First let me say that I was a Honda tech for almost thirty years. Brake fluid IS something that you want to have changed about every three years. Just like changing your engine oil, it will save you money in replacement parts hands down. However at 30k assuming your ford is 2 to 3 years old, that should be premature for trans fluid.
I just purchased last month a 2004 Honda accord with 94000 miles for my son to replace his 1998 accord with 220000 miles. It still runs like a top, but he is 1000 miles away and I can't fix the things that may start to go wrong from here in TV.
I purchased this used car from Kuhn Honda on Tampa. Yes it was a long drive there, but I got a great deal on a great car. Among other things, they put new tires on it and fixed the AC the day I looked at it. Two weeks after I picked it up, the AC dies again. Since I was an ex Honda tech, I could see that the compressor was not working now and that the fix they had done before was to repair a wire to the compressor. That evidently was enough to move the wiring inside the compressor clutch/coil to get it to work for the two weeks. I talked with one of the general managers and said very politely that I knew I had no warranty on the 8 year old accord , but was hoping that for good will that some consideration could be given to me on the repair. He said bring it in and they would fix anything that was wrong with it. While I was there, since we only got one key with the car, I opted to spend $189 for a new key and program of the remote on that new key. The parts dept said to just tell service since they would put it on my repair order. Not only did the dealership replace the AC clutch but they didn't even charge me for the $189 key fob.
I find it incomprehensible that any dealership would deny a warranty claim as has been outlined here by the OP. It costs a dealer only the difference in customer pay vs warranty pay for a warranty repair. Just about anything a dealer wants to rep ace under warranty they can. And they keep a customer. Do you think I will ever buy another used Honda from anyone other than Kuhn. I understand that hondas policy has tighted somewhat since I retired 7 years ago, but I can give you one example of great customer goodwill. I owned my own Honda /Acura repair business for 20 of the 30 years iwas a tech. The 1990-1992 accords had problems with their distributor bearings failing around 130000 miles. This was about a $250 repair. We would do the repair even as an independent and then tell the customer to contact American Honda and they would be reimbursed for the repair. Hondas position was that the distributor should last the life of the car. Things like this ismwhy Honda and toyota have such loyal customers.
Jeff
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