[MartyV6]

I keep getting the Christmas tree of FCW System Failed where the dealer diagnosed as needing new VSA modulator. It is weird because sometimes I can drive a while before it fails and other times not so much. It always resets to “working” when I start the car.

The part is not available anywhere new right now so I am sort of in a holding pattern.

This weekend I figure I will do a brake flush just in case there is anything causing it from that angle,,,,any sediment or whatever caught in the VSA modulator channels, The brake fluid is 2.5 yrs old at this point.

Assuming that doesn’t fix the issue, then I am stuck waiting to buy a $1000 part for my dealer to install. So I was wondering if I got a used VSA mod part is this a DIY-able job? I see the metal brake lines enter the VSA and then 4 of them exit. There are little nuts at each connection. Can I simply undo those 6 connections and then put them back on the replacement part and then bleed brakes again? I’m worried about leaks if I don’t do the connection right (is it a flare connection under that nut?) and also worried about making sure I don’t leave air in the VSA unit.

Probably not something that most people have attempted as DIY but just curious if anyone knows or has experience

 

[Hudouc]

I just did this earlier in the year. It's pretty straight forward, exactly as you said here.

There are little nuts at each connection. Can I simply undo those 6 connections and then put them back on the replacement part and then bleed brakes again?

Pickup a set of craftsman flared nut wrench (metric) to make sure you don't damage them. If you bleed the system correctly, there won't be any air trapped. The connection does have a tapered end, so as long as you tighten them down correctly, there shouldn't be any leaks.

 

[MartyV6]

Hmmm, interesting. I am worried about something I read where the new VSA modulator needs to be reprogrammed to "center" on the steering angle or something? But isn't the square silver box literally just a "dumb" pump basically? That's why I'm confused as to what would need to be reprogrammed.

I have a homemade pressure bleeder that I made from a garden sprayer and I have used that on my Accord and Odyssey in the past (with a special DIY cap that clamps down to the reservoir top to hold pressure). I assume that will work to push fluid through the VSA modulator and push air out. I don't believe there is a bleed screw on the modulator itself right? Did you use a scan tool to "tickle" the VSA modulator while bleeding? I'm not sure if there is a scantool that does this for Hondas anyway....but I haven't researched a lot. Or is simply pushing fluid through, one brake line at a time (LF, RF, RR, LR) sufficient to get new fluid everywhere in the VSA modulator?

 

[Hudouc]

There's no need for special tools, just a regular bleed is fine.

You can take a look at this page,

How to Clear ABS & Read ABS codes, Clear VSA light - AcuraZine - Acura Enthusiast Community

3G TL Problems & Fixes - How to Clear ABS & Read ABS codes, Clear VSA light - I recently had to replace my wheel speed sensor and came across a procedure to clear the ABS codes and the VSA light. In my particular situation even after my sensor was fixed I still had the VSA indicator light and...

acurazine.com

But I didn't need any programming and it worked fine. Your newer 9th gen may be different tho.

 

[MartyV6]

There's no need for special tools, just a regular bleed is fine.

You can take a look at this page,

How to Clear ABS & Read ABS codes, Clear VSA light - AcuraZine - Acura Enthusiast Community

3G TL Problems & Fixes - How to Clear ABS & Read ABS codes, Clear VSA light - I recently had to replace my wheel speed sensor and came across a procedure to clear the ABS codes and the VSA light. In my particular situation even after my sensor was fixed I still had the VSA indicator light and...

acurazine.com

But I didn't need any programming and it worked fine. Your newer 9th gen may be different tho.

Ahhh, shoot, I thought you were 9th Gen. Hmm. I'll have to do a little research then on 9th Gen. Maybe if I can find some reference online to a service manual. I don't want to get into this and then figure out that the fix won't work because I have to reprogram something, although I guess I could go to the dealer with tail between legs and pay them to do that last bit. The new part is so danged expensive that I am feeling like rolling the dice on a used part.

UPDATE

So I found the great resource on this site with the links to the service manuals. Appears the VSA modulator replacement is pretty straightforward. It does talk about a couple things like VSA Sensor Neutral Position Memorize and Steering Angle Sensor Neutral Position - Clear, but I don't understand why those would be needed if you are physically just swapping out the silver VSA pump with the 6 brake lines going in and out. We aren't changing steering etc.

 

[Hudouc]

So I found the great resource on this site with the links to the service manuals. Appears the VSA modulator replacement is pretty straightforward. It does talk about a couple things like VSA Sensor Neutral Position Memorize and Steering Angle Sensor Neutral Position - Clear, but I don't understand why those would be needed if you are physically just swapping out the silver VSA pump with the 6 brake lines going in and out. We aren't changing steering etc.

The VSA module needs to know vehicle data like steering angle and such to make sure the correct brake distribution is applied to stabilize the vehicle when needed. Replace the module, then use the page I posted for the neutral position. If it doesn't work, then you can go to the dealer. Can't hurt to try. You'd save yourself a butt load of money either way.

Find a reputable used parts source like LKQ or Keystone, etc. Good places will offer a 6 month warranty on the part.

 

[MartyV6]

The VSA module needs to know vehicle data like steering angle and such to make sure the correct brake distribution is applied to stabilize the vehicle when needed. Replace the module, then use the page I posted for the neutral position. If it doesn't work, then you can go to the dealer. Can't hurt to try. You'd save yourself a butt load of money either way.

Find a reputable used parts source like LKQ or Keystone, etc. Good places will offer a 6 month warranty on the part.

Ok will do. Maybe I don’t understand where the steering angle data is saved. If it is stored on a chip in the VSA modulator itself then I would see how that would need to be changed/reset when you swap in the new part. I assumed it was stored elsewhere and then fed to the VSA modulator. In any case I was researching some scan tools so it seems a number of them could do this reset if necessary.

It’s still bothering me that this seems to happen less when it is warm and dry and much more when colder and wetter outside. Like this morning it is 50 and misty and the system always fails right at startup. Past few days when it was 70s and sunny the car always starts without the failure and in some cases drives for a long time until the failure pops. Maybe something with the stickiness in the solenoid but the “wetness” always makes me worry there is something in the wiring somewhere that is more likely to short when there is condensation around. Although I guess the fact that it still ultimately pops with an error even on the warm and dry days may debunk that fear

Well I just did a brake flush on the off chance that there was something lodged in there. Almost 3 yr old fluid but everything clean now and no change unfortunately. The error still occurs right away at startup at least today. I did notice some small bright silver metal shavings coming out in the fluid - not a huge amount but a number of little floaters. I am guessing from something inside the VSA modulator. So I guess now next step is to find a used part and see if that fixes it.

In a video I found for changing the VSA modulator for a Honda Crosstour which seems very similar, the guy used a crowsfoot wrench on the 4 smaller flare nuts and he also used a small torque wrench to tighten them to 11 lb ft. Would you guys also use a torque wrench there? I guess the danger is probably over tightening if anything

 

[Accord20]

You can repair your Module @ Modulemaster only $250 + shipping and 5 years warranty. Contact them before you shipped. I did mine accord 2014 EXL non navi.

 

[Hudouc]

For you, it might also be worth checking the VSA ground connection first. I'm not sure where it is on the 9th gen, but it's known to cause problems in the past in Honda vehicles.

 

[MartyV6]

You can repair your Module @ Modulemaster only $250 + shipping and 5 years warranty. Contact them before you shipped. I did mine accord 2014 EXL non navi.

Thanks for this. I guess this could be better than a junkyard part although a little more expensive, and the downside is my car is out of commission for a long time while it gets shipped, fixed, and shipped back

 

[MartyV6]

For you, it might also be worth checking the VSA ground connection first. I'm not sure where it is on the 9th gen, but it's known to cause problems in the past in Honda vehicles.

Thanks, I was thinking something like that too, although I need to figure out where that would be. I assume it is just coming out of the power harness socket as I don’t see any additional wiring on this silver cube, and the service manual only shows disconnecting the wiring harness and then reconnecting on the new one.

 

[Accord20]

Thanks for this. I guess this could be better than a junkyard part although a little more expensive, and the downside is my car is out of commission for a long time while it gets shipped, fixed, and shipped back

You can visit their website they do specfic accords 2013-2015 i think you are okay from your signature . Mine i scanned the code was 121-11, 85-01....dealer asked around 1700 canadiam dollar including labour ,even the order was back logged. You don't need any kind of software update just bleed.

 

[MartyV6]

SO next question - do I need to trust that all these VSA modulators for 2013-2015 Accords are slightly different or do you think they all work? Reason why I ask is I have a 2014 V6 EXL Sedan. There is a specific Honda part Number for this VSA modulator and it ONLY shows for 2014-2015 Accord V6 Sedans. Same year EXL 4 cylinder shows a different part number, and the V6 2dr Coupe also has yet another part number. Is it possible that each model Honda has a different VSA modulator even though they all basically look the same and are made by Nissin?

Reason I ask is that I can’t seem to find any used parts with the exact configuration I need. There are a bunch of 2.4L Honda Accord VSA modulators - but when I look at Honda Parts Now it shows a different part number for their VSA modulator. As there is a computer/electrical component to this part I wouldn’t want to find out that I bought one that isn’t quite the right one and thus my car rejects it.

Anyone know? Otherwise I am just searching I guess because there are way fewer V6s out there to get wrecked into salvage than there are 4Dr 2.4L sedans.....

I searched LkQ and a few other car part search sites, and EBay using a variety of more basic search terms since my exact part number didn’t pop up.

 

[Hudouc]

SO next question - do I need to trust that all these VSA modulators for 2013-2015 Accords are slightly different or do you think they all work? Reason why I ask is I have a 2014 V6 EXL Sedan. There is a specific Honda part Number for this VSA modulator and it ONLY shows for 2014-2015 Accord V6 Sedans. Same year EXL 4 cylinder shows a different part number, and the V6 2dr Coupe also has yet another part number. Is it possible that each model Honda has a different VSA modulator even though they all basically look the same and are made by Nissin?

Reason I ask is that I can’t seem to find any used parts with the exact configuration I need. There are a bunch of 2.4L Honda Accord VSA modulators - but when I look at Honda Parts Now it shows a different part number for their VSA modulator. As there is a computer/electrical component to this part I wouldn’t want to find out that I bought one that isn’t quite the right one and thus my car rejects it.

Anyone know? Otherwise I am just searching I guess because there are way fewer V6s out there to get wrecked into salvage than there are 4Dr 2.4L sedans.....

I searched LkQ and a few other car part search sites, and EBay using a variety of more basic search terms since my exact part number didn’t pop up.

Yes, the part number absolutely have to match. I made that mistake the first time.

 

[MartyV6]

Yes, the part number absolutely have to match. I made that mistake the first time.

Ok interesting. So this is a real odd situation. The brand new part is not even available from Honda anywhere in North America. It is apparently on back order but who knows if they will ever get them. And for me, the used part is going to be pretty hard to find as I need to wait until a 2014 or 2015 EXL V6 4DR Sedan gets wrecked into salvage.

I don't think the Honda part number 57110-T2G-L02 appears on the modulator part itself though. So I guess I also need to look closely and write down whatever part numbers actually show. I feel like the Ebay and LKQ listing sites may not always take the time to thread back and find the perfectly correct Honda part number for their listings.

 

[Hudouc]

I don't think the Honda part number 57110-T2G-L02 appears on the modulator part itself though. So I guess I also need to look closely and write down whatever part numbers actually show. I feel like the Ebay and LKQ listing sites may not always take the time to thread back and find the perfectly correct Honda part number for their listings.

You're right. They don't. But they do track the exact VIN of the donor vehicle (they have to). So you can always look at the VIN to confirm before buying.

 

[MartyV6]

You're right. They don't. But they do track the exact VIN of the donor vehicle (they have to). So you can always look at the VIN to confirm before buying.

What in your opinion are other reputable sites besides LKQ? You mentioned Keystone but they are owned by LKQ so I think the same thing. I guess I basically just need to search for the part from a 2014 or 2015 EXL V6 which is sort of a needle in haystack. Hard to know if the slightly different but very similar part from a 4cyl EXL would have a different chip or something that won’t register correctly with the car’s computer, but from your experience sounds like that may be the case.

 

[Hudouc]

What in your opinion are other reputable sites besides LKQ? You mentioned Keystone but they are owned by LKQ so I think the same thing. I guess I basically just need to search for the part from a 2014 or 2015 EXL V6 which is sort of a needle in haystack. Hard to know if the slightly different but very similar part from a 4cyl EXL would have a different chip or something that won’t register correctly with the car’s computer, but from your experience sounds like that may be the case.

You can also check out car-parts.com, it's kinda a directory of used parts. It shows you all the used parts dealers that has the part you are look for.

 

[MartyV6]

You can also check out car-parts.com, it's kinda a directory of used parts. It shows you all the used parts dealers that has the part you are look for.

Ok thanks. I may have looked at that one too. I think some junkyard may have had one but it was like 400 bucks ugh. If the part ever comes back in stock at Honda US then the online Honda dealers have it listed for 800-something (vs list price of 1200) so I’m a little leery of paying 400 bucks for a 6 or 7 yr old used part vs 800 for new. That is, if they are ever actually going to come in stock again at Honda. A few places list it as “discontinued” which would seem crazy that Honda is no longer supplying a critical safety part for 2014 or 2015 Accord V6s.

Hey do you think that I could use the modulator from a same year Touring? The part number is exactly the same except mine ends in L02 and the Touring ends in L72. I’m wondering from an ABS brakes standpoint what the real differences could be between the Accord V6 EXL and the Accord V6 Touring. Same car, same engine, Touring had a few more doodads.

 

[Hudouc]

I wish I could tell you yes, but based on my experience, the answer is gonna be no.