On 5/11/04 11:13 PM, in article Ivhoc.86474$NR5.51554@fe1.texas.rr.com,
"Sid" <sfincher@hot.rr.com> wrote:

> You are correct. It was carbon build-up on the throttle plate. They
> cleaned the throttle body for $73. Not bad, but Honda Care would not pay.
> They said it was just maintenance (cleaning) and since no part was replaced
> and it was not due to a Mechanical Breakdown due to a defect... etc. I
> think that is Bunk! and told them so. If it was just maintenance they
> should have put it in the table of regularly scheduled maintenance items.
>
> Spoke with the Service Manager to no avail. He said they have to do what
> Honda Care tells them. Right. I then called the Honda national customer
> service hotline and was assigned a case worker. He called the next day and
> said Honda would reimburse me because they want me to be a happy customer
> and to think about Honda next time I buy a car. So it worked out well in
> the end, but I still think Honda Care should have paid. Before the case
> worker called I had filed a complaint with the NHTSA, because it was clearly
> becoming a safety hazard.
>
> Sid
>
>

I think I agree with the dealer - this is a routine maintenance issue, not a
defect.

You could have cleaned it yourself for about $5 with a can of air-intake
cleaner from Autozone or Pep Boys. Thirty years ago, we were spraying carb
cleaner down the throat of the carburetor every year or so. This is just
the modern equivalent.