Hey guys, I need some advice. I have a 1999 TL-P with 108K miles, and recently had to take it into the dealer because the engine was misfiring. They diagnosed bad coils, so they replaced the coils and sparkplugs, gave me an EGR port cleaning (free), and also the recalled ignition system was replaced. This visit cost me about $750 for labor and parts to replace the coils/plugs.

A couple days later, the engine misfires again, which seemed to occur after getting on the highway for the first time. The CEL was blinking again, so I took it back to the dealer. After a week of them having the car, I get a call saying one of the new coils was bad, which made the plugs go bad again. They tried charging me for the plugs again, but I complained that it was related to the bad coil, so that was free. But they somehow charged me for a new fuel injection system and remote sensor (?). This visit cost me about $450, luckily although the tech put in 8 hrs of diagnosis time, they charged me 2.5 hours of diagnosis time (@ $98.00 per hour). I didn't think I should've paid for the diagnosis time the 2nd time because this should've been addressed the first time around. (anyone think otherwise?).

So, after getting the car back a second time, the engine is still misfiring with blinking CEL...again noticed it happening after getting on the highway for the 1st time. Also notice pungent gas fumes coming into the cabin when the vent is on. I take it to the dealer for the 3rd time. The service consultant calls me today saying they called the service hotline (since they can't figure out what the problem is), and said he's gotta check the Primary Computer Module (PCM) to see if it's bad, which the part will cost me $750. I doubt they even looked into the gas fume issue yet.

He's going to try to see if the PCM is covered so I won't have to pay it, but it's all too fishy and I fear I will have to pay this, on top of the $1200 I've already paid.

Is it possible that since the coils were bad, that this is the cause of a PCM to go bad? If so, the dealer should pay for this...right? I keep paying for diagnosis time, and they're not diagnosing anything...just putting on band-aids and sending me on my way.

I feel like they've got me over a barrel and about to violate...horribly violate me.

Any advice would be more than greatly appreciated.

 

They have already violated you. Also how did they "But they somehow charged me for a new fuel injection system and remote sensor"? Did you give them permission or what was the circumstance behind this?

 

I would refuse to pay for any thing after all the miss diagnostics and money spent on parts that were probably fine tobegin with. It will probably come back as a bad PCM anyway.

 

Thanks for the responses, I knew something fishy was going on here.

During the 2nd visit, the forman took a look and pulled the remote sensor, said it was bad, according to the sevice consultant. To be honest, I don't recall authorizing the replacement of the FI, he just said that was part of the final price. ugh.

But putting the logistical BS aside, my real questions are; can putting in a bad coil cause a perfectly fine PCM to go bad? Or, can a bad PCM cause coils to go bad? I really don't want to pay any more loot.

Is this stuff usually difficult to diagnos? Why would'nt have all of these things been checked out the first time around? Bad technicians?? There's no way my car is the first car to misfire in this metropolitan area.

I love my car, and just want her back without giving them more money.

 

They replaced all the coil packs? I would take it to auto zone, advanced auto parts or whatever is near you and have them read the code and let us know what it is. Then take it somewhere else and get more opinions.

 

coul packs shouldnt cause the ecu to go bad, possibly the other way around. But its possible there was nothing wrong with them and its just teh ECU causing the car to run bad.

 

I didn't know our CELs could blink! Of course I wouldn't have known on my old TL, since I got so tired of it coming on I just ripped out the damn bulb! That will surely fix your problems! LOL!

 

I just can't believe that ALL of the coil packs were bad. I would call Acura Customer Care and let them know what you've gone through.

 

It happened to me too. ALL of a sudden the engine started sputtering , half a mile later the CEL came on and the TCS light. When i'm waiting at a stop light the car is trembling really hard. Driving ( I didn't get passed 60 mph ) is not that bad.
I will go tomorrow to a mechanick ( don't want to go to the dealer , they will skin me alive !!! 135 $ / hr ! )
What is the best course of action ? My car has 119k miles on it ( '99 TL ) and i'm kind of suspecting some tranny problems coming my way ( It's shifting gears rougher than before , especially when cold ) .
But I thik this is an fuel system problem ( not firing on all 6 ? ), maybe a spark plug gone bad ?
What do you guys think ?

 

Thanks NSX, I'll give Acura a buzz and let them know what I'm going thru. I really don't know if all the coils were bad. Lemme check my invoice.

Bogdan, my CEL was actually blinking, with the TCS light on. From looking at other posts here, blinking CEL = baaaaad.

I would say you've either got tranny problems (mine went at about 95K), or need an EGR port cleaning. The dealer did a free EGR cleaning when I took it in the first time, I have 108K miles. They also replaced the recalled ingition system for free.
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Yay! while typing this post, the service consultant called me and said the PCM will be covered and I don't have to pay anymore!! w00t!! I should get my baby back tomorrow.