engine burning odor / steam

dkatz · 05-10-2008, 01:15 AM

Hi everyone,

Just hoping someone can shed some light on this...

I have a 2006 EX coupe and noticed steam coming from the engine today. When I got home, and the car was idling, more steam was building up. I am not sure if it was steam or smoke that was coming out of the engine, but there was a good amount of it. It was white in color.

I also noticed a faint burning odor in the engine compartment. It was too late to see anything outside, so I need to check the car in the morning.

Any suggestions for what could be wrong? What should I check first? My car is still under warranty, but Honda is closed over the weekend, and the only place open on Saturday is Monro.

Thanks!

-Dan

pd0019 · 05-10-2008, 01:27 AM

do you have an aftermarket intake? and how many miles are on your car?

it is normal for some white smoke to be emitted, but i dont think you should be able to notice it especially since you have a new car. older cars tend to put out a more noticeable amount of steam.

dkatz · 05-10-2008, 01:31 AM

My car has 30,000 miles and no mods. The amount of steam/smoke was definitely abnormal. When I was driving, I only noticed a small amount of smoke (the headlights made it more noticeable). However, when the car was parked and the engine was on, a lot of smoke was coming out of the engine. It started to build up, so I quickly shut the engine off.

***Zeuceone*** · 05-10-2008, 03:17 AM

maybe the radiator cap is loose.

dkatz · 05-10-2008, 10:37 AM

So, I took the car to Monro this morning to see if there was a quick fix to my problem. They said that the engine block is cracked, and showed me where coolant was leaking out quickly. They said they have never seen a new car have such a bad problem, and said they wouldn't even touch it.

I trust that they are right about the cracked engine block - they showed me where the coolant was pouring out from, and didn't even charge me for taking a look at it.

I am having the car towed to Honda today (still under warranty) but the service department isn't open until Monday.

Could the problem be something other than a cracked engine block? How long would it take to fix this problem? The guys at Monro seemed to think that it would take 1-2 weeks to fix such a problem.

Kind of a bad start to my weekend.

Thanks,

Dan

DRMex06 · 05-10-2008, 11:22 AM

Ouch! To be honest with you it sounds like you may lack anti-freeze or have a radiator problem.

I had a similar problem where I got my car back from the autobody shop with no oil, no anti-freeze, and the radiator hose not clamped onto the radiator. Needless to say my engine blew 3 days later. (They did not check to see if everything in the engine was good to go.) Thankfully they got me a new engine about two weeks later.

I'm not sure if that'll be covered by warranty, did you ever get into an accident or run over a rock or something? Good luck! I hope your problem isn't as bad as mine was!

06NaviEX · 05-10-2008, 11:27 AM

There was a post on here sometime back about a guy with a R18 that had a cracked block. He swore that he didn't drive it hard either?

You might try searching and see if you can find that thread?

Good Luck.

BTW - If it is still under warranty, I would MAKE them give me a loaner car for a major repair like that!

volvo9 · 05-10-2008, 11:50 AM

It's happened to a few people here, you're not the first one.

Honda will replace your engine under warranty, probrably the short block, so most of the engine will be new except the cylinder heads.

dkatz · 05-10-2008, 12:33 PM

I honestly don't drive the car hard. I have been especially cautious lately to have better fuel economy, and never drive like a maniac.

I haven't had any work done to the car. Honda performed an oil change a few months ago. I only started to notice the burning smell last night and saw a plume of smoke.

It is still under warranty - the guys at Monro said that Honda would probably replace the short block. I would prefer a completely new engine or a new car. The odds of either happening are slim :)

The problem with a loaner car is that I am only 21. The last time I was at Honda, they said I have to be 25 to get one. It seems that I am out of luck.

Well, I had the car towed to Honda already and dropped my keys off. When they get in Monday, I hope they have some good news. I really don't want to wait three weeks for the car to be fixed.

-Dan

BigT · 05-10-2008, 01:19 PM

You shouldn't have to be 25 to get a loaner car. My friend got a loaner car when he was 19.

The laws may vary from state to state, but at most I believe you pay a little extra if you are under 25 (or maybe 21) but that is Honda's problem, not yours. If they try to tell you that you have to be 25 ask them why. You are old enough for them to sell you the car, they should be able to give you a loaner if it breaks down on you.

06NaviEX · 05-10-2008, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigT

You shouldn't have to be 25 to get a loaner car. My friend got a loaner car when he was 19.

The laws may vary from state to state, but at most I believe you pay a little extra if you are under 25 (or maybe 21) but that is Honda's problem, not yours. If they try to tell you that you have to be 25 ask them why. You are old enough for them to sell you the car, they should be able to give you a loaner if it breaks down on you.

If you go through Enterprise, which most dealerships have onsite, you do need to be 25 - it's their rule.

If that is the case, push hard on the dealership manager to get you a dealer loaner, like a program or demo car. Hell, as long as it has 4 wheels and rolls, who cares what it is right?

A cracked engine block is a pretty major factory defect. IMO, Honda USA and the dealership that took your money should bend over backwards to make you happy and want to buy another Honda.

***Zeuceone*** · 05-10-2008, 03:07 PM

i was 19 or 20 whe i took my sentra in for a recall and got a loaner from enterprise. all they needed to do is make sure i had full coverage on my car.

hdnvalley · 05-11-2008, 05:50 PM

It sounds like you will be getting a new engine courtesy of Honda. It wasn't your fault but a factory defect so don't blame yourself. Any dealer worth their salt will provide a loaner vehicle while they are fixing a car under warranty.

BigT · 05-11-2008, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeuceone

i was 19 or 20 whe i took my sentra in for a recall and got a loaner from enterprise. all they needed to do is make sure i had full coverage on my car.

My friend's loaner/rental was from Enterprise also. The only thing they told him was that he couldn't get a convertable or luxury car because he was under 25. They gave him a Lancer.

It may vary from state to state, but I don't think it is right for a dealer to deny you a loaner just because you are under 25. You paid the same for your car that a 25 year old would have.

***Cybergypsy*** · 05-11-2008, 06:05 PM

keep us updated :)

dkatz · 05-11-2008, 11:00 PM

I will definitely keep you updated.

I had to have the car towed to the dealer yesterday and then dropped my keys off in a drop box that they have for "express service". The service center is closed over the weekend, so I have to call them tomorrow at 8 AM.

The only reason I had it towed over the weekend is because I needed to go out of town for several days.

Hopefully they will repair it properly, but I am not overly confident in the dealership mechanics. I will be on the phone with the dealership and Honda customer service in the morning.

Opticon · 05-11-2008, 11:48 PM

check to see if u have any debree stuck on the exuast manifold, i once had a plastic walmart bag melting on my cat and it put off white smoke and smelled really bad. its also possible u have a coolant leak somewhere.

volvo9 · 05-12-2008, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Opticon

check to see if u have any debree stuck on the exuast manifold, i once had a plastic walmart bag melting on my cat and it put off white smoke and smelled really bad. its also possible u have a coolant leak somewhere.

Did you read? He's already figured out that it's a coolant leak, Honda is replacing his engine.

Opticon · 05-12-2008, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by volvo9

Did you read? He's already figured out that it's a coolant leak, Honda is replacing his engine.

nah, sry i didnt read any, mah bad lol

asndragonboii · 05-12-2008, 10:25 AM

If your car is insured under your name, then you can have a loaner regardless of age. If it's not insured in your name, and youre not over 21, i dont think you can get a loaner.

05-10-2008, 01:15 AM	#1 (permalink)
dkatz Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 28 Posts: 10 iTrader: 0 / 0%	engine burning odor / steam Hi everyone, Just hoping someone can shed some light on this... I have a 2006 EX coupe and noticed steam coming from the engine today. When I got home, and the car was idling, more steam was building up. I am not sure if it was steam or smoke that was coming out of the engine, but there was a good amount of it. It was white in color. I also noticed a faint burning odor in the engine compartment. It was too late to see anything outside, so I need to check the car in the morning. Any suggestions for what could be wrong? What should I check first? My car is still under warranty, but Honda is closed over the weekend, and the only place open on Saturday is Monro. Thanks! -Dan

05-10-2008, 11:22 AM	#6 (permalink)
DRMex06 Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Jersey Posts: 28 Dante iTrader: 0 / 0%	Ouch! To be honest with you it sounds like you may lack anti-freeze or have a radiator problem. I had a similar problem where I got my car back from the autobody shop with no oil, no anti-freeze, and the radiator hose not clamped onto the radiator. Needless to say my engine blew 3 days later. (They did not check to see if everything in the engine was good to go.) Thankfully they got me a new engine about two weeks later. I'm not sure if that'll be covered by warranty, did you ever get into an accident or run over a rock or something? Good luck! I hope your problem isn't as bad as mine was! Last edited by DRMex06; 05-10-2008 at 11:26 AM.

05-11-2008, 06:05 PM	#15 (permalink)
*Cybergypsy* Caraholic...... Join Date: Apr 2006 Age: 48 Posts: 6,862 iTrader: 3 / 100%	keep us updated :) __________________ Like the wind, I'm subject to change.

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05-10-2008, 01:27 AM	#2 (permalink)
pd0019 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: SoCal Age: 20 Posts: 279 iTrader: 2 / 100%	do you have an aftermarket intake? and how many miles are on your car? it is normal for some white smoke to be emitted, but i dont think you should be able to notice it especially since you have a new car. older cars tend to put out a more noticeable amount of steam.

05-10-2008, 01:31 AM	#3 (permalink)
dkatz Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 28 Posts: 10 iTrader: 0 / 0%	My car has 30,000 miles and no mods. The amount of steam/smoke was definitely abnormal. When I was driving, I only noticed a small amount of smoke (the headlights made it more noticeable). However, when the car was parked and the engine was on, a lot of smoke was coming out of the engine. It started to build up, so I quickly shut the engine off.

05-10-2008, 10:37 AM	#5 (permalink)
dkatz Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 28 Posts: 10 iTrader: 0 / 0%	So, I took the car to Monro this morning to see if there was a quick fix to my problem. They said that the engine block is cracked, and showed me where coolant was leaking out quickly. They said they have never seen a new car have such a bad problem, and said they wouldn't even touch it. I trust that they are right about the cracked engine block - they showed me where the coolant was pouring out from, and didn't even charge me for taking a look at it. I am having the car towed to Honda today (still under warranty) but the service department isn't open until Monday. Could the problem be something other than a cracked engine block? How long would it take to fix this problem? The guys at Monro seemed to think that it would take 1-2 weeks to fix such a problem. Kind of a bad start to my weekend. Thanks, Dan

05-10-2008, 11:27 AM	#7 (permalink)
06NaviEX Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: North Texas Posts: 496 '08 HRP FA5 iTrader: 3 / 100%	There was a post on here sometime back about a guy with a R18 that had a cracked block. He swore that he didn't drive it hard either? You might try searching and see if you can find that thread? Good Luck. BTW - If it is still under warranty, I would MAKE them give me a loaner car for a major repair like that!

05-10-2008, 11:50 AM	#8 (permalink)
volvo9 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: North Attleboro, MA Age: 25 Posts: 1,240 iTrader: 0 / 0%	It's happened to a few people here, you're not the first one. Honda will replace your engine under warranty, probrably the short block, so most of the engine will be new except the cylinder heads.

05-10-2008, 12:33 PM	#9 (permalink)
dkatz Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 28 Posts: 10 iTrader: 0 / 0%	I honestly don't drive the car hard. I have been especially cautious lately to have better fuel economy, and never drive like a maniac. I haven't had any work done to the car. Honda performed an oil change a few months ago. I only started to notice the burning smell last night and saw a plume of smoke. It is still under warranty - the guys at Monro said that Honda would probably replace the short block. I would prefer a completely new engine or a new car. The odds of either happening are slim :) The problem with a loaner car is that I am only 21. The last time I was at Honda, they said I have to be 25 to get one. It seems that I am out of luck. Well, I had the car towed to Honda already and dropped my keys off. When they get in Monday, I hope they have some good news. I really don't want to wait three weeks for the car to be fixed. -Dan

05-10-2008, 01:19 PM	#10 (permalink)
BigT Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Duff Beer Krusty Burger Buzz Cola Costington's Department Store Kwik-E-Mart Stupid Flanders Park Posts: 1,168 iTrader: 1 / 100%	You shouldn't have to be 25 to get a loaner car. My friend got a loaner car when he was 19. The laws may vary from state to state, but at most I believe you pay a little extra if you are under 25 (or maybe 21) but that is Honda's problem, not yours. If they try to tell you that you have to be 25 ask them why. You are old enough for them to sell you the car, they should be able to give you a loaner if it breaks down on you.

05-11-2008, 05:50 PM	#13 (permalink)
hdnvalley Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 10 iTrader: 0 / 0%	It sounds like you will be getting a new engine courtesy of Honda. It wasn't your fault but a factory defect so don't blame yourself. Any dealer worth their salt will provide a loaner vehicle while they are fixing a car under warranty.

05-11-2008, 11:00 PM	#16 (permalink)
dkatz Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 28 Posts: 10 iTrader: 0 / 0%	I will definitely keep you updated. I had to have the car towed to the dealer yesterday and then dropped my keys off in a drop box that they have for "express service". The service center is closed over the weekend, so I have to call them tomorrow at 8 AM. The only reason I had it towed over the weekend is because I needed to go out of town for several days. Hopefully they will repair it properly, but I am not overly confident in the dealership mechanics. I will be on the phone with the dealership and Honda customer service in the morning.

05-11-2008, 11:48 PM	#17 (permalink)
Opticon Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Henderson, NC Age: 23 Posts: 281 myspace.com/opticon1 iTrader: 0 / 0%	check to see if u have any debree stuck on the exuast manifold, i once had a plastic walmart bag melting on my cat and it put off white smoke and smelled really bad. its also possible u have a coolant leak somewhere.

05-12-2008, 10:25 AM	#20 (permalink)
asndragonboii Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,197 iTrader: 0 / 0%	If your car is insured under your name, then you can have a loaner regardless of age. If it's not insured in your name, and youre not over 21, i dont think you can get a loaner.

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