2013 Acura RDX - multiple warning indicators

[Sturg]

Check engine warning light, check power steering warning light, check VSA, check hill brake assist, and multiple others. Extremely rough idle, car noticeably shaking/vibrating.

Car was just in for new spark plugs, state/emissions inspection, transmission fluid service, coolant replacement, and timing belt service.
Mileage is 103K.
Last week was told car was in pristine shape by service department....lol.
Called today and they said have it towed and do not recommend driving it.

Any ideas what's going on?

 

[bdcardinal]

What is your battery voltage?

 

[Sturg]

No idea.

 

[oldcodger]

Maybe a bad ground. My dad had a pickup where it lit up with all kinds of problems. Turned out to be a corroded ground connection.
I had a car that popped up all kind of warning stuff and it came out to be an alternator beginning to fail.

 

[heavy260]

You live in the rust belt? Could be that or a bad ground cable.

Had to break the news to my parent’s neighbor that his 2006 Dodge Cummins needed new cables because of internal corrosion on the cables. If you’re doing one you may as well do them all, power and ground.

 

[Sturg]

I do, but what does that have to do with my car's issues?

 

[heavy260]

I do, but what does that have to do with my car's issues?

Corrosion of cables and ground points on chassis and panels.

 

[D60]

Massive vacuum leak or MAF issues, like they didn't reconnect a hose or electrical plug

 

[The Critic]

Did the tensioner fail and cause the belt to jump a few teeth?

 

[Sturg]

No idea. Going to dealership tomorrow.

 

[Sturg]

ended up being a cracked spark plug coil wire causing a cylinder to misfire, repair cost approx. $430.

 

[Sturg]

So, with this most recent repair bill we've spent around $5,000 recently on this car. Nearly all of it has been routine maintenance stuff.
Just trying to decide if it's worth it to keep it, or just sell it and get a new car. Don't really WANT a car payment right now, but just wondering if this is the beginning of the end with this car. Will I be needing to spend this amount or even more each year to maintain it? A lot to think about. The dealer says I should be good for 250K or more miles. Currently at 103K.

I gotta say a new Honda Pilot or the redesigned Passport is looking pretty good right now.

 

[D60]

No idea. Going to dealership tomorrow.

Are you actually using a dealership? Most here have a 10-year cutoff.

If so, find a good indy. Part of your problem on cost is the dealership. There's no magic in a 2013 Honda that only a dealer can handle.

Secondly, assuming $5k per year repair cost -- and there's no way it'll be that much every year -- that's still less than a new car payment. Compare insurance rates and registration. Here the difference in plates between 12 years old and new is a couple thousand bucks per year

 

[heavy260]

Are you actually using a dealership? Most here have a 10-year cutoff.

If so, find a good indy. Part of your problem on cost is the dealership. There's no magic in a 2013 Honda that only a dealer can handle.

Secondly, assuming $5k per year repair cost -- and there's no way it'll be that much every year -- that's still less than a new car payment. Compare insurance rates and registration. Here the difference in plates between 12 years old and new is a couple thousand bucks per year

Well, there comes a point when you live with salt on the roads that you consider getting rid of a vehicle based on rust. I’m with you on not having a payment and having good years of no repairs but at some point it gets old especially if you don’t have another vehicle to rely on. I playing this game with my 2011 pickup that I tow a 12k# camper with. 92k miles but looks like it has 292k on the body. Drivetrain is well taken care of but underneath it and the box looks terrible. It has to last me another 6 years so I’m only using it when I need a truck and use my Vibe for everything else. Trans lines are getting replaced ext week so I’ll post pics in the maintenance section when I do that. The lines are gross looking just like the oil cooler lines were.