1996 Honda CN250

I BOUGHT A 1996 HONDA ACCORD COUPE W/91,000 MILES AND A VTEC ENGINE, IN MAY OF 2004 AND NOW ITS DEC 2004 I WAS TOLD THAT MY ENGINE IS GONE DUE TO A BALANCE SHAFT SEAL WITHOUT ITS RETAINER ATTACHED. WITHOUT THE RETAINER, THE BALANCE SHAFT SEAL CAME LOOSE AND MY OIL CAME OUT AND NOW I'VE BEEN TOLD BY TWO MECHANICS THAT MY ENGINE IS BAD. THIS ALL HAPPENED IN THE SPAN OF TWO DAYS.*AK

THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AT 81133 MILES WHILE DRIVING. I PULLED THE CAR OVER. ALL THE ENGINE OIL HAD SPILLED OUT OVER THE PREVIOUS MILE, IN A SCHOOL ZONE. A PARTICULARLY LARGE PUDDLE OF OIL WAS AT THE LAST STOP SIGN WHERE THE OIL LIGHT HAD COME ON. THE MECHANIC AT ANDERSON HONDA IDENTIFIED THAT THE BALANCE SHAFT SEAL HAD FAILED (POPPED OUT). TOTAL REPAIR COST $857, INCLUDING THE REQUIRED BALANCE SHAFT SEAL RETAINER. HONDA ADMITS TO HAVING A "SERVICE UPDATE" FOR THIS ISSUE FROM 09/2000 TO 01/2003. DURING THIS PERIOD HONDA NOTIFIED THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENTS TO INSTALL A BALANCE SHAFT SEAL RETAINER. SINCE 01/2003 HONDA HAD PROACTIVELY REMOVED INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEED FOR A BALANCE SHAFT SEAL RETAINER FROM THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT DATABASES. SERVICE DEPARTMENTS ARE NO LONGER MAKING OWNERS AWARE OF THE NEED FOR A BALANCE SHAFT SEAL RETAINER. SIMILARLY HONDA HAS REMOVED ALL EVIDENCE OF THIS REQUIRED SERVICE UPDATE FROM THE OWNERS LINK AT HONDA.COM. HONDA IS FAILING IN IT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE CUSTOMERS AWARE OF THE NEED FOR THIS BALANCE SHAFT SEAL RETAINER. YES HONDA NOTIFIED CUSTOMERS BY MAIL IN 2000, BUT THIS IS NO EXCUSE FOR BURYING THIS ISSUE AFTER 01/2003. *NM