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Comments
V6 EXL, build date 8/07. engine and tranny from US, built in Marysville,
No problem detected so far.
You have repeatedly written "Honda has already stated to my wife and me that this is a VCM issue" or similar comments. Please clarify your statements.
Do you mean that one or more individuals on the staff in the Service department at your local dealership has said that it is a VCM issue? Or do you mean that you have some formal written statement of confirmation from American Honda Motor Corporation headquarters?
The car has been at the dealership since Dec. 31 so I am not able at this time to provide that information.
The dealership has been very professional as they work through this problem with me. As I mentioned before, they did provide me with a new Accord to use until the problem is identified and rectified. They also offered to replace the car with a new one. It took a long time to get the Diamond White V6 sedan with nav and it will take a long time to find a replacement. We decided to wait until the Honda field specialist can look at the car next Wednesday. I understand he is coming out east from California. If there is a simple solution to the problem (I don't want everything torn apart) then the dealership said they would provide me with an extended warranty. The other option is to request a return of the purchase price under our state's lemon law. I have been reading the concerns others have concerning the VCM system and I am hesitant to go back to a car that has this system.
The warranty offer was made by the general manager of the dealership.
The Accord Sedan’s V-6 features the latest generation of Variable Cylinder Management™ (VCM®) technology. This system can activate and deactivate the engine’s cylinders as needed to meet the demands of both acceleration and fuel savings. When maximum torque is required, all six cylinders are firing. During steady cruising speeds , VCM shuts down one bank of cylinders. In this mode, the audio system’s Active Noise Cancellation™ (ANC) function generates out-of-phase sound waves to cancel out any undesirable noise that may be due to the harmonics of 3-cylinder operation. As cruising speed increases the engine moves to a 4-cylinder mode for extra cruising power. To help keep engine vibration from reaching the cabin in every mode, active engine mounts automatically adjust their firmness to help absorb energy. The transition between the three operating modes is completely seamless and goes unnoticed by the Accord’s passengers.
This is misleading advertising and you are right it will take many owners to write to Honda. I remain steadfast that this problem is maddening.
Can you share where you addressed your letter to/whom?
Golf-
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Honda Automobile Customer Service
Mail Stop 500-2N-7A
1919 Torrance Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90501-2746
This address was on the Honda Owner Link that they provided to contact them by mail with any of your vehicle concerns. I would write them before I would just call them as this "puts it in writing" so to speak.
Of course they recommend you contact your dealer first, but I think that is the best recourse with this "VCM" problem to contact Honda as well as this problem will have to have their input obviously and one will fuel the other into action and vice versa I hope to create an urgency of action to try and come up with possible solutions in-house for Honda's engineers and techs and out in the field with our vehicles with us working with the dealers. They probably have already started, but since I am a newbee to this I am personally not in the know just yet if they have or haven't already been working on a solution. I am certain the area Honda Reps would be involved as well with us. Maybe I am being too upbeat here, but hopefully there will be action and I am acting like it will be at this juncture especially if we all raise our voices about the "VCM" problem to Honda they will have enough background information to run diagnostics and trials on a solution. Just us sharing information amongst ourselves here has already shown me correlations about this problem at certain MPH and whether Cruise Control is on or off and "VCM" activated etc. So get to writing those letters and remember to include your VIN of course and contact address and Ph #'s for Honda to get back to you. This is not the time to be bashful. LOL
I have had the regional rep run my car multiple times with the service managers and techs and all along they said something was not right. I also had the Techline folks have some field people look at with my dealer (I think) while it was in the shop and they agreed it was doing what I said it was. I opened a case with Honda and have spoken to the rep, they say this "IS a VCM issue" and they "hope" or "have to believe" that engineering is doing something about it.. no warm and fuzzies from us at all. I have been at this for months so if you get different results lets me and the others know and through who. Perhaps letters to Consumer Reports and other media outlets that conducted reviews to re-evaluate the vehicle for this is warranted as well.
Thanks for sharing this info on your experience it is very helpful and I agree if people do not demand a solution here nothing will be done. The VCM and Vibration issues are ludicrous for a Honda Accord @ $30,000
Golf-
I'd help you, but I don't know how to my friend! Im sorry.
Best of luck,
Thegrad
Your dealer has given you a loaner to drive while you wait for resolution of the problem.
Is the loaner a V6.? If so have you seen any evidence of the VCM problem with the loaner?
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Honda Automobile Customer Service
Mail Stop 500-2N-7A
1919 Torrance Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90501-2746
You may want to share with the dealer all the other in this forum as well as some of the others online that are sharing this issue so that you gain some credibility day one.. Don't delay this as your issues are not going to get better. This is a known concern by Honda related to the VCM,, you need to get in line now rather than wait my friend. I am afraid the swell is growing and honda probably needs to buckle in here................
If you ask me this is an engineering disaster and we'll all get new computer chips that will shut this thing off for good.
Phantom, Are you feeling the vibration more when you think you are in 3cyl? I feel it more when it seems the car is on 3 only but def feel it in 4 as well. Would you agree that when driving on 6 "no ECO" light on, the car runs great, fast, smooth etc? I will tip my hat here and say I do! Also, what is the dealer telling you and what have you heard from Honda Customer Relations on your concerns? They (Honda) keeps telling us that they are aware of the issue and it is with the VCM, that its a new design and to sit tight.. Of course we are very nervous to "sit tight" not really knowing if Honda will get this to go away or not, meanwhile we keep driving the car (have no choice), adding miles and becoming more and more concerned about our ability to get out of this mess if Honda gives us the stiff arm later. Anybody have any advice? based on the lemon laws in my state the car has to have been in for service for the same issue a minimum of 3 times within a 12 month period with no resolution. Our car has been in the dealership 6 times one of which they kept the car for almost 2 weeks before I asked to have it back. I hear pursuing the Lemon Law statute is costly and a nightmare.. most owners get the short end of the stick in the end.. would appreciate anyones thoughts here. The more I log onto this forum and see new posters with the same issue the more worried I become. Honda really messed up here. This design seems to becoming a major mistake in my opinion.. nightmare is right.
No, it is a 4 cylinder.
Accord comes in 1st place in Car and Driver 7 way shootout
From the March issue
1. Accord EX
2. Altima 2.5s
3. Malibu LT
4. '09 Sonata Limited
5. Camry LE
6. Fusion SEL
7. Dodge Avenger SXT
All the cars were four cylinder models.
"Highs: Telepathic interplay among chassis, engine and transmission."
"Lows: Needlessly complex center stack, could use more steering feel."
"The Verdict: Another Accord? We've pretty much run out of nice things to say."
Performance #'s
0-60: 8.2
1/4: 16.4 @ 86mph
Rolling 5-60: 8.7
Skidpad .81g
Braking 70-0: 169 feet
The biggest surprise for me was the braking. I can't remember an Accord ever cracking in the 170 foot range for 70-0 let alone be in the 160 foot range. It was also fastest in the slalom.
I have not had the car back to the dealer for the problem yet. Yes - vibration most noticeable in ECO mode - impossible to tell whether 4 or 3 cylinders.
Very frustrating - car is beautiful Polished Metal w/black interior - black is much darker than it shows in any photos I have seen.
I'm averaging just under 24 mpg in a drive pattern that is more weighted towards highways. I agree with the others that its amazing that Honda would risk its engineering reputation to chase 1-2 mpg.
However I've been following the posts on this subject because I might be next.
I've found an internet site which explains in some detail the interaction of the
various control systems.needed to make VCM work.
When it works, it's a great piece of engineering.
When it doesn't work I can see that it would be extremely difficult to pinpoint
the failed components.
Hope the link works
http://autoweb.com.au/cms/A_109672/title_Honda-Australia-to-Offer-New-Accord-Wit- h-a-Thirteen-Cylinder-Engine/newsarticle.html
How can you get I4 MPG in your V6? It 's impossible, too unreasonable. V6 MPG is bout 10 - 15% less than I4 MPG.
I also have a '05 accord hybrid. Please contact me at QDOI@yahoo.com for technical discussion regarding the vibration issue with your hybrid. Thanks.
The key benefits are fuel savings and lower emissions. Customers from America report that their V6-powered Accords achieve four-cylinder-like fuel consumption.
I have not heard of anybody, including myself, getting I4 MPG with the V6. Sounds like a lot if kissing up by the author.
Viet
'05 Accord hybrid owner
...honestly, twice on Interstates I've calc'd 39+ (but not the magic 40) on my 6M.
This may be both my first (and last) Honda. IMHO - they're that good!
best, ez
Let's let this discussion concentrate on the 08 Accord's VCM issues and questions.
As mentioned in the first of your two recent posts - Did you receive a report or incident #? and if so, can you share?
Can you tell us more about the second conversation you had with the area rep.
Many thanks.
dont be mislead... stay vigilant.
Golf-