Acura MDX tried to catch fire today......

[OVERKILL]

Was out at my parent's helping my sister identify her transmission and we were attempting to drive up on the curb when all of a sudden this shrieking chirping noise started coming from the Acura MDX parked in the driveway at the house next to my parent's place.

It was this body style:

Then smoke started to roll out from under the front bumper

I ran up to their house and hammered on their door to tell them about it. The woman's husband had I guess left it running while he ran inside to get something. By the time he got out, the noise was a constant grating shriek and there was a LOT of smoke.

After shutting it down and popping the hood, the source was not readily identifiable. I thought it might be a tensioner or the alternator, maybe even the A/C compressor, as there was no electrical smell to it

Firing it up later resulted in it sounding fine and no smoke. They are going to take it into Honda tomorrow.

Talk about adding some excitement to a lazy Sunday!

 

[simple_gifts]

Similar thing happened to a coworker on her CRV Compressor seized caused all sorts of mayhem, including draining the battery to 0. If you ever wondered about the value of an extended warranty, repair came in @ $1200 USD.

While she sat on the side of the road waiting for a tow, the dealer called her and asked how she like the service she received the prior week....

 

[Donald]

I had the bearing go on the AC compressor pulley. The AC was not on, but the bearing had seized.

When I drive and smell some bad smoke I assume its always someone else's car and it normally is, except this time.

Luckily I could cut the fan belt and drive away. In was a 1988 Volvo 760 wagon. That fan belt only did the AC compressor.

 

[dishdude]

Sounds like the A/C compressor locked up. Common problem on CRVs and MDXs.

 

[daves87rs]

Yikes!

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: simple_gifts
If you ever wondered about the value of an extended warranty, repair came in @ $1200 USD.



I highly doubt the extended warranty cost less than $1200 to make it worth buying.

Sounds like AC parts are unreliable on some of these vehicles. Will be interesting to hear what it was.

 

[Hokiefyd]

The A/C compressor on our MDX has always "clunked" into engagement, and I keep waiting on it to give up, but it dutifully provides cold air every day of the week. It also has lived its entire life in either the desert southwest or the humid southeast, so I would have expected it to give problems by now if we got a bad one. Here's hoping...

 

[rjundi]

Originally Posted By: dishdude
Sounds like the A/C compressor locked up. Common problem on CRVs and MDXs.


Maybe the old ones as far as common. From what I gathered and complaints of 2007+ MDX not a (common) issue. Ours at 93k has been thus far trouble free for me and previous owner.

Actually I take that back, a weak battery caused all sorts of electrical faults/gremlins/check engine that was simply fixed with a $90 replacement from Autozone. Thank god for internet and car specific forums, apparently the dealer first fix!

 

[KrisZ]

Originally Posted By: Donald
Luckily I could cut the fan belt and drive away. In was a 1988 Volvo 760 wagon. That fan belt only did the AC compressor.


That is why I'm glad my Mazda 3 has a separate stretch belt to run the AC. Worst case scenario I would just cut the belt off and keep driving until the AC is fixed, without rendering the car useless, or requiring a frantic search for AC specialist.

 

[SLCraig]

Originally Posted By: rjundi
Originally Posted By: dishdude
Sounds like the A/C compressor locked up. Common problem on CRVs and MDXs.


Maybe the old ones as far as common. From what I gathered and complaints of 2007+ MDX not a (common) issue. Ours at 93k has been thus far trouble free for me and previous owner.

Actually I take that back, a weak battery caused all sorts of electrical faults/gremlins/check engine that was simply fixed with a $90 replacement from Autozone. Thank god for internet and car specific forums, apparently the dealer first fix!


Honda factory batteries suck. I debated replacing mine before it goes bad just to save myself the hassle in the future.