Today my Accord died. It ran beautiful this AM starting the trip but 3 hours later it was almost dead. I noticed lack of power, and when I slowed down for the first time at a stop light, it would hardly run. The codes showed missing on cylinders 2 and 3 and catalytic converter issues. A mechanic checked the plugs, wires, coils, and finally a compression test. No compression on 1,2,or 3. Normal compression on 4.

His guess, burnt valves from a plugged cat converter. (not yet confirmed)

Replacement cost for a used engine $3600 - $4400.

What to do???

Car has 160,000 miles and is located in Western Canada.

 

If just the valves are bad you could get a used head for $200 or less, found some for as low as $135 on car-part.com in Ontario.

And I'm hoping that your quote for a replacement engine includes installing it, because that is pretty steep.

 

Yes, that was total installed cost. How would one know that it was just the valves?? Low compression can be either the valves, or the pistons / rings or even a head gasket.

If I spend money on it, I want a permanent fix..... Honda's aren't supposed to ever break.... <grin>

 

A Leak down test would tell you more than a compression test.

 

Yes, I'll have him run one.

Compression reading based on memory were
1. close to 0,
2. 0,
3. 0
4. 160 psi (its amazing it still runs)

I was 3 hours into a 24 hr drive and just begging for some second opinions, when I stopped into this independent shop. I was into his bay within 10 min of limping into the parking lot and within an hour we were to the conclusion that this car wouldn't be making any 24 hour trip. Car is parked there and I'm back home and sad....

07 Accord 4cyl EX-L MT

 

That really is a bummer, sorry that it happened to you on a long trip like that. Seems like stuff always breaks at the worst times.

 

Oh well, now I fly out tomorrow. I was planning on being there for some time and wanted my own car there, not a rental....

 

That sounds really weird that your cat has already failed. Just to be on the safe side check the mechanical timing and see if maybe it jumped a tooth or something.

 

The other thing too is that I can't believe it was running on one cylinder 'cause you said it would hardly run rather than it died.

 

It all happened during a 3 hr interstate cruise at 70mph. Started fine, with excellent power, and even better than normal mpg (40mpg via the trip computer) It was on cruise and the first notice of problems was the CEL started flickering, then within 1/2 hour the CEL was blinking constantly, and it seemed to lack power to handle the hills on cruise. It also started to really suck back the gas. Trip started at close to 40mpg, and 3 hours later ended at 21mpg. I normally get around 30mpg on average.

At the first opportunity to find help, I exited and at the first red light the car would hardly idle, but surprisingly it would still start when shut off. Codes in the computer were missing on 1, 2, and 3 but 3 was the worst. And cat converter problems....

I've only had this car for less than 3000 miles. I had an 06 Accord exactly the same with 80K miles on it that got rear ended last summer and written off without even any lights being broken. Underneath the floor of the trunk was crumpled, but the car was still driveable. I could have kept that written-off Accord for $1100. This one was purchased used to replace it, so I don't know how it was treated. I should have kept both of them, except the WAF was zero for keeping the junker.

Oh well, you pays your money and you takes your chances....