Received my spash guards on Mon from H&A. They sent the ones for the sedan, not the coupe - wouldn't come close to fitting. I Emailed them about 4:30 PM and when I got back from my son's basketball practice around 7PM, I had an email from them that a set(for the coupe)was on its way, 2nd day air, and they were issuing call tags for the sedan set that they erroniously sent me. Anyone can make a mistake, but I couldn't ask for better service in correcting the error. I know where I'm getting my Honda parts from now on!
Gary Injen(and possibly some others by now) has come up with a CAI system, There are a few exhaust systems, and I believe that DC sports is in the works for a 4-2-1 header system. There are of course the AFC, S-AFC, etc controllers.
Leland If anything, with the windows cracked(I smoke) the noise is a little quieter, and it keeps the rain out pretty well(Portland, OR) while driving. One of the complaints I have is that there is a groove in the front of the visors that allow some water to leak but other than that and the detraction of look(IMO) its a great piece thats worth the money. Just a piece of advice- When you install it, I would use some soapy water on the trim so that you still have a little bit of time to adjust the vents after you pull the tape off. After about 20min, you don't have any way to remove them without ripping the foam sticky stuff....
billy I believe those lights are now illegal... can't exactly remember why or how but they had to stop importing them around july/august timeframe. One of those goofy things.. you can use them but for some reason the US retailers can't sell them or import them or something. wierd
Ebay is often a great place to check for those HID-type bulbs. I bought some for a total of $13 and they were shipped from Hong Kong.
tblazer--thanks for your notes on the visors. I always wanted them so I could leave the windows slightly open during the day for fresh air, but was afraid of the noise at highway speeds. Sounds like the only annoyance is the appearance.
Ill be glad to share any info I find out with the mirror..I imagine It will be installed within a couple of weeks. As for locks..you just need one set. You replace one lug nut on each wheel with a locking nut. They are relatively inexpensive to buy. I have them on..why risk it.
Thats why Im leaving that up to my honda dealer. I buy the parts cheaper from h &a then take it to my dealer to install. Im actually an aircraft mechanic but get to nervous to work on my own car.
my bud and I can rotate tires in about 10minutes on a car... Takes all of about MAYBE 5min to remove them.
wheel locks are a cheap deterrent. If you get one matched set of 20, you shouldn't have any big issues. It's like everything else in car theft, you want to make your vehicle a little more difficult than the next, as the more difficult it is, the longer it takes, therefore, the more risk of being caught. No guarantees, though...
Yeah Chucko, the auction on ebay will say exactly what they are for. Just do a searh for '03 Accord' or '2003 Accord' and you will see there are TONS of them for sale.
BTW--the bulbs are type 9006 and 9005. This generation accord uses the same bulbs as the last.
Has anyone replaced their shift knob in the 5 speed MT? As someone pointed out in the Accord vs. TL discussion it is "sooo generic looking" and I have to agree. I would like a coordinated solid wood knob or something but the black plastic just doesn't cut it for me. I'm at a 5000 miles and so far car has been perfect (i.e., except for previous logged complaints about outside temp gauge!) Thks.
Thanks for the information. I will buy one set of wheel locks. But when I looked at the H&A accessories website, I found that there are 2 kinds of wheel locks, one for wheels where the lug nuts are exposed (not covered), one for wheels where the lug nuts are covered by a cap at the center of the wheel. My car is 04 Accord EX, 5 spokes alloy wheels, image of the wheel http://www.handaaccessories.com/accord/sdaa11.jpg but I am really not sure that which one should I buy. Anyone can help me?
Hi folks - sorry the messages are a bit out of order. We've combined a couple of discussions into this one so that Accord owners can more easily fint answers to their questions.
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MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name. 2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h) Review your vehicle
I'm buying an Accord and I'm very happy about it. I got the price from consumerreports.org, and a dealer I've been in touch with is willing to sell me a '04 EX with leather two door coupe 4 cyl at $500 over cost, including the Dealer holdback.
My question is which after market accessories to get. I'm inclined to get the fenderwell trim, splash guards, body side trim, and door edge guards, but will this make the car look better (and protect it), and really screw up the sleek lines? Thanks. Happy Thanksgiving
When we bought our 03 Coupe we loaded it up with accessories. Fog lights, spoiler, fenderwell trim, splash guards, body-side molding, and chrome exhaust finisher. Made it look better to us but everyone has different taste. Chances are if you like the way the car looks without the accessories you will like it with the accessories.
I have a white LX Sedan (one of the most popular combinations) and to keep my car from being the ubiquitous Accord, I got the lip spoiler (best spoiler imo), the splashguards, tint, wood trim, and eventually some 17' wheels and tires.
That being said, the tint and the splash guards are really functional, IMO. The car is noticeably cooler in the summer for the tint, and I feel the splashguards reduce rock pecks and mud splash. The other things help distinguish the car.
Oh, and I added the guards, wheels, and wood trim myself. All of these were as easy to install as a roll of toilet paper. Check out www.handaaccessories.com for some great deals after you buy, and I think it's fun to add things later down the road. Every time you give your car a 'present', it's like a new car again every time you get into it. The wood interior pieces (http://www.handa-accessories.com/accord/acc03birdint.jpg) add LOTS to my car.
Hi all, I'm new to the HID thing and just have a few questions before I decide to upgrade them into my 2003 Accrod. Do the HID-type bulbs found on ebay fit right into the slots the halogen bulb currently sits? Is an adaptor needed? Also, why are there 2 kinds of bulbs for the Accord? And, finally, about how long do these bulbs last? Thanks!
I have an '04 Accord EX 5 speed. I would like to get a remote starter for it. The dealer is disinterested. I'm hoping there a remote starter that's compatible with the alarm system. Anyone know where I can get one?
Please keep in mind that these are not true HID headlight. They are a replacement bulb that will give off the same color as HID headlights buy many times will reduce actual light output.
My understanding is that they do not last very long and many states are banning them.
As robr2 and leland have said, the bulb replacements aren't true HIDs. Got 'em on my 03 coupe, with these comments (with my wife's 03 EXL w/stock bulbs for comparison):
1) The replacement bulbs' blue color is probably there to change the otherwise yellowish tint to white. True HIDs aren't blue (got 2 other family cars with HIDs), because their technology doesn't require it
2) Actual light output (despite higher wattage, color temperature claims, etc.) seems equal or less than the factory bulbs'
3) The stock bulbs' yellowish output appears to provide better definition/contrast against the road surface
At this point, I'm pretty convinced that the blue bulbs just have cosmetic value. Light power is DOT-controlled; for this reason, it's essentially either the factory bulbs, whose lumens are pretty much maxxed, or the HIDs, which have a "top cut-off" characteristic to avoid blinding other drivers.
The OEM kit is the one to buy - the pieces fit perfectly and are made of durable hard plastic. Adhesive strips do the job well. The overall look is just right, not overdone (wife's EXL has it). It's about $180 from online stores.
The non-OEM type is made of vinyl material and pieces have a clear top layer, which make it look different from the original applique. Even if there are more pieces, at $130 or so from Ebay, it's a waste imo. Got one for my coupe but didn't install it; quality wasn't good enough.
Thanks for the info. I had seen the cheap vinyl ones on Ebay and I also saw the OEM ones at handa-acc and a few other sites. I wanted to be sure that the OEM ones weren't the same as the ones on Ebay.
I have an LX with the tan interior. Neither my wife nor myself like the light wood trim, and we have not seen any cars with the dark wood trim. Which color cars come with the dark wood? I'd like to see it before we purchase it.
The metallic is also an option I am considering. I am just not sure how it will look with the tan cloth. The photo at handa-acc shows it with tan leather and it isn't bad.
None of the 7th gen Accord has the dark (burlwood) color trim. But this is the one I got for my wife's car, because like you we don't like the light (bird's eye) color. It matches well with the EX's factory metal trim in the center console.
With a tan interior, you might just pull off a slightly more modern, high-tech effect with the metal kit. Wood trim would be an overstatement imo.
I recently bought the OEM wood-look kit in the birds-eye and it looks great IMO. Just like the picture on the site you mentioned.
I did not, however, add the vent trim or the little u-shaped piece that goes just under the hvac controls. Those pieces just made it look terribly overdone.
I got the birdseye just because I thought the burlwood was too dark for the ivory interior. I like the way the metal trim looks though.
Oh, and be aware that in January, the door-switch trim pieces will be available to complete your look.
Today I received my adapter to mount my stereo into the storage bin under the radio. I will be installing it in the next couple of nights.
My head unit is a JVC KD-SH707. While not a popular model, it has received rave reviews. It is an MP3 unit with a 7 band EQ and many, many features. It has a metallic silver finish which just might match the metallic finish I could buy for my Accord.
If you add remote start to any 03 04 accord you will have to mount a spare key inside the dash somewhere close to the ignition to get it to start due to the security chip in the key.
On manual manual transmissions a remote start can be added but many shops will not do this for liability reasons. There is a safety feature in manual transmission vehicles that prevents the vehicle from starting unless the clutch is in. This can be bypassed but it means if you leave your car in gear and start it with the remote starter it is going to lurch forward as the vehicle tries to start. Very dangerous and not so good for the starter.
Does anyone know if the metallic trim kit from honda matches the metallic trim that comes with the grey interiors perfectly? Or can you tell the difference in the 2? I saw a picture of it on the college hills site. Looks like different shades. On the fence about getting them.
I was concerned that it would look bad, but it doesn't. The plastic adapter's finish is very close to the same as the black plastic inside my Accord.
Installation took one hour. The most difficult part(s) were removing the dash board cover that is right behind the factory stereo and removing the factory stereo to get to the wiring harness. The factory stereo is bolted onto the frame by two screws. Great for stopping theft, but a pain to remove.
Overall I'd rate the installation at a 4 on a scale of 1-10 (10 being hardest). It wasn't the easiest install I have done, but it was not difficult either.
I will post pictures tomorrow night.
I was impressed with how 'clean' the wiring is behind the dash and under the shifter. In most cars I have seen it is quite a mess of wires. The Accord was somewhat 'empty'.
the remote starter is not recommended for good reason. Should you decide to do it you will probably have to sign a waiver of liability, etc. as was mentioned earlier, you would also have to park your vehicle out of gear, which is also not recommended. IF you can find someone to do it for you, I would guess your parts cost from DEI would be about $200-300 plus the key ($80) plus the labor. I do not believe it will interface with the stock unit as I didn't see any expansion ports on it.
There is a way to add DVD video using an adapter that people post on this site, but I've never used it. I would also highly recommend against doing this. You can get pulled over (among other things) and get a ticket for having a DVD movie on a navigation screen while the car is moving. It's just not safe and it's tempting to watch the movie.
I would like to see the result too! How exciting... this opens the door for amps connected to RCA inputs, etc. However, the only reason I'd shy away is the loss of the storage cubby door. It would probably be difficult to incorporate but I would love to have a door to cover the aftermarket unit. Also, I wouldn't want to lose the steering wheel audio controls.
If the aftermarket unit you install has a wireless remote, there is a company that makes an adapter for steering wheel controls. I believe it is around $100. What you do is 'teach' it what each button does. The bad part of it is that you have to install an IR emitter somewhere in your car that is close enough to the headunit so it 'sees' the signal.
There is no way to keep the cubbyhole or the door. I was suprised, but the entire cubbyhole/door is one big chunk of plastic. I thought the door would be separate. I'll take some pics of the cubbyhole so you can see what you would have to work with to integrate everything.
I have a decent Rockford Fosgate 50x4 amp that I used in my old car. I am considering installing it into the Accord. First I have to replace those front speakers.
Looking at interior trim for my 2003 Accord LX coupe. Looked at HandA accessories, and at aftermarket kits. The question I have is this: Do you cover over the door silver trim, or remove it? Anybody looked into aftermarket products?
Comments
Where did you get them?
Injen(and possibly some others by now) has come up with a CAI system, There are a few exhaust systems, and I believe that DC sports is in the works for a 4-2-1 header system. There are of course the AFC, S-AFC, etc controllers.
Leland
If anything, with the windows cracked(I smoke) the noise is a little quieter, and it keeps the rain out pretty well(Portland, OR) while driving. One of the complaints I have is that there is a groove in the front of the visors that allow some water to leak but other than that and the detraction of look(IMO) its a great piece thats worth the money. Just a piece of advice- When you install it, I would use some soapy water on the trim so that you still have a little bit of time to adjust the vents after you pull the tape off. After about 20min, you don't have any way to remove them without ripping the foam sticky stuff....
billy
I believe those lights are now illegal... can't exactly remember why or how but they had to stop importing them around july/august timeframe. One of those goofy things.. you can use them but for some reason the US retailers can't sell them or import them or something. wierd
tblazer--thanks for your notes on the visors. I always wanted them so I could leave the windows slightly open during the day for fresh air, but was afraid of the noise at highway speeds. Sounds like the only annoyance is the appearance.
How many sets of wheel locks do I need? 1, or 4?
wheel locks are a cheap deterrent. If you get one matched set of 20, you shouldn't have any big issues. It's like everything else in car theft, you want to make your vehicle a little more difficult than the next, as the more difficult it is, the longer it takes, therefore, the more risk of being caught. No guarantees, though...
I took my previous car (Mazda Millenia) to the dealer once and they took off my wheel without using the my wheel lock.
I asked the Technician how did he get it off-
he said "oh, we got a set of master lock in the shop".
I was totally taken aback, but on the bright side it does slow down someone who does not have a Master Lock.
Thanks.
BTW--the bulbs are type 9006 and 9005. This generation accord uses the same bulbs as the last.
Good luck!
I will buy one set of wheel locks.
But when I looked at the H&A accessories website, I found that there are 2 kinds of wheel locks, one for wheels where the lug nuts are exposed (not covered), one for wheels where the lug nuts are covered by a cap at the center of the wheel. My car is 04 Accord EX, 5 spokes alloy wheels, image of the wheel http://www.handaaccessories.com/accord/sdaa11.jpg
but I am really not sure that which one should I buy.
Anyone can help me?
kirstie_h
Roving Host & Future Vehicles Host
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
Review your vehicle
My question is which after market accessories to get. I'm inclined to get the fenderwell trim, splash guards, body side trim, and door edge guards, but will this make the car look better (and protect it), and really screw up the sleek lines?
Thanks. Happy Thanksgiving
David
That being said, the tint and the splash guards are really functional, IMO. The car is noticeably cooler in the summer for the tint, and I feel the splashguards reduce rock pecks and mud splash. The other things help distinguish the car.
Oh, and I added the guards, wheels, and wood trim myself. All of these were as easy to install as a roll of toilet paper. Check out www.handaaccessories.com for some great deals after you buy, and I think it's fun to add things later down the road. Every time you give your car a 'present', it's like a new car again every time you get into it. The wood interior pieces (http://www.handa-accessories.com/accord/acc03birdint.jpg) add LOTS to my car.
My understanding is that they do not last very long and many states are banning them.
Good Luck.
1) The replacement bulbs' blue color is probably there to change the otherwise yellowish tint to white. True HIDs aren't blue (got 2 other family cars with HIDs), because their technology doesn't require it
2) Actual light output (despite higher wattage, color temperature claims, etc.) seems equal or less than the factory bulbs'
3) The stock bulbs' yellowish output appears to provide better definition/contrast against the road surface
At this point, I'm pretty convinced that the blue bulbs just have cosmetic value. Light power is DOT-controlled; for this reason, it's essentially either the factory bulbs, whose lumens are pretty much maxxed, or the HIDs, which have a "top cut-off" characteristic to avoid blinding other drivers.
Thanks!
The non-OEM type is made of vinyl material and pieces have a clear top layer, which make it look different from the original applique. Even if there are more pieces, at $130 or so from Ebay, it's a waste imo. Got one for my coupe but didn't install it; quality wasn't good enough.
I have an LX with the tan interior. Neither my wife nor myself like the light wood trim, and we have not seen any cars with the dark wood trim. Which color cars come with the dark wood? I'd like to see it before we purchase it.
The metallic is also an option I am considering. I am just not sure how it will look with the tan cloth. The photo at handa-acc shows it with tan leather and it isn't bad.
With a tan interior, you might just pull off a slightly more modern, high-tech effect with the metal kit. Wood trim would be an overstatement imo.
I recently bought the OEM wood-look kit in the birds-eye and it looks great IMO. Just like the picture on the site you mentioned.
I did not, however, add the vent trim or the little u-shaped piece that goes just under the hvac controls. Those pieces just made it look terribly overdone.
I got the birdseye just because I thought the burlwood was too dark for the ivory interior. I like the way the metal trim looks though.
Oh, and be aware that in January, the door-switch trim pieces will be available to complete your look.
My head unit is a JVC KD-SH707. While not a popular model, it has received rave reviews. It is an MP3 unit with a 7 band EQ and many, many features. It has a metallic silver finish which just might match the metallic finish I could buy for my Accord.
Here is a picture of the headunit:
http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S-dcN0FW1PCtN/ProdView.asp?s=0- &cc=01&g=62700&id=morephotos&pi=1&i=257KDSH70- 7&display=L#morephotos
I will post pics when I have it installed and see if you guys think the metallic interior will compliment it or be 'overdone'.
will have to mount a spare key inside the dash
somewhere close to the ignition to get it to start due to the security chip in the key.
On manual manual transmissions a remote start can be added but many shops will not do this for liability reasons. There is a safety feature in
manual transmission vehicles that prevents the vehicle from starting unless the clutch is in.
This can be bypassed but it means if you leave your car in gear and start it with the remote starter it is going to lurch forward as the vehicle tries to start. Very dangerous and not so good for the starter.
http://www.installer.com/kits/99-7862.jpg
I was concerned that it would look bad, but it doesn't. The plastic adapter's finish is very close to the same as the black plastic inside my Accord.
Installation took one hour. The most difficult part(s) were removing the dash board cover that is right behind the factory stereo and removing the factory stereo to get to the wiring harness. The factory stereo is bolted onto the frame by two screws. Great for stopping theft, but a pain to remove.
Overall I'd rate the installation at a 4 on a scale of 1-10 (10 being hardest). It wasn't the easiest install I have done, but it was not difficult either.
I will post pictures tomorrow night.
I was impressed with how 'clean' the wiring is behind the dash and under the shifter. In most cars I have seen it is quite a mess of wires. The Accord was somewhat 'empty'.
Thanks!
There is no way to keep the cubbyhole or the door. I was suprised, but the entire cubbyhole/door is one big chunk of plastic. I thought the door would be separate. I'll take some pics of the cubbyhole so you can see what you would have to work with to integrate everything.
I have a decent Rockford Fosgate 50x4 amp that I used in my old car. I am considering installing it into the Accord. First I have to replace those front speakers.
If my website is down, try again in a few hours. My broadband connection disconnects once every few days.
http://www.traceyandkevin.com/accord/
That is a very CLEAN install, and looks right at home. I'd bet it will look good with the metal-look trim kit too. Good job.