Older Honda Accords

ickes_in_mn

My 2001 EX/5-spd. does too.

rongcat

I posted a message about the click problem with my 4-wk new accord ex V6. It's found out finally a transmission problem after 3 days checking and the dealer going to order a trans for me. Is there anyway I can change another car coz I couldn't accept changing a trans for my 2002 accord.

canadiancl

You can try addressing your concern first through the dealer and then Honda Customer Service. My feeling is they would not grant you a new car because they have now identified the problem, and believe it not, having to replace the tranny in the first year is not all that uncommon. I know it seems like replacing the whole tranny is a MAJOR repair to a new car, but the problem is exasperated by the fact that the dealers are not allowed to take the tranny apart to repair. The whole thing has to go back to the factory. So even if the problem was relatively minor, they have to swap a new tranny. And the truth of the matter is that having to replace the tranny is not going to diminish the long term performance, value, or longevity of your car.

silvercoupe

Actually, canadiancl is correct. I went thru the same thing with a 91 Accord at 17,000 miles. Had the trans replaced with a factory remanufactured unit because of a transmission roar. Needless to say I was not happy at the time.

Now, with 157,000 miles, the transmission is still going strong. Seeps a little fluid, but still shifts fine.

The reman unit will be just like a new trans.

talon95

Does your Accord have anti-lock brakes? This sounds to me like the noise the pump for the anti-lock brakes makes right after you first start moving. Can't say I know exactly what it's doing, but it's normal.

rbell2

I bought a '98 Accord EX/Auto/4-Cyl with 42,000 miles on it this past July. It drove perfectly and I was bragging on the smoothness/comfort. About 4-6 weeks ago, I began noticing a vibration coming from the engine when the car is in gear and I am either idling or completely off the gas (it is more noticebale when completely stopped but it does it when off the gas coming to a stop or making a turn, etc.). The Honda service guy dmitted it wasn't "right" when I drove it in but has only changed the spark pulgs which did nothing for the problem. His meachanics are telling him it is not "too bad" to beging changing more expensive parts. It is a certified used Honda still under 12-month bumper-to-bumper warrenty. A friend of mine said it might be an engine mount or timing problem. In any case it bugs me to death (even my 5-year old said "Daddy, why is your car shaking?"). I am sheculed to talk with the service manager next week. Has anyone run into this problem with a used Honda? Any comments or ideas on what might be wrong would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

fedlawman

My '93 EX w/auto does the same thing, but it doesn't really bother me.

It probably is the engine mounts.

BTW, any response to a good Seattle area shop?

subzero206

i dont know which shops are good for tuneups and such i usually get a mechanic friend to do it for me but i know that the owner of greg's auto(?) used to be a honda mechanic.

dannyle

Hi all
I have a question. I went out and found a used honda accord 99 V6-EX with 31K .. nice and clean with a small dent. Asking price is 16995. Is this a good deal ?

Also, what's the price for accord nowaday for both 4 cylinders and 6. Are they going for invoice, a few hundred under imvoice or over invoice?

Thanks

fedlawman

Thanks subzero, I'll see if I can find him.

sobers

Yes, I think it is ABS initialization (or something related) noise (not a noise actually!)

subzero206

u can get a brand new 2k2 accord for invoice or a little below because an all-new accord is coming out this fall.

gtlloo

You might want to give this a shot. If you only notice the noise when you are moving, check your tires, if there is a pebble or nail inbedded in the tires or in the grooves it will give the click click noise when you are in motion. Good Luck!

scooter64

Has anyone experienced a "clunk" when releasing
the clutch in 1st gear? This sound was not there when I bought the car but showed up around 37,000 miles. I am fearing the worst and think it might be some 'slop' in the transmission. It kind of sounds like a bad CV joint.
I don't beat on this car and can't understand how this could be.
By the way, the sound is not in 2nd thru 5th.
Any help is appreciated!

bcolville

I'm looking to buy in 2-3 months here in beautiful Colorado Springs. I'm capped at about $20k. I test-drove both a 4 cyl. Accord EX and V6 LX, actually liked the manual trans 4 cyl. better, probably because I own a manual 94 Escort now. I told the Honda salesman that I'd be bringing in set offer (Edmunds has the manual EX at $19,600) and he didn't comment, although he's bent over backwards so far. This was the third Honda test drive he's given me. The Toyota dealer offered me a Camry LE at invoice ($19,700), and he stated their 4 cyl. has major improvements for 2002, although I haven't driven it yet (I get to deal directly w/Sales Manager because I filed a complaint with a rather aggressive salesman my first encounter with the dealership).
1. Is the 2002 Camry 2.4L 4 cyl. that much better than the Accord 2.3? I need more speed than I have now...
And should I:
a) take offers back and forth between dealers in hopes of the best price?
b) Insist the Toyota dealer throw in a moon roof at his cost of $900? (This LE doesn't have, but I gotta have one)...Who's more desperate to sell - Honda or Toyota?

canadiancl

Honda SHOULD be more desperate to sell since next year there'll be a re-styled Accord.
I think the Camry I4 would be a quieter car, but other than that I don't think the Accord I4 gives up too much to the Camry. There's only a 7 hp difference but the Camry is a heavier car. Honda makes some of the best 4 cyl engines around.

fxashun

does not compliment trhe exterior. The outside says 2002 while the interior says freshened 1997 Buick. Opinions....we all got em.

canadiancl

You're right about the interior looking like it came out of an old Buick, especially the flat dash. However, it does match the exterior from the A pillar back.

talon95

I agree that the Camry dashboard is kinda Buick-like, but it sure beats the industrial strength look of the dashboard in the previous generation. It just screamed taxicab or rental car to me. That being said, I still prefer the current Accord dashboard, and I hope Honda uses similar design concepts for the 2003 Accord. When I shopped the two cars, my extreme dislike for the previous gen Camry dashboard and my very positive reaction to the much more upscale looking Accord dashboard were among the more significant factors in my choice of the Accord.

mvv1

please,can anyone give me honda e-mail address,thanks.

bobst

We had the same clunk in our 95 Accord, and the car is still running fine. The dealer said it was normal. 90K miles on this car.

We have had the clunk in our 97 Accord for the last couple years. It has not gotten any worse. I don't worry about it at all. The car has 62K miles.

So far, the clunk has not appeared in our 99 Accord.

Of course, all three cars have 5-sp trannys. We gave the 95 to our daughter. I like the 97 more than the 99, but my wife likes the 99 more.

canadiancl

Then one less thing to fight over!

twistinmelon

Traded in my '92 LX Coupe for an '02 LX Sedan. (Actually, I sold the old one to Car Max, which had a much nicer offer than the dealer.)

I paid $17,055 including destination. Added cassette player, rear wing spoiler, splash guards, fenderwell trim, trunk tray, and cargo net, for a total of $18,140 plus tax, title, license, and $50 doc fee.

I also purchased a 7 year, 75,000 mile, zero deductible HondaCare extended service agreement for $665.

The new one is a 5-speed like its predecessor. It will take a little while to get used to the action of the clutch, which engages much earlier than the old one did. I'm glad I went with the stick again.

I'm thinking of swapping the wheel covers for something a little sportier, like the ones from last year's LX V-6. It's a pretty inexpensive proposition. And I want to add an aftermarket alarm, probably something from DEI/Viper. That should be about it as far as add-ons.

It's a heck of a nice car for the money. Shoot, it's a heck of a nice car, period.

twist

ecarmack

I had my 99 5-speed's transmission fluid changed at 40,000 miles at a quick-lube place, and it has had a rough shift from 1st to 2nd ever since, especially when it is cold outside. I finally took it to the dealer last week at 60,000 miles to have the fluid changed again with Honda Manual Transmission Fluid and the clunk/rough shift into 2nd is now gone. Who knows what the quick-lube place used for fluid. Automatic transmission fluid? Motor oil? I don't know how much of a difference it would make. I know some people use thick motor oil in their manual transmissions.

scooter64

Thanks BOBST. Sounds like you have some credible information! I will talk to the dealer about it. I'll mention what you said too.
So is your clunk there if you are rolling and lifting the clutch (1st gear of course)? Mine is quiet in that case - most of the time. I also notice it alot when sitting in traffic and constantly lifting the clutch. It gets quite unnerving.
Thanks also ecarmack!

maxamillion1

I have been looking at all the midsize cars for quite a while now, I have yet to see an Accord EX or EX-L 5speed, do they even exist? I would prefer the EX-L with leather compared to a Camry XLE Automatic, but I think I really prefer the Altima 2.5SL with a 5speed.

fxashun

But how can you stand that interior. There are NO soft touch surfaces in that car. It's all hard plastic. Yuck.

talon95

I agree... it's pretty sad when the Sentra's dashboard looks way more upscale than the Altima's.

twistinmelon

I just checked the online inventory at jacobstwin.com (the website for Jacobs Twin Honda, etc. in Chicago) and found 4 EX-L and 9 EX's with manual transmissions.

Yeah, they exist.

twist

ickes_in_mn

We bought an EX 5-speed last May. At the time, there were four in the Minneapolis area and six total within the five state region. We wanted Silver or Black and one dealer had both. Unfortuneatly, they sold the black one before we came in to buy, so we got the silver one. The scarcity of the model in a given color made negociating a little difficult. But, we got it for about 91% of MSRP, which was consistent with Edmunds TMV at the time.

maxamillion1

I for one think that the new Altima is a great car, except for the sorry interior materials. Nissan should have never used materials so cheap! It's a shame!

Nissan isn't the only one who does this though, the new Corolla's material look better than the ones in the Camry. A Corolla CE has better materials than the Camry XLE! Now that's sad too. On to the Altima, Nissan better improve the interior. The Accord EX-L or Passat GLS 1.8t are my only other choices. I will not drive an automatic, I have one right now, and I just can't stand it! I have got to switch my own gears.
Regards
Max

fxashun

But being 6'6" I can't fit behind the wheel and they took away the independent rear and put in a twist axle. I know it doesn't matter to 90% of the people but it does to me.

jrct9454

...from our Accord. At 6' even, I DO fit in the '03, but just barely. The handling is fine, twist-beam or not, and the ride quality is actually better than the current-gen Accord. Of course, Honda may do something about the ride quality in the next-gen Accord, but for now, the new Corolla has it beaten. If you really need the room, of course there is no comparison. We don't, and I admit I am seriously tempted by the overall driving experience in the new Corolla.

fxashun

with a 94 LS400 as my nice car. I have the "best" of both rides.

jrct9454

...about 5 years ago. Wish I had.

carguy62

In your opinion, of course. Enjoy your Corolla.

jrct9454

...hasn't happened, yet, and may not. The point is that I think they've taken a step forward here in refinement that I would like to see Honda match. We are generally happy with our EX V6, especially the great performance, but the around-town ride on lumpy surfaces, especially with more than one person aboard, gets downright annoying at times. And the 6 rides better than the 4.

The new Camry has that refinement for sure, but not the handling or real feeling of solidity that would tempt me - for some reason known only to the Toyota engineers, the new Corolla feels like a better effort than the new Camry. I think Honda continues to make the most trouble-free and economical cars in this class [our Accords have been almost ridiculously cheap to run and own, with lower depreciation than any Toyota sedan], but I'm always open to alternatives - we were just surprised by the competence of the new Corolla, for whatever that's worth here...

w2323

Hi,

Im looking at a 2000 LX accord v4 with automatic, does anyone know of any problems with this year and model? Any trans or motor or ac problems?

I do intend on buying an extended warrenty when I purchase it. It should have about 27000 on it.

Thanks for help.

robertsmx

Growing too old? ;-)

blane

The reason you don't see many 5-speeds around is simple. I owned a 1990 5-speed Accord LX. When it came time to purchase a new vehicle I was appalled at how low a trade-in value it had. Most people who buy 4-door sedans don't buy them for sportiness, rather, for practicality. It's much tougher to resell a stick sedan than an automatic sedan.

I've driven sticks for the past quarter century and love 'em. They just aren't good investments. That means fewer buyers and lower inventory on dealers' lots.

fredvh

I am considering purchasing a new TL but have heard rumors that the sheet metal on the Accords and Acuras is "thin" and as such tends to dent more easily than other cars. Is this true? Does anyone know the thickness of the body metal? What is the thickness of other common vehicles (Camry, Lexus, Infiniti, etc)?

subzero206

yes its true hondas/acuras dent easily, at least in my experiences with owning them. poor paint quality too.

fxashun

But the metal seems thinner than most. But judge for yourself. Look around at a few Accords...Should be easy, they sell a ton. If it were THAT easy to dent you'll tell a difference and make up your mind accordingly.

Paint quality??? Whatever.. Honda paint is no better or worse than any other. Honda doesn't mix it's own, I'm sure it's supplied by the same name brand as many other makes use.

ecarmack

Compared to other cars I have owned, I seem to get more dents in my Accord and Odyssey. However, many local paintless dent repair shops will come out to your house for about $75, and pop out several dents. I have had them out twice in three years, and the cars look like new. Its a great deal.

So, if you like everything else about the Hondas and Acuras, I wouldn't let the sheet metal weigh too heavily in your decision.

isellhondas

blane is correct. Most people don't want them. As used cars they are especially difficult to sell.

This is especially true with the EX models. The people who like them are few and far between. this is why some dealers won't even order any.

canadiancl

does the scenerio hold true for coupes as well as sedans, or is there a bigger used market for 5-speed coupes?

isellhondas

Never really thought about that...but, yeah, people who buy the coupes are more prone to want a 5 speed. Still, the automatics far outsell them.

prophet2

My first Acura Legend in 1986 was a 5-speed as I have always been a shift-it-on-my-own kind of guy. I then held out for a 5-speed Legend coupe in 1987, but finally took delivery of an AT as none were on the horizon. The dealer finally got their first MT coupe EIGHT months later.

As the car moved upscale, 5-speeds got harder to find AND harder to sell until Acura stopped making them available. I got a client friend of mine a great deal on an '88 Legend L sedan. Five years later, the car was "totaled" and he got a great settlement from his insurance company. As a trade-in, the car was $3K "back of book" - no market for MT Legends. But, he did get book value.

Can't blame Honda from deleting the 5-speed from their V-6 Accord offerings. Not enough consumer demand to justify the wants of too few enthusiasts.

smolensk

Has anyone heard for sure if there definitly will be a 2003 Accord Station Wagon this summer? I'm looking for a good reason NOT to buy a Passat wagon and sell my Accord EX.

jrct9454

I would say the chances are 99% that there will be no wagon on the North American version of the next-gen Accord. It is the perception of the marketing types that Americans won't buy a straight-up wagon - that we only want wagon substitutes - SUVs and minivans. Since Honda has gone to a lot of trouble and expense in this market to cover this ground [CR-V, Odyssey, Pilot], I would say the chances are slim to nil that they see any purpose in a wagon offering.