1999 Honda Helix-Problem with CDI

[j...@thevine.net]

My 1999 Honda Helix, with 2300 miles on it, just stopped running the other
day.

Now the dealer informs me that it's $300 to replace the CDI, which he claims
is the brain of the scooter. Worse yet, he tells me its a common problem
with these bikes, and American Honda isn't going to help me out by defering
some or all of the costs.

Anyone else have this problem, and does anyone have any suggestions as to
how to approach this with American Honda?

He's also asking $120 for a "complete service", that is, oil change, plug
change, valve adjustment, basically a complete going over of the bike. High
price, low price, just right?

The dealer is located in Woodland Hills, California (Southern).

Thanks in advance.

jay

[Nicholas Koerzendorfer]

I have never heard of a CDI unit
going on a helix, and I have quite a
few helix-riding friends. A couple
have put over 100,000 miles on theirs
with no ignition problems of any kind.
I assume by your description that
your helix is out of warranty.

The price for the complete service,
based on my experience, is about
par.

<j...@thevine.net> wrote in message news:B5CDB106.2A26%j...@thevine.net...

[Julian Bond]

In article <B5CDB106.2A26%j...@thevine.net>, j...@thevine.net writes

>My 1999 Honda Helix, with 2300 miles on it, just stopped running the other
>day.
>
>Now the dealer informs me that it's $300 to replace the CDI, which he claims
>is the brain of the scooter. Worse yet, he tells me its a common problem
>with these bikes, and American Honda isn't going to help me out by defering
>some or all of the costs.

Is it out of warranty then?

--
-----------============>>>>>>>>>> )+( <<<<<<<<<<============-----------
Julian Bond mailto:julia...@voidstar.com
MegaScooter/FF info & mailing list http://www.shockwav.demon.co.uk/bff
8770 M/C Suppliers, Contacts & Addresses http://www.bikeweb.com
> Void If Removed <

[Jason T. Powell]

Never heard of it and ahve 11,000 on my helix 3000 of those put on in the
last two months.

Jason

<j...@thevine.net> wrote in message news:B5CDB106.2A26%j...@thevine.net...

> My 1999 Honda Helix, with 2300 miles on it, just stopped running the other
> day.
>
> Now the dealer informs me that it's $300 to replace the CDI, which he
claims
> is the brain of the scooter. Worse yet, he tells me its a common problem
> with these bikes, and American Honda isn't going to help me out by
defering
> some or all of the costs.
>

[cford]

I doubt very much it is the CDI unit. I just had a similar problem with my 1985
Elite 250, ( no spark), which has the original CDI unit in it, and its now
32,000 miles later. My problem turned out to be a broken solder joint at the
spade connector on the coil.

By the way since I got the Koot Scoot 4 months ago I have put on 13,000 miles.
No I doubt its the CDI unit.

Colin on the Koot Scoot
--
From the Beautiful Creston Valley
In the Central Kootenays of
Super Natural British Columbia
COLIN FORD cf...@uniserve.com

[Ashley]

I agree, EVERY Honda person i spoke to in Britian would advidly say it was
nothing electronic but more joints or even dodgy sparks and i have 27000
miles on mine never an electrical problem.

2300miles i would drive it to Honda USA and park in the lot and tell them
they WILL FIX it under warranty no matter of the adge thats not even run in
yet!!!!!

I thinks its a dodgy connection myself!!

Laters <ash>

P.S. My Helix is 9 years old now..

<j...@thevine.net> wrote in message news:B5CDB106.2A26%j...@thevine.net...

[andrew]

I have never known this sort of problem with a Helix. I have seen many with
over 60K and no problems. The service seems high, but the cost of doing business
in CA is probably very high.
Andrew

[Marc Bowden]

In article <7TZp5.33979$xg1.3...@news1.rdc1.sdca.home.com>, "Nicholas
Koerzendorfer" <sct...@home.com> wrote:

> I have never heard of a CDI unit
> going on a helix, and I have quite a
> few helix-riding friends.

I'll concurr. When mine had its "high-energy kinetic malfunction" last
Sunday it took the screws, taps, a hunk of the muffler, tore out the
mountpoints on the crankcase, and in the process distended the shocks and
let the muffler come into direct contact with the aft wheel but the bike
NEVER slowed up; they're very hard to just make *stop* like that. Have you
checked your connections, personally, from the plug cap on back?

As a side note, what does a Helix go for these days, being that total
repairs are likely to cost more than the bike is worth ('94, 22K miles)? I
haven't had the pictures of the damage developed yet so I can freak out
the mechanic, but I'm planning.

===========================================================
Marc Bowden. Helix Pilot. Fruit Loop. ry...@merit.edu
1994 CN250R, "Shiawassee"

Bravely dodging beer bottles thrown by drunken teenagers
from their daddy's suburban assault vehicles since 1985.
===========================================================