Headlight Moisture Recall

[aday]

My car was in at the dealer on Monday having a clutch master cylinder replaced under warranty, and I subsequently noticed that a recall job item was listed on the invoice. My car's an early 05 reg and isn't affected by the recent fuel pump relay recall, so I called the dealer to inquire.

Apparently Honda has issued a recall notice to dealers in the form of a memo, which hasn't yet gone out to customers, but will shortly. The part in question is a "hook plate" which is installed somewhere in the headlight housing, to prevent the moisture problems that I've read many people have suffered in the past.

So - if your Euro suffers from the moisture problem and a headlight has fogged up at any time, give your dealer a call and get this recall job performed. ;)

[yfin]

Here is the actual workshop bulletin for the work required in the USA. Looks like the hood can put pressure on the lamps. If there is no moisture look how easy the fix is - a few clips and a check of the hood alignment.

Interesting the different approaches to this problem in the USA and Australia. Here they just do the fix when your car is serviced and say nothing about it. The problem with this approach is it assumes all owners get their car serviced by a dealer.

In the USA they send out a letter to all owners. Honda Australia needs to improve its communication with owners.

http://www.maxrev.de/files/2007/04/moisture_in_headlight_product_update.pdf

[sodaz]

Mine didn't suffer from the moisture problem but the dealer replaced the part during my last service a month ago.

[tony1234]

Mine didn't suffer from the moisture problem but the dealer replaced the part during my last service a month ago.
Better safe than sorry!

[cutchorama]

I just got my 40k service done and they also fixed mine without telling why. When I called back the lady at the service desk had no idea what was going on so I got a bit upset and talked to the service manager. He was able to tell me about the recall.

[yfin]

Mine didn't suffer from the moisture problem but the dealer replaced the part during my last service a month ago.

The work applies whether or not you have the problem - the clips are a preventative measure. If you have moisture they will do the preventative measure and also replace the headlight.

The thing that cheeses me is the assumption that all euro owners get their car serviced at a dealership. There is no requirement to do so to keep the warranty so go figure... As a bare minimum we should be notified of the problem like owners in the USA were

[cutchorama]

I thought to keep a Honda warranty you had to service your car at a Honda service center? That is pretty slack of Honda to not notify the owners if that is the case though.

[yfin]

I thought to keep a Honda warranty you had to service your car at a Honda service center? That is pretty slack of Honda to not notify the owners if that is the case though.

That is what dealers want you to believe but it is not true - you can take your car to any registered motor mechanic and the warranty must be honoured. But your mechanic needs to follow the handbook schedule

[Edgeauto]

Honda Australia do sent out letters to notify owners of recalls but they just take there time to do so. Your dealer should be telling you of any recalls they are doing or done and explain to you what has been done. If they haven't that is very poor customer relations on thier part.

[yfin]

Honda Australia do sent out letters to notify owners of recalls but they just take there time to do so. Your dealer should be telling you of any recalls they are doing or done and explain to you what has been done. If they haven't that is very poor customer relations on thier part.

They do send out notification of safety recalls as required by the government but this does not appear to be in the safety category

[Cranial]

Well personally I don't service my car at Honda...

I have a Euro Std with aftermarket HID (when the shop installed it, they drilled a hole in the cover/cap and put a grommet in it to feed the wires). I have experienced fogging in both headlights (I don't think it's related to HID's as it started fogging up many months after the install). Would Honda fix/change my headlights since I've done the HID conversion? I would like to get it fixed and I'm sure it's nothing to do with my HID install...

[EuroAccord13]

Well personally I don't service my car at Honda...

I have a Euro Std with aftermarket HID (when the shop installed it, they drilled a hole in the cover/cap and put a grommet in it to feed the wires). I have experienced fogging in both headlights (I don't think it's related to HID's as it started fogging up many months after the install). Would Honda fix/change my headlights since I've done the HID conversion? I would like to get it fixed and I'm sure it's nothing to do with my HID install...


Your dealer will try to get out of doing the warranty job and hence will go all out to try and pin it on your HID since labour cost for the fix is borne by the dealer....

[tony1234]

Well personally I don't service my car at Honda...

I have a Euro Std with aftermarket HID (when the shop installed it, they drilled a hole in the cover/cap and put a grommet in it to feed the wires). I have experienced fogging in both headlights (I don't think it's related to HID's as it started fogging up many months after the install). Would Honda fix/change my headlights since I've done the HID conversion? I would like to get it fixed and I'm sure it's nothing to do with my HID install...
Like Euroaccord13 said i doubt your dealer would fix it.Ask the guys who did the HID conversion to fix it,it's their fault that your headlights are fogging up.

[yfin]

Cranial - i think you are entitled to the 2cent clips and the work required to install those.

But unless you have an excellent relationship with the dealer it will be difficult to get replacement headlights.

[^__^ SM ^__^]

You can buy the headlight covers from the Parts Dept. for $25 each. Just take out ur HID and put ur old halogens back in and then put the new covers on. Honda can't tell you had HID in there. If your dealer seen it. Go another dealer.

[panda[cRx]]

Interesting the different approaches to this problem in the USA and Australia. Here they just do the fix when your car is serviced and say nothing about it.

the dealer should mention and explain all warranty repairs, especially seeing as that is one of the things on their OES surveys.
i dont normally go into 'why' unless the customer asks (most dont seem to care why lol)




In the USA they send out a letter to all owners. Honda Australia needs to improve its communication with owners.


honda DOES send out letters when new campaigns are announced. maybe you should check if honda australia has your correct address details?

however....

They do send out notification of safety recalls as required by the government but this does not appear to be in the safety category
The thing that cheeses me is the assumption that all euro owners get their car serviced at a dealership. There is no requirement to do so to keep the warranty so go figure... As a bare minimum we should be notified of the problem like owners in the USA were

i don't recall our customers receiving letters for the headlight clips, most likely due to the reason stated above.
honestly i dont see the concern because either they will have no problem with the the headlights or they will (in which case they will come back to the dealer, either by their own accord or as instructed by wherever they get their service done)


Cranial - i think you are entitled to the 2cent clips and the work required to install those.

But unless you have an excellent relationship with the dealer it will be difficult to get replacement headlights.

it will be difficult for ANYONE to get replacement headlights now. they just replace the headlight clips with revised clips and any faulty parts if required (ie. globe, HID globe/balast)

as stated in another euro thread i havent seen any euros with the revised clips with any condensation

[yfin]

;1170542']honda DOES send out letters when new campaigns are announced. maybe you should check if honda australia has your correct address details?

however....

i don't recall our customers receiving letters for the headlight clips, most likely due to the reason stated above.
honestly i dont see the concern because either they will have no problem with the the headlights or they will (in which case they will come back to the dealer, either by their own accord or as instructed by wherever they get their service done)

Honda has my correct address. They have not sent out any advice about the headlight rectification work being done. I assume the reason is because it is not considered a safety recall. It is being dealt with when the person has a service at an authorised dealer. This is the wrong approach.

My car, for example, is out of warranty. If I have a problem with the headlight now - am I expected to know that dealers are fixing this problem free of charge? The only reason I am aware of this is through Ozhonda and I have no intention of going back to the dealers for regular servicing.

[panda[cRx]]

recall's apply to all vehicles, even those out of warranty.
if it is a known problem caused by something that is recalled then it would be covered by the manufacturer.
personally if i had a euro, or any of the current range i would be taking it to a dealer. smaller workshops are fine to carry out a book service, but most lack the technical knowledge and/or equipment to rectify faults

[EuroAccord13]

Lawrence! Can I get mine fixed while my car is at your dealer? :D

[panda[cRx]]

not a problem nick laaaaaaa

[MiSloVic]

seems like this headlight moisture problem has been around for a few years now.. there was 1 previous recall on the same issue, i belive.