A few have posted noticing various different things after having the LMS recall performed; such as running better, running worse, broken clips, etc.... I had mine replaced a couple of weeks ago and can't see any sign of the work even being performed, unless of course, the dealership I use is just that good. Of course I don't really think the dealership would have taken my car and put it in a bay for 3 hours for no reason but.....

Is there any way of verifying that the work was actually done?

(I am having no issues with the way the car is running)

 

You probably already know that they are supposed to use a punch to add a dot above the engine compartment VIN....but then that only means they are claiming to have done the work.

The work comes in 2 kinds...first they must verify the actual production date/number of the valve rocker assembly. That requires at least removing the valve cover to see the number on top of the rocker arm bridge casting. If it's after 11/20/2009 they are to close the engine back up and do the punch. If it's before 11/20/2009 then they must actually replace the 4 LMS which involves a lot of internal engine work....then do the punch afterwards.

I'm skeptical they could actually replace the 4 LMS without SOME traces of the work but can't think of a way to prove they didn't if they claim they did. I suppose you could ask them what did they find to be the actual production date marked on the rocker bridge casting. Then you'd at least know if they are claiming to have done the actual LMS replacement, or just verified a date after 11/20/2009, although you should be able to tell that from the invoice. The labor times to be charged are different. It's supposedly 1.1 hours versus 1.6 hours according to the Honda service bulletin.

I think some skepticism is good. There have been a lot of issues around this recall, and Honda found some dealers initially refusing to do the work.

geo

 

At the time, you could have asked that they show the pulled parts. At this point, its pretty impossible to prove one way or the other. In theory, if they didn't you could pull the old springs and show they were the defective ones.

 

Could you tell me exactly where it is? I've looked and can't seem to find it and when I went to check the manual, of course I can't find that either. (Yet I do know where the owner's manual for my 1996 Toyota and 1999 Harley are)

 

Directly above the engine, on the cowl, there's a small panel that says "frame number" on it. Slide that to the right, and look inside. The VIN is there in the steel and would be exposed if they had the cowl off. They are supposed to make a punch or check mark above the first character of the VIN.

geo

 

Can someone provide a photo of this "punch" above the vin, because I tried looking and it's so dark in that compartment, even with a flashlight I can't see anything.

 

dont look too hard. no one actually punches the vin

 

I think that 99% of the claims that the car is running better after the recall are in the posters' heads. I'm sorry, I know I will likely get flamed but that's my 2 cents on the matter.

If your car was running well and continues to run well after the recall, I would not assume anything sinister. More like business as usual. And yes, a good dealer will get it done without much or any evidence that the job was performed.

 

I could swear I hear a little tick tick tick (I call it a sewing machine) ever since. I thought maybe I'd stop selective hearing for it but I don't. I brought it back TWICE to the maintenance guys for a "ride around", but they say they don't hear anything strange. My MPG reads a little less - say 31 MPG rather than 33MPG - but that might be me.

 

The same exact thing happened to me and I had them redo the valve adjustment and there was no difference after. I also thought my mileage dropped but I was wrong because my calculations show that it's back to what it was before the recall work. I've also listened to other Fits and even civics and minis and I can hear a similar noise. I've come to the conclusion that I just wasn't listening for tick-clack noise before.

So my point being, I think many of us are imagining this stuff. And I certainly don't buy that the recall adds HP or some such thing. The human mind/memory are weird. For example, we've found out that one of the worst forms of criminal evidence are eye witnesses. People simply don't remember very well but they are convinced they do.

 

know-nothin: that is comforting to hear. thanks!
I am driving soon for a couple of hours on the highway - I'll see if I can get back up to 44MPG.

I never ever use my flippers to shift gears. If I learn to use them, will my mileage get better?

 

You're welcome! I don't know about the flippers because my fit is a manual. Maybe some of the AT owners can chime in.

 

I was working on the road when I decided to stop at a different dealership and expressed my concern (curiosity). The service manager told me that although Honda says to stamp a dot over the first letter of the VIN, it is mostly not done and the mechanic just replaces what needs to be replaced and calls it a day.

I typically ask for the used parts back but for whatever reason, I did not do it this time, although the service manager said I had nothing to worry about. I still wish I could see the stamp though, and it may be there, I just can't see it as it is too dark!

And now for a secondary question. Why would they call it a Frame Number on the little sliding door as opposed to VIN? I would just naturally assume Frame Number and VIN are two different things.

Oh well........

 

A couple of guesses which may or may not be right.....

Honda probably has a long-term view and knows that a car will go through a number of owners and non-Honda maintenance work. For the 5th owner to verify whether an old recall was ever done might be easier if there is a physical mark on the car instead of in some dealer's old inaccessible records. It could still be faked anywhere along the way, though.

The car is made in Japan for many different markets. The name on the sliding door might be what it's called in the most parts of the world...??

geo