1997 Honda Accord engine and engine cooling problems

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE AND PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 152,587. UPDATED 08/24/11 *BF UPDATED 08/29/11”

“1997 HONDA ACCORD VEHICLE WITH A LEAKING AND CORRODED RADIATOR. CONSUMER STATES THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED IN 2008 AND NOW IT IS LEAKING AGAIN. THERE IS CORROSION ON THE BACK AND FRONT OF THE RADIATOR. *KB THE THERMOSTAT WAS STUCK OPEN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. *JB”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME HOT AND THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN SERVICED A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT AND A GASKET WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEAD GASKET, WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT AND TIMING BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE WOULD STALL SPORADICALLY. NO WARNING LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE. ON OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART IMMEDIATELY AND OTHER TIMES, IT WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY RECALLS AND HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE DEALER ADVISED HAVING A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED AND ALSO REPLACING THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ALSO ADVISED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALL AND HE WOULD BE LIABLE FOR ANY REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,500.”

“I HAVE HAD MY 1997 HONDA ACCORD LX 4CYL FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS. I HAVE SEARCHED THIS PROBLEM JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE, AND WHILE I'VE SEEN THE PROBLEM REPORTED IN HUNDREDS OF HONDA OWNERS, I HAVE YET TO SEE A SOLID SOLUTION. PROBLEM: CAR SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING, STRONG FUEL/GAS SMELL WHEN THIS HAPPENS, DASH LIGHTS SHUTTING OFF AND GOING BLACK, DOOR LOCKS JUMPING UP AND DOWN MY CAR IS SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING - WHETHER I'M ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET, OR GOING 75 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE BEEN BLESSED NOT TO BE HIT BY ANOTHER CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT SOMETIMES STARTS RIGHT BACK UP, BUT AFTER A FEW TIMES, IT TAKES ABOUT 20 MINUTES TO BE ABLE TO START. THE ENGINE WILL STIR AROUND, BUT IT WON'T FIRE UP AND ACTUALLY START. TWENTY MINUTES LATER OR SO, IT STARTS.. AND THEN WE MAY MAKE IT TO OUR DESTINATION WITHOUT STALLING AGAIN. OH, AND I CAN'T FORGET THE STRONG SCENT OF FUEL IN THE AIR WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT STARTED AS A SPORADIC THING THAT HAPPENED WHENEVER I DROVE LONG DISTANCE (AN HOUR OR MORE) OR WHENEVER I WAS AT 1/4 OF A TANK. MORE RECENTLY, I CAN HARDLY DRIVE AT ALL. I TRIED TO LEAVE TODAY, AND I DIDN'T MAKE IT DOWN THE STREET WITHOUT THE CAR SHUTTING OFF TWICE.…”

“HONDA RECOMMENDS REPLACING TIMING BELT, BALANCER BELT AND WATER PUMP AT 7 YEARS OR 105,000 MILES ON THE 1997 HONDA ACCORD. I HAD THE DEALER REPLACE THEM ALL AT 7 YEARS AND 36,139 MILES, IN 2004. THE REPLACEMENT WATER PUMP FAILED PREMATURELY IN JUST OVER FIVE YEARS AND 39,618 MILES LATER. EARLIER THIS YEAR I KEPT SEEING COOLANT UNDER THE CAR. I HAD THE DEALER INSTALL NEW BELTS AND A NEW WATER PUMP. THE NEW PUMP FAILED RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX SPILLING COOLANT ON THE NEW BELTS. SO, THE DEALER REMOVED THE NEW BELTS, INSTALLED ANOTHER NEW WATER PUMP AND THEN REINSTALLED THE SAME BELTS. I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS WILL AFFECT TO THE LONGEVITY OF THE NEW BELTS. ALSO, MY MAIN CONCERN IS THAT THE TIMING BELT IS DRIVING THE WATER PUMP, AND THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY IS HIDDEN UNDER A COVER. IF THE WATER PUMPS STARTS FAILING, HOT COOLANT WILL SPILL ON THE TIMING AND THE BALANCER BELTS CAUSING THEM TO WEAKEN OVER TIME, AND THEY CAN EITHER SLIP OR BREAK CAUSING CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AND AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE SEE RELATED PHOTOS: HTTP://WWW.HONDA-TECH.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=1908944 I BELIEVE THIS IS A POOR DESIGN THAT CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO FAIL SUDDENLY. IT SEEMS THAT HONDAS FROM 1992 TO…”