NHTSA Complaint #10472445 — 2003 ACURA CL

CAR WAS PARKED OUTSIDE DURING SUMMER HEATWAVE. INTERIOR WAS HOT. VEHICLE STARTED WITH HESITATION, RAN FOR A MOMENT, AND THEN STALLED AND FAILED TO START IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION. CRANK, NO START, WAS THE FINAL SYMPTOM. OCCUPANTS WERE NEARLY HIT BY A MEDIUM DUTY TRUCK WHO HAD TROUBLE STOPPING. AFTER THE CAR WAS HAULED TO A SHADY LOCATION, THE INTERIOR COOLED AND IT AGAIN STARTED. SINCE THAT SENTINEL EVENT, THE CAR STALLED OR FAILED TO START 3-4 TIMES-- EACH TIME AFTER BEING PARKED IN THE SUN. TRACED PROBLEM TO A FAILED SOLDER JOINT IN THE PGM-FI MAIN RELAY UNDER THE DASH. IT CONTROLS POWER TO FUEL AND ECU. THE CIRCUIT BOARD WAS NOT DESIGNED TO TOLERATE THE EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION ASSOCIATED WITH TEMP CHANGES IN THE INTERIOR. A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING FROM LARGE REPAIR BILLS FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND INAPPROPRIATE REPAIRS BECAUSE THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. RELAY NEEDS RECALLED! AFFECTS NEARLY EVERY HONDA / ACURA SINCE APPROX. 1998. *TR