1997 HONDA ACCORD Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE AND PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 152,587. UPDATED 08/24/11 *BF UPDATED 08/29/11

Mileage: 152,587

1997 HONDA ACCORD VEHICLE WITH A LEAKING AND CORRODED RADIATOR. CONSUMER STATES THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED IN 2008 AND NOW IT IS LEAKING AGAIN. THERE IS CORROSION ON THE BACK AND FRONT OF THE RADIATOR. *KB THE THERMOSTAT WAS STUCK OPEN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME HOT AND THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN SERVICED A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT AND A GASKET WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEAD GASKET, WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT AND TIMING BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE WOULD STALL SPORADICALLY. NO WARNING LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE. ON OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART IMMEDIATELY AND OTHER TIMES, IT WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY RECALLS AND HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE DEALER ADVISED HAVING A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED AND ALSO REPLACING THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ALSO ADVISED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALL AND HE WOULD BE LIABLE FOR ANY REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,500.

Mileage: 126,500

I HAVE HAD MY 1997 HONDA ACCORD LX 4CYL FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS. I HAVE SEARCHED THIS PROBLEM JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE, AND WHILE I'VE SEEN THE PROBLEM REPORTED IN HUNDREDS OF HONDA OWNERS, I HAVE YET TO SEE A SOLID SOLUTION. PROBLEM: CAR SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING, STRONG FUEL/GAS SMELL WHEN THIS HAPPENS, DASH LIGHTS SHUTTING OFF AND GOING BLACK, DOOR LOCKS JUMPING UP AND DOWN MY CAR IS SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING - WHETHER I'M ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET, OR GOING 75 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE BEEN BLESSED NOT TO BE HIT BY ANOTHER CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT SOMETIMES STARTS RIGHT BACK UP, BUT AFTER A FEW TIMES, IT TAKES ABOUT 20 MINUTES TO BE ABLE TO START. THE ENGINE WILL STIR AROUND, BUT IT WON'T FIRE UP AND ACTUALLY START. TWENTY MINUTES LATER OR SO, IT STARTS.. AND THEN WE MAY MAKE IT TO OUR DESTINATION WITHOUT STALLING AGAIN. OH, AND I CAN'T FORGET THE STRONG SCENT OF FUEL IN THE AIR WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT STARTED AS A SPORADIC THING THAT HAPPENED WHENEVER I DROVE LONG DISTANCE (AN HOUR OR MORE) OR WHENEVER I WAS AT 1/4 OF A TANK. MORE RECENTLY, I CAN HARDLY DRIVE AT ALL. I TRIED TO LEAVE TODAY, AND I DIDN'T MAKE IT DOWN THE STREET WITHOUT THE CAR SHUTTING OFF TWICE. THE CAR IS NOT OVERHEATING, THERE'S PLENTY OF GAS IN THE TANK... YET WHEN I DRIVE, THE DASH LIGHTS GO OUT, THE RPM JUMPS ALL OVER THE PLACE AND FINALLY TO 0. THE CAR WORKS FINE WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD (FIRST THING IN THE MORNING), BUT AS SOON AS THE ENGINE WARMS TO A NORMAL LEVEL, THIS HAPPENS. I'VE BEEN STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY MORE TIMES THEN I CARE TO ADMIT... BY MYSELF, WITH MY CHILDREN, IN 101 DEGREE HEAT.. ETC. WHAT WE'VE DONE (UNSUCCESSFULLY): * I ALREADY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, THEY RAN MY VIN AND SAID THAT THE RECALLS HAVE ALL BEEN TAKEN CARE OF AND REPLACED ON MY CAR PRIOR TO ME PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. * REPLACED SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES * MAJOR TUNE-UP * REPLACED RELAY SWITCH * REPLACED FUEL FILTER. *TR

Mileage: 186,000

HONDA RECOMMENDS REPLACING TIMING BELT, BALANCER BELT AND WATER PUMP AT 7 YEARS OR 105,000 MILES ON THE 1997 HONDA ACCORD. I HAD THE DEALER REPLACE THEM ALL AT 7 YEARS AND 36,139 MILES, IN 2004. THE REPLACEMENT WATER PUMP FAILED PREMATURELY IN JUST OVER FIVE YEARS AND 39,618 MILES LATER. EARLIER THIS YEAR I KEPT SEEING COOLANT UNDER THE CAR. I HAD THE DEALER INSTALL NEW BELTS AND A NEW WATER PUMP. THE NEW PUMP FAILED RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX SPILLING COOLANT ON THE NEW BELTS. SO, THE DEALER REMOVED THE NEW BELTS, INSTALLED ANOTHER NEW WATER PUMP AND THEN REINSTALLED THE SAME BELTS. I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS WILL AFFECT TO THE LONGEVITY OF THE NEW BELTS. ALSO, MY MAIN CONCERN IS THAT THE TIMING BELT IS DRIVING THE WATER PUMP, AND THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY IS HIDDEN UNDER A COVER. IF THE WATER PUMPS STARTS FAILING, HOT COOLANT WILL SPILL ON THE TIMING AND THE BALANCER BELTS CAUSING THEM TO WEAKEN OVER TIME, AND THEY CAN EITHER SLIP OR BREAK CAUSING CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AND AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE SEE RELATED PHOTOS: HTTP://WWW.HONDA-TECH.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=1908944 I BELIEVE THIS IS A POOR DESIGN THAT CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO FAIL SUDDENLY. IT SEEMS THAT HONDAS FROM 1992 TO 2002 USE THE SAME BASIC CONCEALED PUMP DESIGN. NOTE: THE WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED AT 36,139 (PREVENTIVE MEASURE) AND IT FAILED AT 75,757 OR LESS THAN 40,00 LATER!!! UPDATED 05/11/10.8JB

Mileage: 75,757

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING ABOVE 40MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY TEMPORARILY SHUT OFF AND THEN BACK ON. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 118000.

Mileage: 118,000

DT: 1997 HONDA ACCORD. DEALERSHIP WAS NOT HONORING EXTENDED WARRANTY. AMERICAN HONDA SENT THE CONSUMER CAMPAIGN I 98-081 FOR EXTENDED WARRANTY. WENT ONLINE FOR A RECALL THAT NHTSA HAD FOR LOWER BALL JOINTS. AMERICAN HONDA RAN CONSUMER'S VIN ON WEBSITE AND THEY SAID THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THEY WERE GOING TO REPLACE THE OIL. VEHICLE WOULD BE READY ON TOMORROW BY NOON. THE LOWER BALL JOINT WAS CONFIRMED AND THERE WAS NO ISSUE WITH THEM. THE ISSUE WAS FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO HONOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT HONDA ISSUED. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT WAS NOT IN THEIR INTEREST TO LET OTHER CUSTOMERS KNOW ABOUT SAFETY NEEDS. *SC. *AK

EMISSIONS RECALL ON VEHICLE. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. *TC EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM THEY REPLACED THE EVAP CANISTER VENT VALVE. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS CLOSE TO IT'S 150,000 MILE WARRANTY AND IS CONCERNED THAT THE PROBLEM WILL PERSIST AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRES. *NM

THE AIR BAG MODULE FAILED CAUSING THE SENSOR LIGHT TO STAY ON. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. *AK *SC THE VEHICLE HAD AN ENGINE OIL LEAK, THE DEALER REPLACED THE VALVE COVER GASKET. *JB

Mileage: 61,000

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR A RECALL REPAIRS FOR A BALANCER SHAFT OIL SEAL LEAK. HONDA REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. HONDA INSISTED THEIR RESPONSIBILITY ENDED IN JANUARY 2003. HOWEVER, CONSUMER CALLED IN SEPTEMBER 2002 TO GET THIS WORK DONE. IT WASN'T MENTIONED AT THAT TIME. FILE WASN'T UPDATED, RESULTING IN REFUSAL OF RECALL REPAIRS. *AK

Mileage: 57,900

WHILE DRIVING SMELLED A STRANGE ODOR ENTERING PASSENGER CABIN. CONSUMER INSPECTED AND DISCOVERED THAT 1 OF THE ENGINE COOLING FANS IS CONTAINED IN A PLASTIC HOLDER BEHIND THE RADIATOR. THE PLASTIC HOLDER COMPLETELY MELTED WHILE FAN WAS IN OPERATION AND ALMOST STARTED A FIRE. *AK

REFUSE TO FIX HIS VEHICLE::: THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT FIX HIS VEHICLE DUE TO HIS SON WAS IN MILITARY. AND THE RECALL EXPIRED FOR A SEAL TO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP IS HONDA HE SPOKE WITH A SERVICE MANAGER 889 991 9009 WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE REPAIR. *CB

Mileage: 70,000

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE, MR. DAN OLSON, FLOOR MANAGER, INDICATED THAT MANUFACTURER HAS SEND A BULLETIN #100 CONTAINING INFORMATION ON THE SEAL CRACK BLOCK EXHAUST MANIFOLD. SO HE HAD TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR OVER $400.00. *AK

Mileage: 794,000

THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER REPLACED THE EGR VALVE. *JB

WAS ANY RECALL REPORTED ON CATALYTIC CONVERTER. DT

THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK DUE TO AN ENGINE BLOCK CRACK. *YH

THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK DUE TO AN ENGINE BLOCK CRACK. *YH THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE WAS A SMALL POROUS CRACK AND DEVELOPED A SPECIAL BRACKET TO HOLD THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AWAY FROM THE ENGINE BLOCK BECAUSE THE VIBRATION OF THE MANIFOLD EXHAUST IS AGAINST THE ENGINE CAUSED THE CRACK. *SCC

INTERMITTENT STALLING. *AK

VEHICLE HAS STALLED 8 TIMES AT 30-65 MPH. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, SAID A RECALL WAS FORTHCOMING ON THIS ISSUE.*AK

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER DUE TO SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST DURING ACCELERATION, THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK A SECOND TIME IN WHICH THE DEALER REMOVED THE HEADS AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE IN WHICH THE ENGINE WOULD NEED REPLACED, THE DEALER WOULD NOT MAKE REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY. *SLC

OIL SEAL BLOWN OUT AT VERY LOW MILEAGE; GARAGE INFORMS THAT PROBLEM IS OCCURRING AT HIGH FREQUENCY AMONG HONDAS OF SIMILAR AGE, ALTHOUGH NOT MILEAGE, AND THAT HONDA IS AVOIDING OR DELAYING SENDING OUT NOTICES OF DEFECT. *AK

WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, CONSUMER SAW BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER STOPPED VEHICLE, LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE CAR AND SAW THAT OIL WAS POURING ONTO THE GROUND. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK THE BALANCE SHAFT SEAL WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH A NEW RETAINER, BALANCE BELT AND TIMING BELT. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR (APPROX. 50 MPH) THE BALANCER SHAFT OIL SEAL BACKED OUT. THE ENGINE OIL WAS PUMPED OUT. THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND MY WIFE PULLED THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. BUT IT WAS TOO LATE THE ENGINE SEIZED. HONDA WAS WILLING TO REPLACE THE SEAL BUT SAID THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE ENGINE. HONDA KNOWS THAT THIS SEAL IS A PROBLEM AND HAS SENT A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT TELLING PEOPLE SO. (WE DID NOT RECEIVE A NOTICE FROM HONDA ON THIS) INSTEAD OF RECALLING THE FAULTY PART HONDA HAS FIGURED OUT THAT THEY CAN PUT THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DESIGN MISTAKES ON THEIR CUSTOMERS BY SIMPLY SENDING OUT A SERVICE BULLETIN. IF YOU DON'T GET A LETTER FROM HONDA --OH WELL. HONDA SHOULD REPLACE THE SEALS IN ALL OF THE AFFECTED CARS AND HONDA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPAIR/REPLACE ANY ENGINES DESTROYED BY THE FAULTY SEAL. *AK

THE LOUD NOISE TICKING VALVE PROBLEM HAS START AROUND 50000 MILES. AFTER HAVING THE VALVES ADJUST, PROBLEM STILL PERSIST.*AK

THE MUFFLER FAILED AT 33,695 MILES. DEALER SAID ORIGINAL MUFFLER IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 75MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER PULLED OFF, PUT VEHICLE IN PARK, AND RESTARTED VEHICLE. TOOK TO DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS AND DEALER STILL COULDN'T CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN WITHOUT ANY NOTICE. PROBLEM CAN HAPPEN AT ANY SPEED, AND IS ALSO INTERMITTENT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WOULD DIE INTERMITTENTLY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

OIL SEAL BLEW, LOST ALMOST ALL OF THE OIL. NO WARNING. HONDA DEALER IN ALHAMBRA, CA SAID THAT THE ENGINE HAD CEASED, WANTED OVER $8,000 TO REPLACE ENGINE. TOOK IT TO ANOTHER LOCAL MECHANIC WHO SAID THAT THE ENGINE HAD NOT CEASED. HE HAD 2 OTHER HONDA ACCORDS THERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

BALANCE SHAFT SEAL BLEW, OIL SOAKING THE TIMING AND DRIVE BELTS. DEALER TRIED TO CHARGE ME FOR REPAIR THAT WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY SEAL THAT HONDA KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH. *AK

I LOST MORE THAN HALF OF THE OIL ON 2 MILE DRIVE TO SCHOOL- BROKEN SEAL, WITH NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. MY LUCK IT DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY- THE CAR WOULD'VE BEEN GONE. A MECHANIC AT FIRESTONE SERVICE CENTER WAS NOT SURPRISED - HE HAD SEEN THIS HAPPEN ON MANY OTHER ACCORDS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THE BALANCE SHAFT SEAL CAME OUT AND CAUSED OIL TO LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

SAME EXACT INCIDENT HAPPENED TO ANOTHER CAR I OWNED, HONDA ACCORD LX 96, AT THE SAME MILEAGE RANGE (59K-60K). ONLY WITH ACCORD 96, I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO STOP ON TIME, AND WAS ABLE TO SAVE THE ENGINE. WHEREAS, IN THIS CAR - ACCORD 97 SITUATION, I WAS TOO LATE, ALL OF THE OIL CAME OUT, AND ENGINE WAS IRREPARABLY DAMAGED. ACCORDING TO THE HONDA ACCORD MANUALS, MAINTENANCE (CHANGE OF TIMING BELTS, ETC.) ON THE CAR SHOULD BE DONE AT AROUND 90K MILES, EXCLUDING THE REGULAR OIL CHANGES. THEREFORE, BOTH INCIDENTS WERE NOT RELATED TO A DELAYED MAINTENANCE, BUT TO AN IRREGULAR FAILURE OF THE OIL PUMP AND THE OIL SEAL. BOTH CASES ARE IDENTICAL ON SIMILAR CARS AND DESERVE TO BE INVESTIGATED.

THE OIL PUMP FAILED. *MJS

EXHAUST SHIELD RATTLES, DEALER RESPONDED THAT THERE ARE WAYS TO MINIMIZE THE NOISE, BUT NEVER FIX IT PERMANENTLY. *SLC

OIL SHIELD ON THE BALANCE SHAFT HAS POPPED OUT, CAUSING THE OIL TO LEAK ONT THE GROUND. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

EXHAUST PIPE HAD A HOLE AND RUST, AND MUFFLER WAS COMPTETELY HOLLOW TOO. YH

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

ROAD WATER GOT INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND WAS PICKED UP BY FAN BELT. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK

WHEN STARTING UP VEHICLE CONSUMER CAN SMELL FUEL OR VAPORS WITHIN THE VEHICLE. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE THE SMELL GETS INTO VEHICLE, AND CONSUMER CAN'T DETERMINE WHERE FUEL OR VAPORS ARE COMING FROM. DEALER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

OIL PLUG THAT ON THE OIL PAN FELL OFF, CAUSING THE OIL TO SPRAY UNTO ENGINE, RESULTING IN DAMAGES AND ALMOST A FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

HAVE TAKEN MY CAR IN 4 TIMES AND THEY JUST RESET IT. THEY KEEP ON TELLING THAT THERE'S NO SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM YET. THEY CONTACTED THE HEADQUARTERS, AND THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO SATISFY ME. I DO NOT FEEL CONFORTABLE ABOUT MY CAR BECAUSE I HAVE TO MISS WORK AND SCHOOL SO MUCH FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND YET THEY DO NOT DO ANYTHING. THEY DON'T SEEM TO CARE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I THINK I HAVE A LEMON AND I DON'T LIKE THE WAY THEY ARE TREATING THIS SITUATION. *AK

GAS MILEAGE REDUCED AFTER 30000 MILE SERVICE.USED TO GET 30-32 MPG ON HIGHWAY DRIVING 70 MPH. CURRENTLY, GETS 29 MPG ON HIGHWAY AT SAME SPEED.

CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO TURN OFF WHEN BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON TURNED OFF. BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED TO SLOW OR STOP VEHICLE. ONLY WHEN PARKING BRAKE WAS APPLIED DID VEHICLE SLOW.

WHILE STARTING VEHICLE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT REMAINS ON. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED FIVE TIMES. ENGINE MISFIRES, BUT DEALER CANNOT CORRECT PROBLEM. *AK

DESIGN OF THE OIL FILTER (LOCATION) WHICH IS OVER EXHAUST SYSTEM AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER ALLOWS OIL TO BE RELEASED ONTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHILE CHANGING FILTER. THIS RESULTS IN SMOKE FROM BURNING OFF OF UNIT.

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE INTO A PARKING LOT WHEN BUMPER HIT THE POLE THAT POSTS HANDICAP SIGNS, VERY SLIGHTLY DENTED THE BUMPER OF VEHICLE. ALSO BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER WAS WEARING SEAT BELT. ALSO BURNED HER RIGHT ARM AND BROKE HER GLASSES. *AK CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER.*JB