Honda Seat Clicks, Honda bulletin 17-047
Honda service bulletin 17-047 Fix for Honda Seat Clicks
Honda has issued a service bulletin 17-047 to address a situation where a Honda seat clicks when driver adjusts the height or tilt. The bulletin affects the vehicles listed below. Honda has determined that the Honda seats clicks problem is caused by a stripped gear in the vertical transmission assembly (VTA) . You’ll notice the Honda seat clicks symptom when you adjust the height or tilt and find that the driver’s seat does not move or moves just s slight amount and then clicks loudly.
In most cases only one of the VTA units is stripped. But check for the faulty unit using a mechanic’s stethoscope to discover which unit is making the noise. Honda states that it is rare that more than one VTA is damaged.
Vehicles Affected by Honda service bulletin 17-047
2013-17 Accord All except LX All VINs
Diagnose Honda seat clicks
Adjust the seat height and listen for clicks or ratcheting sound coming from the seat height VTA. Next, adjust the seat tilt and listen for clicks or ratcheting sound coming from the seat tilt VTA.
In most cases only one of the VTA units is stripped. But check for the faulty unit using a mechanic’s stethoscope to discover which unit is making the noise. Honda states that it is rare that more than one VTA is damaged.
Honda service bulletin 17-047 Fix for Honda Seat Clicks
Replace the vertical transmission assembly (VTA). You’ll need a Meshing Tool 07AAF-2GAA100 1, U-Joint Removal Tool or a 6-inch C-clamp with a 1-inch foot and Adapter G. Obtain the tools from Honda Tool and Equipment program at 888-424-6857 or tool supplier.
Replacement parts to fix Honda seat clicks
VTA Unit (Tilt or Height) (vehicles with memory seat) (Includes grease and 3 nuts) 81603-T2F-A51 $125.01 from Honda Dealer
VTA Unit (Tilt or Height) (vehicles with non-memory seat) (Includes grease and 3 nuts) 81603-T2F-A31 $125.00 from Honda Dealer
Seat Height VTA replacement procedure
1. Adjust seat to the highest point possible.
2. Disconnect the negative battery cable and wait 3-minutes before 
proceeding to power down the airbag system.
3. Remove the Driver’s seat and front seat cushion cover pads.
4. Disconnect the VTA electrical connector
5. Remove the VTA unit nuts, then remove the VTA unit. HONDA notes that if the seat frame is too low and you can’t access the VTA unit nut, use an open end wrench.
6. If it is difficult to remove the VTA unit after removing the nuts, hit the center shaft of the VTA unit with a punch tool and hammer to remove it.
7. Manually raise the seat by pulling up on the seat frame.
8. Wipe off any excess grease
9. Apply new 1/8th of the grease supplied with the new VTA
10. Mount the new VTA to the seat frame
11. While applying pressure to keep the VTA unit against the seat frame, use a rubber mallet or plastic hammer to hit the frame downwards. This will allow the VTA unit splines to align and engage with the frame gear.
12. Make sure the VTA unit splines and seat frame gear are properly engaged. The VTA unit center shaft should be protruding from the frame.
13. Place the meshing tool in place, centering the tool on the pinion shaft protruding from the VTA unit.
14. Gradually tighten the C-clamp until the VTA unit shaft is protruding out of the frame.
15. Once the VTA unit shaft is protruding, go to the next step.
NOTE: DO NOT over tighten the C-clamp. DO NOT attempt to install the VTA unit without using the meshing tool. Seating the VTA unit by tightening the nuts will damage the VTA unit.
16. With the C-clamp still in place, install the new VTA unit nuts and snug them with a wrench.
17. Remove the C-clamp, and torque the nuts to 25 N.m (18 lb-ft). Connect the VTA unit connector.
18. Install all other removed parts in the reverse order, and install the seat.
19. Make sure the height and tilt function on the seat works properly and that the noise is gone.
20. Turn the ignition switch to the ON position and check if the SRS indicator comes on for about 6 seconds, then turns off. If the indicator comes on, then turns off after about 6 seconds, the procedure is complete. If the SRS indicator did not perform correctly at the beginning of the procedure, check to see if the same problem exists. If there are additional problems, make sure all reassembly steps were completed.
Seat tilt VTA replacement procedure
1. Adjust the seat to the highest position possible.
2. Disconnect the battery negative cable and wait at least 3 minutes before continuing.
3. Remove the driver seat and front seat cushion cover/pad. Refer to the service information for the model and model year you are working on.
NOTE: Do not remove the cushion cover from the foam pad. Remove both parts as an assembly.
4. For reference during assembly, take a photo of the harness routing and clip location layout as shown.
5. Remove the four 10 mm bolts from the front cushion pan.
6. Remove any harnesses or harness clips that will prevent the cushion pan from lifting.
7. Lift the cushion pan, and hold it up with a bungee cord. Or set the seat on its back on a clean surface to keep the cushion pan out of the way.
8. Disconnect the VTA unit connector.
9. Remove the VTA unit nuts.
10. Remove the metal screw clip on top of the VTA unit with a clip removal tool.
NOTE: Make sure you do not damage or lose the metal screw clip.
11. Remove the VTA unit. If it is difficult to remove the VTA unit after removing the nuts, hit the center shaft of the VTA unit with a punch tool and hammer to remove it.
12. Raise the seat as much as possible by grabbing the seat frame as shown.
13. Wipe off any excess grease from the seat frame gear teeth with a paper towel or clean rag.
14. Apply 1/8th of the grease provided in the kit to the new VTA unit splines.
15. Mount the new VTA unit to the seat frame.
16. While applying pressure to keep the VTA unit against the seat frame, use a rubber mallet or plastic hammer to hit the frame downwards. This will allow the VTA unit splines to align and engage with the frame gear.
17. Make sure the VTA unit splines and seat frame gear are properly engaged. The VTA unit center shaft should be protruding the frame.
18. Place the meshing tool as shown. Center the tool on the pinion shaft protruding from the VTA unit.
NOTE: DO NOT over tighten the C-clamp. DO NOT attempt to install the VTA unit without using the meshing tool. Seating the VTA unit by tightening the nuts will damage the VTA unit.
19. Gradually tighten the C-clamp until the VTA unit shaft is protruding from the frame. Once the VTA unit shaft is protruding, go to the next step.
NOTE: DO NOT over tighten the C-clamp. DO NOT attempt to install the VTA unit without using the meshing tool. Seating the VTA unit by tightening the nuts will damage the VTA unit.
20. With the C-clamp still in place, install the new VTA unit nuts and snug them with a wrench.
21. Remove the C-clamp, and torque the nuts to 25 N.m (18 lb-ft) .
22. Install the metal screw clip.
23. Install the VTA unit connector.
24. Lower the seat cushion pan, and install the bolts. Torque the bolts to 6.7 N.m (5 lb-ft).
25. Route and install the harnesses and harness clips.
NOTE: Make sure the routing is correct by looking at the photo you took before disassembly.
26. Install all other removed parts in the reverse order, and install the seat.
27. Make sure the height and tilt function on the seat works properly and the noise is gone.
28. Turn the ignition switch to the ON position and check if the SRS indicator comes on for about 6 seconds, then turns off. If the indicator comes on, then turns off after about 6 seconds, the procedure is complete. If the SRS indicator did not perform correctly at the beginning of the procedure, check to see if the same problem exists. If there are additional problems, make sure all reassembly steps were completed.