My minivan stalled on a busy street because of anti-theft code: Roadshow
It's so stressful to think this might happen again, but Honda says nothing can be done.
Q: I am hoping you or your readers may be able to help if they have had a similar situation. My Honda Odyssey stopped dead while at a busy stoplight. Engine started just fine, but the car wouldn’t budge in any gear. I had it towed to a nearby mechanic, and, of course, it ran fine when he looked at it.
The only thing they found in the computer diagnostic was a module communication error, which apparently only Honda can investigate further. The code told the car it was being stolen, so it didn’t move. I called Honda and they said if the car is now working, they won’t really be able to do anything, so it’s not worth the diagnostic charge. He suggested it may be the key fob and that I should try using the other fob I have for the car and see if it keeps working.
It was so stressful being stuck in the middle of the road, flashers on, with people honking and yelling, unable to move my car out of their way. Are there any suggestions for getting the car to move, should this happen again?
It was very uncomfortable with people driving on the wrong side of the road to get around me and being so angry. I felt horrible, inconveniencing everyone. I wish something was actually broken so the mechanic could fix it. Now I am just going to worry every time I drive.
The mechanic said it may or may not happen again, no way to know. If I am dead stopped in the middle of the road, is there any way to get the car to move so I can get it out of the way? I am so nervous every time I am at a stoplight now.
Kim L.
A: I would be, too. Jeff-the-Roadshow-Under-the-Engine-Guy says: “Honestly, I’d recommend (over)paying the dealer to run diagnostics. Intermittent issues are the most difficult to diagnose. And never cheap.”
Q: The answer to my question must be somewhere on the DMV website, but it is much more fun to ask you.
I had my smog check and sent in my registration renewal nice and early to be sure that slow mail and DMV delays didn’t create problems. It worked so well that I already have my sticker for Oct. 1, 2021, but I could misplace it between now and then.
Can I go ahead and put the red October 2021 sticker on my license plate a month early or does that create some sort of red flag (pun intended) for the traffic officer?
Jean Gleason, Kensington
A: Go ahead and slap on that red sticker now.
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