Loud Backfire

[cjones4512]

Hello, I was wondering if anyone ever had this happen before. I was stuck in heavy trafic today and had to nail the gas to get ahead of someone who would not let me over into another lane. When speeding up I got a loud backfire out of the tail pipe. It happened once before merging onto the freeway about a month ago and I did not think anything of it and forgot about it untill it happend again today. I was wondering if this would warent a trip to the dealer to have them check it out. Any comments would be greatly appreciated. This is the only problem I have ever had out of this vehicle.

btw it is a 2005 with the 3.5L V6

Thanks in advance.
C.Jones

[mellissam]

Do not pass go, go straight to the dealer...a backfire can wreck the top end of an engine (ok, not all the time, but your pushing it). :)

btw- did anybody stick anything up the tailpipe.....

[cjones4512]

Thank you I will call the dealer Tuesday and make an appointment. Since monday is New Years day they are probally not open. Seems odd for a car with 18,000 miles to backfire.

[KCW]

since you live in Michagan did you check your Vue for bullet holes? :^)

[cjones4512]

Nope, No Bulit Holes, although we did have a car once that got a bulit hole going down I475 in 1992. We did not even hear it hit the car. It hit about 6 inches from the fuel filler door. $500 to fix the hole on a 1 year old 1991 Mercury Topaz.

[burnout]

It could have been the intake backfire on the 1-2 shift that some people hear. Quite common.

If it only backfired once out the exhaust, it could have just been a freak one-time occurence. Mine slightly "backfires" or "pops" at every shift, and I hear it only because my exhaust is comprised of only a muffler and the two cats. (I think it sounds awesome :))

[1saxman]

A backfire on acceleration is a very serious matter. I've never encountered this, including on hot-rods, old vehicles, etc. If this occurred on my VUE, it would go immediately to the shop. Does the Honda engine have variable valve timing? Sounds like you have a valve sticking or mis-timed.