Honda could not find any hard codes or soft codes they said and then took gas from the top rail and told me that my gas was contaminated. I spoke with the gas station owner who denied it was his issue as he said no one else has been complaining and went thru all the contamination prevention sensors, filters, etc that are installed at his location to prevent contamination. I have a email to citgo to see if there were any other complaints filed in this timeframe but no response yet.
So, at my expense, Honda dropped my tank and cleaned it, ran clean fuel through the line and cleaned injectors, etc. Everything short of replacing the fuel filter in the tank that was an additional $400 part that they felt that all would run ok if I never went below a 1/2 tank and after 2-3 tanks of gas pass through. The told me to use shell or BP as their standards on maintaining their stations gas tanks and contamination prevention devices were stringent (my service manager could not attest about any other gas vendor).
All seemed to run OK for a day or so on local driving but after the engine would heat up, I found, the enging would seem to 'miss' here and there and started to emit the same symptoms as before.
About 5 days later after getting off of the highway from a 30 mi drive (with no symptoms), the van lost all power; and when I was able to drive it, the enging seemed to putter (soft backfireing sounds)along at 5-10mph, stalling when I put the pedal to the floor or periodically at stop lights. I would stop and turn off the van and then when turning it back on it seemed to work OK for a few seconds or so and then went back having the same symptoms.
I managed to take back roads back home with my hazards on, with the van reaching 40mph at times and them periodically the power would drip off and I would roll to a stall. The check engine light is now on solid.
The crippled van is back @ Honda and I am awaiting them to look at it on Monday. At this point I do not believe that it is bad gas that caused this issue as any residual bad gas (if there was any) wold have been flushed through the system and based on my web research it might be a bad fuel pump or relay? All of which hopefully is replaceable as I am still barely under warranty.
Thanks for any diagnostic thoughts that you may have to offer to make me more educated when speaking with Honda service!
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Sunday, April 6th, 2008 AT 7:46 AM