2 ServiceNews October 2005

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1 2 ServiceNews October 2005 Replacing a Battery? Don t Disconnect the Cables With the Engine Running When replacing a battery, many service techs The Honda Computer Memory Saver is indeed a disconnect the battery cables with the engine real time saver, but here s a word of caution: Don t running to keep the data alive in volatile memory. let the positive battery cable touch any body This practice worked fine back in the day when ground. It will cause a short that will either blow vehicles were pretty much a box on wheels, but the fuse in the tool or cause a drop in system with so many of today s vehicles sporting a voltage resulting in the loss of any data that s in impressive array of cool, high tech hardware, it s volatile memory. not recommended. Here s why: The battery works as a capacitor to prevent The Honda Computer Memory Saver is available sudden swings in voltage. With the battery through the Acura Tool and Equipment Program. cables disconnected, the alternator voltage To order one, just call , and ask for regulator tries to stabilize the system voltage, EZRMS4000H. but it can only do so by turning the alternator on and off. When solenoids or relays are turned on and HomeLink: Before You off, they produce a very high voltage spike Troubleshoot, Consider This that travels through the 12-volt system. This voltage spike can fry sensitive solid state NOTE: This article applies to HomeLink-equipped components or corrupt the data that s stored in CLs, MDXs, RLs, 05 RLs, volatile memory for such components as the TLs, and TLs. gauge control module, the radio, and the various control units. The best way to keep data alive in volatile memory when replacing a battery is to hook up a Honda Computer Memory Saver to the 16P data link connector (DLC). This portable tool works as a secondary 12-volt source. It saves you the hassle of writing down your service client s audio presets, resetting the clock, or even doing the idle learn procedure. Got a service client complaining he or she can t program HomeLink to work with a garage door or security gate opener? Before you go start troubleshooting HomeLink, here are a some things to consider: Is your client using the original remote transmitter that came with the opener? HomeLink can be programmed only with the original remote transmitters. And for quick and accurate programming, the remote transmitter should have a fresh battery. If your client is using an aftermarket universal remote transmitter, the folks at HomeLink say most of these units aren t compatible with HomeLink. If your client runs into any programming problems, he or she can call HomeLink at or visit their website at Was the garage door opener made before April 82? These openers don t have the safety feature that stops and reverses the motor if an object is detected during closing, increasing the risk of injury. It may not be possible to program HomeLink to work with it. Does the garage door opener use a rolling code? To program HomeLink to work with these openers, there are specific steps that must be done. If your client does just the basic programming steps, HomeLink may not work with the opener. These steps are clearly spelled out in the appropriate O/M. Remind your client to follow them to the letter.

2 Adhesive Labels or Protective Disc Covers on CDs or DVDs: A Big Taboo S/B Replaced By S/B NOTE: This article applies to all Acura models with a factory- or dealer-installed CD/DVD player or changer. We can t emphasize this enough: Never put adhesive labels or protective disc covers on recordable CDs or DVDs to be used in automotive CD/DVD players or changers. Here s why: Recordable CDs and DVDs are actually thicker than their pre-recorded brethren. Automotive players and changers use rollers to draw the disc into the unit. The added thickness of an adhesive label or a protective disc cover can cause the disc to jam when it s loaded into or ejected from the unit. CD/DVD players or changers are exposed to high temperatures inside the vehicle. High temperature can cause the label adhesive to soften. This can cause the label to curl on the edges and even form bubbles. Curled edges can catch on the rollers and bubbles add thickness to the disc. Either one can cause the disc to jam. In the June 05 ServiceNews article MIL On With DTC P0174, we told you to refer to S/B , Product Update: PCM Software Causes Engine Shudder, to update the PCM. ServiceNews flash! We ve since replaced this S/B with , Product Update: PCM Software May Not Allow the Transmission to Upshift Into 4th Gear. Make sure you refer to that S/B instead. Send Warranty Claims to OEM Tire Dealer, Not Honda Some dealerships are sending their tire warranty claims to Honda Warranty. This shouldn t be done. Tire warranty claims should be sent to the appropriate tire dealer that sells and warranties the brand of tires that originally came with the vehicle. If your dealership is a Tire Rack distributor, send your warranty claims directly to The Tire Rack. To cut down on client-caused damage, all 05 and later O/Ms include this notice: NOTICE New Security Added for Accessing Tech Line To prevent unauthorized use of your DPTS number, we ve added a new field to the Tech Line display screen you fill out to call Tech Line. You ll now see an SSN field below the DPTS ID field. Make sure you fill in the last four numbers of your social security number in that field. If you don t, you won t get through to Tech Line. A word to the wise: Never share your DPTS number or social security number with anyone. If either number is used to get a key code for a vehicle, and that vehicle gets stolen, you could wind up being a prime suspect. Do not use CDs with adhesive labels. The label can curl up and cause the CD to jam in the unit. Anytime a service client comes in with a loading or ejecting problem for a CD/DVD player or changer, ask if he or she used any discs with adhesive labels or protective disc covers. If the answer is yes, contact your DPSM for possible goodwill assistance. If the answer is no, then replace the audio unit under normal warranty. 2 of 7 October 2005

3 Rattle From Driver s Vent Panel While Driving Got a 05 RL in your shop that rattles from the driver s vent panel while driving on rough roads? What s likely causing the commotion is the vent panel duct tapping on the dashboard bracket. Here s how you silence that rattle: 1. Refer to page of the 05 RL S/M, and remove the driver s vent panel. (Online, enter keyword VENT PANEL, and select Driver s Vent Panel Removal/Installation from the list.) 2. Cut a strip of EPT Sealer (5T) (P/N SA5-000) that s 3 inches long by 1 inch wide. Repairing PAX System Tires All 06 RLs with the Technical Package come with the Michelin PAX system. This system includes special tires and wheels with support rings and tire pressure sensors. SUPPORT RING TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR BRACKET EPT SEALER DUCT 3. Stick the foam strip to the bracket where the duct makes contact. 4. Reinstall the driver s vent panel. 5. Test-drive the vehicle to make sure the rattle is gone. The PAX system lets you drive up to 125 miles at speeds up to 50 mph with one or more of the tires low or flat. If you run a tire beyond that limit, you risk serious damage to the tire. The 125-mile limit gives you ample range to get to an Acura dealer for service. If a vehicle owner gets a flat tire, he or she needs to find the nearest Acura dealer. All Acura dealers stock PAX tire/wheel assemblies, but don t have the special equipment to do actual tire repair. If an Acura dealer isn t easily accessible, (it s after hours, it s a weekend or a holiday, the vehicle owner is more than 125 miles away), the vehicle owner calls the Michelin PAX help hotline at 877-PAXTIRE ( ). The hotline is set up to help vehicle owners on a 24/7 basis. The hotline will find the vehicle owner a PAX-certified Michelin store. The techs at these stores have the training and special equipment needed to service the PAX system and replace PAX system components. The PAX tire/wheel assembly is covered 100% by a road hazard warranty for the first 2 years or 50% of the tread life. For warranty and road hazard info, visit The Tire Rack website at Your parts department should have the user name and password. October of 7

4 Real-Time Traffic Is an Extra XM Subscription Service Real-Time Traffic is a slick feature from the folks at XM Satellite Radio that lets you see up-to-theminute info on traffic flow rates and incidents (accidents, construction, and pertinent weather issues). XM offers this feature as an additional subscription service to their regular digital programming. All 05 RL owners get a free subscription for both XM s digital programming and Real-Time Traffic that s good for 12 months from the date they bought their vehicle. After that period, if owners want to continue these services, they ve got to renew them. If you get a service client complaining he or she isn t getting Real-Time Traffic on the display screen, the account may just be expired. You can easily check if that s the case by calling the XM folks at When you call, select 1 (dealers and retailers) from the automated menu, then select 3 (technical support) from the next menu. An XM agent will answer your call. Ask the agent to check your client s XM NavTraffic account status (that s the subscription to Real-Time Traffic). If the account is inactive (it s expired), let your client know, so he or she can renew it. A subscription to Real-Time Traffic can be purchased either separately or bundled with the regular digital programming. If the account is active, but you re not seeing Real-Time Traffic stuff on the display screen, refer to S/B , AcuraLink Symptom Troubleshooting: No Real-Time Traffic on the Display Screen, and follow the procedure. New Software for HDS: Version During the week of October 24, 2005, all Acura dealerships were sent a new CD containing HDS software version This new CD sports an aqua label that reads Honda Diagnostic System Installation Disk (VER ), October Your system administrator should have this software already loaded onto the master server. In a nutshell, this CD adds system coverage for 06 RLs. These models have the new collision mitigation braking system (CMBS). MTF Leak? Check Trans for Overfilling Got a 6-speed 03 CL or TL in your shop that s leaking MTF? Before you start troubleshooting, make sure the trans isn t just overfilled. The trans in these vehicles has a vent tube inside the clutch housing. If the trans is overfilled, MTF will leak out the vent tube between the engine and the trans. Checking the MTF level is simple. Just remove the oil check bolt and its washer. The MTF level should be no higher than the bottom of the oil check bolt hole. If the MTF level is higher than the hole, the MTF will drain out the hole until the level is right. OIL CHECK BOLT WASHER OIL CHECK BOLT HOLE If the MTF level is lower than the bottom of the oil check bolt hole, you ll need to top off the MTF. Remove the oil filler plug and its washer. Add Honda MTF through the oil filler plug hole until it starts running out the oil check bolt hole. OIL CHECK BOLT WASHER Once the MTF stops running out the hole, reinstall the oil check bolt with a new washer. Torque the bolt to 12 N m (8.7 lb-ft). Install the oil filler plug with a new washer. Torque the plug to 44 N m (33 lb-ft). 4 of 7 October 2005

5 Damaged Valve Stem in a TPMS Wheel? Replace the Entire Valve Stem Assembly NOTE: This article applies to MDXs and RLs. Need to fix a TPMS-equipped wheel for a damaged valve stem? Here s how you go about doing it: Removing the Original Valve Stem Assembly 1. Raise the vehicle on a lift. 2. Remove the wheel that s got the damaged valve stem. 3. Carefully remove the valve stem cap and the valve core, then let the tire deflate. 4. Remove any balance weights. Use a commercially available tire changer to break loose the bead from the wheel. Keep these these things in mind as you do this: Start with the outside of the wheel. Set the wheel so the valve stem is 90 degrees from the bead breaker. Don t position the bead breaker too close to the wheel rim. 90 TIRE CHANGER 5. Position the wheel so the tire machine and the tire iron are next to the valve stem and will move away from it when the machine starts. Then remove the tire from the wheel. TIRE MACHINE TIRE IRON 6. Remove and discard the valve stem nut, then remove the tire pressure sensor and the valve stem from the wheel. Never reuse the valve stem nut; it s a one-shot item that must be replaced. If the valve stem nut is seized on the valve stem and won t budge, go to step 7. Otherwise, go to step 9. NUT BEAD BREAKER OUTSIDE October of 7

7. Slowly turn the valve stem counterclockwise until the tire pressure sensor drops off the end of the valve stem. Discard the screw, but keep the sensor.

6 7. Slowly turn the valve stem counterclockwise until the tire pressure sensor drops off the end of the valve stem. Discard the screw, but keep the sensor. Also, make sure the valve stem grommet is removed; sometimes it gets stuck in the wheel. 8. Use a power drill with an 11 mm drill bit to drill out the hole in the valve stem ball just enough so you can remove the valve stem from the wheel. Be careful not to damage the wheel as you re doing this step. When you re done, go to Installing the Replacement Valve Stem Assembly. Installing the Replacement Valve Stem Assembly 1. Insert the new screw into the tire pressure sensor, then screw on the new valve stem, finger-tight. 2. Clean the mating surfaces on the tire pressure sensor and the wheel. 3. Install the tire pressure sensor in the wheel, and secure it with the new valve stem nut, finger-tight. Make sure the sensor is resting on the wheel. This part deforms. TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR 9. Remove the valve stem and the screw from the tire pressure sensor. Discard the valve stem and the screw, but keep the sensor. Also, make sure the valve stem grommet is removed; sometimes it gets stuck in the wheel. (Replace.) GROMMET SCREW (Replace.) TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR (Keep.) WHEEL VALVE STEM NUT 4. While holding the tire pressure sensor toward the wheel, torque the valve stem nut to 4.0 N m (36 lb-in). You might hear a snap or pop as you torque the nut; don t worry, it s normal. When doing this step, keep these things in mind: Never reuse a valve stem nut that s been torqued even once to spec; it s deformed inside. Never use air or electric impact tools to torque a valve stem nut. Torquing the nut past the spec can damage its threads. Use only a precision torque screwdriver that can read 36 lb-in. If your shop doesn t have one, call the Acura Tool and Equipment Program at , and ask for the Torque Screwdriver (Model No. CD1401SM) made by CDI Torque Products. Make sure there s no gap between the tire pressure sensor and the wheel. 6 of 7 October 2005

5. Lubricate the tire bead, and position the wheel so the tire machine and the tire iron are next to the valve stem and will move away from it when the machine starts.

7 5. Lubricate the tire bead, and position the wheel so the tire machine and the tire iron are next to the valve stem and will move away from it when the machine starts. Then mount the tire onto the wheel. 6. Inflate the tire to 44 psi to seat the tire bead to the wheel rim. Then adjust the tire pressure to the value on the driver s doorjamb sticker, and screw on the valve stem cap. Make sure the tire bead is uniformly seated on both sides of the wheel rim. 7. Check and adjust the wheel balance. Then mount the wheel on the vehicle, and torque the wheel nuts to 108 N m (80 lb-ft). 8. Lower the vehicle. Include Core Return Update Acknowledgement Form When returning a failed A/T core to the reman center, make sure you include a copy of the Core Return Update Acknowledgement form in the core return envelope. This is clearly stated in step 19 of S/B , Automatic Transmission In-Warranty Exchange Program. If the reman center doesn t get this form with the failed A/T core, they ll delay processing of the A/T until they do. Button Up Failed A/T Core Properly Before Returning Some reman A/Ts come with a length of clear plastic hose attached to the cooler lines to keep ATF from dribbling out during shipment. If you get a reman A/T with this hose attached, make sure you transfer it to the failed A/T core you re returning. Also, make sure you transfer any other shipping protectors (torque converter retaining strap, hole plugs, caps, etc.) as well. This ensures the shipping container stays nice and clean and the enclosed paperwork doesn t get soiled. Youth Educational Systems 2 ServiceNews 2005 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. - All Rights Reserved. Published by AHM Parts and Service Communications, 1919 Torrance Blvd., Torrance, CA All suggestions become the property of American Honda Motor Co., Inc.; sending a suggestion gives Honda permission to publish it without further consideration. BSN (0510)

ServiceNews October 2005

ServiceNews October 2005 Power Sliding Door Won t Open with VSA Indicator On NOTE: This article applies to 05 06 Odyssey EXs, EX-Ls, and Touring models. Working on a vehicle that s in your shop because