Nov 2008 Helping you fix it right the first time - every time Removing Aged Wrap Guard or Clear Guard Depending on where they re built, new vehicles come shipped from the factory with either the Wrap Guard white plastic protective covering or the Clear Guard protective film. Wrap Guard usually peels off easily by hand and Clear Guard with high-pressure water (see S/B 03-080, Removal of Protective Coatings During PDI), but if a vehicle sits in inventory for a while, these protective coatings can be really tough to remove. When Wrap Guard ages, its adhesive becomes less flexible. When Clear Guard ages, it hardens and doesn t want to let go of the paint. To keep this from happening, it s best to remove the protective coating from a light-colored vehicle within 6 months of its arrival and from a dark-colored vehicle within 3 to 4 months. Removing aged Wrap Guard or Clear Guard can be tough, but it s not impossible. The trick here is to use automotive solvent. These products are known to work: 3M General Purpose Adhesive Cleaner: P/N 051135-08984 Kent Automotive Acrysol: P/N P20005 To Remove Aged Wrap Guard... 1. Make sure the body work is at room temperature (70 F). 2. Carefully peel off the Wrap Guard by hand. 3. Wearing protective gloves, soak a clean shop towel with solvent and gently rub off any adhesive that s stuck to the body work. A good quality automotive wax also works well for this. To Remove Aged Clear Guard... 1. Make sure the body work is between 60 and 70 F. (This keeps the solvent from evaporating.) 2. Lay some clean shop towels over the Clear Guard you need to remove. 3. Wearing protective gloves, soak the towels with solvent, making sure you push down on them to remove any air pockets underneath. Leave the soaked towels on the Clear Guard for 20 to 30 minutes, resoaking them as needed. 4. Gently rub the softened Clear Guard with the soaked towels, making sure you constantly turn them so you don t grind the captured Clear Guard into the paint. 5. Wash the vehicle with soap and water. When you re done, wait at least 24 hours, then polish the body work if needed to get back that showroom shine. Soiled Leather Seats? Clean Them First Before Thinking Replacement Got a vehicle in your shop with soiled or stained leather seats? Before you start thinking about replacement, try cleaning them first. Automotive leather is typically finished with coatings that protect it from the sun s ravaging rays as well as making it resistant to spills and stains. These coatings are a lot different than those used on leather furniture, clothing, or shoes. And because they are, most spills and stains clean up easily using the right product and a little elbow grease. The simplest way to do it is to wash the leather with mild soap using a soft cloth dampened with lukewarm water. But if you prefer something a little more exotic, Honda has just come out with these new products, which are tailor-made for cleaning and protecting automotive leather: Honda Genuine Leather & Vinyl Cleaner: P/N 08700-9214, H/C 8950610 Honda Genuine Leather & Vinyl Protectant: P/N 08700-9209, H/C 8825994 Whether you choose the soapy water approach or these new products, be really careful not to overdo it. If you use too much, they can soak right into the perforations or stitching holes and discolor the back side of the leather. And above all, stay away from household cleaners, solvents, or any aftermarket products made for cleaning rubber, plastic, or vinyl; they can do some serious damage to the coating. If you need to replace leather seats, remember that warranty covers only manufacturing defects, not spills or stains or your attempts to clean them.
Slide Bar Coming Off? Replace the Slide Bar, Not the Seat Frame Currently Applies To: 06 09 Civic If the slide bar on the driver s or front passenger s seat has come off on one end, there s no need to replace the seat frame, just replace the slide bar. Honda parts stock now carries replacement slide bars just for this purpose. Check the parts catalog for applicable part numbers. To replace the slide bar, follow these steps: 1. Refer to pages 20-162 thru 20-165 of the 06 08 Civic S/M, and remove the affected front seat. (Online, enter keywords FRONT SEAT and select Front Seat Removal/Installation from the list.) 2. Place the seat upright on a workbench that s covered with a clean towel or blanket to protect the seat from stains, scratches, or damage. 3. Front passenger s seat (Coupes): Push down on the release lever at the back of the seat, and slide the seat frame all the way back (this moves the seat all the way forward). Lay the seat on its back and go to step 10. 4. Driver s seat and front passenger s seat (Sedans): Lay the seat on its back. Find out which seat rail is locking up by pulling back on the slide bar, and sliding each rail independently. 7. Find the hole on top of the jammed rail above the locking mechanism. HOLE 8. Insert the short end of a 6 mm Allen wrench into the hole, and release the locking mechanism. 9. While pressing down on the locking mechanism, use your other hand to pull back on the slide bar and slide the seat all the way forward. 10. Using a dead blow hammer or a rubber mallet (never use a regular hammer), gently tap on each end of the slide bar and remove it. 5. If the outboard rail (the one next to the door) is locked up, remove the recline cover. 6. Driver s seat only: Adjust the seat height as high as it will go. 2 of 5 Nov 2008
11. Line up the ends of the replacement slide bar with the rail locks. RAIL LOCK SLIDE BAR END No Reverse After A/T R&R? Check the Speed Sensor Connectors Revised 4/27/10 Currently Applies To: 02 10 CR-V and 03 10 Element Just replaced the A/T, but on your test-drive you can t move in Reverse? Check the 3P connectors on the input shaft (mainshaft) and output shaft (countershaft) speed sensors; you may have crossed them when you plugged them in. If so, you ll wind up with this problem. To fix things, make sure the connectors are plugged in right. The connector for the mainshaft speed sensor is blue and plugs into the sensor that s closer to the fender. The connector for the countershaft speed sensor is black and plugs into the sensor that s farther from the fender. Refer to the applicable ETM or ISIS for connector location details. Here s how it looks like on a 06 CR-V: 12. Using your thumb to hold the slide bar to the rail lock, gently tap the slide bar into place. Then do the same for the other end. 13. Press the slide bar, and make sure both rails move freely and quietly. 14. Reinstall the seat. 15. Check the seat for proper movement. When you re done, test-drive the vehicle. If you can now move in Reverse, you re good to go; otherwise, continue with normal troubleshooting. Nov 2008 3 of 5
Trans Won t Upshift or Sticks in 2nd Gear After Solenoid or A/T R&R Currently Applies To: 03 04 Accord V6, 02 04 Odyssey, and 03 04 Pilot EDITOR S NOTE: This article replaces A/T DTC P0780 After Solenoid or A/T R&R in the June 04 issue of ServiceNews. Has this happened to you? You ve just replaced A/T clutch pressure control solenoid valve C and shift solenoid valve A or perhaps the entire A/T. You go out on a test-drive and now the trans won t upshift or it sticks in 2nd gear. And to top it off, A/T DTC P0780 (problem in shift control system) also sets. If this has a familiar ring, check the engine harness 2P connectors on the solenoid valves; you may have crossed them when you plugged them in. If so, you ll wind up with these problems. To fix things, refer to the chart below and make sure the wire colors of the engine harness connectors match those listed for the solenoid valves. Then clear the DTC, and test-drive the vehicle. If the trans shifts properly and the DTC doesn t come back, you re done with this repair; otherwise, continue with normal troubleshooting. A/T Clutch Pressure Control Solenoid Valve C Shift Solenoid Valve A Model Connector Color Connector Wire Colors Connector Color Connector Wire Colors 03 04 Accord V6 Black GRN/RED, BLK Black BLU/YEL, BLK 02 04 Odyssey Black GRN/RED. RED/BLU Black BLU/YEL, BLK 03 04 Pilot Black BRN/RED, RED/BLU Black BLU/YEL, BLK Fuel Cap Message On? The Fuel Fill Cap Is Loose or Missing Currently Applies To: All Honda models displaying a fuel cap message EDITOR S NOTE: This article replaces CHECK FUEL CAP, TIGHTEN FUEL CAP Messages in the November 05 issue of ServiceNews. When the ECM/PCM first detects an EVAP system leak while running one of the EVAP system monitors, you ll see a fuel cap message in the information display. Depending on the model, it s either CHECK FUEL CAP or TIGHTEN FUEL CAP. A fuel cap message doesn t mean the vehicle needs servicing. Shutting off the engine and making sure the cap is in place and properly tightened (it s one or three clicks, depending on what s written on it) is all that s really needed. Although you can cycle off the fuel cap message from the display with the reset button (the actual button name varies by model), it comes right back after you cycle the ignition switch. That message keeps coming back until the ECM/PCM determines that it can be turned off. So there s no reason to bring the vehicle in for servicing. If a vehicle comes into your shop with the fuel cap message currently on and the MIL is off, first check that the fuel fill cap isn t damaged and that it s installed and properly tightened. Then hook up the HDS, clear the ECM/PCM, and run the EVAP system function test. If there s still a problem, continue with normal troubleshooting. 4 of 5 Nov 2008
Replacement Data Link Cable for HDS Tablet Each Honda dealer was sent a replacement data link cable for the HDS tablet on September 15, 2008. This replacement cable has gray connectors instead of the familiar black ones, and you should install it as soon as possible. After installing the replacement cable, check the 16P connector on the old data link cable. If all of the pins look good, keep that old cable for a spare. Youth Educational Systems 2007 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. - All Rights Reserved. Published by AHM Parts and Service Communications, 1919 Torrance Blvd., Torrance, CA 90501-2746. All suggestions become the property of American Honda Motor Co., Inc.; sending a suggestion gives Honda permission to publish it without further consideration. ASN 40865-43878-(1004)