[xcdustin]

I have a feeling Thor hasn’t seen regular dealer service in quite some time. I was poking around asking questions from Honda and got this message:

“ However, we'd like to inform you about a Product update found with the information provided.

Campaign eligibility is VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) specific and only applies to those VINs affected by the campaign. Based on the information provided, your vehicle is affected by the Product Update: MIL Comes On With DTC P0420 07-038. To have the appropriate repairs performed on your vehicle, please schedule an appointment with your local authorized Honda dealership for service.”

@jeffffej was as shocked as I am that there are available ECMs in inventory. It took them a week to get one to the dealer and they’ll be replacing mine tomorrow.

Mine is a 2000 citrus. If memory serves, they said affected vehicles were 2000-2001 manual transmission. They were saying something about this causing catalytic converters issues, and the recall was issued in 2007.

It’s been a minute…. But if you’re interested, you might be able to get a free new ECM. Just give your VIN to the Honda dealer and they can check.

 

[*sean*]

If you could, what is the part number of your current ECM and the part number of the new one? They all start with 37820-PHM-xxx where xxx is a number like 505 or a combination of a letter and numbers like A01.

 

[xcdustin]

Good question. I have no idea about either one. I’ll ask for the replacement number. Also, is the ECM somewhere near the throttle body? I’ve never messed with it and I don’t know what I’m looking for. Would it have the part number on it?

 

[Balto]

It's inside the vehicle on the passenger side footwell, mounted on the firewall under the glovebox. It's not difficult to get to.

 

[xcdustin]

Hmm…. Is this the wrong box then? This is near the door:

39980-S3Y-0031-C1.

There’sa metal plate hiding some wiring. Is it under that?

If you could, what is the part number of your current ECM and the part number of the new one? They all start with 37820-PHM-xxx where xxx is a number like 505 or a combination of a letter and numbers like A01.

 

[Willie Williford]

The ECM is in the floor area, right at the firewall.

 

[*sean*]

The ECM is located between the passenger footwell and the firewall, where the footwell transitions from flat to a 45 degree angle. To access it, I lift the plastic doorsill that says Insight (when replacing it that strip, be careful to align the small tab at the back of the door sill strip with the slot...) I then pull the carpet back to reveal a black metal plate. Four screws hold it in. The numbers are printed on the end opposite the connectors; if you remove the screws you should be able to lift the plate (the ECM will still be attached to the plate) and get a photo of the sticker with the part number.

37820 seems to be universal for "ECM" for Hondas of this area. "PHM" refers to the Insight specifically. You will also see S3Y. The last three digits can sometimes encode whether or not it is a CVT, for the ECM. So, "37820-PHM-xxx" is an ECM for a first gen Insight, "37820-PZA-xxx" is an ECM for the first gen Honda Civic Hybrid", etc. The xxx varies for different variants of the car where changes between model years or differences in configuration (MT vs CVT) are different enough to require different ECM hardware configurations.

Interested to know the part number of a pre-recall ECM and a post-recall ECM for your model year.

 

[jeffffej]

This is glorious.

 

[Gasoline Fumes]

"PHM" refers to the Insight specifically.

I knew S3Y was the Insight, but didn't realize PHM was specific to the Insight as well! PHM seems to be used for engine-related parts.

 

[joeaax1j]

I had this done last summer on my second Insight (first one had it done many years ago and both are 2000 MTs). Before the update, the 2nd Insight had 37820-PHM-345SP. After the update, it got 37820-PHM-505. Both of my Insights are now running 37820-PHM-505.

 

[xcdustin]

Curious….. the part in my car is 37820-PHM-505 SP (pre-recall). I can tell you somebody obviously messed with this before…. Two of those 4 nuts are missing. Perhaps somebody swapped this in already. But, I have an appointment, so off to Honda I go. Will advise after service part number.

I got a call from the dealer yesterday with an appointment yesterday asking if I wanted to trade it in… I laughed at her. @jeffffej has goaded me into seeing what they’ll offer me. Mind you, this is the same dealer who offered me “maybe $75” 8 years on my 1991 Accord with 1/3 million miles when I test drove a CR-Z.

Taking guesses for what they offer me….. I’m thinking $600.

 

[Arbus]

My local Honda dealer offered me 2k for my 2002 while tempting me with a 2016 CR-Z.
But that was a few years back.

 

[xcdustin]

Hmm, it was an interesting start. So Jackie comes over and says she loves my car and would I like to sell it? She punches the data into the cell phone app, frowns, and shows me a yellow hazard triangle that says my car is “too old” for this app. Well they sent me to this weoverpay.com site and after punching things in, it came up with a range of $350-$1,145.

NO DEAL.

My local Honda dealer offered me 2k for my 2002 while tempting me with a 2016 CR-Z.
But that was a few years back.

 

[xcdustin]

All right, new part installed. Same exact part number, 37820-PHM-505 SP. BUT I did notice that the number underneath that is different. Original ECM had 7280-501502 underneath the part number. New ECM has 7280-502650. Are these just serial numbers?

(No, I didn’t trade it in….)

 

[baseballcatcher7]

Is there any way to verify that this can still be done without a visit to a dealer? I have two 2000 5 speed cars and would love to get the ECMs replaced especially if it makes a difference on cat health.

 

[xcdustin]

@baseballcatcher7 try this link: Recall Information for Safety & Defects | Honda Owners Site

I can’t find the exact site location I submitted an inquiry. But the emails came from Honda customer service at [email protected] This all came about because I was trying to get an official production number of Citrus Insights from Honda. They couldn’t answer that but mentioned the recall.

So in short, one of these methods should give you an answer to whether or not this recall has already been performed on your car. If it hasn’t, they will order and install one.

 

[*sean*]

All right, new part installed. Same exact part number, 37820-PHM-505 SP. BUT I did notice that the number underneath that is different. Original ECM had 7280-501502 underneath the part number. New ECM has 7280-502650. Are these just serial numbers?

(No, I didn’t trade it in….)

My guess is that at least part of it is a serial number.