This is 2009 TSX engine. Am I missing some bolt in red circle?? Or this is normal? What's that hole for?

 

looks like the Acura technician got hungry and took a bite

 

This is a K24a2 from the 04-08 TSX but the head covers seem to be unchanged for the most part. But from your picture it looks like the PS hose is bolted to the engine bay....

I looked around and couldn't find a diagram of the K24Z3 valve cover so I'm going to assume Honda didn't bolt the PS hose tot he head and it is normal. Just to be safe, crank the engine, check for oil/ air leaks, hissing noises and bubbling/ moist spots in that whole side/ corner area. Put your thumb over the hole and see if you feel any air/ oil mist puffing out. Oil pressure may not be high enough to do any of that at Idle so may raise the revs some? From your picture it looks like everything is pretty dry (and dirty:P) so I don't see a problem.

 

Wow! Is that what East coast winters can do to a 4yr old engine bay?

 

You would be corrent in that "Honda didn't bolt the PS hose to the head" because the 2nd Gen doesn't have hydraulic power steering...

 

^^ This.

We have Electronic Power Steering.

When Cu2 first came out everybody couldn't stand it, and said the car made them sick to drive...

4 years later, it's totally normal and everybody is doing it.

 

Lol which would be why the HPS steering hose isn't bolted to the head. :P There isn't one!

But yeah my mistake, I forgot they had EPS.

 

It took them until the 2011 TSX to do it right.

For the record I own three cars with EPS.

The wagon, the S2000 and a CR-Z

 

Yes, the steering improvement went largely unheralded. While shopping for the 2012 TSX Wagon, those earlier criticisms made me take 2 test drives on different routes.

I couldn't detect what the writers were saying -- dead on center feel, micro-adjustments needed on highway cruising, etc. I thought I was just an insensitive driver.

 

For the record I have a 2009 and I have never had a problem with the steering "feel". I recently had mine in for service and they gave me a loaner 2012 TSX and I actually disliked the steering...it felt somehow mushier or less responsive. Same with the throttle. Maybe I'm just used to my '09...

 

When I painted my valve cover I thought I lost the bolts and nuts that go there, so I bought new ones and realized it was right the whole time. Now I just have extra haha

 

Auto journos tend to exaggerate or nit-pick at stuff that are really non-issues for regular drivers. The only good thing about those criticisms are that they encourage car makers to take a second look.

But you're right. It's what you learn to feel and trust, something an auto journo can't do since they jump from car to car.