# Dear Honda, $500 for a freaking brake light? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 19, 2017, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-honda-500-for-a-freaking-brake-light/789393 "2017-06-19T19:38:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2017, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-honda-500-for-a-freaking-brake-light/789393/21 "2017-06-20T16:53:13Z")
> [@The\_Vorlon](#): > > You might want to give the NTSB a yell. Those LED’s should not have failed yet, let alone both of them. They are safety equipment, so the Feds should be very interested in the short lifespan. Wrong agency; the NTSB is the one which gets involved after plane crashes and train derailments. NHTSA is the agency overseeing automotive safety. that aside, I’m curious how both tail lamp assemblies would need to be replaced. how many LEDs were out? LEDs are integrated like that because they’re not supposed to fail. Sure, a small fraction will die early like any electronic device, but they really should last at least as long as the rest of the car. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2017, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-honda-500-for-a-freaking-brake-light/789393/22 "2017-06-20T17:58:01Z")
My daughter’s Prius died in a fairly odd way a week ago. She drove to a friend’s house to take her to Disneyland for the day. When she parked, the car wouldn’t shut off, and the dashboard display was dead. I met her at the local Toyota dealer to have it checked out. They have to replace the entire instrument cluster. It’s going to set us back $722. They also have to order the part, whicch STILL hasn’t come in. The bright spot is that they’re picking up the cost to rent her a car while hers is in the shop. She’s been driving a 2017 Hyundai Sonata for a week, and is in no hurry to get her 2007 Prius back. ---
**Author:** ![Kelevra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/97f17d/32.png) [@Kelevra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kelevra)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2017, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-honda-500-for-a-freaking-brake-light/789393/23 "2017-06-20T19:05:16Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > It’s the way of things, sadly. Many new cars no longer have a transmission dipstick. To check the trans fluid you have to get the car in the air and from underneath stick a tube into an orifice in the tranny and visually verify color and levels. Some new cars (Mercedes) don’t even have an OIL DIPSTICK!!! Wtf? > > I firmly believe that manufacturers (who set the time rates for repairs for dealer service techs) and the dealers are in cahoots to ensure that the service department is more of a profit center than just a place to service your vehicle. Service advisors at many dealers hard sell “recommended” services that aren’t really necessary, like trans fluid flushes at 50k miles, etc. When we purchased the CRV I mentioned above the finance guy said that their service department accounts for 75% of their profits. They’ve gone to a no-haggle policy for used cars because everyone with a smartphone can make sure they are getting the best deal. Consequently their profits are slim on the car sales. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-honda-500-for-a-freaking-brake-light/789393/24 "2017-06-21T16:07:33Z")
> [@Kelevra](#): > > When we purchased the CRV I mentioned above the finance guy said that their service department accounts for 75% of their profits. > > They’ve gone to a no-haggle policy for used cars because everyone with a smartphone can make sure they are getting the best deal. Consequently their profits are slim on the car sales. this is true for most new car dealers. the bulk of dealership profits are on parts & service, and used cars. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-honda-500-for-a-freaking-brake-light/789393/25 "2017-06-22T01:29:17Z")
I had to replace my dual-filament headlight on my '04 Focus because the low beam died. Space was kind of tight but not too bad, but I could not get the thing out. Come to find out the owner’s manual was wrong: it said to pop the retainer clip, slide out the bulb and pull off the connector, but checking online, I found that one has to pull the connector _before_ popping the clip, because there is no room to jockey the bulb out if the wires are still attached. Bastards. The guy who wrote that manual should have to pay for my scraped knuckles. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-honda-500-for-a-freaking-brake-light/789393/26 "2017-06-22T01:51:45Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > The guy who wrote that manual should have to pay for my scraped knuckles. He should have to pay for writing that _because_ you scraped your knuckles on his jaw. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-honda-500-for-a-freaking-brake-light/789393/27 "2017-06-22T02:51:47Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > this is true for most new car dealers. the bulk of dealership profits are on parts & service, and used cars. And selling practically worthless services like undercoating, rust-proofing, paint sealant, etc. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-honda-500-for-a-freaking-brake-light/789393.md?page=1)