I posted this over in the Tech/Misc forum too, but thought maybe I'd miss someone.

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.

 

dude, get a lawyer. coolant contamination? are you serious? you could pour apple juice in there for all it cares, as long as it's circulating and keeping the motor cool, it's gonna work. As long as it wasnt over heating, that inspector is full of ****. sounds like a completely mechanical failure to me. Any pics of whats broken? Does the rod it threw look bent or simply snapped? was the timing belt still intact? do you have your dealer maintenance records?

 

I knew they were full of it as soon as I looked at the Honda Care book and saw "contaminated engine fluids" listed as a reason for voiding your warranty. That's not the issue, I know they're feeding me some BS. The problem is Honda won't budge. They inspected, supposedly found a cause, and have closed the claim. So now what do I do? Do I just toss money out the window on some random lawyer in the hopes of them eventually winning my case? And do I go after Honda Motors, or go after the dealer I bought the car from for selling me a car that had "contaminated" fluids?

The car never over heated. I was humming along at about 70-75 mph for 3 and half hours into my 4 hour drive, I heard a faint ticking and within a minute it blew. Temperature gauge never moved. I honestly haven't seen the rod and I'm not sure about the timing belt. I do have the service records, but all I did was change the oil every couple of months.

 

Thats pretty Stupid if ya ask me. its a hybrid. How can you abuse it? lol but anyway if you had it regularly maintained and you bought it Honda used car certified then it should of been covered. Was this inspector from Honda? There has been a honda rep that has come out to my dealer beofre and looked at blown engines. But all he did was see the hole in the block and ask us if we think it was abuse or just a mecanical issue. They usually don't know nothing about cars like that. I think i would get a lawyer like preveiously stated!

 

try calling the honda corporate customer service and not the dealer. See if they are willing to do anything for you. if not then i would get a lawyer familiar with dealing in the situation you are in.

 

Strange, I've never heard of this happening.

I would try posting on http://www.greenhybrid.com/ - and taking it to another dealer after that and calling corporate.

Good luck, and let us know what happens!