall of accusing my jury-rigged fix as being
>> unacceptable. Wrong-o. Their first diagnosis was
>> extraordinarily unacceptable.
>>
>> "Dave O" <CycleZen@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:1168266046.013864.140110@11g2000cwr.googlegro ups.com...
>>> Thanks, Jim Beam and Elle, for your thoughts. I'm going
>>> down to have a
>>> chat with them about this now. Honestly I don't trust
>>> these guys
>>> technically (based on some dubious past experience) and
>>> I'm tempted to
>>> tow it away from their shop before I let them get to
>>> deeply into it.
>>>
>

Re: Is "the distributor" a bolt-on modular item?
 

z wrote:
> Yeah, been there meself. 92 Honda, won't idle nicely, lopes or stays
> high. I figure, idle speed gadjet like with every other car that has
> this problem, but decide to take it to local mechanic who's pretty
> good. End up with new distributor (not OEM) for $500. Now I have loping
> idle and no VTEC and check engine light. Take it to another mechanic;
> "new" distributor has position sensor broken off inside. Can't be
> something that happened after distributor was assembled. Original
> mechanic can't/won't get refund for me on said distributor

did you pay by credit card? if so, take it up with the cc card company.
you can get your money back.

>; end up
> cannbilizing old distributor. Now car only has lopey idle. Turns out to
> be the idle speed gadget. Wow, what a surprise.
>
> Elle wrote:
>> Be aware that they may simply be trying to avoid a comeback.
>> This is reasonable, IMO.
>>
>> I griped several years ago about a shop that insisted the
>> problem with my 91 Honda's distributor was the jury-rigged
>> fix I'd done on the rotor set screw problem. They slapped a
>> new housing (salvaging the old coil and igniter) on. A week
>> later the stalling problem I'd been having recurred. Turned
>> out a new coil was in fact needed. At the time I figured
>> they'd taken me for around $500. In hindsight, though, the
>> old housing was pretty beat up, so I am more charitable
>> about their decision. Though it still annoys me that they
>> had the gall of accusing my jury-rigged fix as being
>> unacceptable. Wrong-o. Their first diagnosis was
>> extraordinarily unacceptable.
>>
>> "Dave O" <CycleZen@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:1168266046.013864.140110@11g2000cwr.googlegro ups.com...
>>> Thanks, Jim Beam and Elle, for your thoughts. I'm going
>>> down to have a
>>> chat with them about this now. Honestly I don't trust
>>> these guys
>>> technically (based on some dubious past experience) and
>>> I'm tempted to
>>> tow it away from their shop before I let them get to
>>> deeply into it.
>>>
>

Re: Is "the distributor" a bolt-on modular item?
 

jim beam wrote:
> z wrote:
>
>> Yeah, been there meself. 92 Honda, won't idle nicely, lopes or stays
>> high. I figure, idle speed gadjet like with every other car that has
>> this problem, but decide to take it to local mechanic who's pretty
>> good. End up with new distributor (not OEM) for $500. Now I have loping
>> idle and no VTEC and check engine light. Take it to another mechanic;
>> "new" distributor has position sensor broken off inside. Can't be
>> something that happened after distributor was assembled. Original
>> mechanic can't/won't get refund for me on said distributor
>
>
> did you pay by credit card? if so, take it up with the cc card company.
> you can get your money back.
>
well.. that's possible but in the end op might just have to pay up..

about 20 years ago took my 79 305 camaro into a chevy dealership in
dallas for noisey lifters..The car idled real rough after the
replacement of the lifters out of the shop and on the service order was
listed "needs valve job"..Talked with svc. manager with little resolution..

took three days later to different chevy dealership and found no
compression in #1 cylinder. replaced ring set on #1 cylinder and all o.k.

spoke again with orginial dealer; they said they didn't do anything..

sent all paperwork into cc company to dispute. they did take off charge..

6 months later sheriff shows up at my door with a summons to appear in
small claims court. orginial dealership is suing me for amount of repair.

go to court. dealer svc mgr sits in the witness stand and simply
reiterates what I brought car in for and what they did..judge ask me a
few questions, asked me if i new how lifters were replaced..

i say yea, from the top..questions the repair of the rings and he says
that to replace rings you go from the bottom..

Anyway, bottom line was when you bring the car in for service I signed
service/repair order that states I agree to pay..Judge orderes me to pay..

Judge says he sees my point. but I need to sue orginial dealership to
get my money back..which means I need to prove they messed up..hard to do..

Rich

Re: Is "the distributor" a bolt-on modular item?
 

jim beam wrote:
> z wrote:
>
>> Yeah, been there meself. 92 Honda, won't idle nicely, lopes or stays
>> high. I figure, idle speed gadjet like with every other car that has
>> this problem, but decide to take it to local mechanic who's pretty
>> good. End up with new distributor (not OEM) for $500. Now I have loping
>> idle and no VTEC and check engine light. Take it to another mechanic;
>> "new" distributor has position sensor broken off inside. Can't be
>> something that happened after distributor was assembled. Original
>> mechanic can't/won't get refund for me on said distributor
>
>
> did you pay by credit card? if so, take it up with the cc card company.
> you can get your money back.
>
well.. that's possible but in the end op might just have to pay up..

about 20 years ago took my 79 305 camaro into a chevy dealership in
dallas for noisey lifters..The car idled real rough after the
replacement of the lifters out of the shop and on the service order was
listed "needs valve job"..Talked with svc. manager with little resolution..

took three days later to different chevy dealership and found no
compression in #1 cylinder. replaced ring set on #1 cylinder and all o.k.

spoke again with orginial dealer; they said they didn't do anything..

sent all paperwork into cc company to dispute. they did take off charge..

6 months later sheriff shows up at my door with a summons to appear in
small claims court. orginial dealership is suing me for amount of repair.

go to court. dealer svc mgr sits in the witness stand and simply
reiterates what I brought car in for and what they did..judge ask me a
few questions, asked me if i new how lifters were replaced..

i say yea, from the top..questions the repair of the rings and he says
that to replace rings you go from the bottom..

Anyway, bottom line was when you bring the car in for service I signed
service/repair order that states I agree to pay..Judge orderes me to pay..

Judge says he sees my point. but I need to sue orginial dealership to
get my money back..which means I need to prove they messed up..hard to do..

Rich

Re: Is "the distributor" a bolt-on modular item?
 

jim beam wrote:
> z wrote:
>
>> Yeah, been there meself. 92 Honda, won't idle nicely, lopes or stays
>> high. I figure, idle speed gadjet like with every other car that has
>> this problem, but decide to take it to local mechanic who's pretty
>> good. End up with new distributor (not OEM) for $500. Now I have loping
>> idle and no VTEC and check engine light. Take it to another mechanic;
>> "new" distributor has position sensor broken off inside. Can't be
>> something that happened after distributor was assembled. Original
>> mechanic can't/won't get refund for me on said distributor
>
>
> did you pay by credit card? if so, take it up with the cc card company.
> you can get your money back.
>
well.. that's possible but in the end op might just have to pay up..

about 20 years ago took my 79 305 camaro into a chevy dealership in
dallas for noisey lifters..The car idled real rough after the
replacement of the lifters out of the shop and on the service order was
listed "needs valve job"..Talked with svc. manager with little resolution..

took three days later to different chevy dealership and found no
compression in #1 cylinder. replaced ring set on #1 cylinder and all o.k.

spoke again with orginial dealer; they said they didn't do anything..

sent all paperwork into cc company to dispute. they did take off charge..

6 months later sheriff shows up at my door with a summons to appear in
small claims court. orginial dealership is suing me for amount of repair.

go to court. dealer svc mgr sits in the witness stand and simply
reiterates what I brought car in for and what they did..judge ask me a
few questions, asked me if i new how lifters were replaced..

i say yea, from the top..questions the repair of the rings and he says
that to replace rings you go from the bottom..

Anyway, bottom line was when you bring the car in for service I signed
service/repair order that states I agree to pay..Judge orderes me to pay..

Judge says he sees my point. but I need to sue orginial dealership to
get my money back..which means I need to prove they messed up..hard to do..

Rich

Re: Is "the distributor" a bolt-on modular item?
 

Big Brother wrote:
>
>
> jim beam wrote:
>> z wrote:
>>
>>> Yeah, been there meself. 92 Honda, won't idle nicely, lopes or stays
>>> high. I figure, idle speed gadjet like with every other car that has
>>> this problem, but decide to take it to local mechanic who's pretty
>>> good. End up with new distributor (not OEM) for $500. Now I have loping
>>> idle and no VTEC and check engine light. Take it to another mechanic;
>>> "new" distributor has position sensor broken off inside. Can't be
>>> something that happened after distributor was assembled. Original
>>> mechanic can't/won't get refund for me on said distributor
>>
>>
>> did you pay by credit card? if so, take it up with the cc card
>> company. you can get your money back.
>>
> well.. that's possible but in the end op might just have to pay up..
>
> about 20 years ago took my 79 305 camaro into a chevy dealership in
> dallas for noisey lifters..The car idled real rough after the
> replacement of the lifters out of the shop and on the service order was
> listed "needs valve job"..Talked with svc. manager with little resolution..
>
> took three days later to different chevy dealership and found no
> compression in #1 cylinder. replaced ring set on #1 cylinder and all o.k.
>
> spoke again with orginial dealer; they said they didn't do anything..
>
> sent all paperwork into cc company to dispute. they did take off charge..
>
> 6 months later sheriff shows up at my door with a summons to appear in
> small claims court. orginial dealership is suing me for amount of repair.
>
> go to court. dealer svc mgr sits in the witness stand and simply
> reiterates what I brought car in for and what they did..judge ask me a
> few questions, asked me if i new how lifters were replaced..
>
> i say yea, from the top..questions the repair of the rings and he says
> that to replace rings you go from the bottom..
>
> Anyway, bottom line was when you bring the car in for service I signed
> service/repair order that states I agree to pay..Judge orderes me to pay..
>
> Judge says he sees my point. but I need to sue orginial dealership to
> get my money back..which means I need to prove they messed up..hard to do..
>
> Rich

unfortunate. with a distributor though, you can take it off, give it
back and have the cc company take care of the rest - hard to do in your
situation.

Re: Is "the distributor" a bolt-on modular item?
 

Big Brother wrote:
>
>
> jim beam wrote:
>> z wrote:
>>
>>> Yeah, been there meself. 92 Honda, won't idle nicely, lopes or stays
>>> high. I figure, idle speed gadjet like with every other car that has
>>> this problem, but decide to take it to local mechanic who's pretty
>>> good. End up with new distributor (not OEM) for $500. Now I have loping
>>> idle and no VTEC and check engine light. Take it to another mechanic;
>>> "new" distributor has position sensor broken off inside. Can't be
>>> something that happened after distributor was assembled. Original
>>> mechanic can't/won't get refund for me on said distributor
>>
>>
>> did you pay by credit card? if so, take it up with the cc card
>> company. you can get your money back.
>>
> well.. that's possible but in the end op might just have to pay up..
>
> about 20 years ago took my 79 305 camaro into a chevy dealership in
> dallas for noisey lifters..The car idled real rough after the
> replacement of the lifters out of the shop and on the service order was
> listed "needs valve job"..Talked with svc. manager with little resolution..
>
> took three days later to different chevy dealership and found no
> compression in #1 cylinder. replaced ring set on #1 cylinder and all o.k.
>
> spoke again with orginial dealer; they said they didn't do anything..
>
> sent all paperwork into cc company to dispute. they did take off charge..
>
> 6 months later sheriff shows up at my door with a summons to appear in
> small claims court. orginial dealership is suing me for amount of repair.
>
> go to court. dealer svc mgr sits in the witness stand and simply
> reiterates what I brought car in for and what they did..judge ask me a
> few questions, asked me if i new how lifters were replaced..
>
> i say yea, from the top..questions the repair of the rings and he says
> that to replace rings you go from the bottom..
>
> Anyway, bottom line was when you bring the car in for service I signed
> service/repair order that states I agree to pay..Judge orderes me to pay..
>
> Judge says he sees my point. but I need to sue orginial dealership to
> get my money back..which means I need to prove they messed up..hard to do..
>
> Rich

unfortunate. with a distributor though, you can take it off, give it
back and have the cc company take care of the rest - hard to do in your
situation.

Re: Is "the distributor" a bolt-on modular item?
 

Big Brother wrote:
>
>
> jim beam wrote:
>> z wrote:
>>
>>> Yeah, been there meself. 92 Honda, won't idle nicely, lopes or stays
>>> high. I figure, idle speed gadjet like with every other car that has
>>> this problem, but decide to take it to local mechanic who's pretty
>>> good. End up with new distributor (not OEM) for $500. Now I have loping
>>> idle and no VTEC and check engine light. Take it to another mechanic;
>>> "new" distributor has position sensor broken off inside. Can't be
>>> something that happened after distributor was assembled. Original
>>> mechanic can't/won't get refund for me on said distributor
>>
>>
>> did you pay by credit card? if so, take it up with the cc card
>> company. you can get your money back.
>>
> well.. that's possible but in the end op might just have to pay up..
>
> about 20 years ago took my 79 305 camaro into a chevy dealership in
> dallas for noisey lifters..The car idled real rough after the
> replacement of the lifters out of the shop and on the service order was
> listed "needs valve job"..Talked with svc. manager with little resolution..
>
> took three days later to different chevy dealership and found no
> compression in #1 cylinder. replaced ring set on #1 cylinder and all o.k.
>
> spoke again with orginial dealer; they said they didn't do anything..
>
> sent all paperwork into cc company to dispute. they did take off charge..
>
> 6 months later sheriff shows up at my door with a summons to appear in
> small claims court. orginial dealership is suing me for amount of repair.
>
> go to court. dealer svc mgr sits in the witness stand and simply
> reiterates what I brought car in for and what they did..judge ask me a
> few questions, asked me if i new how lifters were replaced..
>
> i say yea, from the top..questions the repair of the rings and he says
> that to replace rings you go from the bottom..
>
> Anyway, bottom line was when you bring the car in for service I signed
> service/repair order that states I agree to pay..Judge orderes me to pay..
>
> Judge says he sees my point. but I need to sue orginial dealership to
> get my money back..which means I need to prove they messed up..hard to do..
>
> Rich

unfortunate. with a distributor though, you can take it off, give it
back and have the cc company take care of the rest - hard to do in your
situation.

Re: Is "the distributor" a bolt-on modular item?
 

jim beam wrote:
> z wrote:
> > Yeah, been there meself. 92 Honda, won't idle nicely, lopes or stays
> > high. I figure, idle speed gadjet like with every other car that has
> > this problem, but decide to take it to local mechanic who's pretty
> > good. End up with new distributor (not OEM) for $500. Now I have loping
> > idle and no VTEC and check engine light. Take it to another mechanic;
> > "new" distributor has position sensor broken off inside. Can't be
> > something that happened after distributor was assembled. Original
> > mechanic can't/won't get refund for me on said distributor
>
> did you pay by credit card? if so, take it up with the cc card company.
> you can get your money back.

Maybe... situation was, I paid mechanic, mechanic got distributor and
included it in bill; he didn't want to go back to distributor
distributor (haha, get it?) with the ziplock bag of parts I handed him;
I want to keep him on good terms he's still the best mechanic around in
general, and in the past has been very good about living up to the
warranty on parts he provided, like a water pump that started to leak
after 9 months.

>
> >; end up
> > cannbilizing old distributor. Now car only has lopey idle. Turns out to
> > be the idle speed gadget. Wow, what a surprise.
> >
> > Elle wrote:
> >> Be aware that they may simply be trying to avoid a comeback.
> >> This is reasonable, IMO.
> >>
> >> I griped several years ago about a shop that insisted the
> >> problem with my 91 Honda's distributor was the jury-rigged
> >> fix I'd done on the rotor set screw problem. They slapped a
> >> new housing (salvaging the old coil and igniter) on. A week
> >> later the stalling problem I'd been having recurred. Turned
> >> out a new coil was in fact needed. At the time I figured
> >> they'd taken me for around $500. In hindsight, though, the
> >> old housing was pretty beat up, so I am more charitable
> >> about their decision. Though it still annoys me that they
> >> had the gall of accusing my jury-rigged fix as being
> >> unacceptable. Wrong-o. Their first diagnosis was
> >> extraordinarily unacceptable.
> >>
> >> "Dave O" <CycleZen@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> >> news:1168266046.013864.140110@11g2000cwr.googlegro ups.com...
> >>> Thanks, Jim Beam and Elle, for your thoughts. I'm going
> >>> down to have a
> >>> chat with them about this now. Honestly I don't trust
> >>> these guys
> >>> technically (based on some dubious past experience) and
> >>> I'm tempted to
> >>> tow it away from their shop before I let them get to
> >>> deeply into it.
> >>>
> >

Re: Is "the distributor" a bolt-on modular item?
 

jim beam wrote:
> z wrote:
> > Yeah, been there meself. 92 Honda, won't idle nicely, lopes or stays
> > high. I figure, idle speed gadjet like with every other car that has
> > this problem, but decide to take it to local mechanic who's pretty
> > good. End up with new distributor (not OEM) for $500. Now I have loping
> > idle and no VTEC and check engine light. Take it to another mechanic;
> > "new" distributor has position sensor broken off inside. Can't be
> > something that happened after distributor was assembled. Original
> > mechanic can't/won't get refund for me on said distributor
>
> did you pay by credit card? if so, take it up with the cc card company.
> you can get your money back.

Maybe... situation was, I paid mechanic, mechanic got distributor and
included it in bill; he didn't want to go back to distributor
distributor (haha, get it?) with the ziplock bag of parts I handed him;
I want to keep him on good terms he's still the best mechanic around in
general, and in the past has been very good about living up to the
warranty on parts he provided, like a water pump that started to leak
after 9 months.

>
> >; end up
> > cannbilizing old distributor. Now car only has lopey idle. Turns out to
> > be the idle speed gadget. Wow, what a surprise.
> >
> > Elle wrote:
> >> Be aware that they may simply be trying to avoid a comeback.
> >> This is reasonable, IMO.
> >>
> >> I griped several years ago about a shop that insisted the
> >> problem with my 91 Honda's distributor was the jury-rigged
> >> fix I'd done on the rotor set screw problem. They slapped a
> >> new housing (salvaging the old coil and igniter) on. A week
> >> later the stalling problem I'd been having recurred. Turned
> >> out a new coil was in fact needed. At the time I figured
> >> they'd taken me for around $500. In hindsight, though, the
> >> old housing was pretty beat up, so I am more charitable
> >> about their decision. Though it still annoys me that they
> >> had the gall of accusing my jury-rigged fix as being
> >> unacceptable. Wrong-o. Their first diagnosis was
> >> extraordinarily unacceptable.
> >>
> >> "Dave O" <CycleZen@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> >> news:1168266046.013864.140110@11g2000cwr.googlegro ups.com...
> >>> Thanks, Jim Beam and Elle, for your thoughts. I'm going
> >>> down to have a
> >>> chat with them about this now. Honestly I don't trust
> >>> these guys
> >>> technically (based on some dubious past experience) and
> >>> I'm tempted to
> >>> tow it away from their shop before I let them get to
> >>> deeply into it.
> >>>
> >

Re: Is "the distributor" a bolt-on modular item?
 

jim beam wrote:
> z wrote:
> > Yeah, been there meself. 92 Honda, won't idle nicely, lopes or stays
> > high. I figure, idle speed gadjet like with every other car that has
> > this problem, but decide to take it to local mechanic who's pretty
> > good. End up with new distributor (not OEM) for $500. Now I have loping
> > idle and no VTEC and check engine light. Take it to another mechanic;
> > "new" distributor has position sensor broken off inside. Can't be
> > something that happened after distributor was assembled. Original
> > mechanic can't/won't get refund for me on said distributor
>
> did you pay by credit card? if so, take it up with the cc card company.
> you can get your money back.

Maybe... situation was, I paid mechanic, mechanic got distributor and
included it in bill; he didn't want to go back to distributor
distributor (haha, get it?) with the ziplock bag of parts I handed him;
I want to keep him on good terms he's still the best mechanic around in
general, and in the past has been very good about living up to the
warranty on parts he provided, like a water pump that started to leak
after 9 months.

>
> >; end up
> > cannbilizing old distributor. Now car only has lopey idle. Turns out to
> > be the idle speed gadget. Wow, what a surprise.
> >
> > Elle wrote:
> >> Be aware that they may simply be trying to avoid a comeback.
> >> This is reasonable, IMO.
> >>
> >> I griped several years ago about a shop that insisted the
> >> problem with my 91 Honda's distributor was the jury-rigged
> >> fix I'd done on the rotor set screw problem. They slapped a
> >> new housing (salvaging the old coil and igniter) on. A week
> >> later the stalling problem I'd been having recurred. Turned
> >> out a new coil was in fact needed. At the time I figured
> >> they'd taken me for around $500. In hindsight, though, the
> >> old housing was pretty beat up, so I am more charitable
> >> about their decision. Though it still annoys me that they
> >> had the gall of accusing my jury-rigged fix as being
> >> unacceptable. Wrong-o. Their first diagnosis was
> >> extraordinarily unacceptable.
> >>
> >> "Dave O" <CycleZen@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> >> news:1168266046.013864.140110@11g2000cwr.googlegro ups.com...
> >>> Thanks, Jim Beam and Elle, for your thoughts. I'm going
> >>> down to have a
> >>> chat with them about this now. Honestly I don't trust
> >>> these guys
> >>> technically (based on some dubious past experience) and
> >>> I'm tempted to
> >>> tow it away from their shop before I let them get to
> >>> deeply into it.
> >>>
> >

Re: Is "the distributor" a bolt-on modular item?
 

z wrote:
> jim beam wrote:
>> z wrote:
>>> Yeah, been there meself. 92 Honda, won't idle nicely, lopes or stays
>>> high. I figure, idle speed gadjet like with every other car that has
>>> this problem, but decide to take it to local mechanic who's pretty
>>> good. End up with new distributor (not OEM) for $500. Now I have loping
>>> idle and no VTEC and check engine light. Take it to another mechanic;
>>> "new" distributor has position sensor broken off inside. Can't be
>>> something that happened after distributor was assembled. Original
>>> mechanic can't/won't get refund for me on said distributor
>> did you pay by credit card? if so, take it up with the cc card company.
>> you can get your money back.
>
> Maybe... situation was, I paid mechanic, mechanic got distributor and
> included it in bill; he didn't want to go back to distributor
> distributor (haha, get it?) with the ziplock bag of parts I handed him;

of course - you have to give he back what he gave you - in the condition
he gave it.

> I want to keep him on good terms he's still the best mechanic around in
> general,

that's debatable. fixing a honda distributor is quick and simple [and
cheap] if you know what you're looking at. but if you don't, you
replace the whole thing.

> and in the past has been very good about living up to the
> warranty on parts he provided, like a water pump that started to leak
> after 9 months.

is that /his/ warranty or the pump manufacturer warranty??? no way
would i warranty something i didn't make myself!

>
>>> ; end up
>>> cannbilizing old distributor. Now car only has lopey idle. Turns out to
>>> be the idle speed gadget. Wow, what a surprise.
>>>
>>> Elle wrote:
>>>> Be aware that they may simply be trying to avoid a comeback.
>>>> This is reasonable, IMO.
>>>>
>>>> I griped several years ago about a shop that insisted the
>>>> problem with my 91 Honda's distributor was the jury-rigged
>>>> fix I'd done on the rotor set screw problem. They slapped a
>>>> new housing (salvaging the old coil and igniter) on. A week
>>>> later the stalling problem I'd been having recurred. Turned
>>>> out a new coil was in fact needed. At the time I figured
>>>> they'd taken me for around $500. In hindsight, though, the
>>>> old housing was pretty beat up, so I am more charitable
>>>> about their decision. Though it still annoys me that they
>>>> had the gall of accusing my jury-rigged fix as being
>>>> unacceptable. Wrong-o. Their first diagnosis was
>>>> extraordinarily unacceptable.
>>>>
>>>> "Dave O" <CycleZen@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:1168266046.013864.140110@11g2000cwr.googlegro ups.com...
>>>>> Thanks, Jim Beam and Elle, for your thoughts. I'm going
>>>>> down to have a
>>>>> chat with them about this now. Honestly I don't trust
>>>>> these guys
>>>>> technically (based on some dubious past experience) and
>>>>> I'm tempted to
>>>>> tow it away from their shop before I let them get to
>>>>> deeply into it.
>>>>>
>

Re: Is "the distributor" a bolt-on modular item?
 

z wrote:
> jim beam wrote:
>> z wrote:
>>> Yeah, been there meself. 92 Honda, won't idle nicely, lopes or stays
>>> high. I figure, idle speed gadjet like with every other car that has
>>> this problem, but decide to take it to local mechanic who's pretty
>>> good. End up with new distributor (not OEM) for $500. Now I have loping
>>> idle and no VTEC and check engine light. Take it to another mechanic;
>>> "new" distributor has position sensor broken off inside. Can't be
>>> something that happened after distributor was assembled. Original
>>> mechanic can't/won't get refund for me on said distributor
>> did you pay by credit card? if so, take it up with the cc card company.
>> you can get your money back.
>
> Maybe... situation was, I paid mechanic, mechanic got distributor and
> included it in bill; he didn't want to go back to distributor
> distributor (haha, get it?) with the ziplock bag of parts I handed him;

of course - you have to give he back what he gave you - in the condition
he gave it.

> I want to keep him on good terms he's still the best mechanic around in
> general,

that's debatable. fixing a honda distributor is quick and simple [and
cheap] if you know what you're looking at. but if you don't, you
replace the whole thing.

> and in the past has been very good about living up to the
> warranty on parts he provided, like a water pump that started to leak
> after 9 months.

is that /his/ warranty or the pump manufacturer warranty??? no way
would i warranty something i didn't make myself!

>
>>> ; end up
>>> cannbilizing old distributor. Now car only has lopey idle. Turns out to
>>> be the idle speed gadget. Wow, what a surprise.
>>>
>>> Elle wrote:
>>>> Be aware that they may simply be trying to avoid a comeback.
>>>> This is reasonable, IMO.
>>>>
>>>> I griped several years ago about a shop that insisted the
>>>> problem with my 91 Honda's distributor was the jury-rigged
>>>> fix I'd done on the rotor set screw problem. They slapped a
>>>> new housing (salvaging the old coil and igniter) on. A week
>>>> later the stalling problem I'd been having recurred. Turned
>>>> out a new coil was in fact needed. At the time I figured
>>>> they'd taken me for around $500. In hindsight, though, the
>>>> old housing was pretty beat up, so I am more charitable
>>>> about their decision. Though it still annoys me that they
>>>> had the gall of accusing my jury-rigged fix as being
>>>> unacceptable. Wrong-o. Their first diagnosis was
>>>> extraordinarily unacceptable.
>>>>
>>>> "Dave O" <CycleZen@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:1168266046.013864.140110@11g2000cwr.googlegro ups.com...
>>>>> Thanks, Jim Beam and Elle, for your thoughts. I'm going
>>>>> down to have a
>>>>> chat with them about this now. Honestly I don't trust
>>>>> these guys
>>>>> technically (based on some dubious past experience) and
>>>>> I'm tempted to
>>>>> tow it away from their shop before I let them get to
>>>>> deeply into it.
>>>>>
>