I am hoping someone on here can help. My Civic hybrid 5-speed with 85k on it, out of nowhere, threw a rod on I-95 a few weeks ago. I witnessed the coolant and oil almost entirely empty out onto the road and the flat bed tow truck. The dealer I've had it serviced at regularly for the past 45k couldn't figure out what caused the damage, but thought it should be covered under the "Certified Honda" warranty that the car came with (100k powertrain). Honda decides they want to send out an inspector, a third party mechanic who doesn't work for Honda, who then states that they found some form of "contamination in the coolant" and that would constitute "abuse" therefore none of the damage would be covered. I've never even opened the radiator cap to the damn car. Admittedly I've tuned and messed with other cars in the past, but I never messed with this car. What would be the point? It's a hybrid. I bought it to be a cheap bastard on gas, and that was when gas was cheap a year and half ago. I've spent countless hours arguing on the phone with the dealership, Honda, and Honda Care and gotten absolutely no where. I apparently can't have a second inspector's opinion as my case has been closed and they wash their hands clean of me. So I decided to get some estimates on my own and even the other mechanics I talk to say I need to go back to Honda.

I'm at my wits end here guys, any suggestions on getting Honda to play ball? If not, any thoughts on replacement engines and installers in the PA-NJ-MD-VA-NC area?

Thanks in advance.

 

if you have proof of maintenance records then they have to replace the engine under warranty. call up a lawyer and explain the situation to them.

if their inspector is so smart ask them how contaminated coolant would cause the engine to throw a rod? that sounds pretty unusual to me. i could understand if the engine had no oil. but coolant.......im pretty sure the hybrid system has some kind of fail safe if it was low on coolant and was overheating it would shut everything down.

and since you say you had is serviced for the past 45k there must have been a point in time the coolant was changed.....

 

Yeah, I contacted a lawyer as well just to see what all that entailed. It seems they have their own "expert" mechanics who you pay for their "expert" analysis. Then after looking over the analysis, service records and title history, the lawyer decides if your case has warrant (at least enough for them to recoup their fees on top of the cost of fixing my car). It seems kinda shady, maybe I just haven't found the right one. My other concern with that is, the car is still sitting at the dealer that it was towed to. Once I take/tow it somewhere to get someone else's opinion, couldn't Honda just say that I tampered with it? For example, say that I went in and flushed out any supposed "contamination"? I thought that leaving the car there at least Honda would be more apt to bend. I offered to pay for a chemical analysis out of pocket to find out what sort of "contamination" was in the coolant. But they said it wouldn't change their stance. Screwed either way it seems.

And no, I don't think I ever had the coolant flushed in the year and half 45k that I drove it. I bought the car from a Honda dealer "Certified" and was shown at least on paper that it was up date on all major services.