[sibex]

Radiator failure @ cooler lines ... pics posted

My 07 ridge w /56K miles leaked coolant from the radiator and slightly overheated. Took it local Honda dealer who said radiator failure due to rust ??? I called Honda of America and started a case file. They contacted the dealer and said the radiator failure was due to environment and would not cover my expense ($620). Upon further conversation with mechanic he indicated that failure occurred when oil cooler line pulled out of the radiator , that happened because of dissimilar metal corrosion , a steel washer was used that caused the failure. After subsequent conversation with mechanic and Honda of America, Honda Denied my claim... stating environmental failure and not defect.
Good thing I caught the problem just in time ...damage to the engine and transmission was imminent.
I have read few other posts here that have had the same problem, oil cooler line rusted and pulled out from the radiator..and Honda covered their costs
Any one else has had a problem like this ?
What was the outcome ?
Thanks

 

[chiph]

Do you have photos you could share?

Chip H.

 

[gfreek]

sibex, sorry to hear about your radiator problem and hopefully with persistence Honda will cover it, at least part of it. Did you try contacting the Honda rep? Also I see you're from Buffalo, who are you using for dealer service?? I need a different dealer. If you don't want to post here you can PM me, thanks

 

[sibex]

Update :
Picked up the radiator from a dealer and will be posting some images later (I insisted that they would save it )...looks like something that could have been fixed ...hard to believe that this item (washer) could have caused a catastrophic failure to my engine and transmission .

My rant and complaint to Honda of America got me no ...where.
They are steadfast on not accepting any blame or resposibility for this design /build flaw...using inferior product that will fail !! they offered no Help at all...simply said sorry ...not our problem.

Wow I'm sort of shocked to hear that from them.... I guess 25 years of loyalty and 20 Hondas later means ... O nada.

I lodged a complaint with NHTSB ...

Should I continue to fight or is this a lost cause ?

 

[schwejo]

Is this what happened?

http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26288#post373347

It looks like Honda paid for parts on this one. Every bit helps. Good luck!

 

[sibex]

Took pics today... posting pics of oil cooler line that enters the radiator, had it's threads pulled out lost its compression due to dissimilar metal corrosion .
Honda refused to pay for any portion of it ... claimed it was environmental .
Images show both fittings, one as it appears now one as "new"...it gas "swelled "due to corrosion to 1 millimeter.
Hope this does not happen to the rest of you ...
You should examine this area periodically.

 

[gfreek]

Environmental failure, thats the excuse? Pretty pathetic. I'd be after them to at least pay for the parts. I'd continue the fight, and when or if you get a phone call/ email asking you to rate the service, be sure to tell them ....

 

[codda]

Half a$$ed part...They should have done the right thing. They put a corrosive washer at a sensitive joint...and passed the buck.

 

[schwejo]

Something still doesnt seem right about this. I just checked my 06 and no signs of corrosion at all. Did both the inlet and outlet have the same corrosion? I dont have the factory service manual, but the parts seem similar from what I can tell.

It almost seems like a second washer was installed, the one that corroded, and pulled the threads out. From the pics, it also looks like one of the washers (on the failed part) still doesnt show any signs of corrosion.

Whats the chance that an incorrect part was installed at the factory or that this is the result of some sort of service?

The online parts diagrams i have access to dont have enough detail, but it look to me like an additional washer was installed and thats the source of the problem.

If thats the case and the factory or dealer service did it, then I'd ratchet up the pressure to have them pay for it.

 

[rollinhonda]

I can not imagine how any fluid fitting open to the environment (and there are many on any vehicle) can fail on a car due to corrosion unless unspecified parts are used, it was not assembled correctly, or the joint was somehow compromised in an accident, etc.

Honda is more worried about the financial 'environment' when they should be reminded to look at their own 'Honda Care' signs and put the customer first.

 

[speedlever]

sibex,

Those pics look very descriptive. Did you happen to contact Honda Corporate and send them an email along with those images?

 

[schwejo]

I know colors and and pictures can be deceptive and hard to interpret, but it also looks like perhaps some sort of thread lock or sealant may have been used. Since the nut and curved pipe that needs to point particular direction are one welded piece, what if a washer was used to change the indexing of the outlet?

 

[sibex]

I gave the failed fitting to my friend to examine it and instead, he tried to re-use it and cleaned both washers...there are two washers on that fitting, one stainless and one steel . You can see on some of the photos the washer closer to the fitting (smaller one , rusted one..expanded in thickness ).
So, I pulled the second fitting , the one that did not fail to show the corrosion. The one that failed is the clean one.
I have a case number assigned to this claim , and when i complained about how it was handled, it was re-routed back to the same guy who made the original determination , he closed the case by saying the part and labor would not be covered and that is final...cause of failure is environmental ... Go figure, I have had 10 Hondas that have over 150K miles and never had a problem like that. I guess they don't make them like the use to ..

 

[laserguy]

This what I get there are 2 washers, one ss and one regular steel the one closer to the fiitting gets rusted it expands, then the line comes off? Gets loose and tranny fluid leaks.

I have seen many pictures, I have not seen a broken line on all the pictures, just rust bulilt up.


The options to fix it before it gets worse are:

1 New radiator
2. Disconnect the lines, put a cap fiitting on the radiator connect an external after market tranny dedicated radiator to those lines.
3. Brush off the rust with a wire brush and naval grease, clean it, either put some silicon caulk or a coat of paint, gutter sealer from home depot.

Any other comments corrections or actions that I or anyone else should keep in mind about this post so nobody has to read the 6 threads on the subject or all on this thread?

 

[STEVE FROST]

Another really good reason for not driving you truck on the beach.

The corrosion does look quite severe.

 

[robokp66]

My Ridgeline also blew a radiator at 117,000 miles BUT lucky for me I noticed that the a/c had just started to blow warm air, looked down at teh gauges and saw that it was just starting to climb up FAST , pulled into a garage 10' away and had them do teh repairs. Now the only issue is that the radiator seems to be fitting loosely even though the garage claims it is correct. Am now at the Honda repair shop for them to look it over JUST tro make sure it " is Ok."
[email protected];act028:;act028:

 

[IanRTL]

Yet another case of blown transmission cooler line fittings. Many on here have been proactively replacing their radiators with aftermarket units with fittings constructed of non-corrosive metals (including me). I'm glad to hear you haven't experienced any long-lasting issues, or so it seems.

 

[found1atlast]

I had been following this post on the Radiator issue and felt that I should do the same and replace the radiator. I purchased the one everbody was recommending from Rockauto and am about to install the new radiator but in rereading this , isn't the issue actually the trans. cooler lines ? Is everybody that's doing this also replacing the cooler lines since that's what's rusting out? Or is the washer on the radiator fitting ? I'm confused now... :act002:

 

[speedlever]

No, you're doing it right. The corrosion issue is where the fittings mate with the cooler inside the radiator. Those fittings are integral with the new radiator you get. The tranny lines just connect to those fittings.

See the pics here:
http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/forums/showpost.php?p=773113&postcount=622

Here are pics of the radiator dissected:
http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/forums/showpost.php?p=612848&postcount=50

 

[Jack]

Here's how you get satisfaction. I had a friend who did this with a Vega back in the day, and I have done it on a Ford in the past.

Have a magnetic sign made that says somehting like "Honda, they do not stand behind their product, don't buy one" and affix it to both side doors. Drive around in circles by the Honda dealership that services your car. See what happens!

If need be, park in the median or close to the dealer, set up an unbrella and a lawn chair, and have a sign. Tell people the truth when they ask. You might also get a visit from a local TV or radio station.

In my friends case, the Chevy dealer came out and said enough is enough, what do you want! He got his trade in back and all his cash. His campaign cost the Chey dealer revenue.

In my case, the Ford dealer called the house and asked politly that I return the car for a full refund. They had already sold my trade, so they had to pay me back for that as well.