Honda Accord (2003-2007) Maintenance and Repair

mamamia2

Hey, fellow Accord lovers, no reaction to my question? :confuse:

thegraduate

Wasnt trying to ignore you; i just dont know the answer!;)

06nighthawkv6

Think about this for a second(or a minute). Short trips and vibrations. Lets see, does your car necessarily "know" you are making a "short trip"? If so, how would it know? In short, NO driving short trips and vibrations have no commonality. Now you suspected octane might be culprit and "started" using a highest and best gas. Question is, how many fillups is it going to take to "undo" the damage of Shell 87? And furthermore, is there *any* correlation between using a certain octane level gas and vibrations at idle? Wouldn't that be in the owners manual if *that* was an issue? I think the problem is that Hondas vibrate and there is no real practical solution (under warranty, if you still are under it) If you are under warranty, I would strongly advise you to take her in. How's that?! Couple things that *may actually* cause vibrations are engine mounts, believe it or not Tranny fluid (have you tried doing a Drain and Fill?) and even the kind of engine oil you use are since a smoother engine can make the entire system run more efficiently..a few things you can try.

thegraduate

I think the problem is that Hondas vibrate

Interesting... my 4-cylinder is smooth as silk at idle. No vibes in the cabin.

06nighthawkv6

all the Accord I4s I test drove since I bought my car in 2006 (late 2005) have vibrated. All of them! Not all V6s vibrate although they vibrated at a clip of 2 out of 3 V6s! :sick: You, my friend, got extremely lucky!

thegraduate

I know what you mean by vibration (my 1996 isn't as smooth, especially if the A/C is on). My 2006 is just much smoother; its hard to tell it is on just by feel.

06nighthawkv6

Yup, and I am talking about brand new Accords only. Obviously you should expect a used car to vibrate a little as it ages. Don't we humans do the same as *we* age?!

thegraduate

lol

thegraduate

Hi folks. Just a friendly reminder to check your tire pressure on all of your vehicles, even if you did it recently, check again. Temperature changes trending downward can lower your pressure drastically as the seasons change. I inflated mine back to 35 in my Accord yesterday. Two tires had dropped below 30PSI since we are back to having nights in the 50-degree range.

Have a great weekend, and, if I may say so, ROLL TIDE!

TheGraduate

tallman1

I concur... no vibrations at all in my 06 EX-L. In fact, I don't recall anyone posting about a vibration problem in I4s. Maybe it is just my poor memory.

rlommbardi

Greeting with my 2004 EXL 4cyl.... 78000 miles ... runs great at 0 to 25 then when it hit around 30 it lags - I guess it is somewhat of a virbration... then it gets over the hump at 38 mph runs smooth till about 55 then the same thing happens trying to get to 60 mph.... rotated tires and balanced.. still same problem... I will take it in and drain the Trans.... fluid...,... any other suggestions are welcome...r

avalanche2x

This happens with my 03 LX. The tires develop a flat spot from sitting overnight. Once the tires heat up, the vibration should remidy itself.

tld

I have a 2005 EX-L 4cyl with an automatic. This summer I noticed a single click when the vehicle starts from a stop and then again on the 2nd and 3rd gear shifts. I first noticed this when the windows are down. The noise comes from the drivers front. It think this the same click as when we put our Honda's in reverse from a stop.

When I took it to the dealer the LX they gave me as a loaner did not do this but the said the noise is normal. Has anybody else heard this and found a solution or is it really normal?

06nighthawkv6

How cheap is Honda that they can't even take care of a minor nuisance such as flatspotting. They should have used Toyo Proxes4 as their OEM tire choice for the Accord especially a FMC like the 08 Accord. Inexcusable. :mad:

sudhirraom

I also recently bought 2006 accord V6 automatic with 13400 miles on it and felt exactly the same problem which you mentioned. Gear shift is not smooth at all. Also while downshifting at 25 miles speed i feel like car applies break by it self resulting sharp decline in speed and i feel like car going to stop right there. i am not sure if it is transmission problem or any other feature such as Grade Logic Control. Other than that i like this car. i am taking this to the dealer and if he cant fix this i am seriously thinking to trade this car for 4 cylinder. I'll update

elroy5

How cheap is Honda that they can't even take care of a minor nuisance such as flatspotting. They should have used Toyo Proxes4 as their OEM tire choice for the Accord especially a FMC like the 08 Accord. Inexcusable.

Think about this a moment. You say Honda is cheap because they use Michelin tires, instead of Toyo tires. Which tires cost more? I know you like attacking Honda, but this makes no sense at all. :confuse:

06nighthawkv6

Who cares how much Michigan err Michelin wants to charge for their POS tires. Honda should know better regardless.

elroy5

I am not crazy about Michelin tires, but many people like them. They ride pretty smooth, long tread wear, and get high fuel mileage. One thing they most certainly are not, is cheap. When you decide to just blindly attack Honda, at least come up with something that is true.

blufz1

E...some of these boys ain't got no good,common, horse sense.

thegraduate

They don't have the best cornering, or ride, or quietness, but they aren't too bad on the last two qualities. The "not-cheap" part, other than retail price, is the fact that they have low rolling-resistance and therefore lead to better fuel economy. It's not that they are just cheapo tires; they just aren't designed to nighthawk's liking and preferences.

blufz1

Agree. I prefer a softer ride, but the Michelins are certainly not a cheap tire. I got 46-47 k out of mine and the fuel mileage was very good.

thegraduate

I've got 25,600 on mine and they don't look half-used yet. I'm thinking these should go a solid 50k-60k unless an unforseen damaging event occurs.

bvdj84

Yes, same with my 06 accord, I have 25,622 miles on mine, the same as you "thegraduate". lol, my tires look very new still. I keep them rotated all the time, so that helps. I have never had any problem with them other than maybe the front ones were low, but I took a long trip, so I am thinking thats why. I won't ever see 50k-60k on them, as I lease the car. I have noticed that after I get them rotated, it rides even better. Maybe its just me.

thegraduate

Wow, that really is identical mileage to mine!

mamamia2

Thanks for all the responses.... Again, mine is a V6, not I-4. The 4 banger is always more prone to vibrating, the V6 is supposed to be smooth. That's why I was surprised, comparing my 06 4-banger Sonata to my wife's V6 Accord, I find the Accord vibrating MORE when idling...

It may be the engine-mount (I've read it to be an issue), but I don't think it's related to the kind of engine oil I use (5w20), or the gas I use (Shell 87 is no reason to be ashamed of)... A tranny flush? The car is just over 2 years old, and has 14,000 on the odometer, too early for a tranny flush....

That's why I go back to my intial idea of Carbon buildup. Short trips, when the engine has never a chance to get real hot, are NOTORIOUSLY bad for any engine.

yazyazoo

How long should brakes last? Just went in for my 67,500 mi service and they tell me that my rear brakes need to be replaced again. I got them replaced at 38,000 and now at 70,000 miles. I never remember my brakes lasting this few miles. Is this normal for a V6 Coupe?

06nighthawkv6

I am at 38k and I just did my brakes so yeah it would seem as if it's on par.

Thanks.

elroy5

From the many many post here about brake pads wearing prematurely (especially in the rear), this is common. I have a V6 sedan though, and my pads are still good at 50k miles. Either there are problems with a lot of these brake systems, or people are being extremely tough on their brakes. I am leaning toward there being some type of problem with some Accord's braking systems.

easye2

Yup, me too. I have a 04 Accord EX, 4 cyl. and I have had both the front and back brakes replaced before 40k miles. I had it done at Sears and the techs were not surprised at the low break life. I remember them talking about how the new breaks and rotators they installed should last twice as long...we will see? :-) The original break equipment, according to them, were crap. It seems that even the Honda's and Toyota's are cheaping out on parts these days...

jhinsc

My battery died today. When starting the car this morning, I noted it cranked over slower than usual. Got to the office, stopped the engine, waited a few seconds then cranked it up again. A bit better than starting cold but still not right. I called my local Honda service dept and made an early appt for tomorrow morning, but the battery couldn't hang on until then and bit the dust this afternoon. I had no previous indication anything was wrong until today - weird. :confuse: Fortunately it's covered under warranty.

rlommbardi

My last post about vibration at 25 mph...on my Accord 04 EXL 4 door 4cyl.... I brought it in to the Honda Dealer in St. Charles Illinois... they changed the Trans. fluid...and came back saying they noticed the vibration..... they said it was from my tires... I changed the tire at 60k with Yok Avid H4s and the Tec said... The BELTS on the tire have shifted causing the vibration... to take it back to Discount Tire...and tell them the tires are defected.... they have 18k miles on them..and are rated at 60,000 miles...
I will see what they can do for me today...rl :mad:

buyahome

I replaced the battery on my '04 Honda Accord (easy to do) with a new one. After a couple of days the car started with a struggle and then one day would not start. I wiggled the connector on the battery (terminal clamp) and found it loose. I rechecked the screws to find them tight, but the connector was still loose. It started after moving the terminal connection back and forth once. I brought it to a nearby gas station where the mechanic "loosened and crimped" the connector for it to be tighter. It has been fine ever since. I think the connectors don't have enough tension once tightened. Yes, it was a proper battery replacement size, etc. This may be a source of some of the battery complaints posted here.

chucko3

You can look through the wheel spokes and see
how much rear pads the car has left.
My 03EXV6 had the pads replaced at 45K miles.
The rear pads still had at least another 5K
miles but I had them replaced also.

If you haven't replaced the rotors yet, I would
drive until a screeching noise is heard.
Or when you can feel the wheels shaky when you
apply the brakes.

Comparing with my 89LXi brakes, I am happy with
45K mile replacement.
Oh, I also replaced all rotors when I had the
pads replaced.

elroy5

Why did you change the rotors? Were you having problems with vibration?

tld

In my case the transmission shift smoothly, it just has that click between gears. So, is there anyone else with 4cyl autos that have seen this?

chucko3

I don't like the rotors get resurfaced. They get thinner and warped easier. Then I have to bring the car back again
in a year or two for new rotors. Each Honda rotor costs
$65. And only small additional labor to replace the rotors.
If I can get 45K-50K miles out of new pads and rotors, I
will be a happy camper.

elroy5

Shops are good at adding needless things to your bill. I have never had my rotors re-surfaced, and never had to change any rotors either. Why fix what aint broke? $260 (at least) down the drain, IMO.

06nighthawkv6

Shops are good at adding needless things to your bill. I have never had my rotors re-surfaced, and never had to change any rotors either. Why fix what aint broke? $260 (at least) down the drain, IMO.

I just replaced by pads at 38k a few weekends back, never resurfaced the rotors and I hd been driving aggressively mixed in with some slower stuff 50-50 since day 1. Everytime I called a dealer to get prices on pads and labor, every single one sold the whole thing at an overpriced package. Most told me if I didn't turn the rotors that my pads will only last half as long but that wasn't the worst of it. Most told me I had to do it or no dice.. All I got to say is I didn't do anything with the rotors and I haven't had any squeaks since. Now Is till have shudder when highspeed braking but that was happening since my car was practically brand new so nothing to fear there.. All a bunch of idiots instilling fear into your hearts just like Visine just for a few dollars...heh imagine if they didn't like you what they would do..

elroy5

All a bunch of idiots instilling fear into your hearts just like Visine just for a few dollars...heh imagine if they didn't like you what they would do..

I think you may be just the guy to answer that. (just couldn't resist).
If the rotors don't have any deep grooves in them, I wouldn't have them turned. If they had a vibration issue, I would replace them, maybe with some Brembo rotors. I'll cross that bridge if and when I come to it.

hondalova

For my '04 V-6 EX Coupe its been the other way around. I've never had to replace the pads before the rotors warped. Once I start to feel the pulsation in the seat or the brake pedal, I know that I'm going to need brakes w/in the next 2-3 months. Did my rears at 55k miles (pads and rotors both shot and replace - 1st time). Just did the fronts at 74k (front rotors/pads had been replaced once before at 14k due to manufacturing defect). The front pads still had over 50% meat on 'em but the rotors were so warped by 72-73k miles that I just couldn't stand it anymore.

-FS

chucko3

Actually the dealer recommended to keep the
old rotors and resurface them. But I don't
want another brake job in 2 years when the
rotors are warped.

Oh, even with new rotors, they still have to
put them on the axles and turn them.
No shudder here. It's annoying to feel a
shudder at high speed braking.

ezshift5

...The front pads still had over 50% meat on 'em but the rotors were so warped by 72-73k miles that I just couldn't stand it anymore.

...14 from 74 being 60.....at 'meat level' 50. I think you just made my day. Currently odo 42k.

Given that I get some vibration from pad deposit from time to time (corrected by careful braking over next 10-20 miles).............I could easily be looking forward to replicating the 100k pad life noted on my prior Supra Turbo.

Interesting, my 6M coupe has better numbers than the Supra (and does it sans turbo!!)

Great (clutch excepted) car....

best, ez.....

rlommbardi

On my 4 the shifting with the Automatic...seems pronounced at 30mph... and tends to shake then at about 60 mph it does it again.... not smooth????

blane

Mr_Shiftright,

Is there any reason why this forum's name shouldn't be changed to Honda Accord (2003-2007) Maintenance and Repair? After all, the 2007's are identical to the 2006's and the last model year of the same 7th generation of Honda Accords.

The existing Honda Accord 2007 Maintenance and Repair forum could be made READ ONLY and the 2007 owners directed here since they have common interests.

Then a new Honda Accord (2008+) Maintenance and Repair forum could be created for the new 8th generation Accords starting with the 2008 models.

thegraduate

I created a 2008 forum just the other day. No hits on it yet, however. I agree with your sentiments about combining the forums (03-06, 07 are all basically the same).

2008 Honda Accord Maintenance and Repair

pat

Funny, you just described exactly what I was thinking about over the last few days. Consider it done!

user777

Pat. What's happened? :surprise: I'm here as witness to the fact you're a changed person and have seen the light? I got to put my shades back on. :shades:

Thanks for reversing the forum factoring trend. It's long long long overdue.

thegraduate

Ah. Now I can sleep soundly tonight. All is right with the carspace world now.

pat

Heh, that trend is not exactly reversed, but this does make sense.

j562002

I recently had a brake job done on my 2005 accprd EX 4cyl just last weekend. My co-worker told me about a deal at Goodyear. 89.00 for brake service for one axle which when you have pads replaced they will turn your rotors as part of the service. So I got my front pads changed and rotors turned for 89 bucks and they feel great! No pulsing or warped feel. I am extreamly happy with the service. I'm glad I didn't go to honda which was going to charge me 250 bucks for a brake job! My 2 cents! ">