| njmdx03 |
Need help on what to do for my 2003 MDX.
Just had 75k service done at Acura dealer. They told me had topped all the fluid. After 1 week of driving the car, I got these lights on during driving at highway: VSA, VTM-4, and engine lights. Managed to get to a side road, then the engine dead and toweled to local mechanic. They found out there were not enough coolant and coolant has clear water inside, and caused the temp. too high and shut down the engine. I called the dealer who did the service a week ago. They didn’t want to be responsible for what happened. Now the local mechanic says the engine may need to be replaced. The rebuilt one is $5500, the new one is $7500. If I go to the dealer, it could be higher.
I don’t know if that dealer shall be responsible for what happened. Does anyone have similar experience with a dealer? The bottom line is what I shall do with the car.
Million thanks! |
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| dj-mdx2 |
| Get thee back to the dealer. Get Acura Client Services involved early. Amass all the paperwork and be ready for a fight. |
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| jhue |
| Plain water transfers heat better than a coolant/water mixture, but adding coolant raises the boiling point, so it's kind of a balancing act to get the best overall properties. That's why they recommend a 50/50 mixture even for the hottest desert climates - enough coolant to raise the boiling point, but not enough to inhibit heat transfer. |
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| G. COLTON |
Not near sufficient information on which to base a comment.
Not knowing your financial situation it would be difficult to advise on what type of engine repair/replacement would be best.
How fast did the temperature guage rise before the engine started having problems? Was it going up all week or only rapidly on the day you had a problem? Or was the temperature up immediately when the vehicle left the shop? When was the last time you checked the coolant level? Have you ever added coolant and if so what mixture?
What does the mechanic say are the specific damaged components of the engine? etc., etc |
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| JL_SS |
As DJ notes, get it to an Acura dealer. If it only has 75K and you just had a service done, you may get the replacement for free. If it is determined that it was a coolant problem, then the dealer may be at fault. If it is a cooling system problem at that low a mileage, then Acura will usually provide a replacement engine for free under "goodwill". But you will have to have it evaluated and confirmed by the dealer's service department.
On a previous CRV, We had a crankshaft pulley bolt snap 3 weeks after the dealer did a timing belt change at 90K. The bolt was corroded and should have been replaced when it was removed during the timing belt change. The result was that the dealer paid for all the damage and provided a loaner car. |
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| highcountrymdx |
njmdx03
Do you still have the receipt from the servicing that was done at the Acura dealer right before all this started to happen? It should show exactly what servicing was performed, and what fluids were replaced. Any record of coolant servicing might be key to transferring responsibility back to the arms of the dealer. Was there any indication that the radiator cap was pressure tested to determine its serviceability? If you don't have a copy of the servicing records, the dealer should have a copy in their computer files.
It might be noted that, even with pure water in the cooling system, assuming the radiator cap was installed and functional, the engine should not have overheated. Even if the engine did overheat, the engine's electronics should shut down the engine before any damage occurs. I'm just wondering on what basis the mechanic claims the engine needs to be replaced.
The best course of action might be to get the car back to the Acura dealer who serviced the car, along with their servicing paperwork, and any statements or notes from the shop that has the car now. Get the dealer and the Acura regional managers involved. Find out exactly what needs to be done and who is responsible. Be prepared to fight. |
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| shootist |
I don't see this as much of a fight. The dealer changed the coolant a week ago, engine overheated due to lack of coolant.
Try the dealer first (meet with the service manager, then send letter), Acura regional second, and your state department of motor vehicles second and a half. Google your way around you state's website- the Attorney General's office may get involved in repair rip offs too.
I would suggest that you don't have an unauthorized repair drain any fluids, or do any repairs. I would also guess that you're entitled to a rental vehicle in teh meantime. You may have to lay out the money, but this sure seems like a slam dunk. |
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| highcountrymdx |
shootist-
I may have misread the original post, but I don't know if the dealer actually changed the coolant, as you state. "Topped all the fluid" may or may not have included the coolant. For example, the proper fill level of the cooling system can be properly determined without even removing the radiator cap.
The tie breaker in all of this will be the dealer's service records. It might be noted we are all assuming the shop where the car was towed is reporting their findings correctly. Not that the neighborhood mechanic would ever falsely report a car's condition to make a few extra bucks.
This whole incident may very well be a bit more complicated than simply assuming the dealer is at fault. I can think of many scenarios where the dealer is the innocent bystander in all of this. Honestly, it might require a closer look, don't you think? It's called being fair. |
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| ocuriel |
| You need to figure out why it overheated. Because they topped of the fluids doesn't mean it's the dealers fault. |
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| hammermdx |
| Did you receive any indication from the temp guage that there was an impending problem? I would think that wold light up first, giving you plenty of time to pull over and turn of the engine before any damage would be done....need more info please. And as others have said, get to the dealer that performed the work! |
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| JeffK |
Just my $.02:
If you have had your MDX serviced regularly by the Acura dealer(and from your post it seems that you have) this should be nothing less than a slam dunk:
The dealer checked all fluids which you were charged for: the car overheated which was caused by not having the correct fluid in the radiator.
Bring or have the car towed backed to the servicing dealer. Speak kindly at first to the service manager. See what he says and what he is willing to do.
Do not lose your temper! (Unfortunately I do and I regret it). If no satisfaction try again. Believe it or not a second try does work!
If still no satisfaction ask the service manager to call regional while you are at the dealership.
Act courteously and professionally. I am sure you Acura will make good on the repairs.
JeffK |
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| ROTORRAY |
"I am sure you Acura will make good on the repairs."
You had the car serviced and drove it for a WEEK without ANY indication of a problem? When the problem manifested itself there were NO warnings of pending doom? Water in the radiator wouldn't kill the engine. You never saw any signs of overheating (temp guage, lights, whatevers?)? A faulty thermostat might, however. If they do any consideration on this repair consider it a GIFT to you. I think they would first recommend a tear down of the engine (at YOUR expense, of course) to examine it and diagnose any reason(s) for the cause. If there is no evidence that they caused the problem I think that you may eat the entire cost. If you're a good customer with them they might do some consideration for "good will" reasons. If I were them, and you, my first step would be the tear down so they/you have some idea where they/you stand. At this point you have no evidence that they did anything wrong, and they could just as easily say it was YOUR fault (like, why didn't you stop at first sign of overheating?). If they do a tear down I would recommend that you be present, with an independent Honda mechanic you trust, and who has IMPECCABLE CREDENTIALS, and a camera. When you're asking someone to pay $5-7K for something they "might" have done you had better be prepared to back up your claim. I had a similar problem with a helicopter engine which destroyed itself in flight. Maintenance facility claimed one thing and I claimed another. Tear down proved that I was right. Maintenance facility ate the $25K repair.
Good luck, and keep up posted on what happens. |
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| Ceenit |
What service did you take your car in for? Was it cooling system related? If they worked on the system, you have a good case.
If they were just doing an oil change, it doens't necessarily give you firm grounds to say they made an error.
More info on service needed. |
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