My opinion would be to take it and get a couple more opinions. Especially if at the time the light came on it was running perfectly and you did indeed pull over immediately and have it towed. Deserthonda would know more about this than me, but it sounds fishy to me that the only symptom you had was an oil light and the dealership just automatically says your crank and bearings are bad... can you even diagnose that without opening up the engine? (Especially if it's running fine)... Maybe I just don't know enough about it, but I had a shift solenoid malfunction on a 96 Camry one time and when I took it to the transmission shop they told me I was going to have to rebuild my tranny to the tune of about $1600... I took it to another shop and it cost me $200 for new solenoids. I know a tranny is a different monster, but something about this just sounds awry... if it does turn out to be the crank and bearings... I like Deserthonda's suggestion about ordering another engine... either way I hope you get it worked out...

Nixer

 

I'm sorry if I didn't make the current situation clear.

The engine is all apart at the dealer. I have seen the main bearings they are shot. I just want to find the cause. Can the oil pump be tested after it is removed from the car?

I am on my way back the dealer to see if I can get more info. One of us is going to trigger the answer.

Also the only time the oil light came on was in the driveway. It was not put into gear or moved. It was turned off immediately. Very strange for a car with only 38,000 miles.

 

Yes it is, especially with a v6. Were the bearings cooked? (discolored black like they had been very hot)

 

here is my advice,,,,,, talk to prevoius owner and get all the service records . if he does not have them,, ask where he took car for service,, Once you have them get the phone # for Honda district manager and explain how unsatisfied you are that engine went Kaput at only 38k miles,, Whatever you do ,, DO NOT get upset, be calm,, Honda might help you out

 

Desert Honda, That sounds like good advice and I certainly won't lose my calm with the manufacture. The car and engine have a great reputation. Something just happened to this one.

The dealer I took the car to is where the car was purchased new. Also, the seller had a 40 point visual inspection done at that dealership a week or two before I bought it. The rear brakes were replaced and that's all that was recommended. The dealer has been happy to share all the history. The car has never needed repair.

I talked to the mechanic again this morning. He is adamant that the car was run without oil for a short time, because the problem is bearing failure. The upper engine seems fine.

I checked the oil before I bought it. I ran the car 73 miles before taking the car for smog & oil change. I checked the dip stick as soon as I got home immediately after the oil change. It was about and 1/8" above the full mark. I checked the dipstick again when the oil light came on, which was 385 miles later. It was still at the same level. I approached the subject with the garage that performed the smog test and oil change. I accused them of possibly running the engine before they filled the crankcase. There were three of them doing the change. Of course, they say I have no eveidence, and that is true. I can't blame anyone without facts. I really don't think the former owner mirepresented the car and I can't prove the garage ran it without oil, but I lean that way, unless it was just plain bearing failure. I am out of ideas.

Thanks everyone for all the advice. Just explaining the facts has been a vent for me. I have lived my 58 years and never really made any waves, but this time if I could find the cause, I would take it to the wall.

 

I never take the car to a quick change place,or anywhere you have a hose that drops the oil in the engine. I buy my own,Amsoil,and I watch the mechanic pour the oil in the engine. The quanity indicator,on the hose system, may move even it there is only air going past it. I have never like the idea.By the way change the oil every 6 months,even if the miles are not there.
TK

 

props to you man (for avoiding jiffy lube, etc. etc.). I do all my oil changes/mechanical work myself. My car got into a wreck and I had to take it in to get an alignment and the stupid mechanic who did the job didn't center the steering wheel before adjusting the alignment, so now I drive around with steering weel 30 degrees to the left when I'm going straight. And to top it off they broke my door handle. Guess I'll have to do alignments next!

 

call HOA and explain to them what happened. Tell them you have all the service records from the previous owner and that the orginal dealer can verify. They should offer some assistance as it seems unlikely that engine was run out of oil as they stated.