Recall - Brake Booster Check Valve Sticking: Overview
Bulletin No.96-O32
Issue Date
JUNE 14, 1996
Model
1996 CIVIC
Applicable To
See VEHICLES AFFECTED
File Under
BRAKES
Safety Recall: Civic Power Brake Booster Check Valve
BACKGROUND
The brake booster check valve in certain 1996 Civics may stick, which could result in a loss of the brake's power assist. A loss of power assist would require greater than normal brake pedal force, resulting in a reduction in braking performance.
VEHICLES AFFECTED
CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION
Owners of affected vehicles will be contacted by mail and asked to take the car to a dealership for repair. The text of the customer letter is at the end of this service bulletin.
If any affected vehicles are in the dealership's inventory, repair them before they are sold or put into use as demonstrators.
WARRANTY CLAIM INFORMATION
Operation number: 413304
Flat rate time: 0.4 hour
Failed part: P/N 46402-S01-A11
H/C 4932018
Defect code: 251
Contention code: K11
Template ID: 96-032A
CORRECTIVE ACTION
Clean the brake booster vacuum hose and check valve.
1. Remove the brake booster vacuum hose from the car.
2. Take the hose to the sink. Turn on the hot water tap on the faucet. Let the water run until it gets as hot as possible.
3. Hold the brake booster end of the vacuum hose with a pair of pliers. Place that end under the water stream, and let the water flow through the hose for one minute.
NOTE:
Make sure you are holding the correct end of the hose under the water stream. The check valve allows the water to flow only one way.
4. Without draining the water from the hose, place the hose in a large container filled with hot water. Make sure the check valve is sitting horizontally. Leave the hose immersed in the container for five minutes.
5. Remove the hose from the container. As before, hold the brake booster end under the hot water stream from the faucet, and flow water through the hose for one minute. Make sure water comes out of the engine end of the hose.
6. Remove the hose from the water stream, and shake as much water as you can out of the hose. Blow compressed air into the brake booster end of the hose to remove the remaining water.
7. Reinstall the vacuum hose on the car.
8. Start the engine, and let it run until it reaches normal operating temperature.
9. Turn off the engine. Fully depress and release the brake pedal five times. You will feel the brake pedal get harder to push each time you depress it.
10. Press on the brake pedal as you start the engine. The pedal should go down at least another inch as the engine starts. If it does not, diagnose the problem using normal troubleshooting procedures.
11. Center-punch a completion mark above the last character of the engine compartment VIN.