Nightmare/stressful EP3 purchase. Help! :(

**LittleDragon^^** · 02-02-2013 10:00 AM

Hi everyone!

First things first, let me tell you the story so far. Read in a Morgan Freeman or David Attenborough voice to dull the stress, contempt, anger you might feel via my projection of this tale...

So I bought a 2005 EP3 in CW from a reputable dealership in Syd late Dec 2012. The car was put on a truck on the 2nd Jan to begin it's trip up to Darwin - This transport company charged $2000. It arrived in Bris the following day then sat there for 3 weeks.

After waiting for 2 weeks I called the transport company to ask why it was sitting there and was told "there's no trucks going up to Darwin at the moment". "OK", I said and continued to wait. The due date for arrival was 23rd Jan and when I noticed the tracking information hadn't updated to "in transit" (from Bris to Darwin) on 21st (it takes around 3 days to drive to Darwin) I called again - this time I was a bit firmer with my words while remaining calm, polite and friendly. This time I was told "there are too many cars going up to Darwin and we don't have enough trucks". So I've been told 2 difference stories by the transport company. A few hours later I get a call saying the car is on a truck and heading up to Darwin - co-incidental after my phone call?

23rd Jan arrives and no car - I call again and I'm told "the driver has had difficulties with the trailer unloaded cars. Updated ETA is 26th - Australia Day long weekend.....sigh...

I call on Tuesday 29th Jan in the morning and I'm told "your car is here and will be ready for pick-up at 2pm". HOORAY!....nek minit...I get a call at 130pm "I'm very sorry but we've just noticed that the rear window has been smashed. It's completely destroyed and in pieces". So my car arrived there over the weekend, the rear window had been smashed during transport and no one reported it to be forwarded onto me? They're going to pay for it to be fixed, as they should.

I grew up in Darwin and know how pathetic the customer service is up here. It's the result of no competition. I was constantly on the phone with the TC to get results. Things were moving so slow, "we're waiting on windscreens O'Brien to find a window", "Windscreens O'Brien can't source a window and are now waiting for Honda Australia to get back to them"...waiting for Honda Australia!??!?! I had to take action!!! I called the dealership and they sourced a window within hours. I passed on the info and the window has been ordered and on it's way to Darwin as of yesterday - Friday 1st Feb.

THEN I take the car to the MVR to get it rego'd. The pit inspectors fail the car for HID globes. Sigh... I call the dealer and they've sent a kit to convert to Halogen. They've given me 1 month rego - the time frame I have to get everything fixed.

At this point, do you think my frustration is warranted?

I drive the car home and the aircon cuts in and out! - "are you kidding me"?!?!? If you know anything about Darwin it's HOT and HUMID this time of year. I pretty much begin to cook in the car! Now I have to take the car to an auto-electrician at the dealer's expense. I NEED air-conditioning in the car.

End rant.

Now - Can anyone please help me with the aircon? What I've noticed so far about the cutting in and out problem:

The aircon sometimes runs fine as soon as I start the car
I had the gas checked. It was low so was topped up. Can rule out a gas issue???
The compressor works but cuts in and out - usually a rev can get it going again but not every time. Also, sometimes when it works it works very poorly and the air is only slightly cool...nowhere near cold.

Please, please, please...has someone had this problem with their EP3? I'm hoping it's just a minor electrical problem and nothing needs replacing...but knowing my luck with this experience so far, that won't be the case.

So, as a pre-emptive - is the aircon compressor from a DC5R compatible with the EP3R?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

**kenc77** · 02-02-2013 10:26 AM

If your revs drop too low ie under about 500rpms the compressor will be disengaged by the ac clutch switch to stop the engine stalling, if this is what's happening I'd suggest investigating why the revs are dropping. Might be spark plugs. Or else might be a dodgey ac clutch relay.

**Winter** · 02-02-2013 10:50 AM

it cuts because the system maybe overheating pls check that your condenser fan is working (as its a built in mechanism to protect the system)

also there could possibly too much or too little gas ( also a safeguard to protect system)

also your condenser could be on its way out

**Jasemas** · 02-02-2013 11:19 AM

Damn man read the first half in a morgan freeman voice... but then the fustration took over
I recon if you want to buy a car and have it shipped - you might as well fly up and drive it back home
Sorry to hear about the problems with your EP3
Do as the others have said and report back
How's your A/C belt going?

**LittleDragon^^** · 02-02-2013 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by kenc77

If your revs drop too low ie under about 500rpms the compressor will be disengaged by the ac clutch switch to stop the engine stalling, if this is what's happening I'd suggest investigating why the revs are dropping. Might be spark plugs. Or else might be a dodgey ac clutch relay.

I just took the car for a 30 minute drive and the engine idles at around 1000rpm. Never drops lower.

Originally Posted by Winter

it cuts because the system maybe overheating pls check that your condenser fan is working (as its a built in mechanism to protect the system)

also there could possibly too much or too little gas ( also a safeguard to protect system)

also your condenser could be on its way out

All fans were working when my mechanic and an aircon mechanic had a quick look. The compressor wasn't performing as it should when at my mechanic but was fine when the aircon mechanic had a quick look/test.
Gas was checked and appeared to be low so my mechanic filled it up, then the compressor started working and the gauges shot up! I don't think there's too much gas in the aircon system now cause the aircon worked fine when I took it for a drive a few minutes ago.

I'll mention it could be the condenser to the auto-electrician next week.

Originally Posted by Jasemas

Damn man read the first half in a morgan freeman voice... but then the fustration took over
I recon if you want to buy a car and have it shipped - you might as well fly up and drive it back home
Sorry to hear about the problems with your EP3
Do as the others have said and report back
How's your A/C belt going?

I'd considered driving it back up it chose not to - extra 3 days off work wasn't viable (I'm a personal trainer and run as a sole trader), putting an extra crapload of k's on the car, driving through the desert would mean a service as soon as it arrived in Darwin, hitting large animals, etc.

Haven't checked the AC belt. I'm assuming my mechanic would have had a look??? He's very thorough but I'll mention it to the sparky.

Thanks for the help guys! Keep the suggestions coming!

**LittleDragon^^** · 04-02-2013 03:10 PM

Received my HID to Halogen kit today. Is there any way of getting to the back of the headlight to change out the HID globe without removing the front bumper?

**Grayfox** · 04-02-2013 08:57 PM

Doesn't the car come with HID from factory?

And since when does having HID=fail unless it is in the older reflector housing which means after market job is an easy fix since you replace the HID bulb with a halogen.
If it came with HIDs tell the RTA to shut it since the car came with HIDs it is a pass.

**LittleDragon^^** · 04-02-2013 10:15 PM

Unfortunately the MVR here are very by-the-book. The inspector even explained the ADR to me: HIDs must have self levelling function and high pressure water sprayers (for the lenses) to be road legal. Even if it's legal in Japan, this should have been converted to halogen before being passed. sigh...

**xenonkuraz** · 05-02-2013 12:24 AM

half way through the story i thought the car was gonna be lost in transit :/

**starocean01** · 05-02-2013 12:39 AM

oh man i dont know what to say...but
GOOD LUCK!! hope everything goes well after

**LittleDragon^^** · 05-02-2013 05:43 PM

UPDATE!

Took it into a workshop today and they diagnosed the aircon problem - faulty TX valve...whatever that is.

I need to get a TX Valve, Receiver Dryer and O-Rings. Can you guys recommend a reliable/FAST Honda parts supplier?

**Grayfox** · 06-02-2013 04:56 PM

The car comes from swindon UK, they have same rules as we do here re guarding HIDs.

Must have auto levelers and washers.
So if it came into the country like that and got complied like that that means it followed all australian road laws.

If it was an after market job it is another matter.