2013 Honda Accord Touring V6 Sedan 29,800 miles.
My wife just woke me up from a deep sleep saying that her car would not turn off. Or as she says, with her Russian to English mix, her car will not off. When I went to check it, indeed her car would not off. Well, the motor offs with key fob in hand and foot pressing the brake pedal and one push of the on/off button, but the dash lights do not turn off. And the engine will start again with a single press of the on/off button. But when you stop the engine, the dash lights remain on. It just beeps several times the same beeping as if someone had left the keys inside of the vehicle or the trunk and was trying to lock it from outside of the car, which this car will prevent from happening.
She has had this car for one and one half years and this is this first incidence of this problem. Still half asleep and after multiple attempts myself without success, I simply disconnected the battery. And wanting to return to sleep now after 11:30 PM and wait to look into it further tomorrow morning, thought I would post this in case someone has some overnight advice. I am in California, so three hours behind you East Coasters. Perhaps when I reconnect the battery tomorrow morning, everything will be okay, but obviously something is wrong for this to happen and the concern now is that it could happen again. Or it may return to the same behavior tomorrow morning.
Thanks and Good night.
PS: when we purchased this car in December 2020, the dealer had installed an after market security device with a green flashing light. Is it possible that the aftermarket device may be causing the current problem and should it be removed regardless?
Exactly what @yaser said. I just want to add that since it's not under warranty then don't take it to a Honda dealership but also don't take it to these stores and shops out there that install aftermarket alarm systems; they'll just mess up everything more (I've heard enough horror stories of them messing up big times). If you have an independent mechanic you trust take it to them. I had my independent mechanic install for example the kill switch on my FJ.
If the independent mechanic does not feel confident/knowledgeable enough to perform the removal of the after market security/alarm, would you advise biting the 'cost' bullet and taking it to the Honda dealership? I'd rather have it done properly, as damage to other components by an incompetent mechanic would certainly cost a lot more to repair. Or do you have a different concern other than cost with using a dealership?
I personally never go to dealership unless if I have to for warranty work because they're good at messing up and also charging for stuff not needed to be done. If you can ask from coworkers or friends for an independent mechanic who can do this then great, but if not I guess your last resort would be the dealership.
Thanks @FJCruiser2014
As you guessed, the aftermarket alarm is messing with the system. Take it back to the dealer who installed it and let them fix it.
Thank you @yaser.
The dealership is 75 miles away and driving through Los Angeles traffic to get there plus probably 35 dollars in gas round trip. And since the car is not under warranty, I would likely have to pay.
Would you recommend taking it to our local Honda dealership where they know us, or would an independent mechanic be better. Thanks again.
If this is the case, you may find a shop that installs aftermarket anti theft systems and have them do the job.
@yaser Now, that's a good idea! And again, thanks for your early reply this morning. Nice to have a helpful response waiting when I awoke on the West coast, as I mulled this over all during the night.
You're welcome. Happy to help. Good luck.
Do what @yaser said, take it back to the shop that actually installed it to fix it. They screwed it up.
Thanks @Doc
I personally would just be concerned that they'll mess it up more given their record and make things worse.
@FJCruiser2014
Yeah, I agree. Plus since the car is not under warranty, I would have to pay. Not going to make a 150 mile round trip for that. Since disconnecting and reconnecting the battery, haven’t had a problem. Will be changing motor oil and ATF this week and hopefully getting the aftermarket security system disconnected.
Thank you for your advice