I've had a problem with my Accord i-CTDI Tourer for over twelve months now. (I mentioned it here and it was moved to the technical forum where it met with a nil response.) Briefly, the fuse that protects the horn and brake lights has blown twenty-three times. It first started in May last year, when the car was less than three months old, and has been back to the dealer twice and on the back of a lorry to the Honda agent in Brive, France. None could find a problem and the French dealer merely replaced the fuse - again.
I 'phoned Honda when I returned from France and complained, and the car went in this morning. The fault was found to be a wire in the loom of the tailgate that had chafed, and was shorting out against a rough piece of interior bodywork in the tailgate.
The glow plug warning light started flashing every time the fuse blew and this had me confused. According to the mechanic, this happens if ever there is an electrical problem as it sends a signal to the internal computer.
I thought this may be of interest to other owners of an Accord Tourer.
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well done for eventually resolving it and thanks for letting us know.
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As one who served his time on vehicle electrics in another life, I'm staggered by this saga. I'm afraid it seems to confirm my long-held suspicion that the skill of many 'auto electricians' is limted to changing a bulb -- or a fuse -- and that actual diagnostics is usually beyond them.
This fault was on a straightforward and simple circuit. It should have been technically a doddle, requiring only a little patience and an ohmmeter.
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I'm afraid it was not so simple and I have to defend the dealer in the UK. After the fuse had been replaced by the dealer in France it lasted ten days before it blew again. Indeed, after replacing it a further five times in a number of days, I drove back home - a distance of over 800 miles - and the fuse remained intact.
This morning the mechanic got the fuse to blow when the tailgate was left open and he depressed the brake pedal.
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This morning the mechanic got the fuse to blow when the tailgate was left open and he depressed the brake pedal.
You're too generous Robbie, and your patience does you credit, but that's precisely the kind of check that should have been carried out in the first place. This is not 20/20 hindsight -- cable runs through a tailgate, with constant flexing through opening/closing are a likely source of trouble in such a case.
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And how is the fuel economy now?
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
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And how is the fuel economy now?
It has improved. I was averaging just over 40mpg whilst I was in France, and that was with the air con on almost continuously. I also have to drive about three miles down a very narrow, winding road, mainly in second gear, when I go anywhere, and the same when I return home, but uphill.
It was interesting to note how the air con. sapped the energy of the engine when I was negotiating the winding, hilly roads. I had to change down to second from third as the engine really laboured. I even switched the a/c off just to see the difference it made. I could immediately change up to third gear. The power loss was not at all noticeable on the level.
Incidentally, I had the a/c on a low setting as the outside temperature was usually above 33 centigrade.
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