Campaign - Rear Seat Belts Lock When Parked At Angle
Bulletin No.93-020
Model
1990-93
ACCORD
Applicable To
See VEHICLES
AFFECTED
File Under
BODY
Issue Date
APRIL 23, 1993
Product Improvement Campaign: Rear Seat Belt Retractor Sensor
BACKGROUND
The seat belt assemblies fitted on the rear outside seating positions may lock up when the car is parked at a steep angle.
CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION
All owners of affected vehicles will be notified by mail that improved parts are now available. A copy of the customer letter is at the end of this service bulletin.
VEHICLES AFFECTED
CORRECTIVE ACTION
Replace both rear seat belt retractor sensors with the new sensors included in the kit listed under PARTS INFORMATION.
4-door Interior Removal
1. Remove the rear seat cushion mounting bolt. Remove the rear seat cushion.
2. Remove the left and right grab rails (EX only).
3. Remove the seat-back side cushion mounting bolt. Remove the seat-back side cushion by sliding it upward.
4. Fold the rear seat-back forward.
5. Remove the screw from the rear pillar trim panel. Remove the top screw from the side seat trim.
6. Remove the door opening seal in the area shown.
7. Loosen the six clips; then remove the rear roof side trim.
8. Put your fingers behind the rear pillar trim panel. Pull out on the panel to loosen the clips. Slide the trim panel down the seat belt, out of your way.
9. Go to step 23.
2-door Interior Removal
10. Move the front seats forward. Fold the seat-backs forward.
11. Remove the rear seat cushion mounting bolt. Remove the rear seat cushion.
12. Remove the left and right grab rails (EX only). Do not lose the spacer washers.
13. Open the trunk and fold the rear seat-back forward. Loosen the carpet from the trunk floor. Remove the two seat-back mounting bolts and remove the seat-back.
Do not place any weight on the seat-back while removing the mounting bolts.
14. Loosen the trunk front upper panel by tapping the clips with a plastic hammer. Remove the panel.
15. Use a trim removal tool to remove the trunk front side panel pins. Remove the side panel.
16. Remove the small round cap in the rear quarter trim panel arm rest. Remove the four screws holding the quarter panel.
17. Unlatch the rear window. Remove the cover; then remove the rear window latch mounting screws. Note the position of the latch on the screws for reinstallation.
18. Pull the front of the door sill molding up, and slide it forward to remove it.
19. Starting at the rear, gently pull the rear quarter trim panel outward to loosen the clips. Remove the trim panel by moving it forward and sliding it along the front seat belt.
20. Remove the quarter window trim in the area shown.
21. Loosen two clips on the window upper trim. Loosen six clips on the rear pillar trim panel. Remove the panel.
22. Go to step 23.
Sensor Replacement
23. Pull the seat belt fully out of the retractor. Hold it in the unreeled position by installing the clamp (from the kit) across the webbing.
24. Remove the two retractor assembly mounting bolts.
25. Place the retractor assembly on a flat surface with the blue cover facing up. Use a small allen wrench to push pins A and B through the cover. Locate the pins and discard them. Do not leave the pins in the retractor. they could affect its operation.
26. Lift the cover off the retractor assembly.
[NOTICE] Do not use a screwdriver or other pointed object to pry the cover off. You could damage the mechanical parts underneath.
27. Slide the sensor unit to the left to unlatch it from the retractor body. Lift it straight up. Do not touch the flywheel gear.
28. Look for the R or L stamped on the retractor assembly to verify that it is right or left. Match this with the color code of the replacement sensor assembly.
[NOTICE] Check the color code carefully. The retractor will not work properly if the wrong sensor is installed.
29. Shake the new sensor unit gently. Make sure the actuator and weight move freely. Do not touch the actuator or the weight.
30. Place the new sensor in the slot in the retractor assembly. Slide it to the right to lock it in place. Make sure the sensor is against the end of the slot.
31. Set the new cover in place on the retractor assembly. Align the pins on the cover with the holes in the retractor; then push the cover down to set it in place. Make sure all sides of the cover are seated against the retractor.
32. Use a 6 mm allen wrench to push down pins A and B and lock the cover in place.
33. Measure the sensor unit gap. If it is less than 3.5 mm, slide the sensor unit into place with your finger. The gap should be as close to 4 mm as possible.
34. Remove the clamp from the seat belt. Allow the belt to slowly go back into the retractor. Make sure the webbing is not twisted.
35. Hold the retractor assembly vertically. Pull the belt out slowly and verify that it locks. If the belt fails to lock, replace the seat belt assembly.
36. Reinstall the retractor assembly to the C-pillar. Torque the 6 mm bolt to 10 N-m (1.0 kg-m, 7 lb.ft.). Torque the 7/16 inch mounting bolt to 32 N-m (3.2 kg-m, 23 lb.ft.).
37. Pull the seat belt out slowly and verify that it does not lock. If the belt locks, replace the seat belt assembly.
38. Repeat the appropriate interior removal steps and the sensor replacement steps on the other side.
39. Reinstall the interior trim panels and seat.
^ Verify that all clips are connected to each trim piece before installing.
^ Make sure the quarter window trim on the 2-door is installed inside the rubber molding.
^ On the 2-door, pull the seat belts through the slots in the seat cushion as you are installing it.
40. Center-punch a completion mark above the sixth digit of the engine compartment VIN.
PARTS INFORMATION
Seat Belt Retractor Sensor Kit:
P/N 06850-SM4-A00
H/C 4239968
WARRANTY CLAIM INFORMATION
Operation number: 865110
Flat rate time:
4-door 1.0 hour (both sides)
2-door 1.2 hours (both sides)
Failed part: P/N 06850-SM4-A00
H/C 4239968
Defect code: 271
Contention code: J68
Text of the Customer Letter
April 1993
Dear Accord Owner:
American Honda is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign to help ensure that you are satisfied with your car.
You may have had a situation where your car's rear seat belts locked while the car was parked at an angle. Generally, this occurs when you park the car with one side sitting higher than the other (sideways on a steep hill, for example). If this happens, your rear seat passengers are not able to pull the belts out of the retractors so that they can put them on. The retractors will unlock when you move the car to level ground, then your passengers can put on their seat belts.
If your car has this condition, please call your Honda dealer. Parts are now available that reduce this tendency to lock. This work will be done free of charge. Although the installation takes approximately an hour, please plan to leave your car at the dealer all day to allow him flexibility in scheduling.
Your car's seat belts meet all other safety requirements and are effective when worn properly. If your car's seat belts should develop this, or any other, condition sometime in the future, please contact your Honda dealer. American Honda provides a lifetime limited warranty on all seat belt assemblies.
Please call your Honda Customer Relations Zone office if you have any questions.