Hello everyone, i come seeking help.

I was on my way to work yesterday (it was raining a bit) and i'm about two blocks away from my work when the CEL light jumps on, flashes, and then comes on solid again, literally a second later i start smelling something horrible and then a bit of smoke comes wafting in to the passenger compartment near the ECU. I throw on the emergency lights, turn off the car (to stop fueling whatever it is that is causing the fire/problem) and coast to make a right onto a small street and park. As i'm coasting the smoke continues to come out and ALL of the power was lost. No emergency lights, no windshield wipers, signals, etc. NOTHING. I quickly jump out of the car and pop the hood and see a small flame on the Main Fuse Box and start frantically spitting on it in an attempt to put it out. It works and then the only smoke is coming from the air intake (not the filter, but the piping), and its kind of rubbing it looked like on the side of the engine compartment.

I ran to work after making sure that there was no fire in the car and then came back on my break and tried starting it and it had no electricity at all.

My car is completely gutted so i could easily see the bare ECU in case anyone was wondering.

Does anyone know what could have happened?

All help is appreciated.

 

Bump?

Anyone?

 

Not uncommon for an older car to light up the fusebox. A friend I work with had that happen to him in the parking lot. If it was one of the bigger/main fuses, it would definately cut power to the entire car. If you're saying the intake was rubbing, there's the chance it could have shorted some wires. I'd have a real mechanic familiar with hondas look it over.


<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Exit Music &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">then the only smoke is coming from the air intake (not the filter, but the piping), </TD></TR></TABLE>

If it's properly plumbed, the only exit for air in the manifold would be out the filter. Chances are that the smoke from the fusebox was being sucked into the engine, killing it's ability to sustain combustion. The smoke coming out was just what was sucked into the intake manifold before it turned off.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by HiProfile &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Not uncommon for an older car to light up the fusebox. A friend I work with had that happen to him in the parking lot. If it was one of the bigger/main fuses, it would definately cut power to the entire car. If you're saying the intake was rubbing, there's the chance it could have shorted some wires. I'd have a real mechanic familiar with hondas look it over.


If it's properly plumbed, the only exit for air in the manifold would be out the filter. Chances are that the smoke from the fusebox was being sucked into the engine, killing it's ability to sustain combustion. The smoke coming out was just what was sucked into the intake manifold before it turned off.</TD></TR></TABLE>

So what should i replace to get her running again? The wiring harnesses, fuses, and ECU? Thanks for your help.

 

Do you have an aftermarket intake? Is the power side of the battery closest too it? It might have shorted out on the intake.

 

I do have an aftermarket intake but the power side is pretty far from it. Any other ideas? Thanks for all of the help!

 

check the big fuses under teh main fuse box, and mmaybe do you have an amp, mayeb the wiring is shot?

 

I'm going to check everything tomorrow. I think i should replace the ECU, wiring harnesses, and the fuses. I'm not sure though.

 

I'm not sure about theneed of ECU replacement, as the fire was in the fuse box.

The CEL probably ocured because a part of the harnas melted down and shorted.
So, most likely ou have to replace the fusebox and (a part of) the wire harnas.

Letthis also be a lesson to us all.. check and keep clean your fuse boxes and other connectors.

 

Im not sure, i think ur fuses are probably 2 strong for the wirings, u may not know what im talking about but my brother had a problem why his cd-deck wasnt working properly he showed me that his fuses are 2 strong or either 2 weak and it could of caused a real electrical hazard problem. my suggestion would be to change all ur fuse boxes or go 2 a audio shopp and have them take a look. sorry if this doesnt help but i hope this should be a close step to ur answer tho . .