BenSwell

So, on Friday, I thought I could smell burning oil so I scheduled a service appointment for Tuesday. The service agent said that it was fine to drive for a few days and to bring it in for service. On my way home from work on Saturday just before going down a giant hill my breaks went to the floor. I could feel the antilock brakes bumping but no stopping power, I pressed the clutch and it stayed stuck to the floor. At the first safe place I used the hand brake and got off the road. All of the sudden smoke started coming from under the hood and out of the interior vents. I got out of the car and across the street and the engine bay burst into flames. Fire dept. put the fire out and cop told me to get it towed. Cop and Tow guy said total loss.

AcuraCare had it towed to the local dealer to determine the cause. The car was still under the 4yr/50,000mile warranty and I have had every service done on the car at the Local Acura Dealer.

Long story short, has anyone had any similar issue? Is this a warranty issue or should I just let insurance take care of it?

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

what year is it?
and the picture isnt showing up. upload the picture to photobucket and post the link.

BenSwell

It is a 2008, 41,000 miles, Navigation. Under warranty until August 7th, 2011.

Ken1997TL

Holy..



Glad to hear you're ok. I imagine Acura will be sending a couple people to investigate it and possibly ask you a couple of questions hoping to determine the cause.

Keep us updated!

Morrissey25

iTrader: (4)

Holy shit!!! It looks like a total loss to me. It sounds that the service dept at the dealership holds the responsibility for this. They informed you that it was fine to drive and then this happened. Best of luck getting this resolved. It might be fate telling you to upgrade.

Simba91102

I think you'd be wasting your time with any thoughts of trying to peg this on a warranty item (and the insurance company won't care; they just pay)(which is too bad, they should)(another reason why we pay so much for friggin insurance). I'd file a claim and collect what I could asap. I guess you got some bad advice from the service guy. When you smelled the burning oil, did you open the hood and/or look under the car to try and determine what might be burning? Obviously you lost both all of the clutch fluid and the brake fluid. Interesting since they're completely independent of each other (though the systems use the same fluid). Sucks all the way around, but at least you'll get a new (or at least different) car out of it. The cops and the guy driving the hook don't really know if it's totalled, but if if the damage is bad, any evidence of what happened probably went up in smoke.

Simba91102

Just got a look at the picture. Yeah..... that looks bad.

darowa

There was a recall concerning the power steering hose leaking - and replacement of the hose. Leaking power steering fluid (dripping) on exhaust manifold could cause a fire. (This was mentioned in the letter from Acura announcing the recall).

Did you have the power steering hose recall done?

Boulder TSX

I was thinking the same thing. Power steering fluid leaking onto the exhaust manifold could cause a a smell -- and a fire.

Regardless, as Simba said, the loss of both the brake fluid and the clutch fluid is an odd situation. To me, it possibly indicates high heat in the engine bay, prior to the fire that you saw after pulling over.

I'm thinking that the problem was likely due to some kind of malfunction. (Though like Simba asked, I'd be wondering what was going on when you smelled the burning oil. Did you see anything or check the oil level?)

The fact that they told you to wait to bring it in could be your saving grace. It may not matter, but did the service guy look at your car, or did you arrange the appointment over the phone?

BenSwelll

The recall on the fuel pump was done last year. Two months ago the heater core was replaced under warranty. Other than that the service history has been regular maintenance.

Euro R

Hope you can claim with your insurance.

I asked the local Acura dealer before.
They said the recall is only for US model not for the Canadian model.
After seen this picture, I just worried that it is the same car (CL9) made in Japan.
How come they just fix for the USA owners!

KillerG

Atleast you are safe, this is the good news, let us know how this turns out

darowa

There are a couple reasons the USA TSX models were recalled.
USA may (probably) has different regulations than Canada. Recalls are enforced by government regulations. (All TSX manufacturing is done in one plant in Japan - so the power steering hose was probably exactly the same in all TSX models regardless of where they were delivered).
The power steering hose recall has to do with deterioration of the hose due to heat. Northern parts of the USA might have average temperatures similar to Canada. But southern parts of the USA probably have higher temperature averages and thus the hoses on these cars might deteriorate and leak. Also, a car sold in Minnesota (colder) might have been in New Mexico (hotter). Recalls are issued for the entire country - not for certain regions.

Any USA dealer should have done the power steering hose swap. It replaces the hose with a higher durability assembly that can take the heat (and not leak).

lcrazyaznl

iTrader: (1)

Thats really crazy glad your okay...

nbtx

Does anybody know if the power steering hose recall applies to the 08 vehicles.
I got the PSH notice for my 06, but 06s did not have a fuel pump recall, or any other recall for that matter.

What did the fuel pump recall repair?

BTW, loss of clutch and brakes means the fire had already taken out the associated plastic and rubber parts.

nbtx

Acura and your insurance company will decide. I don't think you have any say in what happens from here.

BenSwelll

I didn't mean fuel pump. The power steering hose was replaced.

Carraway

nbtx - Yes, the power steering hose recall was for 2004-2008 TSXs.

BenSwelll - Just wow, glad you're ok. Once they figure out what caused it, it'll probably be clearer whether Acura or your insurance company will handle it. I'm sure Acura will at least want to know why one of its vehicles caught fire.

tony4311

I'm curious as to what the dealer will say about warranty. It'll be up to your insurance to fight with them, if at all.

HondaAcura83

I am glad you're ok! This thread is scary because I am an 08 owner that keeps up regular maintenance as well :\

darowa

I believe the fuel pump recall actually involved replacing a relay which operated the fuel pump. The fuel pump itself was not defective. (The relay is plugged into electrical panel under the hood).

nj2pa2nc

any updates

litesout

Holy !

That's nuts! I'm just glad you're alright. Definitely keep us up to date. While the car's under investigation did they at least give you something to drive?

Moose Muscles

That picture is crazy. Glad your ok.

makes me wonder if the previous owner had the power steering recall done on my TSX

main70072

This is very serious stuff, someone could get hurt! I'm in for updates as well.

deepen03

good thing you are ok.. and well, at least you will get a nice check from the insurance co. for like $20K ,so you can get a nice new 2008 TSX as a replacement.

I hope you don't jump ship and leave Acura over this, because that is one amazing car right there, nonetheless.

Miamicarfan

Holy Crap!!!

Glad you are ok.

BenSwell, are you the original owner of this car? If not, how many miles did it have when you bought it?

Miamicarfan

Has anybody else heard of an engine fire with the 2004 to 2008 TSX? I have been reading this forum for years and cannot recall any other member having their car catch fire.

combat mediC

iTrader: (1)

Glad you got the car to stop and you're safe. Smack that service member that said it was fine to drive for a few days for me.

main70072

I remember awhile back there was a member who rebuild his fire damaged car. IIRC it was only the engine compartment that caught on fire as well. Not sure if he was the original owner or bought it like that to fix up and sell.

SoCaliTrojan

Did he fully rebuild it? The last time I read the thread, he got his hands on the car and was asking for advice on how to rebuild it. But you're right, that is the only other example of a TSX catching on fire.

main70072

I think he fixed it up and sold it.

rkan121

wooow GL

dallison

Wow, glad you are fine. It could have been much worse if you didn't have the sense to slow down and pull over using the e-brake.

That is a total loss. I would think that your insurance would cover it minus your deductible, but it is questionable if the dealer is somewhat responsible.

The SA should have offered to have the car towed upon hearing that you smell smoke and a loaner set up for you.

snYpz

Damn, glad that you're ok. Hope they find the cause, must've been a scary sight to see your car burn down like that.

I have a JDM cl9 and our cars have all been recalled for the power steering replacement a few months ago (~2 months)

dominik331

Glad you are safe. Any updates on this case?

96b18c

This happened to my friends' '04 TL and although it's a Completely different car, it was a similar situation and he had to go through his insurance.

nj2pa2nc

wonder whatever happened-2 posts from OP and then nothing

1sickaccord

that's crazy man, glad to hear you're okay. hopefully you get a nice new car out of this

Simba91102

Maybe he did what many here may do the next time around..... he moved on. I fear Honda has lost its' way. Look at the most recent gens. of the TSX, TL, RL, the ZDX (an answer to question that no one asked), the new Civic (a "don't buy" from Consumer Reports, among others). I have owned a number of Honda products and it pains me to see much of what they're selling now. There are so many nice new cars out there that it's tough to defend owner loyalty. I hope that soon Honda will be able say that there's a new sheriff in town, but I'm not holding my breath.