Honda Accord (2003-2007) Maintenance and Repair

13435373940117

Comments

  • wcskjbwcskjb Member Posts: 10
    I'm a mileage freak, and was getting 36-37 mpg on my mostly-highway commute in my 03 Accord EX 4-cyl with manual and original Michelins. I replaced the tires this fall at 98K with Conti Premier Contacts based on CR rating of high treadwear, low rolling resistance, and replaced spark plugs. Turned out better than expected. With 6K miles since then, am getting 39-41 mpg even with cooler fall temps in Ohio.
  • ol07ol07 Member Posts: 24
    @wcskjb

    Must be nice! I am lucky to get half that in my EXV6. Maybe someday I will hit 26mpg(that's my goal).

    @all

    I went home for the holiday and had the car checked out. Turns out the clunk has something to do with the rack and pinion. I was in a hurry so I didn't ask what the EXACT problem was. As long as I didn't get "we couldn't find a problem" I was happy.

    This weeks problem is a metallic rattle. Everytime I drive down a rough road I hear this metallic rattle, like someone dropped a crowbar. I didn't pay much attention the first few times I heard it because I didn't realize it was my car. I took the tools out of the trunk and wrapped them in a terry towel. I dropped them in my driveway a few times to make sure I couldn't hear anything. I still am hearing the noise, so it's not the tools.

    Anyone experience similar problems?
  • ezshift5ezshift5 Member Posts: 858
    ...can't help you with the crowbar sound, 07...

    ..but hang in there for better mileage. My AV6 6M coupe at 23k gets 25 - 29 in mixed driving. Specifically, last tank covering 180 miles works out to 130 freeway 50 urban (29.3).

    ..ez...(still saving for those Exalto A/S Michelins)
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    My dad had the same type sound in the rear of the car. He spent weeks riding around in half in the trunk with me driving it trying to figure out where it was. Turns out, it was a loose weld or bolt in the strut tower of the rear-passenger side suspension. It sounded like it was coming from where the passenger side rear passenger's right ear was hearing it behind him. A metallic rattle that almost sounds like your trunk is loose; right?
  • bmr123bmr123 Member Posts: 60
    chuck03.. can you explain to me like i'm 2 years old how you fixed the window noise with the window placed all the way up.. thats the same issue i'm having..email me at bmr123@gmail.com or leave the reply here.. thank you very much
  • ol07ol07 Member Posts: 24
    Yep, that's it just on the driver's side (or so I think). I'll mention it when I get the rack and pinion fixed. Made in America, gotta luv it...
  • easye2easye2 Member Posts: 26
    Hey, I have the exact same weird noise in my right rear of my car. I spent a good 20 minutes or so having my wife drive me around while I was in the trunk. I thought that it came from inside the seatbelt device inside the trunk. You know, where the seat belt gets wound up. Any luck fixing it? It doesn't hurt anything...except it drives me a bit crazy. ;-)
  • easye2easye2 Member Posts: 26
    Sorry, forgot to let everyone know what car I was referring to.
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    I know, you mean the little black box where the middle seat's seatbelt winds into. We thought that too, but it wasn't that.

    The car was fixed within a couple of hours. Ask a technician to look at that part of the rear suspension (the upper parts) and check it out. The dealer even did the repair for free! (55,000 miles on the car).
  • easye2easye2 Member Posts: 26
    So it's actually a suspension issue???? Gosh, it really sounds like it is coming from inside the seat belt retractor...What did you tell the service department? Did you have them look at it when you had your oil changed or something?
  • user777user777 Member Posts: 3,341
    i have any ody where the front passenger strut tower was noisy. going over small bumps, you'd hear it. the lead tech at the dealership recognized the problem immediately.

    i guess when they weld the strut towers, sometimes there is some surface irregularities that during assembly can artificially leave a gap between the strut tower and strut. driving a small distance compresses the burrs and then there is slop or play in the top of the assembly for rattle.

    anyway, they disconnected the strut from the tower, deburred the weld spots, applied some special grease and re-assembled. no noise.

    later on, i found a TSB i think for the Pilot or perhaps it was the MDX when doing a google, i cannot remember or seem to locate it now, that basically spelled out what was going on and the procedure...

    it could be a common thing.
  • ol07ol07 Member Posts: 24
    It was the the MDX and I believe it was the strut assembly. I went with a friend to have hers repaired a few years back, it took 5+ hours.
  • gage05gage05 Member Posts: 2
    Hello,

    I'm new to the forum, and wanted to ask a question about what sounds like a valve rattling noise that I'm hearing. I own a 2005 Honda Accord V6 LX SE AT. Does anyone else have a 2005 with a similar problem?

    I hear it on my Accord when the engine is cold between 2000 and 3000 RPM. Once the engine warms up, after about 10 minutes, the rattling goes away and everything is nice and quite. Currently I have slightly less than 19,000 miles on the car, and I bagan noticing the noise around 15,000 miles.

    The main reason I'm asking the question is I've taken the car to 3 different dealers. One of them wouldn't admit to anything or that they even heard the noise. The second one said that Honda is using less aluminum in the I Block than previous models and offered to give me special consideration regarding the issue if anything were to happen to the engine beyond the warranty. The third dealer said the noise is inherent in the model and it's realated to the shape of the pistons so there isn't much they can do.

    I've contacted Honda Customer relations regarding the issue, but they weren't very helpful.

    Has anyone been to the dealer about this, and if so what did they tell you? I would greatly appricieate any help anyone can give.

    Thanks for you time!
  • chucko3chucko3 Member Posts: 793
    Email is on its way.
  • furryraiderfurryraider Member Posts: 2
    I have a front passenger window noise in my accord only when the window is up. Can you tell me how you fixed it?
  • hybrid93hatchhybrid93hatch Member Posts: 35
    I have a 2006 Accord LX. Honda fixed the large door below the climate control that would open about 20% of the time. I also noticed when this was fixed that my change pocket below the large door (one that says "NOT AN ASH TRAY" now opens smoothly. But, when I open the 12v power source the door just pops open and I have to hold it open to plug the phone charger in. Is this normal or another defective door on my center console?

    Thanks for any input!
  • hybrid93hatchhybrid93hatch Member Posts: 35
    #1829 of 1830 Re: 2005 ACCORD WINDOW NOISE [chucko3] by furryraider Nov 30, 2006 (9:05 am)
    Replying to: chucko3 (Nov 29, 2006 5:44 pm)

    I have a front passenger window noise in my accord only when the window is up. Can you tell me how you fixed it?

    I had a wind noise / slight water leak with my rear drivers door. Honda aligned the door and both problems have gone away. Hope that helps
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    But, when I open the 12v power source the door just pops open and I have to hold it open to plug the phone charger in. Is this normal or another defective door on my center console?

    My dad's 2005 Accord (that he just traded in) and my 2006 Accord operate exactly as you say. This is not defective, don't fear! :)

    It operates as you say, the door unlatches, but doesn't "open." You must pull the door open and insert your electrical device in the hole, and the door will rest on the device. It is spring-hinged to close, but you must push it to latch/unlatch it.
  • drovicdrovic Member Posts: 1
    Looking to purchase a 2003 Accord EX with 60k miles on it. One owner, looks great and just had it's 60k service. Any thoughts on purchasing an extended warranty? They're asking $1200 for 3yrs/36,000 mi. I'm hesitant to put up that kind of money for a basic warranty. I'm looking at Accords because from everything I've heard first hand they'll drive well past 100k. Feel free to share any experiences.
  • rcc8179rcc8179 Member Posts: 131
    Personally, I would skip the warranty. If the car is in good shape, I wouldn't expect that you would spend $1200+ for repairs that would be covered.

    My 2003 Accord EX (4-cyl, AT) just passed 100k. The only money I have spent on it past the factory 36k warranty other than fluid/filter changes was for brakes, tires, and a wheel (after jumping a curb); none of this would have been covered under an extended warranty.

    If the car is taken care of, it should last *well* past 100k miles. My previous car was a 1989 Accord that still ran well at 217k when I traded it for the 2003.
  • hondalovahondalova Member Posts: 189
    I agree with rcc8179, but if you DO decide to purchase a warranty, make sure it is a HONDA warranty and not a Universal Underwriter's aftermarket warranty. I generally don't think warranties are worth their money (although I'm damn glad my wife had one on her Chevy b/c it paid for itself three times over). I especially don't like the non-manufacturer ones which disclaim coverage over anything that's not "internally lubricated." You KNOW what they're lubricating internally when they sell you one of those jobbies....!

    -FS :D
  • ray_h1ray_h1 Member Posts: 1,134
    Everything you posted plus the distressing tendency of these service contract providers (only the manufacturer can issue a "warranty") to declare bankruptcy about the time their underwriters advise that the contracted vehicles are statistically likely to become a serious claims burden. Once absolved of prior obligations through a bankruptcy decree, the principals of the former company then re-incorporate under a new name to begin the game anew. Is this a great country or what?
  • blaneblane Member Posts: 2,017
    My son bought one of those aftermarket warranties from a dealer about six or eight years ago when he bought a used car. A few months later the engine failed about five hundred miles from home. He was towed to a garage where they tried to contact the warranty company on a weekend, of course unsuccessfully.

    On Monday the warranty company stated that they would have to have an outside claim representative shown the failed part(s). It would be the owner's financial responsibility to have the engine dismantled and the parts left on the shop floor until the claim representative scheduled a visit. They would pay for reassembly if they agreed to the claim. This did not please the garage owner.

    When the claim represenative finally arrived, he agreed to have the company pay a very small amount towards the total cost of getting the vehicle back on the road. After many phone call and letters, the small print provided no relief.

    The company was Penn Warranty. AFTERMAKET WARRANTY? NEVER AGAIN!
  • atlantabennyatlantabenny Member Posts: 735
    Hello gage05, with 65k on my 03 V6 (same gen Accord as yours) hopefully my "ownership experience" can provide some insight.

    By rattling I'm thinking it's either the motor "pinging" or a mechanical noise from the engine area.

    My car has been pinging occasionally since new, something I attribute to inconsistent gas quality. The Accord's engine computer is supposed to address this, but it's likely that octane isn't really at 87 minimum all the time. I haven't used Premium because the pinging hasn't been consistent or intense (you can say I know what engine-damaging pinging is).

    As for mechanical rattling (or pinging for that matter), I'm not sure if block metallurgy or piston-head contour has a role. It's probably more of a minor heat-reacting part like an exhaust manifold heat shield that's the cause. Expanding when hot, a part like this will stop rattling.

    I'd try Premium Gas and if that doesn't work, have the dealer look at heat-sensitive parts in the engine compartment, to pin the source.
  • chucko3chucko3 Member Posts: 793
    You have the email address, I can send it to you.
  • fullback100fullback100 Member Posts: 18
    Has anyone have rattle noise coming from passenger's side when driving on freeway(above 75 mph)? I have 06 Accord SE 4 cyl and was wondering if this is a common problem. I am planning to go on a long trip over this Chrismas time and want to have it fixed before that. I would appreciate any input. Thanks.
  • wildman63wildman63 Member Posts: 27
    At 4500 miles, (2006 Accord EX-L 4 cylinder) the Check Gas Cap message appeared this morning. Owner's manual says to remove/replace the gas cap and the light will reappear on every start for "several days of normal driving". The light came on over 100 miles after re-fueling and the cap was tight when first checked.

    Anybody else experienced this? I'll be calling the dealer tomorrow morning...
  • elroy5elroy5 Member Posts: 3,735
    Don't know if this is the case in your situation, but when my cap light came on it was because the plastic cable (that holds the cap) was caught between the cap and the filler neck, which caused a very small pressure leak. If the cap is no longer leaking air, the light will go off (after a couple of drives).
  • tallman1tallman1 Member Posts: 1,874
    I had that happen in October. It took awhile but it finally went off. A real pain since you can't see regular or trip odometers, temp (I have the EX-L) or oil info.
  • user777user777 Member Posts: 3,341
    you mean the Check Engine Light isn't a special light (as it is in my 02LX) and that the EX-L presents the CEL status on the same display as the odomenters, temp and oil display?

    if that's so (and you can't view the other information) that would possibly be a defective design.

    i would be surprised that Honda wouldn't have thought that out... does your manual explain how to restore the display of the other information? it's got to be possible.

    i mean you don't want to mask the fact that the unit is throwing a CEL, but you need access to the other status information.

    if it can't be done, or if it can but you'd have to stand on your head and click your shoes together, i'd write Honda Engineering about that.

    that seems like a fundamental human factors error to me. you shouldn't dismiss the importance of a CEL, but you shouldn't be locked out of seeing the other status information.
  • accord6mtaccord6mt Member Posts: 53
    I think they're talking about the Check Gas Cap message - not the Check Engine Light indicator... ?
  • tallman1tallman1 Member Posts: 1,874
    First of all, it isn't the Check Engine Light, it's the Check Fuel Cap Message. As far as I can tell, there is no way to reset it. The manual says it will take several days of normal driving to have it go off... after you make sure the cap is tight, that is.

    I had a heck of a time writing down my odo info after I re-fueled. I finally managed to see it by turning the key to "On" but not starting the engine.
  • wildman63wildman63 Member Posts: 27
    The light can be turned off by pressing the little adjustment stem on the speedo face. It comes back on every time the engine is re-started till it gets it out of its system.
  • user777user777 Member Posts: 3,341
    apologies people. if you don't turn your cap till it clicks several times, the evap system test, part of the emission controls tosses a CEL (Check Engine Light) in my '02.

    so it seems in the more up-to-date models with the additional display, it can actually warn you before tossing a CEL (and storing a code), that the cap isn't on tight and it isn't passing it's vacuum self-tests.

    thanks for the clarification. so yeah, you must be able to push the odometer reset stem or other to clear these messages as another person described. this would make sense.
  • wildman63wildman63 Member Posts: 27
    The light went off after the fifth start today...
  • guiseppeguiseppe Member Posts: 12
    i have an 03 ex v6 with an in-dash 6 disc cd player (no nav). the backlight went out about a week ago and i can't see any hvac/radio controls, especially at night. does anybody know if this is a fuse or a series of bulbs? is this a dealer fix or can i tackle this without chopping up the dashboard?
  • elroy5elroy5 Member Posts: 3,735
    The entire radio has to be changed out. Tell the dealer you know this is a common problem, and you do not expect to have to pay for a replacement. Many have been changed without charge (good will) even when well past the end of the warranty. Good luck
  • gage05gage05 Member Posts: 2
    atlantabenny,

    Thank you very much for your reply. It's nice to know I'm not the only one experiencing this. At one point the noise was consistent and very annoying. I then began using the concentrated Chevron Techron Cleaner you can find in stores. First I added the cleaner and filled the tank with 93 octane, and ran the car a little harder than usual per the dealers recommendation. This seemed to help. For the next tank I added more Techron cleaner and 89 octane. The persistent spark pinging was reduced drastically. Like you I only heard it sporadically thereafter, but on a few occasions when accelerating to merge with traffic on the highway I noticed it was very loud and occurred throughout the entire RPM range, so I decided to use the Techron cleaner in a third tank. This time I used 87 octane. After that I never really noticed any significant spark pinging yet I could still hear it on occasion using 87 octane, very little with 89 octane, and virtually not at all using 93 octane.

    The rattling sound when cold actually started a little later. It does sort of sound like persistent spark ping, but it also sounds as if the valves are out of adjustment. I had a 2000 Honda Civic before this, and I would notice on cold mornings that I could hear the valves rattle just a little bit. It wasn’t significant and the car ran great up to and including the day I traded it for the new Accord. I never had any spark ping with the civic, and when I traded it for the Accord it had over 60,000 miles.

    One interesting thing is my Accord use to back fire. It was usually at higher rpm and when the car shifted. It wasn’t terribly loud, but it was noticeable. I haven’t heard it recently, but I began using name brand gasoline for example Exxon, Shell, BP. The dealer has checked the car out many times, and I was never able to reproduce the problem when the service manager was riding in the car with me. They checked the ECM, but it reported no error codes.

    As for the rattling while cold I’ve gone through one complete tank of 93, and I’m currently on the second. I have noticed that the rattling noise has greatly reduced. I also added another tank of cleaner so maybe my efforts to reduce the noise are paying off.

    I think I must have got a really bad tank or several bad tanks of gas at one point that caused all these problems, and I think I have an idea where it came from. I intend to stick with the name brands from now on.

    As far as your pinging is concerned Honda has a technical service bulletin regarding the issue related to pinging or whining occurring between 1500 and 2500 rpm. I printed out the full bulletin. It requires the dealer to upgrade your ECM and perform some learning procedures using special equipment. It doesn’t look like it would take long at all and it’s for 2003 through 2004 model year Accords. Even though your car is out of warranty the bulletin states that the dealer can extend good will credit so that the service would be covered. If you like I can post a link so that you can read it yourself. I tried showing this to the dealer when I went, but they just kind of brushed it off since it probably doesn’t apply to my car anyway.

    Thanks again for your reply. It is greatly appreciated.
  • tallman1tallman1 Member Posts: 1,874
    I pressed that stem, turned it... even tried pulling it. The message didn't go away.
  • ray_h1ray_h1 Member Posts: 1,134
    )) "I think I must have got a really bad tank or several bad tanks of gas at one point that caused all these problems, and I think I have an idea where it came from. I intend to stick with the name brands from now on." ((

    To expand on your excellent points, with 44 years driving experience, I've attained a graduate degree in UGTs ("ultimate gasoline truths") from the University of Hard Knockings:

    1> no-name mom-'n-pop (perchance ma & pa's given names are "Bonnie" and "Clyde"?...) convenience store gasoline is just about as likely to ping heavily as not - there's no telling what "hamburger helper" concoction they may be adding as an extender or where the gas itself is coming from - especially within 100-200 miles of the Mexican border. (Some Pemex gasoline is fully leaded and will poison the catalytic converter with just a couple tankfuls.)

    2> buy gasoline from a favorite brand station that's busy 24/7 - because their high turnover rate virtually assures the product won't get the opportunity to go "stale" sitting around in the station's underground tanks.
  • enchench Member Posts: 4
    I've seen several posts regarding interior noises but did not see one relating to those coming from the headliner. Anyone have any thoughts on a creaking/ popping noise coming from the headliner right where it meets the windshield in front of the driver? I have 6k miles on an '06 sedan and it just started the other day. Starting to drive me nuts on the commute...
  • tallman1tallman1 Member Posts: 1,874
    I've got that issue as well as the door windows. I'm finally having the dealer look at it tomorrow. We'll see...
  • tallman1tallman1 Member Posts: 1,874
    And FWIW, I remember some other posts RE headliner noises a few months back.
  • ol07ol07 Member Posts: 24
    I'd like to add Top-Tier gas to your list. Especially for older vehicles. I used Murphy (aka Sam's Club) for a while in my last Accord. When I would go home I would always fill-up at either Shell or Chevron before hitting the interstate and coming back to school. Long story short, the gas would last longer and the car would run smoother.
  • atlantabennyatlantabenny Member Posts: 735
    Glad to share thoughts. Yes, the link to the TSB will be appreciated.
  • biomanbioman Member Posts: 172
    I had the problem you are describing with my 04 EX V6 Coupe. The rattle/popping seemed to be coming from the headliner. In addition, the noise was temperature/humidity sensitive. It would occur in cool damp weather. The dealer found the problem in the A pillar and the tweeter speaker on the driver side of the dashboard. Haven't had the noise return in three years.

    Hope this helps.
  • tallman1tallman1 Member Posts: 1,874
    I'm still trying to figure out when mine makes all the noise. Of course, it wasn't making it today when I brought it in but they did something to the A pillar as well. I'll have to see if it solves the problem.

    As for the windows, they replaced the rubber tracks/channels for each side and added a spacer to make the window a tighter fit. That did the trick. I was really worried that they were going to spray some silicon and give it back to me like some have posted here. So far, I'm impressed with this dealer's service.
  • cindybellcindybell Member Posts: 1
    I have a 2005 Honda Accord with 29000 miles and 2 months ago, I experienced cutting off and not pulling. Honda replaced the solenoid switch in the transmission. I am still having problems with shifting issues (sluggish and then jerking and pulling of hard) and Honda says they can't find anything. Has anyone experienced any problems such as this?
  • njsurfboatnjsurfboat Member Posts: 17
    Can you share exactly what your service receipt reads so I can quote it when I make a last attempt to have mine remedied? Im especially curious of what you refer to as a spacer.
  • vandut3vandut3 Member Posts: 2
    Ever since my Accord's 30,000 mile maintenance, there has been an annoying buzz from the glove box.

    My Honda dealership tried to remedy the problem with padded tape; which hasn't helped.

    My daughter has a 2004 Accord, which apparently was having the same problem. Her Work Order describes the solution as being "Verified Spring Loose....Re-Attach to Correct".

    My question is, does the 2003 and 2004 Honda Accords have the same glove box assembly? And if so, where is this spring and where does it attach to?
Sign In or Register to comment.

Your Privacy

By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our Visitor Agreement.