cray159

Hello all -

Just wanted to get some insight to see if anyone had any ideas as to what might be causing my problems (it seems that the dealer is having some issues getting to the root of the problem).

Background:
Driving to another town - about 80 miles or so until i reach my destination, the CEL comes on. I drive carefully until I reach my destination (with my eye on the temp gauge). No noticeable difference in driving, although when i finally got off the high way, I did notice the car was idling rough.

Parked the car and left it sitting for a couple of days. As I leave town, car is ok until I get back on the highway, this time the CEL is blinking and the car is driving very rough and feels like there is no power. Drove 50 - 60 miles to a safe spot and when the car became undrivable. I was watching the temp gauge as well.

Diagnosis:
I ran the codes and the codes that popped up were:
P0154 - O2 Sensor Circuit No Activity - Detected Bank 2 Sensor 1
P0301 - Cylinder 1 Misfire Detected
P0304 - Cylinder 4 Misfire Detected
P0300 - Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected

Acura took a look at it this morning and found the the coils on 1 and 4 were fried, so they replaced those. With no noticeable difference.

They then checked the compression and tests came back negative (compression is fine).

I just approved them (3 hours of labor for more diagnosis - ~$450 - OUCH!) and they want to check out the fuel injectors to see if thats it.

So they actually seem to be a bit stumped as to what the problem is, which is a bit concerning.

They also asked me if the car had overheated at any point (thinking the heads might be warped), I dont believe this to be the case since I had watched is closely as soon as the CEL came on. Also, I would assume if the heads were warped the compression would be bad.

Anyways, anyone have any ideas as to what else it could be?

Thanks

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

6MT or automatic?

you didnt say if they took a look at spark plugs.

cray159

Automatic.

I asked them if they checked the spark plugs and they said they did.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

and the verdict on spark plug #1 and #4?

thoiboi

The fact that it's 1 and 4 should help with troubleshooting, it's isolated to the left side (looking at the head) of the engine.. gasket leak on that side perhaps... I'm really pulling at straws here though..

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

there are reports of the A/C drain tube getting clogged which then sends water down inside the car, getting the ECU wet.

the ECU then shorts and fries the coil packs.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

a

cray159

Thanks for the reply guys - I'm waiting for a call back to double check and confirm the spark plugs 1 and 4.

I'll also mention the AC drain to them as well.

I'll keep you guys posted.

01acls

Ahh hello... 02 sensor? That will cause a misfire. What going on with that?

cray159

I asked them about the o2 sensor a couple of times actually and he just said he let the service tech know. I have been waiting to hear back for a 2 hours now (after I called and left two messages) so I could delve a little deeper, it seems they are extremely busy.

It seems after I gave them the go ahead to do the $500 diagnostics, its hard to get a call back!

01acls

Well after they got your money they're taking a long lunch. Lol

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

but wont melt a coil.

nfnsquared

ding, ding, ding

but not on both banks....

yup

cray159

Welp, no call back after I left two messages over 4 hours ago and to top it off the website is closed and the service department closes an hour earlier than the website says.

I guess I was a little naive to believe a dealership could provide decent service (even if it was a referral).

cray159

Called this morning and they are going to call me back with an update (what a mess).

I asked them about the spark plugs and they still weren't sure if they were checked - boggles my mind. Seems like the natural progression of things to check would be: Oh melted coils! We should probably check park plugs.

Asked them about the o2 sensor - couldn't get an answer if they checked it, kept punting on the question. Maybe they aren't getting that code?

I told them about the AC drain tube getting clogged up and frying the ECU. They said that would almost be impossible since the excess water would leak into the cabin and not onto the ECU. So, sounds like they are tossing that theory aside.

If it ends up being spark plugs, I'm not going to be a happy camper. Should hear more in about an hour.

nfnsquared

I can almost guarantee it's not the plugs. Tell them to check the carpet on the passenger side for wetness.

I still say it's the drain tube and your ECM is fried...

Where did you have your last oil change done?

cray159

My last oil change done at a local service place where they also added freon to my AC unit.

Also, I noticed on my trip my AC also was struggling.

01acls

"Acura took a look at it this morning and found the the coils on 1 and 4 were fried, so they replaced those. With no noticeable difference."

The coils are not fry. Dingdingding.

"They then checked the compression and tests came back negative (compression is fine)."

The plugs are fine. They've already been check.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

the ECU is in the cabin.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

thoiboi

...the plot thickens!!


Justin's theory is definitely getting more and more likely... You should throw money at him instead of the dealer.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

A/C drain tube RUNS through center console and exits underneath the PASSENGER SIDE!
ECU is on PASSENGER SIDE!



DANGER WILL ROBINSON, DANGER!!!!!!!!!!

cray159

Ohhhhh - looks like I will be having an interesting convo with them when they call back.

Thanks for the information - will update after my call.

cray159

Well looks justnspace was correct!

They said that there was water on the ECU and they want to replace that. They asked me if I went through any high water (which I hadn't) and I asked them if they had found a screw/bolt or anything blocking the drain tube that would cause the back up.

They said they weren't sure - so I asked them to check and they would call me back.

They are quoting me $2,800 to replace coils and change out the ECU. They think they may have to remove the head an look at that - which would be an $1,000 dollars.

OUCH!

thoiboi

Welps looks like you're being taken for a run by the dealer and now that you've given them what needs to be fixed, they're asking for your to bend over to take it.

Good luck OP, hope they use lube, that sounds extremely expensive..

cray159

Yeah - sounds about right. I'm thinking about taking it to another mechanic (family friend) and having him work on it.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

tell them to eat crow with their $450 diagnostic fee.

Edit* just saw your new post, yes....that would be ideal, to get the repairs done by trusted indie mechanic.

Adobeman

Nfn...Are you thinking they put something in the AC drain so the car would stop peeing on them while it was on the lift for the oil change? And then forgot to remove it? Wouldn't be the first time. I have a freaky memory or have been on this forum too long Your thoughts from 2009 --> https://acurazine.com/forums/problem.../#post11056605 (yeah, Google helped me find it "site:acurazine.com oil change water air conditioning" but I didn't know it would land on you )

OP: You really can't toss this one aside. It may not be the problem but it should be ruled out.

Also See:
https://acurazine.com/forums/problem...ed-ecu-720388/
https://acurazine.com/forums/problem...advice-739328/

nfnsquared

I'll say it again:

ding, ding, ding

I really doubt the head has to be pulled. If the ECU is replaced and there are no more mis-fires, then you're probably OK.

Any indy mechanic will have to have a HDS to install the ECU, so ask ahead of time.

cray159

I just got off the phone with them again - they checked the drain tube and they said there was no sign of it being plugged up. There has been quite a bit of flooding around here lately as well, so that could be it as well.

nfnsquared

Remember, these are the same geniuses that told you it wasn't the ECU. A spider could have blocked the tube or just crap. The tube needs to be blown out. I wouldn't leave my car with those morons a minute longer than necessary.

And you should charge them $450 for diagnosing the issue

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

Agreed. If no bolt lodged, maybe debris

cray159

- Cabbed it to the dealership, ~$50 during rush hour since I needed a car the next morning. Took them 4 hours to call me back and tell me they had a car ready, if they had called me an hour or 2 earlier would of taken me 30 mins to get there instead and 1.25 hours)

- Wouldn't let me take my toll tag out of my car to put in the loaner car.

- First loaner car had no gas in it.

Story keeps getting better.

thoiboi

Sounds like someone needs to start a case with Acura Client Relations...


Document everything.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

wtf. its your toll tag! they dont own that.

here, in texas, all we have to do is get on the toll tags website to add a loaner car.

cray159

I'm in Texas as well and I was under the impression (or the way I've always done it before) is you could just pop the tag out and put it on the dash of a new car?

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

^you can.
I'm in houston. ours is called EZ-tag. head to EZ-tag website to add the loaner car to your car list.
its free and easy.

our EZ tags have been upgraded to a single flat sticker that encases the RFID chips. so, its pretty hard to remove sticker without damaging.

the website to add a loaner car is easier.

cray159

Oh nice, I'm in Houston as well! My tag is with NTTA (Dallas) which I know works all over Texas except for airports.

But its still an old school tag held on by velcro so easily removable. So I was always able to just pull it off easily and keep it on the dash of the new car. I never notified anything or updated anything - which maybe I should of? But I don't recall any problems stemming from that.

nfnsquared

WTF reason did they give you for not gaining access to your car? These guys sound like crooks. Which dealership is this in Houston?

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

there's only like 2.

i'm in the southwest near Sterling Mccall
and then there's John Eagle on the Katy Freeway