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Old 1st August 2018, 21:52   #1
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Beware of a new theft in town, door lock sensors. Lost both of mine and honda quotes 6500 per side in estimated costs!

New theft in town - Door lock sensors!-img_20180731_160319.jpg

Last edited by GTO : 2nd August 2018 at 08:56. Reason: Copying post to new thread
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Old 2nd August 2018, 08:55   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lemedico View Post
Beware of a new theft in town, door lock sensors. Lost both of mine and honda quotes 6500 per side in estimated costs!
Thanks for sharing, Lemedico! Copying your post to a new thread.

Is there anything that doesn't get stolen in India ? We've probably been the only country where 20 rupee monograms are stolen - related thread. I've even had 10 rupee tyre valve caps flicked .
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Old 2nd August 2018, 09:19   #3
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How pathetic is the implementation that sensors which are part of the security system of the car, themselves get stolen.
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Old 2nd August 2018, 10:17   #4
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Re: New theft in town - Door lock sensors!

Thanks for sharing.

Features especially on the exterior are susceptible, some times I feel it is better to stick to the base model.

In an incident I came across, they had installed a set of Hellas on a brand new car. This thing costs 30k but just a bolt to unscrew. They lost it on Day 1.

Last edited by Thermodynamics : 2nd August 2018 at 10:22. Reason: rephrasing
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Old 2nd August 2018, 11:29   #5
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Re: New theft in town - Door lock sensors!

Quote:
Originally Posted by lemedico View Post
Beware of a new theft in town, door lock sensors.
Is the sensor actually attached to the door lock button? Or does it get dislodged when the thief pries open the door lock button?

Or is the Service center trying to pull a fast one, and the actual replacement needed is just a plastic/rubber button cover.

Just thinking out loud, will the thief be able to work out the door lock codes by taking away the 'sensor', that is, if it is really the sensor that is getting nicked.
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Old 2nd August 2018, 16:54   #6
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I noticed that the Hyundai sensors are quite flush with the handle, unlike Honda which has a prominent groove around the button. Thus making it susceptible to a bit of 'fingering'

I visited Heritage Honda Agra with my City 2017 and showed them the missing buttons. The chap was nonchalant and as always, dealing with an authorised service centre left me with a bad headache and a bitter aftertaste. He was trying to convince me that the rubber buttons are high tech touch sensitive gadgets and worth having replaced for Rs. 6500 EACH! well, that is the cost for the entire door handle (estimated and surely less than what they would finally steal from my wallet).

I told him that they are just rubber buttons like the ones on a measly TV remote and that such and other tit-bits are usually found scattered on a mechanic's garage floor. He was still adamant that it is a specialised button. What made him keep quiet was when I locked the doors by pushing a pen into that cavity. Ridiculous.

The matter is still not resolved, I had emailed the top brass and the customer care (CC) address at Honda Cars India Ltd yesterday. CC replied asking me to visit the showroom so that they initiate a report to be sent back to the headquarters. But I'm sure the customer will suffer, as usual.

could other company's car owners please upload the images of their lock/unlock sensors? we could determine which types are the most vulnerable and easy to nick.

Also, very timidly, I ask some brave honda owner if they could voluntarily (and delicately) remove their lock sensor and show us on video if it is an easy job for a thief? we could also determine the exact appearance and design of the button to enable a brainstorm on what 'jugaad' bits could be used to replace it if stolen!
I'm thinking the eraser at the back of an HB pencil would be good!

Last edited by Jaggu : 2nd August 2018 at 18:40. Reason: Back to back post, please use Edit option instead.
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Old 2nd August 2018, 17:28   #7
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Re: New theft in town - Door lock sensors!

Quote:
Originally Posted by lemedico View Post
2017 city- V

both sides request sensor's rubber buttons have fallen off after a high dose of Agra's super hot summer and then constant rainfall!!

how to get it fixed? If I ask Honda, they'll be inconsiderate as always and suggest replacing the whole door handle mechanism on both sides!

Is there anyone who had similar issues? Are the rubber buttons available aftermarket?
You've mentioned in another thread that it has fallen off due to rain/heat and used the same picture. Was it stolen or did it fall off?
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Old 2nd August 2018, 17:52   #8
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Re: New theft in town - Door lock sensors!

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Originally Posted by GeneralJazz View Post
You've mentioned in another thread that it has fallen off due to rain/heat and used the same picture. Was it stolen or did it fall off?
Not knowing that the misconception is they are valuable touch sensitive buttons worth stealing, I had believed the weather was the culprit to the missing buttons. But after speaking to a few friends and the chaps at Honda, I am convinced they were stolen!

This assumption was also was fuelled by my poor experience with my Jazz 2009, it had ended up with a severe water ingress through the boot and front passenger side in this year's monsoon. There are countless points of dry and brittle rubber over the windshield, weather seals and running strips which allow water into the cabin. The car is now grounded until clear weather returns. That too made me wonder if the rubber buttons on the city too suffered the wrath of the weather.

It is no secret Honda charges too much and provides poorly built products in this decade. I see the niggles in my Jazz have only just appeared after 7 years of ownership and extreme student usage across India. Whereas niggles on a 2017 City had begun even before the coconut was smashed at the temple during delivery!

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Old 2nd August 2018, 18:56   #9
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Re: New theft in town - Door lock sensors!

I feel a better implementation is to have the sensor towards the inner side of the lever, so as to avoid vandalism. That's right - I feel these are cases of vandalism rather than theft. People lean against cars while talking on phones etc and tend to scratch or pull out whatever is available at hand.

Unless the thief has stollen the inner sensors as well, the rubber cap in itself is worthless - except for the owner who has to buy it again paying 6500/-

Quote:
Originally Posted by lemedico View Post
could other company's car owners please upload the images of their lock/unlock sensors?
Here's the sensor from my Hyundai Xcent -

New theft in town - Door lock sensors!-img_0912_800.jpg

Last edited by Samurai : 3rd August 2018 at 00:32. Reason: typo
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Old 2nd August 2018, 19:38   #10
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Re: New theft in town - Door lock sensors!

Quote:
Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR View Post
except for the owner who has to buy it again paying 6500/-
That's ridiculous spend due to those silly caps stolen. Honda (and other manufactures) should provide spare caps to the owners at a reasonable cost. I'm sure these will be would be soon available off Ebay like those key fob rubbers.
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Old 2nd August 2018, 20:32   #11
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Re: New theft in town - Door lock sensors!

That is not the sensor I believe, it is just the button. This also confirms my doubts that Honda ASS is among the worst today, thought it was only like that in NCR.
I don't see myself buying another tin can from Honda again.
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Old 2nd August 2018, 23:05   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR View Post
I feel a better implementation is to have the sensor towards the inner side of the lever, so as to avoid vandalism. Thats right - I feel these are cases of vandalism rather than theft. People lean against cars while talking on phones etc and tend to scratch or pull out whatever is available at hand.
Sir, I believe you meant vandalism. And yes, you are quite right. There are numerous inconsiderate chaps everywhere. But on the contrary, they shouldn't be so delicate that a swipe of the hand causes them to fall off. Like this, every owner would lose parts whenever the car gets a nice sponge wash.

Spare screws, grommets and fuses are the norm with most of the things we buy. A plain shirt and trouser also comes with a few spare buttons! It's time for courtesy spare rubber buttons in the Honda tool kit!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Doge View Post
That is not the sensor I believe, it is just the button. This also confirms my doubts that Honda ASS is among the worst today, thought it was only like that in NCR.
I don't see myself buying another tin can from Honda again.
Indeed it is just a button. the doors lock if I push the inner bit with a pen. Sadly, Honda believes an entire handle and mechanism replacement is the logical thing to do. I thought the Japanese were sensible! They should realise the environmental implications of such wasteful choices. Energy, money and time are just a few things being misused with such a proposed action! And why waste a perfectly good handle (x2) just for a bit of rubber.


Mod Note : Please use the EDIT or MULTI-QUOTE buttons instead of typing one post after another on the SAME THREAD!

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Old 3rd August 2018, 09:56   #13
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Re: New theft in town - Door lock sensors!

Quote:
Originally Posted by lemedico View Post
Beware of a new theft in town, door lock sensors. Lost both of mine and honda quotes 6500 per side in estimated costs!
If these are just cheap rubber covers (I hope they are), you should be able to find cheap and plenty replacement in the aftermarket. Simple rubber topis (caps) like these shouldn't be more than a few rupees / dozen. Buy 2 dozen and keep replacing as they crack or are stolen.

BTW, this might be anything from theft to vandalism to a failed theft! Could someone be trying to steal the car and removing the cap on the lock was the first step.

Else, have seen cases where vandals break mirrors just for fun. I have had mirrors on my 2004 Honda City broken in such a way that the thief/vandal couldn't have gotten more than a few rupees for the mirror as plastic waste.
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Old 3rd August 2018, 14:27   #14
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Re: New theft in town - Door lock sensors!

Unable to understand what is the motive since these cannot be re-used from what I understand.

Monograms which were stolen made way to shops which sell second hand stuff, those who lost the monograms used to head there and buy it at cheaper rate than service centers. Hence a market was created for the same.

Similarly there was news of ECU getting stolen on forum, since it also involves considerable money that made sense.

However, door sensor caps missing I feel is a case of vandalism and not theft. Similar to people scratching parked cars in basement / roadside.
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Old 4th August 2018, 17:03   #15
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Re: New theft in town - Door lock sensors!

An update from Honda and as expected, a thoroughly over-complicated approach to providing two pieces of rubber.

"In regards to your concern, kindly acknowledge the repair for the damages occurred due to external reason does not fall under purview of repair warranty or standard warranty.

However as your are aware HCIL is known for best of its customer support and to re-emphasize this and after careful consideration of your satisfaction, 50% cost of parts will be absorbed by our dealership. This is done without setting any precedence on the matter but purely as gesture of goodwill to you.

We seek your cooperation in this regards to help us resolving the matter to your satisfaction

Kind regards,

Vivek Chauhan
Regional Manager- Escalations-North Zone- 2 & 3
Customer Relationship Management
Honda cars India Ltd."


Annoyed, to say the least, and plenty of grammatical errors in their email are unimpressive as well!

Therefore, they now want an estimated Rs. 6500 for both sides as compared to each as quoted before. No thank you, my electrician has gone out to bring back two discs of rubber from a TV repair shop

Could anyone suggest how I should reply to this email, the condescending approach or a nonchalant one?
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