Tonight is a beautiful night here in Columbus so I decided to take the S2000 out of it's long winter hibernation to go for a ride. A few minutes into my ride on the outer belt I see a Suzuka Blue on the other side of the highway with another car behind it and a huge flatbed towtruck off to the side. It looked like an accident. Being the helpful (and nosey) type I got off at the next exit and turned around to see what was up and if anyone needed help. I started talking to the owner, Carlo, and he said the motor threw an oil light then shut off. As we waited for the tow truck driver to turn around, he got stuck in the mud. Another tow truck driver had to come tow him out of the mud. While waiting I asked him to pop his hood as it was obviously leaking oil from underneath the car.

I put my hands around the filter and it was dry all the way up the the gasket. I borrowed a flashlight from the tow truck driver to get a look under the car. I didn't have go very far underneath it. Missing from it's usual perch was one oil drain bolt. In talking to Carlo he mentioned that he just had it in for his 7500 mile checkup and first oil change. He had been driving it around for a few days since that time however. The car finally gets loaded onto the flatbed and I suggest they tow it to a neutral Honda dealer which just happens to be open until midnight. I arrived a few minutes after they did, again to be nosey. A few mechanics and the service manager come over to the flatbed with a flashlight and say the same thing I did "It looks like someone forgot to torque the oil drain plug." Anyway, they recommended that they tow it right to the dealer that performed the oil change.

Carlo wasn't aware of S2ki but I told him that I would post his saga here. I hope he finds us and keeps us updated on the status of his car.

 

damn that sucks, thats why i like to do my own if possible.

 

Total nightmare. A friend had that happen to his mid 90's automatic Accord but it was tranny fluid that was forgotten. The service was done by a chain quick-Lube place. Cost him $1000+. Took him a couple days for warning lights to come on. By that time damage was done. No liability could be traced to quick-lube place.

02 Suzuka Blue
99 Lude Milano Red

 

That sucks! Hope all goes well for Carlo.

 

His engine definitely has been damaged badly.

 

Why can't these Honda tech's change the oil without forgetting to replace and properly torque the drain bolt, oil filter or oil filler cap?

 

Do you think they'll want to rebuld his motor or is it possible to get a new one? The service mananger at Roush Honda said a new motor was $9800... ouch!

 

Although you'll never know, it was probably a very wise thing to first bring it into another Honda dealer. If Carlo had it towed directly to the offending dealer, you run the chance that the service department would try to cover their butt, and somehow blame it on driver error. I'm not saying they're necessarily worse than anyone else, but it's human nature to try to cover your butt, just like SgtSaunder's friend.

I hope that Carlo comes online and tells us how it all pans out. I'd be sick if I was told that they were going to rebuild my engine after what they did. Hopefully, our members can help him get this problem fixed.

 

Just another reason I don't let monkeys play with my car. Nothing like paying $60+ an hour for inferior work.

 

Man I'd be sick to death if they told me um...sorry we destroyed your engine.... I'd cry! I have faith that since he had another dealer already look at it (execellent idea btw ) he shouldn't have to much trouble getting it fixed....I hope!

I hope he log's in so we can hear the rest of the story (Paul Harvey)