Honda Accord (2003-2007) Maintenance and Repair

anderson123

Hi guys, my new accord sedan has rust on several parts. ">
It seems that they are not cover by the rust warranty. If the dealer doesn't help me with this, I have to do it by myself. I also found several rust treatments. But I am afraid they may damage the paints on other parts. So is there any other rust treatment to recommend? Appreciate it.

mrbill1957

Rust already?

What are the parts?

Mrbill

dieselgg

You have to be careful accessing the oil filter from the top of the car. That exhaust manifold is very hot and you can easily burn yourself. Unless you decide to wait 20 minutes for the car to cool down, but by that time I don't think how warm the engine oil will flow freely.

hondalova

When last we left our interpid hero, his engine was still coding multiple misfires (all six cylinders and a general P300 code) and a permanent lean condition on one bank. We've replaced the EGR valve, cleaned the runner it sits in and pulled several plugs, all of which are fine.

My mechanic found a TSB that described similar symptoms and stored code with instructions to reprogram the idle and some other things in the Computer Control Module but he lacks the tool and I can't get Honda to do it. I've called all three local dealerships and each said that they would only do it after they had evaluated the car and determined if the reprogram was necessary. Translation: we want to squeeze and O2 sensor and and some other repairs outta yo' humble wallet first.

Any suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated. This problem is driving me nuts. It always codes when its cold - rough idle at start-up and then the light comes on. Goes off 100-200 miles later after several starts and then re-codes a day or two later again.

Thanks!

-FS

drive2005

Any recommendations on Car Wax brands. wax applicators and Microfiber cloths

blane

Intrepid Hero hondalover,

I've re-read your earlier posts, going back to June 20th, on the subject. This may be a silly question... but...

Since you've not indicated mileage or purchase date, is your 2004 Accord still under warranty? If it was, on the date that you first brought it back to the dealer for repair, you surely should demand that the shop have Honda's zone representative review all records and resolve the problem.

In fact, you may have a Lemon Law situation, depending upon your state's laws.

Have you researched this NHTSA site?

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/complain/complaintsearch.cfm

elroy5

Any recommendations on Car Wax brands.

I highly recommend the new "ice" synthetic liquid polish (made by Turtle wax). It goes on very easy, and comes off just as easy. I have a Black car, so the fact that it leaves none of the white powdery residue, seals the deal for me. It may not last as long as say "Nu-Finish", but it's so easy to apply, and remove, you won't mind doing it more often.

hondalova

Not a silly question at all - just not applicable. Car was purchased new in May '04 and currently has 55,000 miles on it. I was already considerably out of the 3/36 warranty when this problem reared its ugly repetitive head and I never buy extended warranties (b/c it's Honda - who'd a thunk I'd need it?!).

It is REALLY driving me nuts though. I also wonder if its connected with the periodic hesitation in the throttle response (which I've always attributed to the totally annoying electronic throttle).

-FS

v6accord

My radio lights went out on o3 honda accord. It is out of warranty but the dealer gladly replaced it charging me nothing. This is a fairly common problem so the dealers should do it for free. Blessings,
v-6 honda accord

blane

hondalova,

You might still want to have the Honda zone rep check into your concerns. There might be a hidden warranty if it's a recognized problem.

tallman1

There's a forum here about exterior care that might interest you. You'll get a lot of opinions.

I remain a big fan of Griot's Garage. If nothing else, take a look at their website and download their free Detailer's Handbook. Great products that are much better than store brands.

bioman

I just replaced the rear brake pads on my 2004 Accord EX V6 Coupe. Mileage 32125. The front pads look new. According to the laws of physics and a great deal of what I have read the front pads should be replaced before the rear pads. On all of the non-Honda cars that I have owned that has been the case. I’d get about twice the miles out of the rear pads relative to the front pads. For every Honda product I’ve owned (92 Prelude, 96 Integra and the 04 Accord Coupe) the reverse has been true. Friends of mine have had similar experience with their Honda products. The brakes function just fine, but rear brake pads wearing out before the fronts??? Has anyone on this thread ever figured this out or read an explanation?

don57

I have noticed a rattle coming from the right rear of my 2006 Accord Sedan. The jack and spare tire seem to be securely in place. Does anyone have any suggestions?

thegraduate

YES. My father has a 2005 EX Accord Sedan that had a metallic-sounding rattle plaguing him for months. He thought it was in the trunk somewhere. It turned out to be the right rear suspension rattling/loose. Ask your dealer to check this area for something loose/in need of lubrication.

My dad spent months trying to figure out what it was, only to find out it was simply fixed with lubrication. They fixed it for free because it was so easy to do!

His problem occurred around 50,000 miles, and since it's been fixed, he's put another 7,000 on it with no noise whatsoever.

thegraduate

Referring to why the rear brakes might wear-out before the fronts...

Could it have to do with the Electronic Brake-force Distribution feature of the car?

blane

Have you checked how securely your license plate or bracket is attached?

mrbill1957

The rear brakes wearing out before the fronts has been a complaint here since the 03 model.

I haven't seen anything official explaining what's going on.

I wonder if the supplier for the back pads is different from the front.

Mrbill

atlantabenny

Has anyone noticed his/her info display (odometer/outside temp/trip counter inside the speedometer) defaulting to odometer ? Mine has been on outside temp as I prefer it but lately, the odo has been the default display on start-up.

elroy5

Don't know if this is happening to you, but I would put the display on temp, and my wife would switch it back to trip meter. Haha

fated

Hi all,

I found it difficult to shift into PARK on my Accord 06 -- had to push hard otherwise it won't go in. Thought I just didn't push the release knob in at the top, but didn't seem to be the problem. Any idea what could be wrong, or was it just a false alarm? Thanks!

urok

My Accord is a great car perfect in every way except it burned oil, a lot of oil. When new it was using being 0.5 and 0.75 quarts per 1000 miles driven. The oil was being used in the engine, it did not leak out.

I tried to work with Honda about the problem with no response, then (at about 6K) the problem stopped. The car has stopped using oil. I thought modern car's didn't have a break in period. I guess I was wrong. After the car stopped using oil, my mileage has improved. I am happy with whatever the car did to stop it from using oil, but I don't understand what happened.

I now believe that it is important to leave the factory oil in the car the first 5000 miles. Note I did do an early 2k oil change.

Love the car.

drive2005

Have been checking out websites for good microfiber detailing cloths -from Griots, Sonus and Cobra. Not sure which one of them is good and all of them to be very expensive. What are th edifferent kind of cloths or applicators does one need to keep the car exteriors in good shape

atlantabenny

Hopefully Honda does away with that bit of economizing with the 8th gen for improved marital harmony While the car (03 Coupe V6) has been 95% mechanically perfect at 60k miles, its electronic components have scored much lower in my case.

blane

Your foot should be depressing the brake pedal while you are shifting into or out of PARK.

atlantabenny

It was probably more incomplete valve or piston ring seating that caused your oil consumption. Over time, the part settled in for better sealing.

tallman1

I'm of the mind that you get what you pay for. I think one of the biggest differences is looking for how they are put together. If there is a seam or edging with the wrong kind of material or thread, you could scratch your paint. Just because MOST of the cloth is microfiber doesn't mean all of it is. The darker your paint, the more those little scratches and swirl marks will show up.

blane

Have you tried an old clean 100% cotton terrycloth towel?

elroy5

I have heard of the rear pads wearing early. My 03 EX V6 however has not had this problem (still plenty of rear pads left at 38,000 miles). Honda techs have suggested that either the emergency brake is not being fully released, and holding slight pressure on the rear pads. Don't know if this is the case, or if it is because of driver error, or the emergency brake not fully releasing from mechanical problem. Hope this helps you solve the problem.

tallman1

Microfiber is so much better than cotton. If you've never tried it you will be impressed. Or maybe you won't... I sure was.

elroy5

Microfiber is so much better than cotton

I agree. I find Microfiber absorbs better, and is softer than cotton. Without all the lint associated with cotton. I just use the ones from Walmart. They are pretty cheap, and work well. But you have to wash them separate from the cotton towels, because they will collect lint from other towels and such.

mrazc01

I am currently changing my rear brakes on an '05 Honda Accord. Changed the front a couple weeks ago, but I believe they had another 15K miles on them. The driverside rear was almost worn completely away. the car has 45k miles on it.

So much for front breaks wearing before rear ones.

elroy5

I think the callipers are sticking, maybe because of the emergency brake, maybe not. Did you try jacking the car up, and turning each wheel, to see if one or the other has more resistance (dragging brakes)? I have 38,000 miles(EX V6), and my pads all look good, at this point.

anderson123

My 2006 VP is still in break-in period. However it seems that there is a problem when I tried to accelerate at low speed. The problem is the engine will produce big noise when the speed is around 10 mph and I tried to increase it further. It really takes some time to reach a higher speed. I always feel uncomfortable when I stopped at the cross or stop sign. Is this normal for a break-in car? Or is it a problem with the tranny? Could anyone give some comments? Thanks a lot.

nynewcar

[mods, I'm not sure if this is the right discussion, please move me if I'm in the wrong place! Thanks ]

We just picked up our new 2006 Accord and I'm looking through the accessories catalog, wondering which, if any, to order. I can't quite figure out which just enhance the appearance (beauty being in the eye of the beholder, of course) and which are actually practical and useful.

Splashguards seem pretty straightforward, but what is a fenderwell trim? Also, does Honda make door edge strips and some kind of bumper protection strip (even something that wraps around the corner of the bumper)?

Or do you have any recommendation for an aftermarket product? I'm keeping the idea of a partial clear mask in mind but since I've seen mixed opinions on whether it affects the paint over time, I'm holding off on that for now.

Are there any good products that amateurs can use to buff away scuff marks and small (less than 2-3 inches), superficial scratches?

Any other suggestions?

Thanks!

wildman63

My '06 Accord EX-L came with some cheap plastic stick-on fenderwell trim. Three of them fell off within a month. The cheap plastic stick-on door edge strips and they're holding up fine. All this cheap stick-on stuff came free on the car (transferred from another dealership. The good fenderwell trim sold by Honda sells for $119 installed. I intend to get it during my first service. Honda also sells a door edge trim (price not quoted).

The "invisible mask" offered by the dealer was $700... pretty steep. Can't remark on its value, but it's NOT invisible. Some folks complain about the paint on the Accord being suseptible to chipping, but I haven't noticed that issue despite the fact that I live on a gravel road. My Accord is Graphite Bronze Pearl, and it's possible some colors might not hold up as well as others.

scottmt

Has anyone noticed poor road performance with the Bridgestone Tires that come standard on the 4cl EX? My previous Honda had Michelins and although the stiff suspension gave a taut ride, I did not experience a lot of "road feedback" the way I am with my new o6 EX. Just curious how the Bridgestone's compare to other tires....

elroy5

The nose mask is good for stopping paint chips and bugs from damaging the paint, but they can be a pain to put on, and take off. I like the vent shades for the windows because you can let some fresh air into the car, without rain or water from the roof coming inside the car. I've had an Accord with the visor on the moonroof before, and did not think it was very good at quieting the wind noise, plus it was hard to clean under, and kept the water under it for a while before it would dry up.

So I give thumbs up for mudguards and vent shades for the windows. thumbs down for moonroof visor. The nose mask is a maybe.

scottmt

The clutch on my 06 EX-L 4 cyl makes a "springy" noise when released after shifting that is quite annoying . Dealer says that it is caused by the cruise control sensor (plastic) and cannot be remedied. I think it is a cheap spring. This becomes really annoying at 70-75 mph when the clutch rattles constantly rather than just during shifting. Any ideas or advice?

stickguy

sounds like a problem. THe cllutch in my '05 doesn't make any funny noises, or rattle around (although to be fair, I would have to try yours to see if it was really different)

But, mine is tight and smooth, no springey noises that I ever notice.

tallman1

I agree with stickguy. I've got an 06 EX-L and haven't noticed any noise with the clutch. In fact, it is very smooth.

scottmt

Thanks. I guess I will have to try and convince my dealer. (never an easy task)

drive2005

Thank You, Among these brands which would you recommend, 1. Cobra 2. Sonus 3. Griots 4. Pakshak

fw_man

I got my 06 Accord VP 4 months ago and I love the car. What I don't love, is its lint attracting upholstery. Mine is black in addition. This upholstery is definitely different from other trims.
It attracts and retains lint like crazy.
I have not found an effective way to clean in.
Any suggestions are appreciated.

mattgg1

I'm glad someone else is experiencing the same problem...

I own a 2006 Accord SE with black interior. My previous car, which I drove for nearly 10 years, had black interior and I loved it. It never showed dirt, always looked clean, never held lint, and it honestly looked new when I sold the car.

Therefore, I wanted a black interior in my new Accord, which was a BIG mistake. The type of material used is a lint magnet.

The only thing I have found to remove the lint is...a lint roller...the kind you use on clothes, with the peel-off sheets. It works better than anyting else I've tried. I cleaned the interior this weekend, and used about 6-8 sheets to de-lint the front and rear seats.

fw_man

And I thought this was because I got a "cheapo" VP. This is terrible. What a screw up on the part of Honda.

tallman1

I don't have a lot of experience with the others but Griot's products have never let me down. Highest quality I've seen.

fated

Hi all,

I can sense my car (06 Accord) trembling while being stopped at the red lights (on D and brake). Is it something to be alarmed about?

Thanks!

thegraduate

Maybe it is "tembling" just because it is nervous; do you abuse it?

Sorry...bad joke... :P

My 06 I-4 is quite smooth when stopped and in D, but it does vibrate a bit more when the A/C is on... does that make a difference in yours?

fated

I didn't abuse it at all. I can feel a little vibration when I place my hands on the steering wheel. I don't know if it's normal.

atlantabenny

If you have the 4-cyl, the vibration could be considered normal. I had my wife's 03 EX-L looked at for the same problem shortly after purchase, with no resolution. I then read on a board about a TSB to repair/adjust engine mounts, but that was some time ago; with your 06 still having the shakes, it's probably inherent in the engineering (or lack of).

It's more prominent with these happening at the same time: A/C compressor working, brakes applied with gear in "D," and front wheels cocked for a turn - as in waiting to turn at a light. 2 drive belts are fighting the idling engine, not to mention the tranny's hydraulics creating extra drag.

My 03 V6, on the other hand, is almost as calm as a rear-wheel driver.