Sandroad
Well-Known Member
I didn't know that. My other vehicle has a permanently mounted front plate holder (integrated with the bumper), so I wonder what it costs to get that second plate.......
Poll - Did your Clarity have the sound deadening plugs installed?
- Thread starter weave
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I didn't know that. My other vehicle has a permanently mounted front plate holder (integrated with the bumper), so I wonder what it costs to get that second plate.......
The Michigan Secretary of State's general info page says "There is an additional $15 charge for a second plate." Cheap! I always get a second vanity plate to have a pristine (and current) version to hang in my garage.
Mine did not have the plugs installed.
Interestingly, when I got the plugs (the dealer mailed them to me), they looked surprisingly similar to the two plugs that I had found packaged in a plastic bag in the console of my 2014 Prius when I bought it!!! My guess is that the Prius did not have the plugs installed either, so this may not just be a Honda Clarity oddity.
So, there you go..
Interestingly, when I got the plugs (the dealer mailed them to me), they looked surprisingly similar to the two plugs that I had found packaged in a plastic bag in the console of my 2014 Prius when I bought it!!! My guess is that the Prius did not have the plugs installed either, so this may not just be a Honda Clarity oddity.
So, there you go..
The Gadgeteer
Active Member
During sales process I pointed out the plugs were missing and I was assured they would be put in during PDI by both the sales manager and salesman. I made calls before pickup and spoke to sales manager, salesman, service, and another person whose title I do not recall and all assured me the plugs would be in as part of the PDI. During pickup I asked all the above again about the plugs and PDI and assured again. I said I would check, assured again. During the final signing I asked for a copy of the PDI and asked about the plugs and was assured again. Physically checked once home. No plugs. Couldn’t check in nice clothes in 5F dirty slushy weather while I was at the dealership plus I was gullible with all the assurances. After making such a big point of it one of these people should have checked. PDI shows as checked for body plugs. Big fail for Madison Honda in Madison, NJ. I have to go back today. Major inconvenience. They are a small dealer and I do not think they have the ability to deal with an advance car like the Clarity. During test drive the battery was below 2 bars and the engine was erratic. It was super cold and they must ran down the battery then it sat in the cold and lost the last 2 bars. So they aren’t following the battery maintenance guidelines either because storing fully discharged will cause damage to the battery. Car had 60 miles on it and someone’s phone paired to it already. I am now thinking leasing from this dealership was a mistake. I doubt I can get out of the agreement. My plan was to buyout the car at the end of the lease but now I am so annoyed with the fact nobody understands these types of vehicles I feel I would have been better off going back to small SUV. I heard when the 2019 Rav4 hybrid comes out it will have amazing mpg. Low ground clearance of the Clarity is a concern. I wish Honda made a plug in hybrid CRV. Or at least a hybrid one for the USA like they have in Europe.
Fast Eddie B
Well-Known Member
There’s an expression regarding airplane maintenance checklists that are performed in a similar manner: “Pencil Whipped”.
In aviation, the consequences can be more dire than missing body plugs, but just checking boxes without actually performing the work is sloppy at best, and frankly dishonest.
Perhaps someone should forward a link to this thread to Honda.
In aviation, the consequences can be more dire than missing body plugs, but just checking boxes without actually performing the work is sloppy at best, and frankly dishonest.
Perhaps someone should forward a link to this thread to Honda.
Olimpia
Member
I specifically texted my salesperson to make sure the PDI was performed the day before I went to the dealership to sign papers and take delivery, he said "no problem, service people will take care of this". First thing the next day when I open the trunk of the car while inspecting I see the front plate holder with the plugs....salesperson apologized and called the service manager and they took care of the plugs.
To be fair, the PDI checklist that they provided me did not have that particular item checked off so at least they were honest in that regard haha
To be fair, the PDI checklist that they provided me did not have that particular item checked off so at least they were honest in that regard haha
MNSteve
Well-Known Member
There are only two explanations for this situation of local dealers being clueless about the Clarity, and neither reflects well on Honda.
If they don't know then they are completely out of touch with their customer base and their dealer network.
If they do know then they don't care.
It's a shame. The Clarity is a good product. It's early in its life cycle, perhaps not even out of the beta-test phase, but with this level of support from corporate it's almost certain to fail.
My local dealer is clueless but they have no motivation to be otherwise, as I live in the land of the American Land Boat and I think this is one and only Clarity that they have sold. If I ever need significant support for the car I will be in a world of hurt.
Kyle’s Clarity
Member
I’m not familiar with this aspect of the car. I do have a front license plate (Canadian) installed but where do I look to see if the plugs are installed? The pickup of my Clarity happened after hours so it was a little on the hurried side of things and this wouldn’t have been discussed.
KentuckyKen
Well-Known Member
Here is an image of where they are.
I have also attached the Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI) from which this was taken. It has a lot of interesting information and is rarely given to new owners in the USA.
NorCalPete
Active Member
Add me to the list: front license plate installed, no plugs, and tires at 49 psi (all discovered two days after purchase). On the plus-side, Yuba City Honda had an employee deliver the plugs to my home (one hour away from the dealer) a few days later.
I had the same experience and the wiper is hitting the pillar... such a poor service from dealership.
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MNSteve
Well-Known Member
Lame. Very lame. And let me guess . . . the employee just delivered the plugs and did not install them.
Question for the group: Is the pre-delivery inspection a step only for the Clarity? Does the dealer do a pre-delivery inspection for Accords and CRVs and other flavors of car? Or perhaps the process for the Clarity is very different from other models? If it's a Clarity-specific thing I can more clearly understand why it's not getting done, but if this is a standard step for the delivery of every car then I have to assume that this sloppy service extends to every vehicle that they sell. I continue to be astounded, as these reports of cars delivered with no charge, no plugs, and overinflated tires, how any self-respecting business could allow this to happen.
Louis Nisenbaum
Member
My 2016 pilot PDI was not filled out..blank! I told the salesman and they said the service did it just forgot to document. It was probably a lie. They returned it to filled out in 5 minutes. Pilot has been fine though after 2 1/2 years. Lucky! I also found the plugs in my Accord’s trunk after 3 years of ownership and buying the Clarity.
KentuckyKen
Well-Known Member
Go up to my post #29 in this thread to see where they go so you can check whether or not yours are installed.
NorCalPete
Active Member
Actually, the employee was there to install the plugs but my wife had the car at the time. It only took a few minutes for me to install them, though. My PDI didn't have any code numbers written down for the drive battery and 12 volt battery tests (so it's unlikely that they did them). I'll insist they do those tests at my first required service. Fortunately, we bought the car the day after it arrived on the lot (with only 6 miles on the odometer) so the battery should be fine (unlike other cars that might have sat on dealers' lots for months with a low battery charge). Our car was assembled in November 2018 and purchased in December.
Thomas Mitchell
Active Member
No plugs installed. No FLP bracket installed. Also, Ken Garff Honda Downtown in Salt Lake City failed to process my sales paperwork in time for me to register my car before the temp registration expired. Took 3 trips to the DMV and multiple calls to Ken Garff Honda to get my car registered. Every time I called their response was to pass the buck and claim they had done everything right, despite the fact they sat on my paperwork for almost 2 weeks. It was my second, and last, car purchase from a Ken Garff dealership and I will be writing a letter to Honda to express my discontent.
dvmartin42
New Member
Immediately upon seeing this thread, I went to check on the newly purchased Clarity. Thanks to KentuckyKen's picture, I knew exactly where to look. The body plugs were in as they should be. Also checked tire pressure and it was correct at 36 PSI. Kudos to Burleson Honda, just south of Fort Worth, TX. Easy sale. We drove 200 miles to get the car after poor experience closer to home.
Kyle’s Clarity
Member
Thank you very much for this! Now, without seeming ungrateful, is there any possibility you (or another kind soul on here) could take a picture of an installed plug? It’s hovering right around -15C where I am with snow on the ground and I don’t have a garage. I don’t want to be hunting somewhat aimlessly in the cold for these...
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dvmartin42
New Member
Attached is pic for the front drivers side body plug. The plug is aprox 1" x 2" and there are four as shown in the attachment 3680 above. Not much to see in the pic as the pic was taken with the camera on the ground. Not very much ground clearance in our Claritys.
