Recall - VTEC(R) Lost Motion Springs
11-010April 30, 2011
Applies To:
See VEHICLES AFFECTED
Safety Recall: Lost Motion Springs
(Supersedes 11-010, dated April 9, 2011, to revise the information marked by the black bars and asterisks)
*REVISION SUMMARY
^ Under INSPECTION AND REPAIR PROCEDURE, several steps were updated so that the lost motion springs can be replaced without removing the cowl cover.
^ Under WARRANTY CLAIM INFORMATION, the flat rate times were changed.*
BACKGROUND
The lost motion springs in the engine's variable valve timing and lift electronic control (VTEC) may break. In rare cases, the broken pieces of the lost motion spring may jam the rocker arm and cause the engine to stall and prevent it from being restarted. An engine that stalls while driving increases the risk of a crash.
VEHICLES AFFECTED
Not all vehicles within the affected VIN ranges are affected by this campaign. To verify vehicle eligibility, you must check for at least one of these items:
^ The customer has a notification letter.
^ The vehicle is shown as eligible on a VIN status inquiry.
In addition, check for a punch mark above the 1st character of the engine compartment VIN. A punch mark in that location means this campaign has already been completed.
Some vehicles affected by this campaign may be in your used vehicle inventory. As a matter of federal law, these vehicles must be repaired before they are sold.
Should a dealership sell an unrepaired vehicle that subsequently causes an injury or damage because of the recalled item, the dealership will be solely responsible to the damaged party, and will be required to defend and indemnify American Honda for any resulting claims. To see if a vehicle in inventory is affected by this campaign, do a VIN status inquiry before selling it.
CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION
Owners of affected vehicles will receive a notification of this campaign. An example of the customer notification is at the end of this service bulletin.
CORRECTIVE ACTION
Inspect and, if necessary, replace the four lost motion springs.
PARTS INFORMATION
Lost Motion Spring Kit: P/N 04148-RK8-305
(Includes four lost motion spring assemblies, throttle body gasket, and four intake manifold gaskets)
TOOL INFORMATION
Rocker Arm Holder Set: T/N 070AB-RB1 0100 (Includes four rocker arm holders and four rocker arm spacers)
REQUIRED MATERIALS
Hondabond HT Silicone Gasket (or equivalent):
P/N 08718-0001
WARRANTY CLAIM INFORMATION
Failed Part: P/N 14820-RB1-013
Defect Code: 5LT00
Symptom Code: R6600
Skill Level: Repair Technician
INSPECTION AND REPAIR PROCEDURE
NOTE:
This procedure is in an outline form that you can also use as a checklist for the repair. If you need more details on the procedures listed below, bookmark them in the appropriate service manual, or view them online:
*^ Battery Terminal Disconnection and Reconnection
^ Battery Removal and Installation*
^ Air Cleaner Removal/Installation
^ Intake Manifold Removal and Installation
^ Cylinder Head Cover Removal
^ Rocker Arm Assembly Removal
^ Rocker Arm Assembly Installation
^ Valve Clearance Adjustment
^ Cylinder Head Cover Installation
*1. Remove the battery and the plastic battery tray.
2. Remove the air cleaner.
3. Move the throttle body out of the way:
Disconnect the three connectors shown.*
* ^ Disconnect the breather hose.*
* ^ Disconnect the two clips and the hose clamp.
^ Remove the four bolts, and lay the throttle body down in the air cleaner area on a shop towel.
NOTE:
You do not need to remove any of the water hoses to complete this procedure.*
*4. Place several shop towels over the throttle body so it is not damaged or contaminated when you remove the intake manifold chamber assembly.*
*5. Remove the intake manifold chamber assembly, leaving the brake booster hose connected, and lay it on the throttle body.*
*6. Place several shop towels over the intake manifold so it is not damaged or contaminated when you remove the cylinder head cover.*
*7. Sealant was applied to the timing chain area of the cylinder head cover gasket that may cause the gasket to stick to the cylinder head. To avoid damaging the gasket, remove the cylinder head cover as follows:*
^ Remove the six cylinder head cover bolts.
^ Gently push the cylinder head cover toward the engine bulkhead until it pops free.
^ Remove all of the old sealant from the cam chain case and the cylinder head.
NOTE:
^ Replace the cylinder head gasket only if it is deformed or damaged, or if there is an oil leak.
^ Do not try to clean the sealant off the gasket.
8. Check the manufacturing lot number on the rocker arm bridge to see if it was built afler November 20, 2009, production number 215.
^ If the rocker bridge date is 091120 (November 20, 2009), and the production number is 216 or higher, or the date is later than 091120, the lost motion springs are OK. Go to step 19 to reassemble the engine.
^ If the rocker bridge date is 091120 (November 20, 2009), and the production number is 215 or lower, or the date is earlier than 091120, the lost motions springs must be replaced. Go to step 8.
9. Loosen the rocker arm adjusting screws.
10. To avoid breaking the rocker shaft mounting bolts, unscrew them two turns at a time in the sequence shown.
11. Remove the rocker arm assembly, and place it upside-down on a clean work surface.
12. Remove the rocker shaft bolt.
13. Use the rocker arm spacers and the rocker arm holders to keep the four rocker arm assemblies together when you remove them:
^ Place a rocker shaft spacer at the cylinder No.1 rocker arm assembly.
^ While pushing in the rocker arm spacer, slide the rocker arm shaft out of the cylinder No.1 rocker arm assembly. Make sure to keep the holder grooves vertical.
^ When the rocker arm shaft is clear from the cylinder No.1 rocker arm assembly, install a rocker arm holder.
^ Remove the cylinder No.1 rocker arm assembly from the rocker bridge assembly.
14. Repeat step 12 for the remaining three rocker arm assemblies. Note the location of each assembly to make sure they are returned to their original positions.
15. Remove the lost motion springs.
16. Lube the new lost motion springs with fresh engine oil, then install them.
17. Reinstall the cylinder rocker arm assemblies in the rocker bridge:
^ Place the cylinder No.4 rocker arm assembly in the rocker bridge.
^ Remove the holder.
^ Carefully slide the rocker arm shafi into the cylinder No.4 rocker arm assembly. The rocker shafi spacer will slide out.
18. Repeat step 16 for the remaining three rocker arm assemblies.
19. Install the rocker shaft bolt, and torque it to 9 N.m (7.0 lb-ft).
NOTE:
The rocker shaft bolt installs in one direction only. If the bolt does not go in, rotate the rocker shafi 180 degrees.
20. Reinstall the rocker arm assembly.
21. Adjust the valve clearance.
22. Wipe the cylinder head cover contacting surfaces with a shop towel to make sure they are clean.
23. Apply liquid gasket to the cam chain case contact ares as shown, then reinstall the cover within 5 minutes.
*24. Tighten the bolts in three steps. In the final step, toque all bolts in sequence, to 9.8 N.m (7.0 lb-if).
25. Reinstall the throttle body. Torque the mounting bolts to 24 N~m (17.0 lb-ft).*
26. Reinstall the intake manifold chamber assembly. Torque the mounting bolts to 24 N.m (17.0 lb-ft).
27. Reinstall the air cleaner.
*28. Reinstall the battery and the plastic battery tray.*
29. Center-punch a completion mark above the 1st character of the engine compartment VIN:
Disclaimer