2003 Accord sedan radio went dark

[Sparky Harding]

At 5+ years, 52k miles, my radio/HVAC display went dark last night. Does
anyone know if Honda are still replacing them under somem sort of
extended warranty?

TIA

 

[Tegger]

At 5+ years, 52k miles, my radio/HVAC display went dark last night. Does
anyone know if Honda are still replacing them under somem sort of
extended warranty?

Yep. TSB 04-027.

An excerpt:
"In some audio units, a component failure on the PCB
(printed circuit board) could cause the audio display to
become dark or dim, and prevent the audio/HVAC
panel buttons from illuminating.
To ensure that customers have adequate warranty
coverage for this potential problem, American Honda is
increasing the warranty on the audio unit display to
7 years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first. For
other defects the standard 3 years or 36,000 miles
warranty applies, whichever occurs first."


HOWEVER...
The extended warranty ONLY applies to a select range of vehicles that are
known to have the defective PCB. You must visit your local Honda dealer,
who will query Honda's eligibility database to see if your VIN is on that
list, and to ensure the repair has not already been performed. Original
owners were also sent a notification letter by snail mail. Did you ever get
one of these?

 

[Sparky Harding]

Yep. TSB 04-027.

An excerpt:
"In some audio units, a component failure on the PCB
(printed circuit board) could cause the audio display to
become dark or dim, and prevent the audio/HVAC
panel buttons from illuminating.
To ensure that customers have adequate warranty
coverage for this potential problem, American Honda is
increasing the warranty on the audio unit display to
7 years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first. For
other defects the standard 3 years or 36,000 miles
warranty applies, whichever occurs first."


HOWEVER...
The extended warranty ONLY applies to a select range of vehicles that are
known to have the defective PCB. You must visit your local Honda dealer,
who will query Honda's eligibility database to see if your VIN is on that
list, and to ensure the repair has not already been performed. Original
owners were also sent a notification letter by snail mail. Did you ever get
one of these?

Hm, never saw a notification and I'm the original owner. However, after
reading 04-027 my vehicle is covered, i.e., 2003 EX sedan.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Tony Harding]

Hm, never saw a notification and I'm the original owner. However, after
reading 04-027 my vehicle is covered, i.e., 2003 EX sedan.

Thanks for the feedback.

My car is covered. I took my car to Paul Miller Honda in West Caldwell,
NJ, this morning for the safety recall notice on windshield wiper motors
and the radio. Service Rep agreed it was covered as soon as he saw the
car & VIN. The warranty service record says the radio was replaced when
it wasn't. I talked to another SA (my original one was at lunch), who
checked with the tech and told me they had to order the part. So my
radio's still dark, but not for much longer I hope.

 

[Tegger]

[email protected]:

..

My car is covered. I took my car to Paul Miller Honda in West Caldwell,
NJ, this morning for the safety recall notice on windshield wiper motors
and the radio. Service Rep agreed it was covered as soon as he saw the
car & VIN. The warranty service record says the radio was replaced when
it wasn't. I talked to another SA (my original one was at lunch), who
checked with the tech and told me they had to order the part. So my
radio's still dark, but not for much longer I hope.

Thanks for the update.

 

[Tony Harding]

[email protected]:
.

Thanks for the update.

Final update - dealer received the PCB, I made an appointment for last
Tuesday and my radio's like new now!

Of course, 1.5 hours later when the service adviser told me my car was
ready, he had a list compiled from their "free" multi-point inspection
telling me:

1. rear pads = 2mm, danger level!!! ($260) I changed the pads 2 years &
21,000 miles ago - I'll examine them next time I have the rear wheels
off, but I'll bet dollars to donuts the pads are not = 2mm. Brakes are
completely quite.

2. recommend 30k (60k) service ($395.99) - how timely!

3. cat heat shields rusted & loose ($220)

4. flush & refill P/S (dark & murky) & xmission (5sp AT)

5. bleed brakes ($146.95)

6. replace cabin air filter ($99.99(!))

When I told him I replaced the cabin filter just 2 months ago (I do it
every summer), he admitted the recommendations were based on mileage,
IOW, not an actual inspection.

This is the *good* dealer, BTW. <sigh>

 

[Tony Harding]

[email protected]:
.

Thanks for the update.

Final update - dealer received the PCB, I made an appointment for last
Tuesday and my radio's like new now!

Of course, 1.5 hours later when the service adviser told me my car was
ready, he had a list compiled from their "free" multi-point inspection
telling me:

1. rear pads = 2mm, danger level!!! ($260) I changed the pads 2 years &
21,000 miles ago - I'll examine them next time I have the rear wheels
off, but I'll bet dollars to donuts the pads are not = 2mm. Brakes are
completely quite.

2. recommend 30k (60k) service ($395.99) - how timely!

3. cat heat shields rusted & loose ($220)

4. flush & refill P/S (dark & murky) & xmission (5sp AT)

5. bleed brakes ($146.95)

6. replace cabin air filter ($99.99(!))

When I told him I replaced the cabin filter just 2 months ago (I do it
every summer), he admitted the recommendations were based on mileage,
IOW, not an actual inspection.

This is the *good* dealer, BTW. <sigh>

 

[Tegger]

Final update - dealer received the PCB, I made an appointment for last
Tuesday and my radio's like new now!

Of course, 1.5 hours later when the service adviser told me my car was
ready, he had a list compiled from their "free" multi-point inspection
telling me:

1. rear pads = 2mm, danger level!!! ($260) I changed the pads 2 years
& 21,000 miles ago - I'll examine them next time I have the rear
wheels off, but I'll bet dollars to donuts the pads are not = 2mm.
Brakes are completely quite.

If even one pad is down to 2mm in any one spot, the brakes are worn out.
It's very common for the rear brakes to parially seize, throwing most of
the work onto one pad.

2. recommend 30k (60k) service ($395.99) - how timely!

Does the Honda Maintenance Schedule specify a service at this interval?
And are you still under warranty?

3. cat heat shields rusted & loose ($220)

Isn't your cat right up against the exhaust manifold? Four or V6?

4. flush & refill P/S (dark & murky) & xmission (5sp AT)

Good idea.

5. bleed brakes ($146.95)

Good idea. Should be done every 3 years max. You're well past that if
it's never been done.

6. replace cabin air filter ($99.99(!))

When I told him I replaced the cabin filter just 2 months ago (I do it
every summer), he admitted the recommendations were based on mileage,
IOW, not an actual inspection.

This is the *good* dealer, BTW. <sigh>

Of course, you have to balance their recommendations against what Honda
specifies in their Maintenenance Schedule for your car, and against
what's already been done...

 

[Tegger]

Final update - dealer received the PCB, I made an appointment for last
Tuesday and my radio's like new now!

Of course, 1.5 hours later when the service adviser told me my car was
ready, he had a list compiled from their "free" multi-point inspection
telling me:

1. rear pads = 2mm, danger level!!! ($260) I changed the pads 2 years
& 21,000 miles ago - I'll examine them next time I have the rear
wheels off, but I'll bet dollars to donuts the pads are not = 2mm.
Brakes are completely quite.

If even one pad is down to 2mm in any one spot, the brakes are worn out.
It's very common for the rear brakes to parially seize, throwing most of
the work onto one pad.

2. recommend 30k (60k) service ($395.99) - how timely!

Does the Honda Maintenance Schedule specify a service at this interval?
And are you still under warranty?

3. cat heat shields rusted & loose ($220)

Isn't your cat right up against the exhaust manifold? Four or V6?

4. flush & refill P/S (dark & murky) & xmission (5sp AT)

Good idea.

5. bleed brakes ($146.95)

Good idea. Should be done every 3 years max. You're well past that if
it's never been done.

6. replace cabin air filter ($99.99(!))

When I told him I replaced the cabin filter just 2 months ago (I do it
every summer), he admitted the recommendations were based on mileage,
IOW, not an actual inspection.

This is the *good* dealer, BTW. <sigh>

Of course, you have to balance their recommendations against what Honda
specifies in their Maintenenance Schedule for your car, and against
what's already been done...

 

[John Horner]

I am sure glad I enjoy doing my own maintenance.

1. rear pads = 2mm, danger level!!! ($260) I changed the pads 2 years &
21,000 miles ago - I'll examine them next time I have the rear wheels
off, but I'll bet dollars to donuts the pads are not = 2mm. Brakes are
completely quite.

Just did this job on my TSX, cost me $50 for OE pads from Delray Acura.

2. recommend 30k (60k) service ($395.99) - how timely!

No comment!

3. cat heat shields rusted & loose ($220)

Do you live in the rust belt?

4. flush & refill P/S (dark & murky) & xmission (5sp AT)

I do a partial replacement every oil change by using a vac. sucker to
pull the fluid out of the reservoir. Cost is minimal, even using
original Honda fluid.

5. bleed brakes ($146.95)

Cost for 1 quart of high quality brake fluid is under $12 (don't use the
cheap stuff).

6. replace cabin air filter ($99.99(!))

$15 for a Fram replacement via Amazon.com

When I told him I replaced the cabin filter just 2 months ago (I do it
every summer), he admitted the recommendations were based on mileage,
IOW, not an actual inspection.

This is the *good* dealer, BTW. <sigh>

All of the dealer shops seem to be pushing high priced maintenance
services. Sure many of the things they want to do are worth doing, but
the standard pricing has gone absolutely bonkers.

 

[John Horner]

I am sure glad I enjoy doing my own maintenance.

1. rear pads = 2mm, danger level!!! ($260) I changed the pads 2 years &
21,000 miles ago - I'll examine them next time I have the rear wheels
off, but I'll bet dollars to donuts the pads are not = 2mm. Brakes are
completely quite.

Just did this job on my TSX, cost me $50 for OE pads from Delray Acura.

2. recommend 30k (60k) service ($395.99) - how timely!

No comment!

3. cat heat shields rusted & loose ($220)

Do you live in the rust belt?

4. flush & refill P/S (dark & murky) & xmission (5sp AT)

I do a partial replacement every oil change by using a vac. sucker to
pull the fluid out of the reservoir. Cost is minimal, even using
original Honda fluid.

5. bleed brakes ($146.95)

Cost for 1 quart of high quality brake fluid is under $12 (don't use the
cheap stuff).

6. replace cabin air filter ($99.99(!))

$15 for a Fram replacement via Amazon.com

When I told him I replaced the cabin filter just 2 months ago (I do it
every summer), he admitted the recommendations were based on mileage,
IOW, not an actual inspection.

This is the *good* dealer, BTW. <sigh>

All of the dealer shops seem to be pushing high priced maintenance
services. Sure many of the things they want to do are worth doing, but
the standard pricing has gone absolutely bonkers.