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Instead, you come here and leave over 100 posts that basically all say the same thing?
We know about your wonderful 1988 Legend that never had a single problem. You have told us about this car dozens of times.
Everyone is telling you the same thing...TAKE IT BACK TO YOUR DEALER! This is exactly what your "friend" will tell you too!
My '05 Accord hybrid got a tiny oil leak like a very small mung bean on my driveway @ 13K miles. As a picky owner I took it back to Honda dealer. The dealer spent $10K to replace parts for my car and it charged me zero dollar. My hybrid was built in Japan and it was brand-new, extremely shiny and spotless when I took delivery in '04 Xmas in the dealer's showroom.
Let's review here for a second... this topic is about the VCM feature of the 08 V6 Accord. If you're having problems with it, please tell us about them and also tell us what you've done or are thinking about doing to address them.
On the other hand, if you are someone who owns an 08 V6 Accord that does not exhibit symptoms others are experiencing, we appreciate you letting us know that as well.
In either case, it is not necessary to keep posting the same thing over and over. As long as your post is topical and otherwise within the Membership Agreement, it's not going anywhere. Once is enough, really!
Let's move forward with this topic and stop the repetitive postings and the personal attacks, please.
Sometimes one needs to vent and I can see where that is coming from, especially if that one is having a problem. But, after a while the others get numb to one's problem if one doesn't take action that the others are recommending or are helpless to help because they are not mechanics or can't get into the minds of Honda's enginners who designed this product or they can't see/witness the problem first hand.
The steps many have enumerated are simple, take it to the dealer, do it as many times as you can, escalate, escalate...If none of that helps, you have gotten yourself a lemon which either you can live with, have them give you a new one if they will, sell it, whatever.
Why stress yourself? Life is short, its only money i.e. its better than stress which can kill. Take your allegience to someone else, there are a lot of options available in the marketplace.
Good luck.
I sure would like to see something good about this VCM, anybody?
Several Odyssey owners have had service work done on their vans to address the vibration complaint. In these individual cases, Honda has addressed the "problem" with changes to the "a-pipe" as well as changes to engine mounts in attempts to quell these complaints. But bottom line, Honda's official response is that this slight vibration is a normal part of the operation of the VCM-equipped V6 engine, and their polite answer is along the lines of "we'll try a few bandaids, but if they don't work, get used to it and pound sand."
Personally, I have learned to live with this vibration and continue to be a big Honda supporter. To me, this is a very minor issue and not worth the length of this post. The Odyssey (and Accord) are stellar automobiles that are "best in class" in so many areas. There is another thread out there where owners are complaining about a very slight headlight flicker when the electrical system adjusts to an AC or other system turning on. To me, that complaint is also overblown.
I don't doubt that people stay up all night fretting over these seemingly minor quirks, but to each their own. Ultimately, with as many Accords (and Odysseys) on the road, the consumer will decide how big a deal these issues truly are. I just hope some enterprising lawyer doesn't get the class action itch since that is not the answer, IMHO.
Honda obviously believes in the benefits of VCM, given their extensive investment in the system so far. They have equipped most of their mainstream bread and butter products with the feature. The MPG gains may be relatively minor, but it must also help them comply with fed govt CAFE requirements.
If there is one very obvious piece of advice I take from this thread is this....NEVER buy a car without test-driving it! I have owned 12 Hondas in my 29 years of driving, and as much as I love Hondas, I would never dream of buying one (or any car) without a thorough test drive and comparison. No car is perfect.
Carry on everyone. Peace.
Last week, I talked to the Honda Service Manager at my dealership. He called me back this afternoon and told me what he found on the VCM issue. NOTHING, absolutely nothing. He talked to both the tech at the dealership and the Honda Rep about the "surging" issue on BOTH of my Accords (red and silver). They did not aware on any Service Bulletin or Recall. The Honda Rep was driving a 08 Accord V6 when the Service Manager called him, and he said that "IT IS NORMAL THAT ONE CAN FEEL IT WHEN THE CYLINDERS SWITCH FROM 6 TO 3"
Since the Service Manager has done his job and has gone that extra mile to call for an answer (even though there isn't one), I guess I have to leave this for now. I have almost lost all my hair by now
I MIGHT trade my silver one in for a certified pre-owned 07 Volvo S80 V6 (or V8) or for the Accord I4 model or something like that in spring or summer... I guess the positive thing that came out of this are the lessons I have learned. The lessons I learn are:
1. Wait for a bit longer before buying a new re-designed model (even Honda).
2. Don't buy two of them at once (Instead, I might be able to buy one 08 Volvo S80 V8).
3. Test drive, test drive, and test drive until you are happy with it.
Sorry that I am not much help.
Tc
The bummer thing about the VCM "problem" is that it may not effect the functionality of the car. Obviously, if it rides like a buck'n-bronco, that may be a functionality problem. But, it sounds like the problem is generally evidenced by slight to moderate surging and, sometimes, vibration at certain speeds. Perhaps it will someday cause the transmission to drop to the ground or the engine mounts to spring the engine into the air . . .
Well, I like the extra power and the larger engine that the 08 V6 was able to give me with about the same mpg as the 07 model. On sutained freeway speed my trip computer shows my mpg as 34-36, that is comparable to smaller 4 cylinder cars. I would contribute that to VCM but someone please correct me if I am wrong.
What is a little strange to me is that there os no thread in Honda Pilot's forum regarding VCM and no concerns or discussions that I could find, be it on the 06, 07 models (4 cylinder) or the 08 model V6. :confuse:
I'd like to add a few other comments regarding this issue:
1) My problem is not severe. I can certainly live with it, however, I don't necessarily like it, especially bebopping between 4 and 3 cylinders.
2) I don't buy into some previous comments made by others about having to "get used to" driving with VCM or drive by wire throttle in order to improve smoothness. These aren't fighter jets that we have to be trained to drive; they're Honda Accords for heaven's sake! They should be as smooth in 3 cylinders as they are in 6. The development of this drive train should really be a simple, natural progression in the ongoing improvement of a fine vehicle. It gets smoother and easier to drive with every new model introduced!
3) Along with my point above and with reference to inferences that bad driving habits might make a difference with this issue: it shouldn't matter if you are such a bad driver that you are pumping rhythmically on the throttle in time to music or if you have cruise on but the road is hilly and there are wind gusts up to 50 mph. VCM doesn't know the difference. VCM should be operating seemlessly and "imperceptably" in either case.
4) Another comment made was that the vibration issues, especially around 50 - 60 mph, may not be related to VCM. Maybe not, but the vibration starts and stops consistently in time with the ECO light going on and off. I think that is pretty self-evident.
Again, if there are cars out there that are not experiencing any of these vibration or surging characteristics, then obviously, Honda's engineering is working well in these cars and they are performing as expected and advertised. They just have to figure out what the difference is between these cars and the rest of us and fix ours.
Are there any Honda engineers or technicians out there reading this that can wade in? We know you know what's going on. This forum is pretty anonymous. You won't get fired or disciplined for being candid about this issue. It would be nice to at least hear clearly that Honda is looking into this issue and is working on a fix.
Thanks for the previous posts, very helpful, I am still on the fence. I drive in a heavy traffic area of North Jersey and plan on being in some pretty heavy traffic conditions during my commute.
I don't think this issue is subjective at all. The view that it is subjective is one of the reasons why some people on this forum are as frustrated as they are. If you're not experiencing problems with VCM, you don't have problems. If you are experiencing the problems, you have problems. If some people don't have problems, then what is the difference between their cars and those of us who are having problems? This is the critical issue. Honda has gotten this right on some cars. What is the difference?
I have no connection with Honda other than having happily owned three Accord V6 coupes.
The question is this: Has Honda intentionally designed their '08 Accords to vibrate and surge when using the VCM technology? If so, then the car is woking the way it should. If not - and Honda's own marketing of this vehicle would indicate that this is the case - then there is a mechanical problem that needs to be fixed.
To me, this issue is agonizingly simple:
1) The problem is real
2) Honda needs to fix it
This actually varies state by state since we are dealing with state, not federal, laws. The state of Virginia for example, the car does not have to have a significant impairment to the functionality or usability - it could just have a problem that would impact the resale value of the car. Your car also needs to be in the shop for a total of 30 or more days, or, been seen 3 times for the same problem and the problem still exists. So for the VCM issue under discussion, the owner would need to bring the car to the dealer for 3 service attempts to repair the issue within the first 18 months of ownership and the issue would have to still exist to qualify under the law. Qualifying under the law and winning are two different things though, as it sounds as if Honda would dispute your claim. Even so, many manufacturers would offer a smaller out of court settlement if they felt they would spend more money in court and may lose in the end.
I think you have to do more than take it to the dealer 3 times within the allotted time. But, if you do that, and the VCM issues "significantly impair" the market value of the vehicle, then you likely have a case. Unless the VCM problem becomes a widely publicized issue and/or a recall is made, I have my doubts that it will "significantly impair" the 08 Accord's resale value.
In my experience in Wyoming and Colorado, I find that manufacturers do not offer a smaller out of court settlement even if they risk spending more money in court. In my opinion, you have to be pretty damn sure you've nailed all the prerequisites before you can expect any relief from a lemon law suit. In my experience, the car manufacturers do not settle under any "nuisance value" theory.
Although I have yet to experience anything amiss with the V-6 VCM systems, I would suggest to anyone who may be nervous about buying one to simply go with a 4 cyl instead.
In my not so humble opinion, the 190 HP 4 cyl cars have more than enough power.
They have more HP than the older V-6's had and they use less gas at the same time. That's what I drive and I love it!
I know the manual states that the ECO light indicates that the car is being operated in the most efficient manner, but what does that mean? In fact, 6 cylinder mode going up a hill in a strong headwind would probably constitute the most efficient manner for those conditions, however, the ECO light would never be on.
Under what conditions would the ECO light be on when the car is in 6 cylinder mode?
Just curious.
PS: I put on the A/C, (even though it is in the 20's) and did not notice the headlight flicker.
The salesman said that he has not heard of any problems with the VCM from the company or other customers. (I doubt he would tell me anyway.) He did tell me that the coupes are very hard to come by and they got 2 in today, (both on lot, 1, red and the other black), and sold both immediately after calling potential customers. He said the car is selling itself.
I will be testing a couple of more times later this week to see if I was just lucky with the car I had tonight.
Do you think a salesman would tell you they are sitting in the back gathering dust?
Come visit the Prices Paid and the Leasing forums..
Some people will now become hyper sensitive while trying to find a "problem" that they would otherwise never notice.
Seriously, if a person is that scared about what "might" happen, they should buy something else. Personally, I really think this is a "tempest in a teapot" but I'll keep listening.
The 190 HP 4 cyl cars are certainly up to the task too!
Group Hug!!! fusionacid, these boys are a bit brutal!
....again, a tuned-in observation Bug.
IMHO.......even MORE tuned-in would see you inserting "some of" in front of 'these boys.............
........but your point is well taken (ie: 'feelings run high................"
hang in there, ez....
I understand that car's are mechanical by nature, but some cars are more prone to mechanical issues quicker than others, I.E) brand new VCM technology + 1st year model quirks.
I think i'm probably just going to stay away from VCM for now and go I4. VCM Engines probably cost more to repair anyhow. I4 here I come!!
......or not buy at all. I'll hang on to my GenVII 6M and lay in der weeds for a spell.
2. Do something about that Eco light, it is distracting, it forced me to focus on the light more so and think more about this technology. Then all those negative thoughts came to my mind that how could someone logically create a system that is "seamless" when so much is going on every micro second.
3. Change your marketing message. Don't advertise it as "seamless" or whaterver fancy word that Honda is using. It is not nor it can be. ABS is not as seamless as regular braking but I know for a fact that the system works.
4. Offer a longer warranty on the engine mounts, make it 100K
5. Perfect the system more. I want VCM, I want more technology to feel green but I want my power too when I need it, the two can coexist. Just like a manumatic system, there are times when I don't feel too green and want to smoke those tires and rev up that engine to burn off some of that stress that I have built up while trying to earn a living and making a car payment.
Honda, you know that VCM limits performance, that is why you don't offer it on some models. Sorry lads, the VCM is here to stay but at least give me a button. As for 2008, hmmm, can you turn it off for some of the guys who hate it?