Cal Club Autocross Forums

So I drove out to Vegas saturday to do a gig, went to pick up percussionist at his hotel and bottomed out on a damn speedbump. Wasn't going fast at all (maybe 5 mph). AC stopped working right after and engine started shuddering.
Drove to the gig (which was across the street). Afterwards when valet brought it out to me the engine was smoking. Ran the heater and made it back to my hotel. This morning started up the car, turned on the AC more shuddering then small explosion. Small bits of metal through out the engine bay. Sounds like something is grinding.............aarrrggghh
Called Triple A but theres no place open today......its Sunday. Any body have any suggestions, leads on a good mechanic. Staying by the convention center. Any help would be appreciated.
I hate vegas.

David Crozier wrote:So I drove out to Vegas saturday to do a gig, went to pick up percussionist at his hotel and bottomed out on a damn speedbump. Wasn't going fast at all (maybe 5 mph). AC stopped working right after and engine started shuddering.
Drove to the gig (which was across the street). Afterwards when valet brought it out to me the engine was smoking. Ran the heater and made it back to my hotel. This morning started up the car, turned on the AC more shuddering then small explosion. Small bits of metal through out the engine bay. Sounds like something is grinding.............aarrrggghh
Called Triple A but theres no place open today......its Sunday. Any body have any suggestions, leads on a good mechanic. Staying by the convention center. Any help would be appreciated.
I hate vegas.

AAA towing should be available despite office closures. If' I were you, unless you can identify the repair as a simple one, get the car home and deal with mechanics you know and trust. If you have the 100 mile or better AAA service, you can get it home free by spitting up the tow. If you have the standard plan, best shop price for a transporter.

Another thought. Contact Jack and Sue Stoddard. They are from Las Vegas, came to our last event and are registered on this site. Send them a PM. They are very nice people and may be able to help.

Good Luck David

David, this has to be frustrating. I had a breakdown on the way back from Vegas once, it feels like the end of the world. Other than calling AAA and start towing it down slowly, I can't think of anything right now. I'm by the 15/210 so you can have it towed to my place, should be a lot closer than towing to the valley. I can then drive you home.

Let me know if I can do anything, I check the forum frequently.

Any AX'er should have the 200 mile AAA Premium "free" towing package ... comes with a number of 100 mile tows also.

My first suggestion is to pop the hood and see what you broke, and DON'T TRY TO DRIVE IT AGAIN before you do. If it's something simple, you may be able to fix it in a parking lot. Metal bits from the engine BAY don't necessarily mean they're from your engine. Maybe you just bashed your AC compressor good.
Mark D.

This is just a guess, but it sounds to me like you bent or otherwise damaged the AC compressor drive shaft and jammed it. See what else is on that belt. Often times it's power steering. If so, you may be able to remove that belt and drive home without AC or power steering. Not fun in 100+ degree weather, but neither is paying 250 miles worth of towing fees.
Also check to make sure that your radiator isn't damaged. Make sure you've still got coolant and aren't loosing any. That's usually the first thing to get damaged on a front end hit. However, I don't know if it was a front end hit, or up from the bottom.
Mark D.

Hey Mark, thanks for the suggestions. Yeah I think it's the ac compressor that went. Looks like that belt runs, ac, power steering and alternator. All fluids are still full, no leaks under the car. It was a hit from the bottom.

Just heard from the Stoddards who hooked me up with a local mechanic, who then was able to refer me to a honda place i can take it to tomorrow.

Thanks too to Gerorge for giving me the Stoddards name.

Much appreciated

Glad to hear you're sorted out. Best of luck.
Mark D.

David Crozier wrote:Hey Mark, thanks for the suggestions. Yeah I think it's the ac compressor that went. Looks like that belt runs, ac, power steering and alternator. All fluids are still full, no leaks under the car. It was a hit from the bottom.

Just heard from the Stoddards who hooked me up with a local mechanic, who then was able to refer me to a honda place i can take it to tomorrow.

Thanks too to Gerorge for giving me the Stoddards name.

Much appreciated

Your welcome. I hope everything works out.

David...sorry to hear of your misfortune. Honda ought to put those a/c compressors in a less vulnerable place! I hope your gig went well, hepcat!

So what was the final result? What was the problem? Are you home now?
Mark D.

My ac compressor seized......more like exploded. There were metal bits throughout my engine bay. On Monday I had my car towed to Findlay Honda in North Vegas. Replaced compressor, condensor, receiver-drier, flushed out system. $1,500
Made it back late Monday night. Think I'm going to fly to Vegas from now on.

I don't know why the trend in speed bumps has progressed to mini-cliffs, but I creep over them, even in the truck. It's far too easy to bottom out low cars or really screw up bushings and control arms on something bigger.

The M coupe isn't all that low, and going over many speed bumps even at 3 mph I'll grind the chassis on the bump when the front suspension compresses after passing over the bump. Fortunately there's an X-brace from the factory to protect the oil pan.

Mike

Just curious David, was the incident related to the speed bump as you had originally thought or just coincidental to hitting the speed bump? Seems unlikely they're related.

Ditto on Mike's post about speed bumps. Painful, especially those on streets. I have nothing that negotiates them comfortably.

Well, I think the ac was at the end of it's life, but it really started making a terrible noise after hitting the speed bump. In hindsight, probably a good thing that it went out on me Sunday morning in the hotel parking lot rather than out in the middle of the desert. Could have been much worse. Thanks again for recommending the Stoddard's. They hooked me up with a mechanic who referred me to a good honda shop.