Honda Accord (2003-2007) Maintenance and Repair

bioman

The amber low fuel light is one thing. What does the fuel gauge indicate? The low fuel light on my 04 EX V6 will come on at about the 3/16 mark on the fuel gauge. You should not be too concerned with the amber warning light. The fuel gauge should be your major concern. If it really bothers you, bring it back to the dealer and have the service department check it out. You may want to continue to drive the car and wait till the amber warning light comes on. Note the fuel gauge level and then fill the tank. If the amount of fuel that you put in is close to what the gauge says that it should be, disregard the amber warning light or continue to drive until your gauge is at the 1/8 mark and then fill it up. There is really no harm filling the tank up just below the 1/4 mark. In fact you are probably preventing the fuel pump from warming up because of a low fuel level in the tank.

elroy5

I do not think that torquing to 35 ft-lbs is such a great idea. This seems like a high torque for the drain plug.

Ok, so I was off by 2 ft.lbs. this comes straight out of the 03-05 Accord service manual. If you don't know the facts, shut up. It clearly states 33 lb.ft.

I have seen people strip aluminum oil pan threads on motorcycles when they adhered to factory recommended torque spec.

No, people strip out the pan threads because they don't use a torque wrench, and overtighten the drain plug. The service manual also clearly states, "do not overtighten"

lucky247

Hi, blackexv6
I'm having the exact same problems right now. I'm just wondering what Honda has done for you? I too have an Accord V6 and I'm pretty sure I had that recall and passed as well. However, I'm located in Canada and I'm curious if they have done anything. I have about 115,000kms which relates to about 70,000 miles. I'm just so pissed and I too don't want to pay for a new tranny (4000 Canadian). Just wanted to hear if Honda helped out at all? Thanks

elroy5

I know Honda Of America will work with you. If it has anything to do with the second gear recall thing, you should not have to pay for it. Not sure at all about Canada. Of course you have to have maintenance up-to-date. The transmission fluid does require changing (I think it's 30k-60k miles depending on driving conditions). If they see any signs of abuse, you're out of luck too. Good luck

PS: What year is your car?

lucky247

My car is a 2003 Honda Accord EXV6. This vehicle has been maintained at the dealership since I bought it!! Never missed an oil change and all scheduled maintenance. The funny thing was that I had just brought it in a month ago to change the oxygen sensor. Wouldn't they have noticed anything then? I figure they would've found something then but what do I know. Anyhow, I'll try to argue my case and hopefully they can meet me halfway.

lucky247

Oh Elroy,

Have u heard of Honda of America helping out with these particular cases? I just never knew these V6's had so many problems with the tranny.

elroy5

Like I said, I hang around on Honda websites (honda-tech.com), and I haven't heard of any problems with the 7th gen (03-06) transmissions. They did have a recall on them for 03 and 04 models. The recall fix was done on my car, and I have not had a problem with it. I would think that if your problem has anything to do with the recall, Honda would at least be willing to work something out with you (if not pay the entire cost). Of course this all depends on whether the maintenance is up-to-date, mileage, etc....

djm2

Why didn't you purchase an extended Honda Care Warranty with this vehicle? From you current mileage, it is obvious that you put high mileage on your vehicles. A Honda vehicle comes with a three year / 36,000 mile warranty. If you keep your vehicle beyond the three years / 36,000 miles, and you do not want to pay for repairs, then you need to consider the purchase of an Extended Factory Warranty. Yes, this coverage does cost money, but on the other side of the issue, should something go wrong, the repair service is covered. Honda has done $3,000.00 worth of repair on my 2003 Accord under the Honda Care Extended Warranty. The original cost of the warranty was $875.00. You cannot have it both ways,---(money in your pocket and the security of an extended warranty). Honda does not have to repair your vehicle! If they repair your vehicle, then they should return all the insurance premiums to all the customers who purchased the Honda Care Extended Warranties.------Best regards. ----- Dwayne---- :confuse: :shades:

elroy5

If they repair your vehicle, then they should return all the insurance premiums to all the customers who purchased the Honda Care Extended Warranties.

Well Dwayne, I'm sorry to inform you, but many people who hang on honda-tech.com. have had repairs good-willed by Honda, after the warranty has run out. If it is a common problem (lights going out on the radio display) the customer does not have to pay for the replacement. (They have to replace the entire head unit, can't just change the light).

After wasting $600 on the extended warranty on my first Accord, I wasn't going to do it again (replacing a temperature control knob, and an inside door handle, did not amount to $600).

Consumer Reports has the same view on extended warranties that I have. "The only reason you should consider buying an extended warranty on a vehicle, is if it's known to be unreliable. And why would you want to buy an unreliable car in the first place."

kcrossley

These recent posts have me thinking about whether or not I should purchase an extended warranty. I understand that Honda is a reliable car, but there's a whole lot of expensive technology that could fail—especially since I have the navigation system.

I made the mistake of NOT purchasing an extended warranty on my 2001 Saturn L300 and I got totally slammed with repair bills. Granted a Honda doesn't compare to a Saturn, but nevertheless it is a concern that I have.

Does anyone have any recommendations on extended warranties? I average about 17,000 miles per year of mostly suburban and highway driving.

elroy5

No one can guarantee you no problems with your Honda car. But I look at it this way. The company selling the extended warranty to you is betting that your "repair costs" will not exceed the "price of the warranty". Most of the time, they will win. There are exceptions to every rule. Will you be an exception? Who knows.

blackexv6

Absolutely do not pay one penny for the tranny replacement! Like many people, you bought a Honda for reliability. 70k tranny failure is premature for any car these days.

First step is to talk to your dealer where you bought the car new. Believe it or not they have the most leverage. If they won't help you call Honda Customer Care and open a case number.

Honda V6 transmissions are notorious for failure. Mention the second gear lubrication recall issue and you feel the tranny failure is related to it.

If those two suggestions fail, try another dealership. There are many Honda Service Managers that admit Honda V6 transmissions are plagued with design problems. They will help you out.

My dealership has the best service department - they did the legwork for me & got the replacement goodwilled. The car only had about 40-45k miles.

Lastly, just so you know...the replacement trannies are remanufactured units. You will not get a brand new one. And yes...they have the same design problems as yours (2nd gear lubrication is probably fixed).

My suggestion is to trade the car. The mileage is not that bad (70K) for a 4 year old car. I'm afraid that the next tranny will fail on you again befor you hit 120k. If you get another Honda stay away from the V6 models unless it is a Ridgeline or Pilot. Those models have an improved 4-shaft design...2007 Odyssey will get the revison also.

kcrossley

True. It is like spinning a roulette wheel. Normally I don't buy extended warranties, but if I would have on my previous vehicle the warranty company would have lost big.

kcrossley

Forgive my ignorance on automobile engineering, but does Honda use the same transmission in the I4 as it does in the V6?

Also, why are there problems with the V6 transmission? Is it the extra torque that the engine produces?

blackexv6

Your safe...the I4 has a different transmission than the V6 models.

Why so many problems? Beats me. Honda's V6 transmission problems go back to 2000. They actually extended warranties to 100k on the Odyssey & Acura TL's....they replaced thousands and thousands of transmissions in Odysseys, Accords, Acura TLs, over the years.

One would ask why a car company known for its reliablity would allow such an embarrassment to occur.

Why don't more people complain? They get free transmission replacements in 2 days with a loaner car. The tranny is fed-ex'd overnight and replaced the next day....Honda techs know how to pull v6 trannies quickly from a lot of experience.

rgray3

I have NEVER heard of these widespread V6 tranny issues some are talking of in here. Never read bout them in Consumer reports either.....I have V6 1994 Acura 168,000 miles....runs as smooth now as it did when i bought it in 1994.

elroy5

The transmission problems started in 98 (the first year of 6th generation). I have not heard of WIDESPREAD V6 tranny issues (since the recalls in 03 & 04). The recall fix has obviously worked to fix the problem.

lucky247

It's funny you say that elroy. When I first purchased my car I clearly remember saying to them "Why would I need extended warranty, it's a Honda!" I absolutely agree with your thoughts on the extended warranty. We purchased these vehicles because of their history of excellent reliability. Everyone in my family has a Honda, but they all have the 4 cylinder models. Never did I think that they would have such a glitch with their V6. Anyhow, I think my chances are 50/50 with Honda Canada. I definitely have a valid argument!!!

lucky247

Thanks for the info. I'll try anything I can. My view of Honda has definitely changed after this incident. Don't know if I will purchase another Honda. I'll see how committed they are to customer satisfaction and go from there. Thanks again for the replies.

vhreb123

I have an 06 Honda Accord. Does anyone know when or about how much mileage before you add/replace the engine coolant. I looked in the owner's manual, but it doesn't give out much info.

djm2

I change the engine coolant every two years. I change the automatic trasmission fluid at least once a year. Sometimes, I change it twice a year, depending on the mileage and my driving habits. If I do a lot of stop and go driving, I change the fluid more often. I will be taking a number of long road trips this fall, and I have already scheduled a coolant and a transmission fluid service date, at the dealer,in preparation for the trips. This system works for me! ---- Best regards. ---- Dwayne :shades:

qbrozen

the new advanced coolant formulas allow for 5yr/100k replacement intervals.

badgerfan

If your system works so well, why have you had over $3K of repairs required under your extended warranty plan? Doesn't seem as if your careful extra conservative maintenance schedule has gained you much in reliability.

Guess I should be glad I have a reliable car, a 2000 Taurus with no extended warranty, and no repairs required either, now at 60K miles, and three years and 24K miles past the standard warranty.

Other than than a conservative 3K oil change schedule, I do no maintenance more often than the manual recommends. I am soon due for only my second transmission fluid change, for instance, and I leave the coolant in three years.

djm2

I don't understand your comment. My maintenance schedule has nothing to do with the failure of the engine's motor mounts, the failure of the AC compressor, the failure of the power window assembly in the driver's door or the failure of the radio display. Oil and filter changes, coolant changes, automatic transmission fluid changes have nothing to do with these items. Please explain you point!---- Best regards. ----- Dwayne :confuse: :shades:

badgerfan

Now that you explained what your warranty repairs were for, it is true your maintenance schedule had nothing to do with the failures.

Still, you have had more than your share of failures in a fairly new car from a "reliable" brand. How many miles do you have on it?

djm2

The repairs were done at around 50,000 miles. I do a lot of highway driving both pleasure and business. The Accord is a good product, but like any other vehicle it has some issues. I like the four cylinder model. It has plenty of power on the road and the mileage is good. The things that I do not like about the Accord are the hard seats, and the blind spot on the outside driver's mirror. I will be looking at a 2007 Honda Element, (2WD). I have already set up an appointment to test drive this vehicle as soon as it hits the dealer's lot. There is a "New / Up-Dated Version" of the Element being offered in 2007. -----Best regards. -----Dwayne :shades:

vegasproblems

In my 2005 V6 I have the Tranny replaced at 7500 miles now the new tranny is starting to have the same problems with 4000 miles on it.

Seems odd 2 trannys in under 12000 miles

djm2

Do a search on this issue. You will find than this is an on going problem. :confuse: I would put an extended warranty on this vehicle, if I had intentions of keeping it for 100,000 miles. Best regards. ----- Dwayne :shades:

chucko3

30K miles, flush transmission fluid.
45K miles, flush the coolant.

I wanted to flush my 03EXV6 tranny fluid before 30K miles, but my dealer said I don't need it.

elroy5

I change my transmission fluid every 15,000 miles (manual says 30,000) just to keep the inside of the trans cleaner, and try to avoid the problems from the recall issue. I change my engine oil every 3,000 miles (the oil in the V6 engine seems to get dirty really fast). Everything else I do when the owner's manual requires under severe conditions. I suppose everyone has a different opinion on what is right for them. I can do all my own maintenance, so it doesn't cost me as much $$$$.

PS: 99% of the time Honda OEM parts are much better than anything you can get from an auto parts store. Use Honda fluids only for coolant, power steering, brake fluid, and transmission fluid.

mamamia2

Well, what I've been reading here for a while, has finally happened to us too... My wife has just called me telling me the CD player would not eject any of the 6 CDs, would neither play any, nor would it change from one CD to the other, and all her 6 precious CDs are stuck there....

In other words, the CD player is DEAD. I sent her to our dealer and he made an appointment for Monday morning.

We have a year old '05 V6 EX Accord. What I am here for, is to ask whether the replacement unit they will, apparently, install --- is any BETTER than the original unit... Has anyone had the replacement unit fail too?

socalflyer

I just got the call from the dealer the srs (airbag light) on the dash has stayed lit for three days now after start.
They say it is the srs control module cost of the part just over $480.00 plus three hours to fix. My car is a V6 2003 accord with 61,000 miles. Anyone else seen this

mrbill1957

Just curious,

Are your CDs all store recorded, or did you make any yourself and label them?

Mrbill

mamamia2

Hmmmmm.... Hmmmmmmm.... Since it's my wife's car I don't know, but I suspect that they are mostly burnt CDs, but none have any LABEL on them, as much as I know, we simply write on them with a marker.

What's the problem, actually, the fact they are burnt, not commercial, or the label (which, again, I don't believe any of those CDs have) is usually the culprit?

Hmmm... If the dealer finds out there are burnt CDs stuck in the system, he may claim it's violating the warranty agreement?

user777

er well, it's a problem with any CD player potentially.

they generate heat. on CDs with paper-labels, the labels will become decoupled from the CD and become coupled with the internals of the turn-table / radio mechanism.

wouldn't matter if it were a 6- or 1-CD unit.

mrbill1957

It't not just the heat the players generate, it's the heat during a hot summer day that can soften the label glue, then they curl up and well....

Mrbill

mamamia2

I understand the issue with the label. I know one of the CDs stuck there is from our local library. They add some kind of a strip to the CD, which is well protected with a thick, clear tape.

But my understanding is, from what I recall reading here in the past, there IS a known issue with the Accord's 6-CD changer. Am I right?

And, again, I am curious to know whether the replacement unit is any better, free of problems?

user777

only u know (or potentially may come to learn) if the other 5 have paper labels or not.

however, any CD with a sticker, and some heavy tape: you are taking a risk putting them in any CD-player, but specially a CD player in a hot car.

i can't address your ultimate inquiry, but even if there is a "better" player / i.e. less prone to jamming cd mechanism, you very well likely will encounter this problem with CDs that have anything but ink (ie manufacturer or CD marker) or laser etched (litescribe) imaging on them.

your manual likely has a blurb on it.

mrbill1957

For what I've been told, radios replaced under warranty are exchanged units that have been repaired.

Unless there is a major design defect, I doubt the replaced unit will be any different than what you started with.

I don't recall there being many complaints about the CD changer failing anyways? Displays yes, but changers?

What Honda says about labels:
http://www.collegehillshonda.com/artman/publish/article_268.shtml

Mrbill

yoribe2

I should have posted this BEFORE taking my car to the dealer yesterday.

The owners manual for my 03 Accord calls for replacing the automatic transmission fluid at 60K/3 years, whichever comes first. Being the dutiful owner I am, I took my car with 50K miles to the dealer for a transmission fluid change, oil change and tire rotation.

The service advisor presented me with two levels of transmission fluid changes:

The first, at the Internet special of $69.00, would be a partial flush and refill which would only refill 4 quarts of fresh fluid to the transmission.

The second, which the service advisor recommended, was a complete flush and refill where the technician would hook up a vacuum machine to the transmission to flush all the fluid out and refill entirely with fresh fluid and conditioner. This was $150.00. He showed me a display with some vials containing transmission fluid that represented various stages of darkening by not doing a complete fluid refill.

Thinking that a complete flush and refill would be better than just a partial refill, I went with the second choice. I saw the machine actually being hooked up to my car in the service bay. After expressing some concern with the higher than anticipated cost of the service to the service advisor, he let me have the oil change ($36.95) for free.

Have any of you heard of just a partial transmission fluid change? Was I nickel and dimed for the transmission flush service? How much did you pay for your tranmission fluid service? I await your responses!!

user777

good link.

personally, i'm not convinced their tolerances are any tighter than aftermarket players... i figure they don't manufacture units anyway; some other manufacturer makes it and provides branding on the faceplate with the Honda name probably.

however, it's good "sound" advice no matter what vehicle you drive.

mamamia2

My question here was to prepare myself for Monday... The car is under warranty, of course, so naturally I am interested to know whether replacing the unit is gonna be covered. Again, I'm investigating whether there is a known issue with this particular 6-CD changer.

But then, of course, if all 6 CDs come out with no trace of a label, or a peeled label, I have a good case against my dealer's attempt to charge me.

mamamia2

I think you did right. Couple years ago I flushed my old '95 Accord V6 tranny for about $110 at my local Shell station. The total flushing REALLY cleans up the whole system. Your dealer gave you a nice break, and you should be happy.

elroy5

The owners manual for my 03 Accord calls for replacing the automatic transmission fluid at 60K/3 years, whichever comes first.

The only thing the Accord service manual (03-05) says you would need to do a ATF flush for, is if the transmission is changed. The flush would be to clean out the transmission cooler of contaminated fluid (from the bad transmission). I just change my fluid myself, every 15,000 miles (3 quarts). It only cost me like $20 for the fluid and it's actually easier than changing the engine oil. The fluid is still as clean as new. I think if you change the fluid often enough, you would not need a flush. Did you check the condition of the fluid before going to the dealer? (via dipstick)

user777

i agree with mamamia, seems like you got a deal. the typical cost may be closer to $200 for a flush. it isn't cheap but it is worth it. if they charged you $150 - good for you.

the oil change of $36.95 seems about $11 or 12 too much but was "free". free?

what did you save? from my perspective, maybe $70-$75. not bad.

i think a flush is better than a drain and fill myself. if there are partially clogged passages, a drain and fill might not clear the buildup / dislodge the debris. i'd rather have it dislodged at the dealership's doing with their machine, than when i'm driving.

i bet you experienced an immediate improvement in shift quality right? i've had 2 AT flush services on 2 hondas and could immediately feel the difference.

i'm doing my Accord '02 on a 25-30K schedule.

next time you need some service though, look online for coupons or ask if they are running any specials.

elroy5

i think a flush is better than a drain and fill myself.

My opinion is that it is better to partially change the fluid (drain and fill) frequently (15,000 miles), than to wait until the fluid is 50,000 miles old (and probably dirty) so it requires flushing with a machine. My transmission fluid should never be contaminated enough, to require a machine flush.

yoribe2

Thanks for your responses about the transmission flush and refill service. Now I feel better about my decision. I don't feel any improvement in shifting quality since the transmission has always shifted fine since day one. It never occurred to me to check the transmission dipstick to assess the condition of the fluid before getting it serviced...

revenert

I have a 2005 Honda Accord with automatic transmission. When I am accelerating and going about 50 mph, it often (but not always) makes an annoying whisting/chirping sound. It is hard to describe, but I'm sure this is not "normal" noise.
I have taken it to 2 dealers and one said it is considered normal noise. The other believes it is the transmission, but is hesitant to replace the transmission because it might not solve then problem. Has anyone else experienced this or have any ideas or suggestions for me?

qbrozen

by the way, as someone else stated, that oil change price is about $11-$12 too high.

Our Honda dealer charges $26.

You don't happen to live in Canada, do you? Maybe that's what's throwing this all off. Because, honestly $150 is a tad high, too. But, given you got the oil change AND tranny flush for $150, that's just about right. So you did fine on this particular trip.

yoribe2

I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, where goods and services are generally more costlier than average. A 2-bedroom condo can easily go for $500K, gas is now $3.15 at my favorite Chevron, so $36.95 for a dealer oil change is quite reasonable around here. In fact, it was the cheapest I could find.