Honda Ships New EV Tool to Dealers And it’s Just A Piece Of Wood

We have heard of automakers cobbling together cars with hardware store-grade wood before, however it is a new one. Meet Honda’s latest device for sellers to service the Honda Prologue and Acura ZDX SUVs: a pair of 4x4x8 picket posts.

Sure, you learn that accurately. Honda is sending sellers a pair of picket posts, very like what will be discovered at any huge field ironmongery store, as a device to work on its new EVs. This similar device has discovered its technique to Reddit’s /r/JustRolledIntoTheShop the place the poster claims that Honda’s new “particular device” is “actually two 8-foot 4x4s with an official Honda half quantity painted on.”

That half quantity may seem like it reads “Ozark Kazoo” (and that is completely what I will name 4×4 posts now), however it’s truly: “07AAK-KHZA100.” Honda calls this half a Dunnage IPU Help, and in accordance with the Instrument Launch discover affixed to the wooden, its particular use is to help lift EV batteries, presumably to forestall injury by offering a buffer (or assist) between the elevate and the battery pack.

Dunnage, IPU Help was despatched to your dealership as a required particular service device. This device will for use (sic) along with 07-EL-53000 EV Battery Help Fixture and 07-EL-53080 HV battery lifting system to facilitate the substitute of the Propulsion Battery.

EL-53080 and EL-53000 as referenced above are two Common Motors elements. The primary is called an “electrical vehicle service cart,” a wheeled cart to carry the EV battery when faraway from the car, and the second is a “high voltage battery lifting adapter” which is for use with a Forklift to maneuver the EV batteries. On condition that the Honda Prologue and Acura ZDX are each GM Ultium-powered automobiles, these elements all seem to tie in collectively.

A fast search reveals one seller in Florida that can promote you this similar device—and its MSRP is an astronomical $179.48. For comparability, a single pressure-treated 4x4x8 submit at Dwelling Depot prices $10.68.

The excellent news, although, is that delivery from Florida to Pennsylvania is a mere $9.77. What a steal.

So if one may simply run to Dwelling Depot and seize these elements, why does Honda ship them to their sellers? For starters, it is clear that Honda is aware of methods to service its automobiles. Hell, the seller mannequin is constructed round doing precisely that, full with directions from the automaker. Having the proper instruments to do the job is necessary, and we’re guessing that no tech desires to place their instruments away, degrease, and run to the ironmongery store to get a big device.

One commenter additionally notes Honda and different sellers not simply to organize the techs doing the work, but additionally to cowl themselves.

“Producers do that in order that method they cowl themselves for required instruments for repairs and maintain the times down within the store to a minimal,” writes consumer frank13131313. “Prior to now, I’ve seen some particular OEM instruments despatched to us that have been essentially the most ridiculous issues ever, was shipped a Phillips head screwdriver for a headlamp adjustment device recall, oil filter wrench as a number of the automotive off meeting line had free filters, zip ties, butel tape, and many others…”

On the flip facet, different commenters say that some OEMs instruct sellers that some elements of restore (like Loctite or rivets) are to be obtained locally. It is not clear which is the case right here.

There are additionally a couple of attention-grabbing factors from commenters who declare to be dealership staff over the slew of instruments despatched to service Honda’s new EVs. Some state that the pile of specialised instruments takes up a complete small service bay. Others expressed their concern over the reported $30,000 dealership funding into the instruments required by Acura and Honda with a purpose to service their Ultium-powered automobiles despite the partnership being officially axed.

So, there you might have it, of us. In case you occur to seek out your self servicing your new Prologue or ZDX exterior of guarantee sooner or later, otherwise you simply need some candy Honda-branded picket posts to your subsequent woodworking challenge, be sure you purchase a pair of real set of Ozark Kazoos—I imply, Dunnage IPU Helps.