1996 Honda Accord

AS I PREPARED TO SLOW TO A STOP IN A RELATIVES CIRCULAR DRIVEWAY, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV UP WITH A HIGH PITCHED WHINE. I TURNED THE WHEEL TO AVOID HITTING A PARKED CAR IN HOPES OF STOPPING THE CAR BUT IT CONTINUED TO GAIN SPEED AND ENDED UP HITTING A PICKUP IN THE SAME CIRCULAR DRIVEWAY. THE BRAKES DID NOT SEEM TO FUNCTION AS THE CAR PICKED UP SPEED.

ABS LIGHT CAME ON ACCOMPANIED BY BUZZER. CHECKED BRAKE FLUID AND FOUND THAT I WAS ALMOST EMPTY IN ABS RESERVOIR. ADDED FLUID AND HAD ABS MODULATOR CHECKED. MODULATOR WAS FOUND TO BE LEAKING BRAKE FLUID FROM FITTING ON UNDERSIDE. I CONTACTED DEALER TO EFFECT REPAIR,AND WAS TOLD A NEW ABS MODULATOR WOULD BE ABOUT $1500-$1600 DOLLARS. SINCE VEHICLE WAS JUST PAST WARRANTY LIMITS, I INQUIRED IF SOME CONSIDERATION MIGHT BE MADE SINCE IT WAS CONSIDERED A NON-WEAR ITEM. DEALER DENIED ANY CONSIDERATIONS. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH INTO THE MATTER, I DISCOVERED A HONDA SERVICE BULLETIN HAD BEEN RELEASED TO DEALERS PRIOR TO MY COMPLAINT THAT ACKNOWLEDGES A PROBLEM WITH "LEAKING ABS MODULATORS" HONDA SERVICE BULLETIN # 960-50 JUNE 30,1998. IT STATES THAT THE PLUGS IN THE ABS MODULATOR MAY NOT BE PROPERLY TIGHTENED,AND GOES ON TO DESCRIBE A SIMPLE INEXPENSIVE FIX FOR THIS SYMPTOM. WHEN I AGAIN CONTACTED THE DEALER AND MADE THEM AWARE OF THIS,THEY AGAIN SAID THEY WOULD FIX IT BY REPLACING THE UNIT FOR $1500-$1600-NO WARRANTY-NO EXCEPTIONS. I INQUIRED ABOUT THE REGIONAL WARRANTY REPRESENTATIVE,GOT HIS PHONE NUMBER,AND CALLED HIM. AGAIN I DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM,MY CONCERNS,AND THE HONDA ISSUED SERVICE BULLETIN. HE SAID THAT WHILE THE BULLETIN DOES DESCRIBE ONE POSSIBLE FIX FOR THE PROBLEM,THE HONDA DEALERS WERE NOT BOUND TO FOLLOW THAT RECOMMENDED AVENUE OF REPAIR. IN OTHER WORDS,"SPEND 1/2 HR. FIXING SOMETHING FOR $100, OR SPEND 1/2 HR FIXING IT FOR $1500". I WOULD LIKE TO STRESS THAT,SINCE I WORK IN A CONSUMER RELATED FIELD, AT NO TIME DID I PRESENT MYSELF UNPROFESSIONALLY,OR FAIL TO SHOW RESPECT TO THE PERSON TO WHOM I WAS SPEAKING,AS I BELIEVED THAT ULTIMATELY,"REASON" WOULD WIN OUT. *NM

SHOULDN'T SAFETY EQUIPMENT BE REPAIRED BY MANUFACTURER AT NO COST TO CONSUMER IF CONSUMER HAS DONE NOTHING TO CAUSE MALFUNCTION? MY SRS LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT IS ON(1996 HONDA ACCORD EX). MY HONDA DEALER WANTS $1000+ TO FIX THE SRS LIGHT AND $1500-$1700 TO REPLACE THE ABS MODULATOR/ACCUMULATOR. I HAD THE CAR FOR 3 WEEKS WHEN THE FIRST PROBLEM LIGHT CAME ON AND NOW I HAVE TWO SAFETY PROBLEMS. CAN YOU HELP ME OUT ON THIS?*JB

BOTH THE ABS AND THE SRS INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON. HAD DEALER CHECK AND WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW ABS ACCUMULATOR AND MODULATOR, IN ADDITION TO A NEW SRS CONTROLUNIT, ( AIR BAG SYSTEM). THESE ARE BOTH COST PROHIBITIVE, WERE VERY EXPENSIVE OPTIONAL SAFTEY FEATURES OFFERED AT THE TIME OF SALE. I HAVE LOOKED ON LINE AND THIS APPEARS TO BE A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM WITH THE ACCORD 1994-1999 AND THE ODYSSEY, BOTH OF WHICH USE THE SAME ABS MODULATOR/ACCUMULATOR. UPON DIAGNOSIS, THE DEALER ASSURED ME THAT THIS WAS "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR."