wawa2010

Hi,

Here is the story recently. One day I found when I started the car in the morning which is very code (about -15 degree). I could hear a noise under engine hood of passenger side, then I continued to drive my car to work. After about 15 minutes driving, the noise was gone and I didn't notice the noise when got back home in the evening. Same thing happened a few times as long as it was cold (below -10 degree). Last Friday, I called my local dealer and made a appointment. Yesterday, they checked the car and asked for about $206 to fixed, plus the checking the bill is $300 total. Below is the detail I found the the work order. Hope this can help some people has similar issue.

************ Original French words*******************
verifier pour bruit quand demarre la voiture cote passager bruit sourd

presence de bulles d'air dans le liquide de servo-direction.
qui rend la pompe bruyante a cause du o-ring de la pompe qui laisse entrer de l'air dans le systeme, bulletin VIII-13-07

confirmer le bruit au demarrage a froid. et aussi grincenment de la courroie serpentine. remplacer o-ring de la pompe selon le bulletin et courroise. ajuster le niveau de liquide.
**************************************************

I translated into English by GOOGLE, sorry I don't speak French.

******** English, translated by GOOGLE*************
check for noise when START rating passenger car thud

presence of air in the power steering fluid bubbles.
making noisy pump because of o-ring pump that lets air into the system, bulletin VIII-13-07

confirm the noise cold start. and also grincenment serpentine belt. Replace o-ring of the pump according to the bulletin and courroise. adjust the liquid level.
*************************************************

Based on above detail, is my local dealer honest enough or I was ripped off

paperboy42190

iTrader: (7)

so they replaced your serpentine belt and power steering pump O-ring.

I guess $300 at the dealer is considered normal(especially since canadian prices are higher)

But here in US, the belt is about $40(i forget exactly), and the O ring is like $1. Not a hard DIY at home but for someone who doesnt know anything about cars, there is some room for error.

what's done is done. just enjoy that your car is fixed and continue driving it.

AndrewA

iTrader: (3)

considering that they replaced an o-ring that costs less than a US dollar and also considering that it takes about 10 minutes to replace the o-ring, that feels steep. Actually, TSB 07-060 says the labor should be Flat Rate Time: 0.3 hour (or 18 minutes). I'd complain.

By the way, here's what they did:

Click here for repair procedure

paperboy42190

iTrader: (7)

^you missed serpentine belt

wawa2010

I checked my bill, there are three parts. One is $2.5, 2nd is $9.13, 3rd is $66. Right, the labor is main cost.

AndrewA

iTrader: (3)

I'm not certain they did replace it. The OP mispelled grincement, which is grinding or rubbing. I think that's what they were diagnosing. The only thing they clearly replaced was the o-ring.

My guess is that they charged $2.5 for the o-ring, $9.13 for replacement fluid. Not sure what is $66. Maybe that's a diagnosis charge? Still, that leaves over $260 in labor for 15-30 minutes of work? Personally, I'd be calling them on that and make them justify the time.

pohljm

Hopfully he got a sexy new french serpentine belt. If you dont speak french then why was the service respondeveux in frog?

Aman

^ $66 sounds like it could be the serpentine belt. Diagnosis is probably around $100. Replacement of the belt is the only answer that makes sense.

paperboy42190

iTrader: (7)

^+1

wawa2010

Yes, with my poor french I heard they had to replace a belt and the o-ring. BTW, the service adviser is a sexy french girl! ^_^

BTW, in the work order detail, they mentioned the bulletin VIII-13-07 . What's that? Is it a well known issue of Honda ?

pohljm

I am not sure but the o-ring should have been replaced for free, maybe just USA cars? Tha could be the bulletin? Perhaps they did the recall for the power steering hose?

Will Y.

In the U.S., the factories put out Technical Service Bulletins for the techs to fix various issues that arise.
It seems that the Canadian numbering system is different from the American TSB numbering system, but my guess is that it is a TSB from Acura Canada. You might be able to find it in a web search.

TSBs issued by American Honda are the first item in the 3G TL Service Dept/Garage at: https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/3g-tl-service-department-aka-garage-questions-answers-check-here-first-553557/

It looks like the recall notices are only for US cars by American Honda. The shop did not replace OP's PS hose-- just the O-ring on the low-pressure side.

AndrewA

iTrader: (3)

It's all very strange. Retail price of the accessory drive belt is about $40. I think the biggest travesty here is that we have no pics of said service advisor.

Aman

$40 part costing $66 in sounds about right, unfortunately.

And I agree about pics of the service advisor!

cam_2

+1 on the above - French women have that 'je ne sais quoi' going for them

dc2kid

iTrader: (2)

Which acura dealer in Montreal? I got the recall letter in the mail for the power steering o-ring