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The side airbags have "occupant positioning detector" sensors built into the passenger seat. If the passenger is too small (a small child) or if they lean into the path of the airbag, the system will disable the side airbag. This prevents the explosive discharge of the airbag from harming the passenger.
Anyway. If you place something like a briefcase, or even your lunch on the seat, it can trick the system into thinking there's a small person in the seat. Thus the light.
Keep an eye on it. If the light persists, take it to the dealer.
http://www.latimes.com/classified/automotive/news/la-fi-safety14m- ar14,0,6551638.story?coll=la-classifieds-autos-news
We just don't know what they are up to...
I guess I should have written, "...it doesn't appear they are publicly addressing fires just yet."
You know, I have often wished that the Honda folks monitored this forum, like the Subaru folks monitor theirs. But then Honda is a bit larger company, and maybe that kind of service gets lost as a company gets bigger...
Actually, the problem started yesterday after the following activity:
Pulled up to drop off a kid, left the car running, both the driver and passenger got in and out of the vehicle a few times while car was running. Noticed light steady on after this activity.
Started car this morning and light is still on. Maybe the car needs a few cycles to reset? I have a service appt. set up for this Thursday if the problem persists.
Actually, the problem started yesterday after the following activity:
Pulled up to drop off a kid, left the car running, both the driver and passenger got in and out of the vehicle a few times while car was running. Noticed light steady on after this activity.
Started car this morning and light is still on. Maybe the car needs a few cycles to reset? I have a service appt. set up for this Thursday if the problem persists.
When the new Forester was launched our rep strangely disappeared for a couple of months, we say she was locked in The Dungeon for asking for too many improvements. She surfaced later and said she'd had neck surgery but I won't believe it until I see X-rays!
-juice
I don't know if any of you have seen the actual 9 page letter that NHTSA sent to Honda concerning the fires. It asks for LOTS of info. I can direct you to it if you haven't seen it. Believe the response to that letter will tell us what Honda has been up to with regard to the fires, inlcuding whether they have been telling their dealers anything...I cannot wait.
What are my options and How much$$
kyfdx
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NHTSA.gov
"search Bulletin database"
"defect investigations"
type in "PE04018"
at that point you will come to a summary of the case - hit "document search" Then click the first document (there are two). It will be obvious as you go through. If there is a problem, email me and I will email the document. I was surpised at how much info they asked for. Certainly cost them more than the 2k I asked for - plus if the numbers are high opens them up further. But that was their decision.
FWIW, Sabrina, either Honda or the dealer will eventually have to pick up the tab and pay back your insurance co. I'm betting you'll win this, big time.
Seems like Honda could redesign the oil filter so that the gasket was fixed to it somehow. But they'd have to recall a whole bunch of 2.4l engines to do that.
More likely the dealer will eat the loss for not having been thorough with the service. I'm sure that's what Honda would prefer.
-juice
Isn't that a great letter? (I have already framed it). Frankly, I (we) would not have gotten even this far if it weren't for this message board and others seeing it and filing.... April 25 I will be on the line to NHTSA (deadline is April 24) to see what the response is....which of course I will report here
All along all I wanted was for Honda to figure out who should pay and deal with that themselves - behind the scenes. As we said a million messages ago, Honda could have paid and went after the dealer if that was appropriate. All I know is I should not have had to pay.
Thanks for keeping us up to date.
-juice
I'm not saying the insurance company was at fault. But, they should be the ones pursuing the case for her. She pays them to protect her interests when it comes to her automobile. IMO
I am going after the difference between what the ins company paid me and the price to replace the vehicle. I am doing all this for only 2K and peace of mind. It became more than about the money when I found out it happpened to other people. Although I am feeding the ins co everything I have, if they drop the ball it is not my concern. My case is related but on a separate track. Honda, in order to be let off the hook has to say SOMETHING. Silence is not typically a good defense (are you listening Ms. Stewart?)
How about it bikers, let's hear your opinions and what you like best.
You can also buy a hitch-mounted basket (looks like a platform with a small guard rail around the outside edge). These are designed for toting stuff like coolers, boxes, sand bags, etc. I have one and use it to cart luggage, camping gear, and ski gear when the inside of my 'V is taken up by extra passengers or my two dogs.
Anyway... These hitch baskets have an accessory attachment that allows you to turn it into a bike stand. If all you need is a bike rack, then this would be overkill. But if you might want to the flexibility of both a bike rack and extra utility, it may be worth investigating.
On my CRV I have had the Thule roof rack system installed along with a cargo carrier. This is much more cost effective than the Honda equivalent.
I had considered putting a hitch on along with a small trailer for bikes and/or cargo, but opted not to. Not sure how I am going to transport bikes with the CRV. I am not a big fan of hoisting the bikes up above the roof...
Or, AT LEAST when they first got an indicaton that something was wrong, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT and don't fluff it off.
Some things to keep in mind with any hitch - 1500 lbs capacity usually means a max tongue weight of 150 lbs. So weight your bikes, to get an idea, plus the weight of that platform and bike adapator, or whatever set up you end up with.
I have a 2 bike carrier but would prefer a 3 bike one, something to think about. Also make sure it tilts out of the way so you can open the hatch.
On 2nd thought, with Honda's swing gate that won't help. You can open the window, at least.
-juice
And how is it the filter's fault if mechanics aren't checking for a double gasket? On every oil filter I've ever changed there have been instructions in the box that say to clean the area where the old filter was. The filter isn't failing, the mechanics are. It's not like the filters are blowing off causing a fire, they've been installed incorrectly. How is that a problem with the filter?
How about we make the people who are screwing up take responsibility? What's a TSB going to say? Hey mechanics, do your job right and check for a double gasket?
I'm serious, too. Quite often TSBs will be for something as simple as reminding techs of a certain torque specification. Even to correct a grammatical error in a manual.
Note these come after a dealer oil change, not after a visit to Jiffy Lube. Could Honda's own techs be less well trained?
-juice
Has Honda told the dealer mechanics not to remove O rings? Doubt it.
Have they designed an O ring that sticks more than any other? On this I can assure you. It happens with plenty of other cars.
Does any other manufacturer have a filter that removes the O ring with it? Why have we singled out Honda?
I mean, why is the word "warranty" being thrown around? Does the Honda Motor Corporation warranty the work of the dealer mechanics, or is that handled by the dealer? IS there any warranty on dealer work, or are claims handled by the dealer's insurance company?
Lots of fingers being pointed with not many questions answered.
I wanna be the guy hired to watch over your shoulder while you work.
7 is not a large number, but when you're talking about engine fires even just one is serious.
Retrain dealers *and* put pressure on the supplier to improve the parts. They could do this without even notifying consumers, which would be risky.
-juice
Instead of assigning blame and covering your bum, take a proactive approach to stop a potentially serious problem with SIMPLE steps Honda can take, namely the two mentoined in my previous post.
I set up laptops for people that travel overseas. If I see a pattern of problems you can bet I take corrective measures, be it installing updated software, upgrade hardware, contact ISPs, or re-training my users.
If I acted like Honda I'd blame my ISP, then the hardware vendor, then the software supplier, and claim ignorance of the pattern of problems that are right in front of me.
Oh, and then blame my own users, or just ignore people like Sabrina.
-juice
I'm certainly not saying that it's right but, very few companies jump up and admit they've got a problem that can cause serious problems. Some don't even stand up after it's killed people. How many people died in Explorer roll-overs before Ford and Firestone did anything?
And, I'll bet Honda has issued an informal memo to their dealerships warning of using improper oil change techniques. They don't have to make it public that some of their oil change guys are completely incompetent.
Ford went after their supplier in that case, actually.
-juice
Yes Ford went after the supplier. And Firestone paid dearly for what many experts attribute to improper loading and inflation by the drivers. Honda has to keep quiet until they know what they're up against.
I've got friends that work for Ford who swear there was a front end suspension problem too.
Oil leaks can cause fires.
This isn't a CRV "problem". It's a matter of simply being careful.
Heck, I even did this once years ago on my Chevy!
The last time I went to the dealer, didn't I see a bunch of diplomas on the wall that said so and so was "Honda Factory Trained" or some such thing. Isn't that why I spent more to have my filter changed there. Admittedly, the last person to touch the filter was the dealer, but if Honda changed the filters or changed the way they were put on the vehicles and did not issue a memo or retrain people, that is Honda's problem. Maybe they did not think the change was significant. If nothing changed, why all of a sudden did these things start happening. And if nothing chaged again, why did they stop? I too have wondered why they stopped
NHTSA, in their earlier investigation, clearly felt something was up. They would not have considered gaskets sticking to blocks a huge problem if it was a common occurence.
Frankly, I'd rather not see anymore fires, even if it hurts my case. I'm still freaked. Everytime I smell something funny, I jump out of the car - no kidding
This may drag on for years...
-juice
6 CD changer: You can add the changer to an LX, and apparently it's plug and play. BUT the LX radio faceplate is different. The EX faceplate has 6 buttons to select the disks. If you add a changer to an LX, do the station buttons magically become the disc-select buttons when CD is selected?
The installation instructions don't address this. Has anyone added a changer to an LX?
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I've also seen many skilled experienced carpenters that don't have all their fingers because they made one minor mistake with a power saw.
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I myself have done hundreds of oil changes, but I did mess up ONE, resulting in a double gasket on my Accord and I thank God that the oil filter on the Accord is not near the manifold like my CRV.
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Sorry folks, but IMHO, both Honda and the dealer are at fault. The dealer is liable because it's mechanic didn't check for a double gasket. Honda is liable for putting the oil filter so close to a dangerous heat source (the manifold). And like Varmint eluded to, "the one with the deepest pockets gets sued".
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Good luck to you Sabrina, and anyone else who had one of these fires. Stick to your guns, you're doing the right thing.