Service Bulletin

Service Bulletin
Applies To:
10-026
2003 3.2CL – Check the iN VIN status for eligibility
2002–03 3.2TL – Check the iN VIN status for eligibility
September 26, 2014
Safety Recall: Replacement Driver’s Airbag Inflator Can Be
Over-Pressurized
(Supersedes 10-026, dated September 12, 2014, to revise the information marked by the black bars)
REVISION SUMMARY
• Not all serial numbers have 13 digits, so this
numerical reference was deleted from WARRANTY
CLAIM INFORMATION and REPAIR PROCEDURE.
• Under REPAIR PROCEDURE, a step was changed.
CORRECTIVE ACTION
Most vehicles will require an inspection only. Do the
INSPECTION PROCEDURE and, if needed, install a
driver’s airbag inflator kit, then return the defective,
undeployed inflator as directed.
BACKGROUND
A small number of airbag modules with defective
inflators were sold as replacement parts to replace
deployed or damaged airbags.
PARTS INFORMATION
NOTE:
• All the vehicles involved in this campaign require
inspection. However, only a very small number of
these vehicles require replacement of the airbag
inflator compared to the large number of vehicles
that will require an inspection. Order an airbag
inflator kit only if the inspection shows that the
inflator must be replaced.
• Always use new Torx bolts to reinstall the
airbags, even on vehicles that do not need a new
inflator. The new Torx bolts are coated with
threadlock to make sure they do not come loose.
A manufacturing error can produce over-pressurization
of some replacement driver’s (front) airbag inflators
during airbag deployment. If an affected airbag
deploys, the increased internal pressure may cause
the inflator casing to rupture. Metal fragments could
pass through the airbag cushion material, possibly
causing an injury or fatality to vehicle occupants.
CLIENT NOTIFICATION
All owners of affected vehicles will be sent a
notification of this campaign. An example of the client
notification is included at the end of this service
bulletin.
Do an iN VIN status inquiry to make sure the vehicle
is shown as eligible.
In addition, check for a punch mark below the fifth
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. 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.
 2014 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. – All Rights Reserved
Torx Airbag Bolts: P/N 90134-S04-A81
(Two bolts are required to install an airbag)
Driver’s Airbag Inflator Kit: P/N 04770-S5A-305*
Includes inflator with wire harness, locknuts (4), felt
tape, felt washers (4), Torx bolts (2), and shipping
instructions.
NOTE:
• The inflator kit box must be used to return the old
inflator to its supplier, ideally within 48 hours of the
repair. Be careful not to damage the inflator kit box.
• If the defective, undeployed inflator is not returned,
the warranty claim for that vehicle will be charged
back to your dealership.
*The kit contains FedEx Ground shipping documents
and instructions for the airbag inflator. If you are a
dealer in Alaska or Hawaii, call the WPI administrative
office at 937-642-2737 for FedEx Air shipping
documents and instructions; do not use the
documentation included in the airbag inflator kit.
BTB 46169-52684 (1409)
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CLIENT INFORMATION: The information in this bulletin is intended for use only by skilled technicians who have the proper tools, equipment, and
training to correctly and safely maintain your vehicle. These procedures should not be attempted by “do-it-yourselfers,” and you should not assume this
bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle has the condition described. To determine whether this information applies, contact an authorized
Acura automobile dealer.
WARRANTY CLAIM INFORMATION
NOTE:
• If the airbag inflator is replaced, to avoid
non-payment of warranty claims, the serial number
on the box of the new airbag inflator must be entered
in the Diagnostic Trouble Codes field on each
warranty claim. For more information, refer to step 1
of REPAIR PROCEDURE B.
• To avoid a warranty claim being charged back to
your dealership, the defective, undeployed inflator
must be returned to its supplier.
• Follow the shipping instructions supplied with the
inflator kit. If you have any questions about
shipping, call Warranty Parts Inspection (WPI) at
937-642-2737.
OP#
Description
FRT
7525A5
Remove the driver’s airbag, check the
inflator serial number, and reinstall the
original airbag.
0.3
7525A6
Remove the driver’s airbag, check the
inflator serial number, and REPLACE the
airbag inflator.
0.5
Failed Part:
Defect Code:
Symptom Code:
Skill Level:
2. Visually inspect the airbag and the inflator for any
unusual writing or markings.
•
If there is nothing unusual about the airbag or the
inflator, go to step 3.
•
If there is unusual markings, like an incorrect
label or a model year written in marker, the
airbag and inflator may not be the correct airbag
and/or inflator for the vehicle or it may be a
counterfeit part. For more information about
counterfeit airbags, you can refer to safercar.gov,
enter keywords MANAGING COUNTERFEIT,
and select Recommended Dealer Guidance for
Managing Counterfeit Air Bags from the list. If
you suspect that the airbag or inflator is
counterfeit, do not continue this procedure.
Contact your DPSM for assistance.
P/N 06770-S84-A11ZA
5US00
R5500
Repair Technician
INSPECTION PROCEDURE
NOTE: If, before removing the airbag, you suspect that
it may not be the correct airbag for the vehicle or a
counterfeit, do not remove the airbag. Contact your
DPSM for assistance.
1. Remove the driver’s airbag:
• Refer to page 23-219 of the 1999–2003 3.2TL
Service Manual, or
• Refer to page 23-204 of the 2001–2003 3.2CL
Service Manual, or
• Online, enter keywords DRIVER AIR, and select
Driver’s Airbag Replacement from the list.
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10-026
3. Locate the serial number on the bottom of the
airbag. Make sure you also have the VIN, then go
to the iN:
• Click on Service.
• Click on Service Bay.
• Click on Airbag inflator recall SB 10-026.
• Enter the VIN and the airbag serial number.
The iN will indicate if the airbag is OK or if the
airbag inflator must be replaced. If the airbag is OK,
go to REPAIR PROCEDURE A. If the airbag must
be replaced, go to REPAIR PROCEDURE B.
REPAIR PROCEDURE B
NOTE: Be careful not to damage any parts when
replacing the inflator, and follow the procedure exactly.
1. Write down the serial number located on the right
side of the new airbag inflator’s box. For the
warranty claim to be paid, your warranty clerk must
enter this serial number in the Diagnostic Trouble
Codes field on the warranty claim.
INFLATOR BOX
SERIAL NUMBER
SRS
*HQL41V897*
M/D-1000
77800-S5A-A813-M1
7917
Q4
Locate serial
number here.
2. Place the airbag, face down, on a clean shop towel.
REPAIR PROCEDURE A
1. Reinstall the airbag using new Torx bolts, and
torque the bolts to 10 N.m (7.0 lb-ft).
2. Center-punch a completion mark below the fifth
character of the engine compartment VIN:
19UXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Center-punch here.
10-026
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3. Remove the four horn plate mounting bolts, the
mounting bolt felt washers, and the horn plate. The
felt washers will not be reused.
HORN PLATE
MOUNTING BOLTS
MOUNTING BOLT
FELT WASHERS
5. Using needle-nose vise grips or a 3/8 in. 6-point
socket, remove the four locknuts from the inflator.
The locknuts will not be reused.
NOTE: Do not remove the inflator from the airbag
until you complete step 6.
LOCKNUTS
(Discard.)
(Discard.)
INFLATOR
(Return to
manufacturer.)
AIRBAG
HORN PLATE
FELT TAPE
(Discard.)
4. Remove and discard the felt tape covering the
lower two inflator locknuts.
6. Use shop air to clean any debris that may be on the
inflator, then remove the inflator from the airbag.
NOTE:
• Do not allow any debris to enter the inflator
opening in the airbag.
• Do not deploy the inflator. The inflator must be
returned in the box the new inflator came in.
7. Turn over the airbag (inflator side down), and shake
it to remove any debris from the inflator opening.
8. Install the new inflator in the airbag with new
locknuts. Torque the locknuts to 3.9 N.m (2.8 lb-ft,
34 lb-in).
NOTE:
• The new inflator is slightly different than the
original inflator, but they are still interchangeable.
• There may be some minor surface rust or
corrosion on the new inflator; this is OK.
9. Cover the lower two inflator locknuts with new felt
tape.
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10-026
10. Reinstall the horn plate with new felt washers on its
mounting bolts. Torque the mounting bolts to
3.4 N.m (2.5 lb-ft, 30 lb-in), then make sure the
horn plate moves freely.
11. Reinstall the driver’s airbag using new Torx bolts:
• Refer to the appropriate service manual, or
• Online, enter keywords DRIVER AIR, and select
Driver’s Airbag Replacement from the list.
12. Center-punch a completion mark below the fifth
character of the engine compartment VIN:
19UXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Center-punch here.
13. Give your warranty clerk the inflator serial number
you wrote down in step 1. For the warranty claim to
be paid, your warranty clerk must enter the
appropriate serial number in the Diagnostic
Trouble Codes field on each warranty claim.
Example of Client Letter No. 1
December 2011
Safety Recall: Driver's Airbag Inflator NHTSA Recall 11V-260
Dear Acura Owner:
This notice is sent to you in accordance with the
requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle
Safety Act.
What is the reason for this notice?
Acura has decided that a defect related to motor
vehicle safety exists in certain 2003 model year CL and
TL vehicles. In some vehicles, the driver's airbag
inflator could produce excessive internal pressure. If an
affected airbag deploys, the increased internal
pressure may cause the inflator to rupture. Metal
fragments could pass through the airbag cushion
material possibly causing injury or fatality to vehicle
occupants.
What should you do?
Call any authorized Acura dealer and make an
appointment to have your vehicle inspected. The
dealer will inspect, and if necessary replace the driver's
airbag inflator. The inspection process may be
completed in approximately 30 minutes; however, your
vehicle will need to be at the dealer for a longer period
of time. We recommend that you plan to leave your
vehicle for half a day to allow the dealer flexibility in
scheduling. This work will be done free of charge.
10-026
Who to contact if you experience problems
If you are not satisfied with the service you receive
from your Acura dealer, you may write to:
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Acura Client Relations
Mail Stop 500-2N-7E
1919 Torrance Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90501-2746
If you believe that American Honda or the dealer has
failed or is unable to remedy the defect in your vehicle,
without charge, within a reasonable period of time
(60 days from the date you first contact the dealer for a
repair appointment), you may submit a complaint to:
Administrator
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
1200 New Jersey Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20590
Or call the toll-free Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236
(TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to
http://www.safercar.gov.
Lessor information
Federal law requires that any vehicle lessor receiving
this recall notice must forward a copy of this notice to
the lessee within 10 days.
If you have questions
If you have any questions about this notice, or need
assistance with locating an Acura dealer, please call
Acura Client Relations at 1-800-382-2238, and select
option 4. You can also locate a dealer online at
Acura.com.
We apologize for any inconvenience this campaign
may cause you.
Sincerely,
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Acura Automobile Division
Example of Client Letter No. 2
December 2011
Safety Recall: Driver's Airbag Inflator NHTSA Recall 11V-260
Dear Acura Owner:
This notice is sent to you in accordance with the
requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle
Safety Act.
What is the reason for this notice?
Acura has decided that a defect related to motor
vehicle safety exists in certain 2002–2003 model year
TL vehicles and 2003 CL vehicles. In some vehicles,
the driver's airbag inflator could produce excessive
internal pressure. If an affected airbag deploys, the
increased internal pressure may cause the inflator to
rupture. Metal fragments could pass through the airbag
cushion material possibly causing injury or fatality to
vehicle occupants.
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What should you do?
You must have your vehicle's driver's airbag inflator
inspected again and, if necessary, replaced; this work
will be done free of charge. Even though you
previously had the driver's airbag inflator inspected,
you must have it inspected again as we have
determined that the prior inspection criteria were
insufficient and your inflator may, in fact, need to be
replaced to avoid the possibility of an over-pressurized
deployment. Call any authorized Acura dealer and
make an appointment to have your vehicle inspected.
The dealer will inspect, and if necessary replace the
driver's airbag inflator. The inspection process may be
completed in approximately 30 minutes; however, your
vehicle will need to be at the dealer for a longer period
of time. We recommend that you plan to leave your
vehicle for half a day to allow the dealer flexibility in
scheduling. We apologize for any inconvenience this
may cause, but it is necessary for your safety.
Who to contact if you experience problems
If you are not satisfied with the service you receive
from your Acura dealer, you may write to:
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Acura Client Relations
Mail Stop 500-2N-7E
1919 Torrance Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90501-2746
If you believe that American Honda or the dealer has
failed or is unable to remedy the defect in your vehicle,
without charge, within a reasonable period of time
(60 days from the date you first contact the dealer for a
repair appointment), you may submit a complaint to:
Administrator
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
1200 New Jersey Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20590
Or call the toll-free Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236
(TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to
http://www.safercar.gov.
Lessor information
Federal law requires that any vehicle lessor receiving
this recall notice must forward a copy of this notice to
the lessee within 10 days.
If you have questions
If you have any questions about this notice, or need
assistance with locating an Acura dealer, please call
Acura Client Relations at 1-800-382-2238, and select
option 4. You can also locate a dealer online at
Acura.com.
We apologize for any inconvenience this campaign
may cause you.
Sincerely,
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Acura Automobile Division
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