Type R Club of America

I just got off the phone with the store GM. He said they are not going to charge me for the diagnostics and will not in the future if I need to bring it in, but will charge me if the Tech Line asks to have the data uploaded. He also provided the contact information for third party arbitration provided to Honda franchises.

Why would they think the new ECU that you just bought would be modified?

I think "going up the ladder" is the best thing to do in this case, as you contacted the GM for example.

I also don't think you should be paying anything, and should get that new ECU refunded/returned.

Maybe that arbitration avenue will help. But if you find the right level "manager," maybe a regional manager etc., someone's gotta have some sense at some point.

I arrived at the store, politely stated I wasn't picking up the car, and requested another new ECU/PCM be ordered and installed.

This didn't go over well with the Service Advisor, so the Service Manager invited me into his office and I told him that I didn't feel safe driving a car that might cut power randomly and wasn't covered under warranty. He said that the new ECU/PCM was covered under warranty. This is not what I was told over the phone.

He stated that Honda would cover the PCM, but any future claims that might be related to the old PCM, would not. He clarified that the mismatch code was not a result of a PCM modification and did not void the warranty. In his words, "...you are 100% covered, but the VIN is flagged so every time it goes in for service, Honda will want the data."

I asked for the phone number of the District Parts and Service Manager (DPSM) since email was not being returned. He said he would forward my information and the DPSM said he would call me in the evening, so I left with the CTR.

A short time later, the DPSM called and we spoke for an hour. It was a pleasant conversation and I let him know that I was very frustrated and his time was appreciated. He said that he appreciated that I was a Honda enthusiast and loyal Honda customer. He also said that it was obvious that I drove the car the way Honda intended, which was good. To get a better understanding of the situation, he asked me to take a close look at the original ECU and described some things that were red flags to tampering. I could see some scratches and finger prints. The Tech told him that they were already on the PCM when he took it out and (in combination with the Tech Line analysis) indicated tampering. I'm paraphrasing, but the Tech Line also stated that there were several failed VIN write attempts and out of boost range markers. I think he said It was also recording boost of 29.1PSI instead of 21.9PSI (don't quote me on the exact numbers) with the old ECU and not with the new ECU. He said he personally drove the car with both ECU's for 30 miles, combined and noticed a difference in power.

For the limited time I drove it with the new ECU it felt the same.

I reiterated that the only apps I used were: Torque Pro, RaceChrono Pro, and ODB2AA. The Tech Line told him that they shouldn't write any data.

This car only has ~4,200 miles and one oil change. I can put dates and times to every place it's been (all Honda stores) for service.

The DPSM is going to speak with Honda Corp again to see if they would provide additional details that corroborate their statement that the ECU was modified and contact me. If all else fails, I'm going to send the ECU to Hondata or KTuner to see if any of their programs are on it. I also have a friend that works for a state Highway Patrol that I may ask to pull the finger prints.

Here's a pic of the returned ECU.

i would have asked them if they have robots installing the ecu when the car is built lmao.. im willing to bet the finger prints are from the manufacturing process.. no way every person wears gloves all the time..

And it seems like the burden is on Honda to prove "without a shadow of a doubt" (or whatever legal principle applies here) that ECU was modified. Some fingerprints and the tech saying it "felt faster" are not proof at all imo. And if they did see higher boost data, they need to present that. Some tech saying his own opinion and feelings don't prove anything.

Today in pictures...

Is it a lemon?

I would politely tell them to kick rocks and enlist the services of an attorney.

Last week, after initially being told that a loaner would not be covered until Honda approved the warranty work and being asked for gas money by the SM, I requested contact from the GM and DPSM.

They apologized and both said they would get this resolved. The DPSM said he would make me, "100% whole" and apoligized for having his hands tied by corporate engineering. The updated engine harness was ordered and he's looking into refunding the ECU/PCM.

Today, Honda engineering asked for another snapshot at 5pm today. The harness hasn't been replaced yet.

Honda Corporation Customer Service called me after I requested another advocate because the assigned advocate never returned any of my calls. They said there was nothing further they could do since I was working directly with the DPSM and they closed the ticket.