Recurring Rack and Pinion Assembly (gear box) problem on Honda Jazz GE & City GM

**Jecoism** · September 28th, 2013 10:49 AM

Hi guys, just want to share my experience with my GE. I'm trying to look for other affected GE and GM units and see if this should be brought up to Honda.

Last year around July 2012 I've had this 'kalampag' problem under the hood. It sounds like clunking metal parts that I'm hearing under the hood everytime I go through small pot holes / road bumps even at slow speed. At first I thought it was a suspension problem, probably a busted stabilizing link. So I brought the car to Honda Manila and found out I need to replace my Rack and Pinion assembly and front stabilizing links. The Rack and Pinion assembly alone costs P57,352. Luckily for me, my unit is still under warranty so I get both fixed for a minimum charge for labor (which I think should not be charged to the client at all if you're claiming for warranty).

Anyway, the thing is a year after I'm hearing a metal clunking problem again.

I brought the car to Honda Manila again to check the suspension and under chassis and was quoted a price for a repair of the stab links and they still need to check if the shocks are for replacement which they can only do so when the whole suspension assembly is brought down (I'm not sure about this part?).

Well, I'm not satisfied so I decided to get two more opinions. Zafra Bautista Makati and Cruven Makati both confirmed that I need to replace the shocks after lifting the unit, both also said the stab links were still ok. But only Cruven saw that the problem was, again, and much to my fear, the Rack and Pinion Assembly. I was looking the whole time they were inspecting the car and with a rubber hammer the mechanic gently pinpoint the problem to me.

For those who do not know, the rack and pinion assembly affects the steering, which also explains why I'm having a very heavy wheel lately that won't stay straight. Actually I was used to a slightly heavier steering since I've replaced the stock tires with a slightly wider wheel, but I haven't really noticed that the steering deteriorated this much since I brought my car to Honda.

The mechanic from Cruven said a lot of 2nd generation Jazz and City (his term was the transformer City) came to them who were affected by the same problem, that's why I want to see if this is actually a big issue for these models that it merits a recall, or it was just mine which could lead me to assume that my car might be a lemon car after all. So if your GE or GM is having or have had the same problem, please let me know. Thanks guys.

**wulberin** · June 22nd, 2016 08:04 PM

Hi sir, apologies for reviving this old thread but i just want to ask ano na pong nangyari sa oto nyo?
I currently have the same problem po with my GE and nag aalala na ko kung anong gagawin ko. Napakamahal kasi magpalit ng rack and pinion.
Just wanna ask kung ano po ginawa nyo to solve the problem.

Sa mga nakakabasa po or having the same issue, pashare naman po sana kung anong ginawa nyo to solve the problem.
I badly need help please. Salamat po sa mga sasagot.

**baludoy** · June 22nd, 2016 08:40 PM

^ try mo patingin sa benmawi auto works sa binan. suki ng mga honda peeps iyon kasi specialist sa repair ng mga rack & pinion ng honda since dating tech ng honda casa. although primarily fd owners ang laging nag rerecommend, i think kaya nila tirahin handily iyong mga ge & gm din

**allan-kurt** · October 13th, 2016 05:20 PM

Sa banawe sir may gumagawa nyan. Yung rack n pin ng CRV ko nung pina estimate ko sa casa it will cost me 60-70k . Nung pina check ko sa banawe ni repair lang nila at pinalitan ang bushing and it just cost mo 6500 petot. yun tanggal ang kalampag. with 3 months warranty pa. Anyway EPS yung steering ko.

**kokoyCB** · June 3rd, 2017 02:43 PM

Originally Posted by allan-kurt

Sa banawe sir may gumagawa nyan. Yung rack n pin ng CRV ko nung pina estimate ko sa casa it will cost me 60-70k . Nung pina check ko sa banawe ni repair lang nila at pinalitan ang bushing and it just cost mo 6500 petot. yun tanggal ang kalampag. with 3 months warranty pa. Anyway EPS yung steering ko.

Boss san po exact shop sa banawe. Same situation ako crv gen 3. Di pa naman ganun kagrabe ang tunog at very selective sa lubak. Salamat po.

**Rhed46** · July 1st, 2017 07:33 AM

Originally Posted by Jecoism

Hi guys, just want to share my experience with my GE. I'm trying to look for other affected GE and GM units and see if this should be brought up to Honda.

Last year around July 2012 I've had this 'kalampag' problem under the hood. It sounds like clunking metal parts that I'm hearing under the hood everytime I go through small pot holes / road bumps even at slow speed. At first I thought it was a suspension problem, probably a busted stabilizing link. So I brought the car to Honda Manila and found out I need to replace my Rack and Pinion assembly and front stabilizing links. The Rack and Pinion assembly alone costs P57,352. Luckily for me, my unit is still under warranty so I get both fixed for a minimum charge for labor (which I think should not be charged to the client at all if you're claiming for warranty).

Anyway, the thing is a year after I'm hearing a metal clunking problem again.

I brought the car to Honda Manila again to check the suspension and under chassis and was quoted a price for a repair of the stab links and they still need to check if the shocks are for replacement which they can only do so when the whole suspension assembly is brought down (I'm not sure about this part?).

Well, I'm not satisfied so I decided to get two more opinions. Zafra Bautista Makati and Cruven Makati both confirmed that I need to replace the shocks after lifting the unit, both also said the stab links were still ok. But only Cruven saw that the problem was, again, and much to my fear, the Rack and Pinion Assembly. I was looking the whole time they were inspecting the car and with a rubber hammer the mechanic gently pinpoint the problem to me.

For those who do not know, the rack and pinion assembly affects the steering, which also explains why I'm having a very heavy wheel lately that won't stay straight. Actually I was used to a slightly heavier steering since I've replaced the stock tires with a slightly wider wheel, but I haven't really noticed that the steering deteriorated this much since I brought my car to Honda.

The mechanic from Cruven said a lot of 2nd generation Jazz and City (his term was the transformer City) came to them who were affected by the same problem, that's why I want to see if this is actually a big issue for these models that it merits a recall, or it was just mine which could lead me to assume that my car might be a lemon car after all. So if your GE or GM is having or have had the same problem, please let me know. Thanks guys.

Sir ask ko lng po kng muzta po ung gearbox issue ng car mo...i have honda city 1.3 2012...may nararamdaman din ako kalampag sa selected lubak sa may gearbox o rack and pinion..san po ippgawa sir...hm inabot? Tnx

**Rhed46** · July 1st, 2017 07:34 AM

Originally Posted by kokoyCB

Boss san po exact shop sa banawe. Same situation ako crv gen 3. Di pa naman ganun kagrabe ang tunog at very selective sa lubak. Salamat po.

Sir ask ko lng kung naipagawa mo ba gearbox rack n pinion issue ng honda mo? San po at hm po inabot? Nwala po ba ung kalampag? need reference and opinion po kc gnito issie ng transfofmer ko pag nalubak eh...Tnx

**DevAaron** · July 4th, 2017 03:50 PM

sa GM ko noon.. every other year pag nag papa PMS ako pina-pa repack ko yung Gear box.
part of preventive maintenance ko sya.

na wawala yung kalampag ng konti..

wear and tear part kasi yan..

the most na magagawa is mag dahan-dahan sa lubak or kung ma-iiwasan iwasan nalng.

**kokoyCB** · July 7th, 2017 06:24 PM

Originally Posted by Rhed46

Sir ask ko lng kung naipagawa mo ba gearbox rack n pinion issue ng honda mo? San po at hm po inabot? Nwala po ba ung kalampag? need reference and opinion po kc gnito issie ng transfofmer ko pag nalubak eh...Tnx

Okay na yung sa akin mga paps. Sa exalta n. Roxas banawe ko pinagawa. Spindlerod bushings lang issue 3800 all-in pati wheel alignment after fix. Steering good as new. Nawala na din yung clunking sound sa small potholes. Pati engine support ko napagawa ko din sa kanila. Bought own for half the price as Casa sa mga auto supply dun then sila nagkabit sa Exalta -nasolve nito yung kuliglig issue ng aircon kapag low idling. Total damage incl support 9300. Casa estimate 80,000

Highly recommended si Exalta. Look for Von ��

**Rhed46** · July 26th, 2017 07:37 PM

Originally Posted by kokoyCB

Okay na yung sa akin mga paps. Sa exalta n. Roxas banawe ko pinagawa. Spindlerod bushings lang issue 3800 all-in pati wheel alignment after fix. Steering good as new. Nawala na din yung clunking sound sa small potholes. Pati engine support ko napagawa ko din sa kanila. Bought own for half the price as Casa sa mga auto supply dun then sila nagkabit sa Exalta -nasolve nito yung kuliglig issue ng aircon kapag low idling. Total damage incl support 9300. Casa estimate 80,000

Highly recommended si Exalta. Look for Von ��

Cge paps salamt...sana mkadayo ako jan kc dto p ako ilocos...may cp number k ng exalta or ung staff dun pra maisked ko po..tnx