Nah.. my dealer won’t forget... yeah right
PHEV Newbie
Well-Known Member
Great for range and mileage but terrible for ride and safety. I too had to let out a bunch of air to get my tires to 36 psi.
Why are they all set to 50-psi? Mine was the same.
Seems like it is not just one or two dealers doing this. Are the cars leaving Japan that way, or is someone at the port of entry using a bad tire gauge when they prep the cars unloaded from the ship?
Or could it be that Honda sent a bulletin to the dealers advising them to set tire pressure that high for who knows what reason?
Seems like it is not just one or two dealers doing this. Are the cars leaving Japan that way, or is someone at the port of entry using a bad tire gauge when they prep the cars unloaded from the ship?
Or could it be that Honda sent a bulletin to the dealers advising them to set tire pressure that high for who knows what reason?
That's how Honda ships their cars. I've speculated the high tire pressure is likely used to minimize the ability of the car to move around when it's locked down using the oval holes where the infamous rubber plugs are supposed to be installed by the dealer.
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Claritydfw
Member
During shipping they set the presssure at 50psi. Mostly like the pressure is that high becaus how they strap the cars down on the boat. After it gets to the dealer they are supposed to set the pressure to the correct level along with all the other make ready items but most dealerships intrust this job to the lowest paid person on the lot and most likely tell them they have to do X many a day or they will be fired. At that point this person is trying to keep their job and makes them visually look good enough to not get in trouble. We at that point get mad and complain about on the internet and to the NHTSA thinking it will make a difference because the get off my lawn gene seems to run deep for a clarity owners
I drove about 1000 miles before realizing my tires were at 50psi. I wonder if I've caused them any damage? I have now deflated them to 36 but can't really tell the difference in the ride. However, driving for so long at 50 may have accelerated the wear along the center. I may go to a tire shop and have them assess it.
MNSteve
Well-Known Member
As customers who have just spent a shitload of money, are we being unreasonable to expect the local dealer to have a clue, or to give a damn? I am not a "car person" so this is the only place where I would see complaints along this line, but is this a pervasive problem with all brands and all models, or is it limited to the Clarity? I suspect that there must be some sort of pre-delivery inspection step with all cars, but maybe for PHEVs the items are more visible so that the new owner realizes that they have not been done. Maybe the folks who are satisfied with the support they're getting from their local dealers are simply silent here, but my impression is that the vast majority of folks who do speak up only have negative things to say. I don't have any way to measure Honda's interest in this topic.
When I test drove my car it actually had no electric charge (they hadn't bothered to charge it), so I had to go to another place to get the full experience. Once I picked up the new car and took it home I realized that they had not put in the body plugs. I had to go back to the dealer and plead with them to get these plugs. It actually took another trip to finally get them (they reluctantly installed them in the parking lot). I also asked them what my battery pack capacity was and they didn't even know what I was talking about. I pulled out the PDI and showed them that such a test should have been done. They then claimed that "it was done but we don't keep the results". So I was invited to come back and leave the car for it to be done again. But when I arranged to do this the service person didn't even understand what I was asking for. Finally, I dropped the whole thing because I was happy enough with the car. Unfortunately, it took me over 1000 miles to realize they had over-inflated the tires. I am therefore assuming that they largely ignore the PDI. By the way, they installed Sirius radio but forgot to tell me that it was a free 3 month membership and that I had to contact Sirius XM to pay the rest. This turned out to be complicated because I already had Sirius XM in my other car and simply wanted to transfer my existing subscription, rather than start a new one.
vicw
Active Member
I feel the pain and concern of others whose Clarity's were sold and delivered to their customers with high pressure in the tires and missing body plugs, and other unacceptable prep. I was very lucky that my dealer, Leith Honda in Southern Pines, NC, seems to have followed the pre-delivery instructions carefully, so I was spared that agony.
KentuckyKen
Well-Known Member
Count your blessing that you were one of the few exceptions to the rule.
My dealer did Only the 12 v battery check and proper tire pressure, but was happy to do the plugs and Battery Capacity Signal test when I pointed it out to them. Mine was the first Clarity they sold and the Clarity specific PDI came out the next month so I forgave them.
vicw
Active Member
That's interesting. I didn't know when the PDI was distributed. My purchase was even earlier than yours, in early January, 2018, and they somehow must have followed something to prep the car properly. I didn't get a copy of the Battery Capacity Test results, but I don't know if they were expected to hand that to me, and I can't be sure they actually performed it then. I did easily get them to do it with my first scheduled maintenance.
Maybe the body plugs and tire pressure adjustments apply to all of the Honda's, and they were just following a generalized procedure.
KentuckyKen
Well-Known Member
My purchase was on 2/20/18. Dealer said the Clarity PDI came out two weeks later when he pulled it up in his computer.
And for the record it has been pointed out to me that the Battery Capacity Signal is not part of the pre-delivery procedures and is just part of the information listed later. So the dealer is not required to run it for you. My dealer did run it for me when I had the plugs installed and the HV range update applied.
And for the record it has been pointed out to me that the Battery Capacity Signal is not part of the pre-delivery procedures and is just part of the information listed later. So the dealer is not required to run it for you. My dealer did run it for me when I had the plugs installed and the HV range update applied.
neal adkins
Active Member
I read in a thread that Honda over inflates the tires to prevent them from developing a flat spot when being either strapped down or sitting on the lot for several weeks or months. Made sense to me. Imagine how it would feel test driving a new car with a flat spot you could feel as you got the speed up. I did find mine at 50psi also.
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Claritydfw
Member
It’s not unreasonable for them to do it as it’s what Honda corporate and you are paying them to do. What is a waste of time is to call the NTHSA about your tire pressure. That’s just overreacting to tires being at 50 psi. The car is not going to act like a pinto and explode on you.
Also tire pressure is something you should check on a regular basis yourself as all tiers will leak some air over time. I would also be willing to bet that large percentage of vehicles on the road today are at the wrong pressure for optimal fuel economy / comfort / control
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