Honda Accord (2003-2007) Maintenance and Repair

17273757778117

Comments

  • elroy5elroy5 Member Posts: 3,735
    Based on what he's telling me, I wanted to double check that I don't have to use only Honda's own brand, but can use a quality ATF -- plus an additive that would make it on par with Honda's specifications....

    It's your decision, but I would use Honda ATF-Z1. If the transmission ever goes out on you, and you bring it to the dealership with some other brand of fluid in the transmission, you can kiss "good will" goodby, IMO.
  • blufz1blufz1 Member Posts: 2,045
    Why would you do that? Just let your Honda dealer do a drain and fill with the Honda ATF.
  • pprboypprboy Member Posts: 4
    It seems your Accord was cranking but would not start (turnover). If that's the case could be igniter or something in the distributor, or some type of relay. I have a new 2007 Accord 4cyl. Seems my car sometimes will not crank or start(turnover), however on the second turn of the key (without pulling out the key), it will start. This happens very seldom, Im not really concerned at this point since it has always started on the second turn of the key. Anyone knows what is causing this problem? :confuse: I tried changing to my second set of keys, the problems is still happening.. I think it's a bad starter or bad relay.
  • mamamia2mamamia2 Member Posts: 707
    I might as well "do it".

    But my question was a TECHNICAL question. I'm interested to know whether there is an additive that's known and used to make an ATF fluid into a Honda ATF-Z1-comparable fluid.

    Also, is there any FILTER involved, that needs cleaning or replacement?
  • elroy5elroy5 Member Posts: 3,735
    There may be an additive that would make the other ATF comparable, but I suspect the dealer techs would know the difference. The only filter on the transmission (if there is one) is internal, and not replaceable without disassembling the transmission. The filter is not usually changed, unless the transmission is rebuilt.
  • mrbill1957mrbill1957 Member Posts: 823
    The 4cyl EXL has an external trans filter,
    Take a look at this diagram, look at reference 4 in drawing.

    http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/auto/jsp/mws/prddisplay.jsp?inputstate=5&cat- - - cgry1=ACCORD&catcgry2=2004&catcgry3=4DR+EXL+NAVI&catcgry4=KA5AT&catcgry5=AT+++++- - - +OIL+LEVEL+GAUGE-ATF+PIPE+%28L4%29

    The V6 has a "element" that I'm assuming is the filter. Look at item 7 in drawing. Item 22 says it's a filter gasket. I'm assuming this is accessable without opening up the tranny?

    http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/auto/jsp/mws/prddisplay.jsp?inputstate=5&cat- - cgry1=ACCORD&catcgry2=2004&catcgry3=4DR+EX+V6+NAVI&catcgry4=KA5AT&catcgry5=AT+++- - +++OIL+LEVEL+GAUGE-ATF+PIPE+%28V6%29

    Mrbill
  • elroy5elroy5 Member Posts: 3,735
    Interesting that my 04 4cyl EXL has an external trans filter

    Very interesting. From what I've always heard the transmissions never had an external filter. I did find the filter in the 03-05 manual (4cyl), but there is no mention of it in the ATF change section. :confuse: Doesn't make much sense to me. Seems like they would at least mention the filter in the ATF fluid change procedure. I can't seem to find anything about an external filter on the V6 transmission though. Still looking.
  • elroy5elroy5 Member Posts: 3,735
    I am definitely going to check my car for this filter. Thanks for the information. :)
  • blufz1blufz1 Member Posts: 2,045
    15k seems early to drain and fill the Atf. I would not have a problem going 30k on a new car factory fill. No need to perform chemistry experiments on your trans. The Honda atf is the safe play and the best play. Hope this helps.
  • mamamia2mamamia2 Member Posts: 707
    Yes, I myself was wondering in an earlier post (and almost mocking someone else) about why would anybody perform it at 15,000...

    But my wife drives this car VERY short distances per trip, her work is about 2 miles from home. I don't know how much it affects the tranny fluid (??), I know I need to be more careful about changing engine oil, and I do it every 3-4 months, even though the mileage intervals are less than 2,000....

    The car ('05 V6) has 15,000 on the odometer, but is 32 months old now. I went to my mechanic to check the tranny fluid and showed me the color being brownish, rather than pink. We want to keep this car for another 4-5 years, so I'd rather be prudent and not take any chances....
  • blufz1blufz1 Member Posts: 2,045
    Elroy previously gave you good advice. Let the Honda dealer do the work. You create goodwill and they are more likely to help you with any warranty "close calls". Just my .02.
  • brmehtabrmehta Member Posts: 12
    tankbeans,

    Did you get yourself a new front bumper? I had a similar thing happened to me yesterday afternoon. :cry:

    My 07 Accord's (sedan) front bumper was smashed by a Chevy sedan back bumper. I was driving through my apartment complex and this guy with his car parked at the 90 degree angle suddenly took a reverse from his parked position. After I saw him backing out all I could do was hit the brakes. I also honked him but i guess it was too late. He was not even looking behind while he was taking reverse. So eventually the back side of his car hit the front left bumper of my car. This is just above the fog lights bracket and under the head light. Luckily the headlights are fine. I have 2 vertical cuts (3-4 inches) in the bumper. I haven't gone to the insurance yet. He insisted that we don't go to the insurance. I am in Minnesota, and MN is a no fault state.

    I just want to know if you did get a new front bumper for your Accord and how did you get it painted. How much did it cost you?

    Does anyone have a good idea what the replacement cost is for the front molded plastic bumper. There is no other damage, the hood and headlights are fine.

    I'm assuming this is one single piece and just needs to be removed and a new one painted to match (Graphite Pearl) and mounted.

    Thanks.
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    He insisted that we don't go to the insurance.

    At this point that would be your call wouldn't it? Please tell me you got a wreck-report from the police!!
  • packer3packer3 Member Posts: 277
    mam, just got the new 08 Accord when is the first oil change recomended is it still at 3,000 miles for break in.
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    Get the oil changed at the normal interval: 15% on the Oil Life Monitor.
  • brmehtabrmehta Member Posts: 12
    There was a cop passing by at that time and we stopped him but he seemed to be least interested in coming out of his car and helping us out. He just said that MN is a no fault state and you guys exchange all your information (like auto policy, driver's lic) and let your insurance company know about it. The insurance company will fight it out and figure out whose insurance company pays. Still we exchanged all the information, but I haven't call my insurance company yet.

    I just got my car evaluated at Abra Auto body and they quoted me around $760 for the new bumper with paint, labor and everything.

    As my discussion yesterday with the guy who hit my car, he said that he can fix my car by ordering a new bumper and getting it painted and mounted. I am worried about the problems this can cause, like how should I trust that guy that he is buying a geniue bumper and didn't get it from ebay or junk yard. Plus how well he can get a paint on the bumper. How well he can mount it. He mentioned that he has couple of friends who are in body shop kind of business. But how should I trust him? I will probably talk with him tonite and give him this estimate from Abra and I wish he can pay for that.

    Other thing I am worried about is, since its just the bumper and nothing electrical or mechanical is broken, filing a claim means my car will be reported with an accident details on CARFAX. And carfax will not mention any specifics about the accident but just that this car was involved in an accident. And that I think would bring the resale value down for my car when I am planning to sell it in the future. What do you think? Is my assumption correct?

    Thanks.
  • tankbeanstankbeans Member Posts: 585
    I just want to say that, yes, I did end up getting a new bumper. I went through the insurance only because I didn't have the whole amount to fix it. Granted my $500 was interesting to come by, it was easier than the $800 or thereabouts for the total replacement.

    Second, if he's insisting that you not go through insurance this means he hasn't got any. I would be very concerned about whether or not to trust him. I would lean toward not trusting, but that's just me.

    The bumper is one piece so they would have to replace the whole thing. There really isn't a way for them to patch the bumper to make it like new. I had them paint it at the shop and the paint seems to match to me. Then again if there aren't any garish differences I don't notice.

    Depending on who your insurance guy is your rates may not increase since the amount the insurance company pays wouldn't be worth a hill of beans. You may be able to have it covered under comprehensive, not exactly sure how it works, but since I didn't know who hit mine I had to go through hit and run.

    I think my insurance guy, American Family, said that if they pay less that $1000 or $1500 they consider it a 'non-event.' You may want to check on that.

    Hope this helps.

    I don't know whereabouts in MN you live, but you may be able to find a used bumper in a junkyard, I know the only junkyard close to me is Viking, down in Northfield and they don't have cars that new.

    It's all a big judgment call on your part. I hope you can get it taken care of.

    Good luck. Gotta love police who have better things to do than to write down an incident report.
  • mamamia2mamamia2 Member Posts: 707
    So I'm scheduled to take the Accord to the dealership for a tranny fluid change (no flush at my Shell guy, you got me change my mind!). The car is 32 months old and has only 15K.

    The tranny fluid looks a bit BROWNISH, so OK, I'm willing to pay the $79 to have my dealer change it.

    Should I also do a brake fluid change at this time?? How much should that be?
  • elroy5elroy5 Member Posts: 3,735
    The brake fluid should be changed every 3 years, regardless of mileage (from the owner's manual). Brake fluid absorbs moisture over time, even while the car is parked. I would go ahead with it, if it's close to three years old. You would be surprised how dirty the fluid can get in a short time. I just found out the automatic transmissions (I4 and V6) have an external filter (no mention of it in the Service Manual :confuse: ).
  • mamamia2mamamia2 Member Posts: 707
    Thanks for the advice about the brake fluid, elroy.

    ...So should I mention that filter to the service manager and ask if they are gonna clean it, or replace it?
  • elroy5elroy5 Member Posts: 3,735
    Please ask them about it, and let me know what they said. I am very interested in what they say. Do you have a 4cyl engine? Thanks. :D
  • mamamia2mamamia2 Member Posts: 707
    No, it's a V6.

    I'll ask tomorrow and get back to you.
  • elroy5elroy5 Member Posts: 3,735
    No, it's a V6.

    I'll ask tomorrow and get back to you.


    GREAT! and thanks again. :D
  • brmehtabrmehta Member Posts: 12
    tankbeans,

    Thanks for your reply. I don't know the reason why he doesn't want to go thru insurance, because I did check his policy document and got the policy number and the expiration date. It looked to be valid with policy expiring in June 2008. Is there anyway I can call his insurance company and find out more details about his insurance. Would they give me that kind of information?

    Since you got your car fixed thru your insurance, did you get a chance to pull a carfax report after that and see if anything about this hit and run incident is mentioned in there?

    Thanks.
  • stevehechtstevehecht Member Posts: 96
    My dashboard informed me that it was time for my first oil change at ~7500 miles--that's normal. I now have almost 17k miles and the onboard computer tells me that I am 60% of the way to needing another oil change. That seems really weird to me--anyone else have such a long distance between oil change #1 and #2?
  • blufz1blufz1 Member Posts: 2,045
    Call your insurance company and get the front bumper properly replaced and repainted at your dealer. Let YOUR insurance company deal with his insurance company.
  • elroy5elroy5 Member Posts: 3,735
    Is there anyway I can call his insurance company and find out more details about his insurance. Would they give me that kind of information?

    Trying to deal with his insurance company yourself will get you nothing but frustration, IMO. :sick: They are much more receptive to another insurance company, because they will not allow the run-around treatment.
  • tankbeanstankbeans Member Posts: 585
    At the time I got mine replaced I wasn't even thinking about pulling a Carfax report. It's just money unnecessarily spent, in my opinion. I want to drive this car until it can't run any more so I'm not really too concerned with resale value. I think my nephew will be well on his way to driving by then. He's only 4. By that time the car will be worth less than $5k anyway.

    In hindsight I probably should have, but I'm not concerned about those types of things. Sorry.

    I would guess that if somebody is smart enough they could doctor an insurance document fairly easily. My mind doesn't work that way so I wouldn't know. I wouldn't try to talk to his insurance company myself because my guess would be that they would pull out the privacy rules and regulations. Your insurance guy would be best able to get the important information because insurance companies have to share information by virtue of the fact that people are going to bump into each other and not everybody is going to have the same insurance company.

    I'd say sit back and allow the insurance guy to do the dirty work. After all that is what you're paying him for right? Unless you like throwing your money out ;). I didn't think so.

    Anyway, good luck. Once you take it to get fixed you'll have it back within a day or two depending on the workload of the body shop.

    P.S. If you're down in the Apple Valley area I would suggest Valley Auto Body over on Pennock. They seem to really know what they are looking at without trying to over-inflate their price.

    Hopefully you can get it taken care of soon.
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    It sounds as if you've reset your oil-life monitor inadvertently; could that have been possible? Are there other drivers for this car besides you? If it were me, I'd go ahead and change the oil after that long. Before the oil life monitor, the maximum number in the manual said 7500 miles, for the V6.

    After that, I'd start watching how many miles it takes to drop each 10% increment.
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,560
    The estimate I got laast year when mine was cracked was about $650. Another was closrer to $800, but that place is always high!

    Still haven't fixed it though, since that would probably just mean it gets hit again!

    Also, make sure that they are replacing the styrofoam support bar if that got damaged. Doesn't cost much, but it does supply support.

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • mamamia2mamamia2 Member Posts: 707
    No, they claim at my dealership that both the I4 and V6's transmissions have an INTERNAL screen that functions as a filter, and is not a part that's replaced when doing a fluid change.

    Hope that helps, elroy.
  • patpat Member Posts: 10,421
    Reminder - please do not post telephone numbers to businesses. If they can be easily verified I can leave them up, but if not, they have to come down. It's best just to avoid telephone numbers (and email addresses and other specific contact information) altogether.

    Thanks.
  • tankbeanstankbeans Member Posts: 585
    Hey all-

    Here again wanting advice. Today I noticed that the paint on my back bumper is sloughing off. It isn't down to the black yet, but I think it may get there soon. Seeing as how I am a little vain, I don't want to be driving a car that has a crappy exterior, what should I do? It looks like the paint is bubbling up around that area that it is sloughing off on.

    Would it be worth it to have the car painted? If so are there any big chains that do a good job? I've been thinking that it would be cool to have the car painted that real nice graphite gray or dark red.

    I know it's expensive so that's why I ask if it's worth it. This way too I can have the cosmetic blemishes repaired at the same time, such as a minor dent on the hood.

    Any opinions would be a great help.

    Thank you for your time.

    I have the 03 LX Coupe in Silver if anybodies wondering.
  • mamamia2mamamia2 Member Posts: 707
    Can I do it myself? The manual does not explain how, just saying it should be done by your dealer....
  • packer3packer3 Member Posts: 277
    It's possible to go that long, especially if you drive heavy high way miles. My Equinox with the oil % calculator in it showed oil changes ranges from 4,500 miles to 6,000, had the SUV for four years 34,000 miles when I turned it in and never had a problem.
    I dont think you can accidently reset the system, only when the oil and filter is changed, it shows how to only reset it in the the manual I dont have the car here today other wise I would have directly quoted it.
    But don't take a chance get the oil changed and have the dealer run a code on the system to make sure it is operating properly.
  • blufz1blufz1 Member Posts: 2,045
    What year is the car to be repainted?
  • bunkie1bunkie1 Member Posts: 18
    No, no, no to the dealer. It's simple, at least it is on my '03 model. It only takes about 2 minutes. (It is in the owner's manual in '03.)

    Open the glove box. Release the little bar on the right (it slows the opening of the glove box so it doesn't slam open) by popping it loose from the box. Squeeze on sides of the glove box near the top to allow the box to swing forward and give you access to the area behind the box. You may want to empty the glove box depending on how coordinated you are. It will swing far enough forward to dump the contents in the floorboard. I was able to hold it far enough up with my knee to prevent that and still access the filter. The filter case is right in front of you now, push the two tabs on each side and slide it out. Pop out the old filter, pop in the new and reverse the process.

    Make sure you have the air flow arrow on the filter pointing in the right direction and tuck the two outside pleats of the filter into the tabs at the bottom. (Look carefully at the old filter before you pop it out and you should be able to see what I'm talking about.
  • tallman1tallman1 Member Posts: 1,874
    Replacing the Dust/Pollen cabin filter

    Very easy to do yourself. You can also look for the picture that Elroy posted somewhere around here. Search elroy5 and/or my name and you will find it. I remember adding a couple of directions as well.
  • tankbeanstankbeans Member Posts: 585
    It's a 2003 Accord LX Coupe.
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    I dont think you can accidently reset the system, only when the oil and filter is changed

    You can, although it would be a long shot. I have reset mine more than once; my dealer had a habit of forgetting to reset the indicator.

    With the key in the II position (car not running), press and hold the trip/reset stalk for 10 seconds. This resets it back to 100%.

    Hope this helps.:)
  • mamamia2mamamia2 Member Posts: 707
    http://www.micronair.us/assets/pdfs/85.pdf

    Is that the "picture" you were thinking about? Or is there another?

    Either way, thanks. I now know how to do it...

    Funny, I also own an '06 Sonata and the procedure is EXACTLY the same, did it myself already.
  • tallman1tallman1 Member Posts: 1,874
    No, Elroy posted the diagram out of his manual. Honda used to include the directions. The Micron Air pics help too though.
  • elroy5elroy5 Member Posts: 3,735
    A quality paint job will cost you many thousands of $$. Changing the color would be even more expensive, because they have to paint the inside of the doors, and door jambs. I would just have the bumper painted, and save a lot of money. It's entirely up to you though. ;)
  • mrbill1957mrbill1957 Member Posts: 823
    If the only place that the paint is peeling is the back bumper, then that may be the only place you will have problems. Bumpers are painted off the car, so the paint on the car may not do what the bumper is doing. If you did decide to have the car repainted, stick with one of the factory colors, or one close if you don't want to effect the resale value.

    Mrbill
  • blufz1blufz1 Member Posts: 2,045
    2003? Don't repaint it, you will devalue it. Just wash it really well and put 2 coats of wax on it and see how it looks. You could just touch up the rear bumper or talk to the Honda dealer re re shooting your bumper. They have a warranty against fading for as long as you own it.
  • tankbeanstankbeans Member Posts: 585
    Does it matter that I'm not the original owner. I guess my dad looked at it and said it had been repainted once before and by someone who did a bad job. My brother says it looks like the clear coat is all jacked up.

    When you say re-shooting the bumper do mean they would paint it back to the original color.

    Sorry if I sound stupid, I guess I'm just a little vain and don't want to have some garishly ugly black bumper, if I were to let the problem worsen, or at least garish black spots.

    Also, there has been an area where the paint is completely absent, not a large spot, but more like a really deep scratch, since I've had it. It looks like it's getting worse.

    How much does touch up paint cost? I have a longish scratch on the truck-lid too.

    Sorry again for asking so many questions.

    Thanks to all who respond, and to those who have already responded.
  • blufz1blufz1 Member Posts: 2,045
    I would take it to the dealer and get an assessment of what is going on with the paint and an estimate. Touch up paint is about 8-10 $,but since the bumper has been repainted it may not match. I think it may not be worth the expense to fix it but it's your $.
  • mamamia2mamamia2 Member Posts: 707
    Yes, found it, it's post #2748. Thanks.
  • tallman1tallman1 Member Posts: 1,874
    Great. I looked at it again too and the posts that follow. Lots of good info.
  • ezshift5ezshift5 Member Posts: 858
    .....so I did a search: 3-year brake fluid change. Nada, zip, nothing.

    I understand I need 2 pints and Honda gets about $4 American/pint.

    I also understand the dealership will get about $100 for this service.,

    Any and all feedback appreciated. It been a great 6M to drive (but the brakes need all the help they can get)

    best, ez....
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