Dafuq Honda, again?

"Klaus Schmoll" (klausschmoll)
11/24/2016 at 12:46 • Filed to: None

Got the distributor cap today, and since there was a bit of sunlight left I popped the hood to see if it would fit. Nope, nope, nope. No way, this thing will sit flush against the engine block. So I went online and discovered that my VIN produces not one but two parts numbers for distributor caps. Weird. So I ordered the other one, whose picture looks much more like the one in my car, and will return the one that came today. No biggie.

But then it hit me. This isn’t the first time, my VIN produced several parts numbers for a specific part. Had the same problem a couple of years ago with a small electronic component that sits in the steering column, reads the code in the key, and tells the petrol pump to start working. The shop had me come in to disassemble the column only to see which part they had to order, because Honda couldn’t tell which one was fitted based on my VIN.

Hmmm. It’s hard to believe that the guys in Swindon used whatever they had lying around. Sounds more like a supplier changing a small electronic part mid-cycle. But with the distributor cap it’s different. It has to sit tight against the engine block. To use another one they would have had to change the casting of the block. No OEM would do that. Which leads me to believe that their parts data is effed up. Nice one Honda. This tells me that fuckups like this will continue to happen with this car. Good thing it doesn’t need new parts very often.

DISCUSSION (19)

interstate366, now In The Industry > Klaus Schmoll
11/24/2016 at 12:56

In the US, there’s a Honda parts website (Honda Parts Now) that tells you if a part will fit your car (down to the trim level/engine) if it’s been discontinued, and a replacement part number if it’s changed. But issues like yours still come up like time to time. There are two different power steering pumps for the 90-91 Prelude, and there’s no real way to find out which one fits aside from trying it.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Klaus Schmoll
11/24/2016 at 13:38

Reason enough to ditch the Accord and get a 525d?

Klaus Schmoll > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
11/24/2016 at 13:44

My current favorite: http://suchen.mobile.de/auto-inserat/bmw-530d-tour-m-sportpaket-sport-aut-standheizung-miltenberg/223869094.html?action=parkItem

A tad pricey but oh so pretty.

BloodlessWeevil > Klaus Schmoll
11/24/2016 at 13:45

They might not have associated certain features to specific VINs at that point. So they see make and model, but not engine options. You might have better luck searching parts for the make, model, and engine/trim/features.

Klaus Schmoll > BloodlessWeevil
11/24/2016 at 13:47

That’s what I did as well. Same result.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Klaus Schmoll
11/24/2016 at 14:10

That’s kinda in my area, like 40 minutes away.

As for the car the 530d seems very clean and with that low mileage it’s good for another 200k KM with good care. I really like the interior color and M Paket.

Klaus Schmoll > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
11/24/2016 at 14:27

I know, a friend of mine is from Waldürn and now lives in Tauberbischofsheim.

The leather/wood and M-trim combo is really nice, but I also dig the Standheizung as I have to park outside.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Klaus Schmoll
11/24/2016 at 14:38

The Standheizung is really worth its price according to a friend of mine.

Klaus Schmoll > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
11/24/2016 at 15:03

It’s weird that teh ‘murricans haven’t heard of this marvel and use these crude remote starters instead.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Klaus Schmoll
11/24/2016 at 15:16

I think an engine block heater is an option on a lot of cars for sale in the US. Not sure if they work like a Standheizung.

Klaus Schmoll > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
11/24/2016 at 15:28

From what I understand (not much) they only heat the engine, and have to be connected to a power outlet. But that’s just my limited knowledge.

brianbrannon > Klaus Schmoll
11/24/2016 at 15:36

It’s just a different distributor not a whole engine block. Especially since it bolts to just the head. I am curious why it’s Honda’s fuckup when you didn’t look the part up correctly

Klaus Schmoll > brianbrannon
11/24/2016 at 16:08

I consider it Honda’s fuckup since my VIN produces not one but two parts numbers. Also, the cap bolts DIRECTLY to metal on the CG8 (be it engine block or head, my rage didn’t let me check that, and I honestly don’t care). As you might have read it is also not the first time that they can’t come up with a straight answer causing delays.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Klaus Schmoll
11/24/2016 at 16:10

I neither know much if anything about that matter to be honest. But from what I’ve seen remote start is very common in the US of A. I wonder if Europeans would do this if gas was cheaper here.

Klaus Schmoll > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
11/24/2016 at 16:33

Besides the fact that letting your engine run to warm up is illegal (I think). Probably part of some “don’t produce more pollution than absolutely necessary” legislation. Or a complete urban myth?

In the few mornings we have with ice on the windows (the Baltic sea cools our climate in summer but gives off heat in winter), my neighbour just sits in his car with the engine running, listening to the radio, while I jump around with ice scrapers and alcohol sprays. We tend to leave at the same time.

smobgirl > Klaus Schmoll
11/25/2016 at 01:16

You know, I vaguely remember running into that issue with my old Civic from time to time as well, even when it was a shop ordering the parts. I’d call to check on a repair status only to be told the part they ordered wasn’t right and there was a delay while they tracked down the correct one. It’s been a while since I thought about it but I think one of them might have been a distributor cap as well.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Klaus Schmoll
11/25/2016 at 02:09

poor quality parts catalogue that can’t filter correctly is the problem.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Klaus Schmoll
11/25/2016 at 02:37

Thank god I don’t have to deal with any of that because our car is parked in a garage.

brianbrannon > Klaus Schmoll
11/26/2016 at 13:00

They give two options. You pick the wrong one. Makes sense in a world of participation trophys