Xtcsx

Hi there, I recently purchased an 06 TL with 110k on it. I had it for a few weeks before one of the spark plugs shot out of the vehicle shredding the ignition coil.
So I take it to a shop they say they have to rethread the hole with some kit... Fine no problem at least it's not the timing belt.

I get the car back, and the check engine light is on. I use my car often and I called the place and mentioned that and they said to bring it back. I didn't get a chance to do it for a few days but I made it to a local autozone and they said the error it was giving off was "Catalyst system efficiency below threshold on bank 1" so I figured since it was nothing catastrophic I could get away with driving it for an extra day. Wrong.

At a stop sign the car just shuts down and won't rev at all when turning the key. There is no sound of it turning over just a constant 'Raaaaaa' when trying to start it. I take it back to the auto shop and they are saying it is my timing belt and my rear cam froze up and shredded the timing belt and I need a new engine. The dealership said maintenance was up to date but the garage said it was the original timing belt. My question I guess is what would cause the rear cam to just lock up like that? Could it have been a mistake caused by the garage? I love the car but think it a little ridiculous to have to put a new engine in the damn thing.

nismopowerdqg

if the timing belt broke that means the cam timing got thrown off and your pistons and valves collided jamming everything up, possibly seizing the cam. Id go back to the dealer and tell them what happened and that they told you the 105k service was done and the belt failed and destroyed your motor. Sounds like they owe you a new motor.

Xtcsx

Well I went back to the dealer and their attitude was "sorry as is". So the cam locking up didn't cause the timing belt to shred? They said there were unable to even move it.

nismopowerdqg

idk if the cam locked up on its own or after the belt broke, ive never heard of a cam just locking up. did you get it from an acura dealer?

1black_seven

iTrader: (2)

If the dealer told you the maintenance was up to date, just to help motivate the sale they are liable. Seeing as that's negligent misrepresentation, they owe you a new motor.

nismopowerdqg

hit the nail on the head.

pmak23

when you leave the cats like that it fouls out the plugs, change the spark plugs and take the exhaust off and see if it runs.

Pghpizzaman

i'd put a motor in it, it's worth a fraction of what you paid if you sell with a blown motor.

thisaznboi88

iTrader: (7)

cam probably locked up because a piece of the cat broke off, got sucked into the exhuast and jammed the valve. Thus, causing the cams to lock and NOM NOM NOM the TB

pmak23

and if what they say happend did actually happen screw it, take the car and throw in some bisimoto stage 2 cams and new valvtrain in and e3 spark plugs and have the intake manifold and intake runners ported and there ya go you now have close to 300hp.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

LOL at e3 spark plugs......

roof2006

Huh?

nismopowerdqg

that doesnt make any sense dude. cats are after the motor..THUS what you said is IMPOSSIBLE, a peice of the cat cant end up in the intake..

ceedubb2000

^what he said

1black_seven

iTrader: (2)

pmak23

What's wrong with e3 spark plugs

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

they are purely marketing.
Only the NGK's go in our cars.

losiglow

iTrader: (1)

What I was thinking. I was mentally tracing the path through the engine thinking maybe I missed something. Like maybe there's some secret passage after the pre-cats that flows back into the engine? LoL.

roof2006

My mom started her car 35 years ago when a neighborhood cat was sleeping across the fan belts and fan. Maybe that's what he means by "a bit of the cat got sucked into the intake?"

nfnsquared

Yes indeed. It's the double-top secret cat-to-intake backflow-upstream passage. I'd post the diagram, but it's double-top secret.

I hate cars

This has to be collectively the worst advice I've ever seen given in one thread.

Xtcsx

Thanks for everyone's replies... I found this southwest autos place that can sell me a motor with 3 yrs warranty on it parts and labor... The place I took it to wanted to charge me 1,700 for the standard 1 yr 12k.

The check engine light was on after the last time I took it there and it broke down less than a week later... That seems kinda sketchy to me... Anybody have any thoughts on that?

nismopowerdqg

really cant help you there buddy, dont know about either shop just shop around and do your research, but if they offer a warranty that means they will cover there work and the motor if something did go wrong, so thats good.

carz0159

That sucks man, how many miles does the car have? Try to press on Acura and the place the rethreaded for a new motor, and if not some money for it...

thisaznboi88

iTrader: (7)

Trust me it happens. My friend getting a new motor dropped in because a piece of the cat broke off and screwed his motor

i_love_cars

iTrader: (1)

roof2006

Don't ever go to the shop that diagnosed that one. Warn him to avoid the "blinker fluid flush," too.

Turbonut

iTrader: (1)

Better check NHTSA Nissan recall PE02078:

2002 ALTIMAS AND SENTRAS (EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.5-LITER ENGINE) THAT CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS MAY CAUSE THE PRE-CATALYST TO OVERHEAT, WHICH WOULD CAUSE CATALYST SUBSTRATE PARTICLES TO FLOW INTO THE ENGINE. THESE PARTICLES CAN SCORE THE CYLINDER WALLS WHICH RESULTS IN INCREASE OIL CONSUMPTION. IF THE ENGINE OIL LEVEL IS LOW, ENGINE NOISE AND DAMAGE CAN OCCUR WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Not certain as to whether the piece(s) can be forced back into a cylinder due to exhaust pulses from another cylinder, or acutally pulled into the cylinder when the intake valve opens (both exhaust and intake will be opened at the same time-overlap), piston is not quite at BDC and vacuum is created to pull in the fuel mixture.

thisaznboi88

iTrader: (7)

Only on acurazine where people can turn helpful advice into crap

Xtcsx

So as an update I found an engine from southwest engines with 50k+ on it... They said like 57 or something... I spoke with the guy who quoted me the price for what he was going to get me and it was 1700 with a 1 year 12k mile warranty.. I would be getting that motor for 1315 with free shipping... This clown is just like "uhhhhh and?" Very dissatisfied with the service I'm getting but whatever... I have spoke with a lawyer in regards to getting the car back with the check engine light still on.. Not sure how they prove shenanigans on work like that but I've been hearing around the small town I'm in the one partner is a douchebag who preys on people that don't take 4 minutes to look stuff up on the Internet... Will update after I get the payment gets worked out... My adp total pay card only allows for transactions up to 1000 so the 1315 dollar engine is something I have to do some fennangling with... Thanks for all your replies...

ez12a

I am almost positive members mentioned in other threads said something about a pre-cat crumbling up and getting somehow sucked back into the engine.

This thread is not the first time that idea was brought up. Where does the EGR come into play?

Not saying that was the cause, but the idea has been floated before. A piece so large to jam a valve/cam is doubtful.

ez12a

And just to show, AckTL05 mentioned that precat failure could lead to engine damage: https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-performance-parts-modifications-112/feeler-thread-stock-hollowed-out-precats-878313/

woell

Yup; heard this one before as well. My 2008 spun a rod bearing 6 months after I bought it with 42K miles on it and the only thing that saved me was the extended warranty. Mobile 1 w/compliant oil schedule. It was considered an anomoly caused by oil starvation. I don't know what causes the spark plug ejection but I've heard it alot and it's disturbing. Have you pursued the Lemon Law if applicable?