NEW 2009 Euro Luxury Auto Pinging

[tony1234]

CU2 road trip to Qld.

[buddah51au]

can't have too many Mexicans coming north

[SPQR]

can't have too many Mexicans coming north

Hear, hear!

[VIDSEURO]

Hey Guys

The critical thing from my perspective with the post combustion engine noise is this:

Lodge a complaint through HA web site using your VIN.

Write a letter to your dealer principle and hand it to them then have a chat.
My car has had the new knock sensor and update, it has slightly lessened
the noise but not eliminated it altogether, and that's what i wanted to happen.
My car will be ticking over 10,000 kms shortly so at that service
i will speak with the dealer principle again.

Seriously this is an unfortunate series of events for Honda.
They have the auto and manual that pings, how many?
At this stage it's not known and we may never know.

You all may like to use these emails
to voice your concerns after you have submitted your complaint over the web site.

Assistant Manager - Customer Relations
Irene Price
Honda Australia
T: (61 3) 9285 5555
E: irenep@honda.com.au

Joe Gelsi – Customer Manager
jgelsi@honda.com.au

Mark Higgins
Honda Australia National Public Relations Manager
markh@honda.com.au

[SteveH]

I had my CU2 manual in for its 10,000 klm service today. Advised them of the pinging noise and was advised that they had heard the noise in my car and had let Honda Australia know. They said Honda will get in contact when they have a fix. I told them that I had heard that fixes were available, but they claimed they had not been advised by Honda of this as yet.

Will wait to see if and when I get a call.

[Joystick]

Thanks Vids.

I think HA public relations has been very poor throughout this whole process, it seems every dealer has a different response to one another. I reported my problem with my dealer at the 1,000km service over 6 months ago and haven't received any additional contact or feedback on the 'pinging issue'. If it wasn't for this forum, I'd have no idea what's going on.

Once my wife gets back with the car, I'm going to lodge a more formal complaint as outlined by Vid.

[SPQR]

Thanks Vids.

I think HA public relations has been very poor throughout this whole process, it seems every dealer has a different response to one another......

They're doing exactly as instructed.

Step 1 - Deny the problem.
Step 2 - Say that the problem is minor and has no effect.
Step 3 - Say that it's limited to a few cars.
Step 4 - Acknowledge the problem and they have advised HA.
Step 5 - Say that the fix is not yet available.
Step 6 - Try the software fix first.
Step 7 - Mention that a new knock sensor has yet to arrive in the country.
Step 8 - Mid life update is released.
Step 9 - Don't actually fix the problem? Who knows.

My local dealer denied he'd heard of the problem and then immediately after I mentioned the internet forums he told me that all CU2's have pinging. But the great majority of owners haven't noticed or perhaps think it's normal. The dealer said that they will only react to those that complain. So far, of all they have sold, only one owner has complained; but they know the other cars have the problem.

[PNR888]

I had my CU2 manual in for its 10,000 klm service today. Advised them of the pinging noise and was advised that they had heard the noise in my car and had let Honda Australia know. They said Honda will get in contact when they have a fix. I told them that I had heard that fixes were available, but they claimed they had not been advised by Honda of this as yet.

Will wait to see if and when I get a call.

Tell your dealer to read their internal bulletins: SB004G09 and SB016T09.
One of the Canberra member posted those bulletins up in previous post.
Unless your dealer doesn't read their sales and technical bulletins, they have no reason not knowing that the fixes are available.

[buddah51au]

I guess the outcome will vary from Dealer to Dealer. Every Cu2 that goes through my dealer will be getting the software update as part of routine service. Those who complain will get the knock sensor as it becomes available.

I cant speak for anyone else, but i have done over 2,000km since the software update & in my case the problem has been eliminated. Even so, I am inline for the knock sensor when it becomes available.

Honda Australia can only react as advised by Honda Japan as they are only Importers / Distributors, which is the same with any imported car. The ONLY OPTION available to HA is to report problems to the Manufacturer, in this case Honda Japan.

To say all CU2's have the problem is total B/S, I have driven several, manual & autos trying to make them ping ( & I don't just mean a run around the block). of the 11 I have driven i have only been able to replicate the problem in 1 car besides my own.

[Joystick]

Hey Buddah,

One thing I find confusing is it appears the level of pining varies a lot between cars. For example, my vehicle will ping all the time (unprovoked), very loud and obvious across the entire rev range. While others only experience the problem infrequently....

I don't know much about the internals of cars, but why would the problem be more pronounced on some vehicles but less so on others? You would assume the problem would be universal across all Euros but it obviously isn't.

[buddah51au]

Hey Buddah,

One thing I find confusing is it appears the level of pining varies a lot between cars. For example, my vehicle will ping all the time (unprovoked), very loud and obvious across the entire rev range. While others only experience the problem infrequently....

I don't know much about the internals of cars, but why would the problem be more pronounced on some vehicles but less so on others? You would assume the problem would be universal across all Euros but it obviously isn't.

Why the level of pinging varies between different cars is impossible to answer, each engine is the same so in theory each should react the same. Of course theory and practicle have always been worlds apart. The only variance is fuel quality & apparently our fuels are not the best.

One sure way I have found to get a CU2 to ping is to find a steep incline and approach it with very light throttle which will load the engine between 2000 & 3000RPM. If it is going to ping it will do it under those conditions, although not every time. When I am asked for an opinion I have 3 such inclines I test on & will give a car 10 runs on each incline. That gives a total of 30 runs under conditions that Made My CU2 ping. I also do a 50km round trip under varying country B road conditions, after which i give a conclusion.

As I said before, of the 11 CU2's I have driven including my own I have found 2 that will ping, although both were very slight & you really have to listen for it.

I am still not convinced some of the problem is not timing chain related, which is a known problem area on K series engines.

[ozscott]

Buddah - what is the timing chain problem - are you talking about it hitting the cover? I am surprised that Honda would have any mechanical as opposed to electronic problems with their modern motors...bit of a dissapointment if they do.

Cheers