Darkbloodmon
Active Member
- Joined
- Dec 21, 2020
- Location
- Concord, NC
Just got paid for a mobile mechanic job left over the weekend for me that only took about 3hrs. 2011 Honda Pilot 200K+. Needed an new alternator, FL tie rod, and Intake air hose/box.
When I did my initial inspection I pressed the importance of getting the timing belt and water pump changed by Compact Car Service(Honda/Acura specialty garage) off of E Indep. ASAP since the owner didn't know when it was last done and has only had the vehicle for a year or so. I knocked out the work order, ran all my final tests and scans. Engine is purring better than when I initially got it.
Client comes to pick up the vehicle today, I go over the vehicle with him showing him the parts I replaced, their condition, all the things I've noticed etc. I get paid, and tell him I'll start writing the follow up report for his records by email. I mention again, that he needs to get the timing belt and water pump done ASAP. He's good, I'm good. He's chatting with the neighbor who referred me to him, as he's getting ready to leave he turns the key and the engine starts rattling like its rod knock. He calls me, stating there's a rattle from the engine. I'm expecting something small for what ever reason; I step out my door after getting off the phone and I hear it.
Rattling pretty hard, you can feel it, and hear it. Its on the topside of the engine on Head bank 1 (Transverse V6 closest head to the firewall iirc). I look over everything I touched, the date and my initials are on the components I replaced. I begin to explain what I think happened, just from the sound and the location of the rattle. "A tensioner for the timing belt failed causing it to slip on the bank 1 cam shaft causing valve contact." He's devastated. I offer to tow the vehicle to compact cars tomorrow after the end of my shift (AAA) for him.
After listening to a few sound clips on YT, I'm pretty confident the timing belt has slipped from a failed tensioner. I'm just astounded that it happened right after he got the keys. I had started the vehicle numerous times back to back checking my work, no issues, no noises. The only indicator I can think off was a single instance the vehicle stalled right after initial crank up following my work. I didn't think much of it since I couldn't replicate it again; that and the remaining P3400 code for Bank 1 cylinder deactivation. I highly doubt the sensor on bank one related to that code is the cause of this very mechanical valve contact knock but I could be wrong. Client has been driving the vehicle in a rough state for a while, air intake hose was torn, and the air box wasn't properly secured/sealed causing lean running 02 sensor codes. Low output voltage (13.2v) from the alternator was causing a host of codes to be set off. I haven't had much experience with Honda's cylinder deactivation systems thankfully but that sensor would be a lot better than an engine replacement after the invoice he just paid me. Gonna wait to hear what compact car says about it. This is one of the reasons why I don't work on any car or bite off more than I can handle in a weekend with confidence. I'm sorry that it happened as much as I was telling him to avoid this very issue, but at the same time I'm glad he had the keys when it happened and that I was able to prove none of my work was the cause.
Anyone else run into circumstances like this?
When I did my initial inspection I pressed the importance of getting the timing belt and water pump changed by Compact Car Service(Honda/Acura specialty garage) off of E Indep. ASAP since the owner didn't know when it was last done and has only had the vehicle for a year or so. I knocked out the work order, ran all my final tests and scans. Engine is purring better than when I initially got it.
Client comes to pick up the vehicle today, I go over the vehicle with him showing him the parts I replaced, their condition, all the things I've noticed etc. I get paid, and tell him I'll start writing the follow up report for his records by email. I mention again, that he needs to get the timing belt and water pump done ASAP. He's good, I'm good. He's chatting with the neighbor who referred me to him, as he's getting ready to leave he turns the key and the engine starts rattling like its rod knock. He calls me, stating there's a rattle from the engine. I'm expecting something small for what ever reason; I step out my door after getting off the phone and I hear it.
Rattling pretty hard, you can feel it, and hear it. Its on the topside of the engine on Head bank 1 (Transverse V6 closest head to the firewall iirc). I look over everything I touched, the date and my initials are on the components I replaced. I begin to explain what I think happened, just from the sound and the location of the rattle. "A tensioner for the timing belt failed causing it to slip on the bank 1 cam shaft causing valve contact." He's devastated. I offer to tow the vehicle to compact cars tomorrow after the end of my shift (AAA) for him.
After listening to a few sound clips on YT, I'm pretty confident the timing belt has slipped from a failed tensioner. I'm just astounded that it happened right after he got the keys. I had started the vehicle numerous times back to back checking my work, no issues, no noises. The only indicator I can think off was a single instance the vehicle stalled right after initial crank up following my work. I didn't think much of it since I couldn't replicate it again; that and the remaining P3400 code for Bank 1 cylinder deactivation. I highly doubt the sensor on bank one related to that code is the cause of this very mechanical valve contact knock but I could be wrong. Client has been driving the vehicle in a rough state for a while, air intake hose was torn, and the air box wasn't properly secured/sealed causing lean running 02 sensor codes. Low output voltage (13.2v) from the alternator was causing a host of codes to be set off. I haven't had much experience with Honda's cylinder deactivation systems thankfully but that sensor would be a lot better than an engine replacement after the invoice he just paid me. Gonna wait to hear what compact car says about it. This is one of the reasons why I don't work on any car or bite off more than I can handle in a weekend with confidence. I'm sorry that it happened as much as I was telling him to avoid this very issue, but at the same time I'm glad he had the keys when it happened and that I was able to prove none of my work was the cause.
Anyone else run into circumstances like this?