Recall - Power Steering Feed Hose Leaks
12-020August 10, 2012
Applies To:
2007-08 TL - Check the iN VIN status for eligibility
Safety Recall: 2007-08 TL Power Steering Feed Hose Leak
(Supersedes 12-020, dated June 27, 2012, see REVISION SUMMARY)
REVISION SUMMARY
*^ Under PARTS INFORMATION, a part number was added.
^ Under REPAIR PROCEDURE, several steps were added or order changed. No black revision bars were added because American Honda recommends reading the entire REPAIR PROCEDURE.*
BACKGROUND
Prolonged high under-hood temperature and high
power steering fluid temperatures may cause the
power steering hose to deteriorate prematurely and
may cause the hose to crack and leak power steering
fluid. Power steering fluid leaking onto a hot catalytic
converter will generate smoke and could lead to an
under-hood fire.
There are two bulletins that include repairs for 2007-08 TL power steering hoses:
^ Service bulletin 12-020, Safety Recall: 2007-08 TL
Power Steering Feed Hose Leak
^ Service bulletin 08-016, Safety Recall: 2004-08 TL
Power Steering Feed Hose Leak
Make sure you follow the bulletin indicated by the iN
VIN status inquiry because there are different symptom
codes under WARRANTY CLAIM INFORMATION.
Your claim may be debited if you file a repair under the
wrong bulletin.
CLIENT NOTIFICATION
Owners of affected vehicles have or will receive a
notification of this campaign in June 2012. 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.
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.
CORRECTIVE ACTION
Install a power steering feed hose kit.
PARTS INFORMATION
Power Steering Feed Hose Kit:
*2007-08 TL with M/T - P/N 06535-SEP-308*
2007-08 TL with A/T - P/N 06535-SEP-307
(Contains P/S feed hose, P/S pressure switch
O-ring, P/S pump inlet O-ring, and all bolts, nuts, and
gaskets needed for the repair.)
REQUIRED MATERIALS
Acura Precision Crafted Power Steering Fluid:
P/N 08206-9002A
(Each vehicle may need up to three 12 oz. bottles.)
WARRANTY CLAIM INFORMATION
Operation Number: 5121D3
Flat Rate Time: 1.7 hours
Failed Part: P/N 53713-SEP-A02
Defect Code: 5PH00
Symptom Code: S3900
Skill Level: Repair Technician
REPAIR PROCEDURE
1. Remove the engine compartment covers shown below.
2. Drain the P/S fluid:
NOTE:
Take care not to spill any fluid. Wipe off any spilled fluid immediately.
Refer to page 17-13 of the 07-08 TL Service Manual, or Online, enter keywords STEERING FLUID, and select Power Steering Fluid Check/Replacement from the list.
3. Check the condition of the drained fluid:
If the fluid is contaminated, dark, or discolored,
discard it; do not reuse it.
If the fluid is clear with no contamination, save it in a covered container. It will be reused in step 43.
4. Reinstall the return hose on the P/S reservoir. If the hose clamp on the return hose is damaged, replace it.
5. Remove the two bolts from the under-hood fuse/relay box, then detach the fuse/relay box from the strut brace bracket.
6. Remove the two bolts from the throttle cable bracket, then detach the clip from the strut brace.
7. Remove the strut brace:
^ Remove the harness clamp.
^ Remove the two bolts.
^ Remove the six nuts.
8. Disconnect the P/S feed hose from the steering gearbox by loosening its flare nut.
NOTE:
To prevent fluid from dripping, place several shop towels under the feed hose connection, and wrap a towel around the exposed joint end.
9. Remove the feed line holder mounting bolt from the front suspension subframe that is located on the driver's side. Remove the holder from both the feed and return lines because it will not be reused.
10. Remove the end of the P/S feed hose from the P/S pump.
NOTE:
To prevent fluid from dripping, wrap a towel around the exposed end of the hose.
11. Replace the P/S pump inlet joint O-ring:
^ Remove the inlet joint from the pump (one bolt).
^ Remove the O-ring from the inlet joint.
^ Lubricate a new O-ring with clean P/S fluid, then install it on the end of the joint.
^ Reinstall the inlet joint, and torque its bolt to 11 N.m (8 lb-ft).
12. Remove the feed hose bracket from the rear cylinder head cover (one bolt).
13. Disconnect the P/S pressure switch connector, then remove the pressure switch from the feed hose.
NOTE:
To prevent fluid from dripping, stuff the end of a clean shop towel into the feed hose coupler.
14. Remove the O-ring from the P/S pressure switch, and install a new one, lubricated with clean P/S fluid.
15. Install the original P/S pressure switch on the new feed hose. Tighten the switch to 12 N.m (8.8 lb-ft).
16. Remove feed hose holder B from the steering gearbox mounting bracket, located on the passengers side (one bolt).
17. Remove exhaust pipe A:
^ Remove the rubber exhaust hanger from the subframe.
^ Remove exhaust pipe A along with the three way catalytic converter (TWC) (nine self-locking nuts). The nuts will not be reused.
^ Support exhaust pipe B with a stand.
18. Remove the exhaust heat shield.
19. Remove the vacuum line bracket from the rear engine mount (one bolt).
20. M/T only: Remove the rear engine damper bolt. The bolt will not be reused.
21. Remove the heat shield bolt from the front of the rear engine mount. The bolt is next to the secondary 02 sensor (bank 1, sensor 2).
22. Remove the rear engine mount stop (two nuts), then remove the rear engine mount stop bolt. The stop bolt will not be reused.
23. MIT models only: Remove the two bolts securing the shift cable bracket.
24. Lay the new feed hose next to the original feed hose in the engine compartment. Line up the hoses as closely as possible.
NOTE:
When lining up the feed hoses, do not bend or scratch the painted metal line section of the new hose. Even a scratch on the paint could cause future P/S line corrosion.
25. Raise the vehicle on a lift, and make sure it's securely supported.
26. Remove the engine under cover (two bolts and four clips).
27. Remove the four rear engine mount bracket bolts from the subframe. The bolts will not be reused.
28. MIT models only: Remove the four transmission front/rear lower mount nuts. The nuts will not be reused.
29. A/T models only: Remove the center nut and bolt from the transmission lower mount: The nut and bolt will not be reused.
30. Using a transmission jack and a block of wood, position the wood in a secure area on the engine / transmission assembly, then slightly lift the assembly.
NOTE:
^ To minimize the stress damage on the other engine/transmission mounts, do not lift the assembly too much.
^ A/T models only: The maximum allowable lift is reached when you see the lower part of the mount's bolt hole through the bracket hole (see below).
31. Shift the rear engine mount up and to the left, towards the master cylinder.
32. Swap the positions of the new hose and the original hose (previously lined up in step 24), between the rear engine mount bridge and the subframe.
NOTE:
Be careful not to bend or scratch the metal line section of the new feed hose.
33. Move the rear engine mount back into place, with the new feed hose routed through it.
34. Hand-tighten the new bolts for the rear engine mount bracket; do not torque them yet.
35. Lower the transmission jack, and remove the block of wood.
36. M/T models only: Install four new transmission front/rear lower mount nuts, and torque them to 44 N.m (33 lb-ft).
37. A/T models only: Install a new A/T lower mount center bolt and nut, and torque it to 59 N.m (43 lb-ft).
38. Torque the four new rear engine mount bracket bolts to 44 N.m (33 lb-ft).
39. M/T models only: Install the new lower engine damper bolt, and torque it to 38 N.m (28 lb-ft).
40. Reinstall the vacuum line bracket.
41. Reinstall the exhaust heat shield, and torque its bolts to 10 N.m (7.4 lb-ft).
42. Reattach exhaust pipe A and the TWC using new gaskets and self-locking nuts. Use the torque specs in step 17.
43. Reinstall the rubber exhaust hanger to the subframe.
44. Reinstall the heat shield bolt from the front of the rear engine mount.
45. Reinstall feed hose holder B.
46. Reinstall the rear engine mount stop. Torque the new bolt to 54 N.m (40 lb-ft), and the nuts to 64 N.m (47 lb-ft).
47. Reinstall the engine under cover.
48. M/T models only: Reinstall the shift cable bracket. Torque the bolts to 10 N.m (7.4 lb-ft).
49. Remove the original feed hose from the engine compartment, then attach the new feed hose to the gearbox and to the P/S pump:
^ Torque the gearbox flare nut on the new feed hose to 42 N.m (31 lb-ft).
^ Torque the P/S pump feed hose bolts to 11 N.m (8.1 lb-ft).
^ Torque the feed hose bracket on the rear cylinder head cover to 9.8 N.m (7.2 lb-ft).
50. Install the new feed line holder (from the kit) onto the feed and return lines located on the driver's side, and then secure it to the front suspension subframe (one bolt).
51. Reinstall the strut brace. Torque the nuts to 22 N.m (16 lb-ft) and the bolts to 12 N.m (8.8 lb-ft).
52. Reinstall the throttle cable bracket and the under- hood fuse/relay box.
53. Using the clear P/S fluid you removed from the system (or new fluid if the original fluid was contaminated or discolored), fill the P/S reservoir to the upper level line.
NOTE:
^ Use Acura Precision Crafted Power Steering Fluid.
^ The system capacity is 1.1 L (37.2 oz).
^ The reservoir capacity is 0.32 L (10.8 oz).
54. Start the engine, run it at a fast idle, and turn the steering wheel lock-to-lock several times. This will bleed any air from the P/S system.
55. Recheck the fluid level, and add more if needed. Do not fill the reservoir above the upper level line.
NOTE:
^ Make sure you remove all shop towels used during the procedure.
^ Wipe off any spilled P/S fluid.
56. Reinstall the right (passenger) side engine compartment cover.
Instructions for Reimbursement
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