1999 HONDA CR-V Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

I HAVE A 1999 HONDA CR-V WITH APPROXIMATELY 120K MILES ON IT. THE #4 CYLINDER HAS LOW COMPRESSION DUE TO A BURNED EXHAUST VALVE. THE OWNER'S MANUAL FAILS TO STATE THAT THE VALVES NEED TO BE CHECKED EVERY 15K MILES (HONDA HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE MISPRINT BUT FAILS TO ASSIST IN REPAIR COSTS). THE VEHICLE IDLES VERY LOW AND STALLS OCCASIONALLY, PUTTING ME AND MY FAMILY AT RISK. *TR

Mileage: 120,545

WE PURCHASED A 1998 HONDA CIVIC IN MARCH 1998. WHILE IT WAS IN THE WARRANTY PERIOD, THE AC UNIT WENT OUT WHICH WAS COVERED. MY HUSBAND BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT SOMETHING CAUSED A METAL PART IN THE COMPRESSOR TO BREAK, CAUSING METAL FRAGMENTS TO CONTAMINATE THE AC SYSTEM. THE CAR WAS ABOUT 2-3 YEARS OLD AND THE TIME AND THE DEALER REPAIRED IT AT NO COST TO US. WE HAVE SINCE SOLD THIS VEHICLE. IN JULY OF 1999 WE PURCHASED A HONDA CR-V (EX) WHICH WE STILL OWN. WE ALSO PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ($75K COVERAGE) ON THIS VEHICLE. IN AUGUST OF 2003 (WITHIN 200 MILES OF WHEN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED) AT 77K MILES, THE A/C COMPRESSOR FAILED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO COVERAGE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. I TOOK IT TO SEVERAL A/C REPAIR SHOPS AND MOST OF THEM QUOTED $1200-$1400. WE HAD THE AC REPAIRED BY A REPUTABLE AC REPAIR SHOP AT THE COST OF $1200. WE HAVE KEPT UP ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE AND INTENDED ON KEEPING IT FOR ANOTHER 2 YEARS OR SO. HOWEVER, LAST WEEK, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THE COMPRESSOR MADE A TERRIBLE CLUNKING NOISE, AND SOMETHING APPEARED TO BREAK OFF. WE BROUGHT IT IN AND SURE ENOUGH, THE COMPRESSOR HAD GONE OUT AGAIN. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THIS TIME, THAT IT APPEARS THAT SOMETHING (ROAD DEBRIS) CAUSES THIS PROBLEM AND THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT IT. WE ARE BEING QUOTED ANOTHER $1400-$1500 TO FIX THE A/C. WE HAVE DECIDED NOT TO BUY ANOTHER HONDA DUE TO THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE HAD. MY HUSBAND HAD TO BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE (THIS TIME A TOYOTA) BECAUSE HE DRIVES 30 MILES ONE WAY AND THEN HAS TO DRIVE AROUND TO CUSTOMERS. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I BELIEVE THAT HONDA HAS BEEN AWARE FOR MANY YEARS ABOUT A DEFECT IN THE AC SYSTEMS OR A DEFECT IN THE WAY THE AC SYSTEMS AND HAVE ACTED IN BAD FAITH BY NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

Mileage: 151,000

I OWN A 1999 HONDA CR-V. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AROUND 102,000 MILES. THE CAR BEGAN LOSING POWER, SHAKING WHILE IDLING AND CHUGGING LOUDLY DURING GEAR SHIFTING. ONE DAY THE ENGINE JUST DIED, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PARKING LOT I WAS DRIVING THROUGH. NO WARNING. I THEN TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC I TRUST. THEY FIRST HAD ME REPLACE THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP, ROTOR, SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES. IT TOOK THEM TWO VISITS TO FINALLY REALIZE THE VALVES WERE BURNT AND THE HEAD NOW MUST BE REPLACED. AVERAGE COST TO REPLACE IS $3500 TO $4000. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS AND IT IS A COMMON COMPLAINT FOR 1997 TO 2000 PLUS MODELS. THIS PROBLEM MUST BE STOPPED BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED. *TR

Mileage: 102,500

HELLO I HAVE A 1999 HONDA CRV.. I HAVE 102K ON MY CAR. I HAVE HAD TAKEN MY CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP (HONDAPRO) AND THEY TOLD ME THAT PARTICULAR ENGINE HAS HAD PROBLEMS SPECIFICALLY WITH THE VALVES OVERTIGHTENING AND CAUSING THE HEAD TO NEED TO BE REPLACED. NO SYMPTOMS ACCRUE THEN THE CEL COMES ON WITH CODES OF MISFIRE, BY THAT TIME ITS TOO LATE. BURNT AND CRACKED VALVES ARE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. I HAVE READ SEVERAL FORUMS THAT HAS OTHER OWNERS OF THE HONDA CRV THAT HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAD TO REPLACE THE HEAD THAT COSTS THE CONSUMER AT LEAST BETWEEN 3-5K TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE VALVES ON MINE ONCE AT ABOUT 87,327 MILES. I DON'T THINK THAT THE ENGINE HEAD IS A GOOD ONE WHEN ITS ONLY BEEN LESS THAT 15K MILES AND THE PROBLEMS COME BACK. I HOPE SOMETHING CAN GET DONE ABOUT THIS HEAD PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *TR

Mileage: 101,671

CONSUMER STATED THAT HIS 1999 CRV HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS STATED IN TSB 03-038. *KB ***NAR*** THE TSB WAS FOR POOR ENGINE PERFORMANCE DUE TO EXHAUST VALVES RECEDING INTO THE CYLINDER HEADS. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE FAULTY PARTS. *NM

Mileage: 83,560

I BEGAN EXPERIENCING A MISFIRE DURING IDLE IN MY 99 HONDA CRV ABOUT A YEAR AGO. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND HE SAID MY FUEL INJECTORS WERE BAD AND CHARGED ME APPROX.$750 TO REPLACE. I CONTINUED TO HAVE THE PROBLEM SO I DID A TUNE UP ON THE VEHICLE. THIS STILL DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND HE SAID HE COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND IT WAS MISSING BECAUSE I DID NOT USE HONDA SPARK PLUGS. I REPLACE THE BOSCH PLUGS WITH HONDA PLUGS AND STILL EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM. I LIVED WITH THE PROBLEM FOR A FEW MORE MONTHS AND FINAL BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE THIRD TIME. NOW HE SAYS THAT I NEED A NEW HEAD AND NEW FUEL INJECTORS ND WANTS $4800 FOR THE REPAIRS. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THE SUBJECT ON THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM. THE HONDA VALVES NEED TO BE ADJUSTED EVERY 15,000 TO 30,000 MILES OR THEY CAN GET TOO TIGHT AND CAUSE BURNED VALVES OR A DAMAGED HEAD. THE HONDA OWNERS MANUAL ONLY RECOMMENDS ADJUSTING THE VALVES AT A MUCH GREATER INTERVAL. THIS IS DEFINITELY A DESIGN DEFECT AND HONDA SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR THEIR INCOMPETENT ENGINEERING ABILITY. BY THE WAY THE DEALER I WENT TO IS NAPLETONS AUTOWERKS HONDA IN ROCKFORD ILLINOIS.*JB

Mileage: 117,262

MY MOM'S 1999 HONDA CRV HAD TO UNDERGO SEVERAL VALVE JOBS FROM DIFFERENT DEALERS WHEN IT HAD UNDER 75,000 MILES BECAUSE THERE WERE SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE. NUMEROUS COSTS TOTALED OVER $2000. CONTACTED HONDA, BUT THERE WEREN'T ANY RECALLS, OR KNOWN PROBLEMS AT THE TIME. SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF OTHER CRV'S ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THOUGH. SHOULDN'T HONDA FIX THIS PROBLEM BY SENDING OUT A RECALL AS IT IS NOT THE FAULT OF THE OWNERS OF THE CAR?. *JB

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO EMISSIONS TEST STATION, AND WAS TOLD THAT HIS FAILED THE EMISSIONS TEST BECAUSE IT WAS MISFIRING. CONSUMER STATED THAT EMISSION OFFICIALS GAVE HIM A PAPER THAT STATED THE CODES THAT MADE HIS VEHICLE NOT PASS THE TEST. CONSUMER CALLED THE HONDA DEALER, AND ASKED THEM TO GIVE HIM THE MEANING OF THE CODES. WHEN THEY DID, AND HE ASKED WHAT THEY MEANT, HE WAS TOLD THAT BASICALLY THEY MEANT THAT ENGINE WAS MISFIRING. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING WEIRDLY, BUT HE DID NOT PAY ANY ATTENTION TO IT. HOWEVER, WARRANTY EXPIRED. *AK

AT 71,655 MILES, MY 1999 HONDA CR-V HAD THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COME ON. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO CHECKED IT ON THE CPU AND FOUND MISFIRE CODES FOR ALL OF THE CYLINDERS. EXHAUST VALVES WERE VERY TIGHT. VALVES WERE ADJUSTED. WAS TOLD THAT THE VALVES STARTED TO BURN. WE WERE TOLD THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON WITH ALL 1999 HONDA CR-VS. WAS TOLD THAT HEAD ASSEMBLY WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR $3265.00. SINCE THE HONDA TECHNICIAN HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE, AS WELL AS TECHNICIANS AT MANY OTHER HONDA SERVICE DEPARTMENTS THAT WERE CALLED ABOUT THE PROBLEM, HONDA SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THIS REPAIR. UP UNTIL THIS POINT, WE SWORE BY HONDA, BUT NOW BELIEVE THAT WE WILL SWITCH TO TOYOTAS.

Mileage: 71,655

HONDA CRV CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON THREE TIMES. DEALER HAD DONE SCHEDULE MAINTAINANCE INCLUDING CHANGING PLUGS. DEALER HAS DONE ALL SCHEDULE MAINTAINANCE AND SERVICE MANAGER STATED THEY HAD ADJUSTED VALVES AT THE 60K TUNE-UP. AT ABOUT 70K TOOK AUTO TO DEALER FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THEY SAID LUGS MISFIRED, RESET CODE. MONTH LATER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WENT OFF NEXT DAY. DEALER SAID "AH, JUST DRIVE IT, IF IT COMES ON AGAIN BRING IT IN". MONTH LATER LIGHT COMES ON. NOW DEALER SAID NEED A NEW HEAD BECAUSE OF VALVE PROBLEM QUOTED $3350 PRICE. TOLD HIM NO WAY WAS I PAYING THAT, HE TALKED TO HONDA REP AND PRICE IS DROPPED TO $1400. I AM STILL GETTING RIPPED OFF. THIS WILL BE THE LAST HONDA I OWN.*AK

AFTER 112,000 MILES MY 1999 HONDA CR-V CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGH RESULTING IN A BURNED EXHAUST VALVE AND $1200 VALVE JOB. ACORDING TO HONDA MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE IT IS SUGGESTED THE VALVE CLEARANCES BE INSPECTED AT 105,000 MI. AS THIS IS SUCH A CRITICAL ITEM THE HONDA SHOULD MAKE THE CONSUMER "PAINFULLY AWARE" OF THIS PROBLEM TO AVOID HIGH COST REPAIRS, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. MY RESEARCH HAS FOUND MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME BURNT EXHAUST VALVE SITUATION, SOME OCUURING BEFORE THE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE REQUIRED. BOTTOM LINE - HONDA SHOULD PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS.*AK

HONDA CRV BURNED VAVLE. MANY CRV OWNERS OF 1998 AND 1999 HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM. HONDA MECHANIC HAD STATED THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE VALVE WAS INSTALLED TOO TIGHT CAUSING FRICTION AND EVENTUALLY BURNED THE VALVE. HONDA CORP. IS NOT CLAMING ANY RESPONSIBLITY FOR THIS PROBLEM ANYMORE. THE CUT OFF DATE THAT HONDA WOULD HAVE COVERED THE REPAIR COST WAS APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS AGO FROM TODAY 12/9/03 ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC AT THE GLENDALE (CA) HONDA DEALERSHIP. *LA

Mileage: 70,000

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. VEHICLE WOULD NOT PROPERLY ACCELERATE, AND THE HANDLING WAS NOT MANAGEABLE. VEHICLE HAD TWO VALVE JOBS DONE. CURRENTLY, CYLINDER HEADS NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

Mileage: 100,000

WITH 57K MILES AND ALL RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE, MY HONDA CRV HAD A BURNT EXHAUST VALVE ON THE #3 CYLINDER. IN RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, I FOUND SEVERAL SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ALL REFERRING TO THE #3 CYLINDER AND THE VALVE TIGHTNESS FROM THE FACTORY. IF HONDA REALIZED THIS MAY BE A PROBLEM, COULD THEY HAVE NOT ADJUSTED THESE VALVES DURING REGULAR MAINTENANCE? I'M NOT HAPPY IN PAYING FOR A REPAIR THAT HONDA COULD HAVE PREVENTED BUT DIDN'T INFORM ME THAT MIGHT HAPPEN. *PH

Mileage: 57,324

#3 EXHAUST VALVE BURNED AND CHIPPED ON MY 1999 CRV. 98,000 MILES, PERFECT SERVICE HISTORY. UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS IS A COMMON EVENT ON THIS MODEL. ENGINE REBUILD REQUIRED TO CORRECT PROBLEM. *JB

Mileage: 98,000

VEHICLE STALLING AND EXPERIENCING VIBRATION DUE TO ENGINE CYLINDER FAILURE.