Honda Accord Problems 2000-2005

frankbailie

I wonder if this guy really owns an Accord. Seems to me a simple test drive would have shown that the Accord was not for him.

aggie1995

If you want a Maxima then Go for it thanhho!

Brake problems I'll give you that since that seems to be common.

Road noise....did it get noisier after you took it home? Did the dealer put a special sound dampener on it duering the test drive? Then trick you by pulling it off pre-delivery?

Too much weight when cornering.....lets see front wheel drive, heavy V6, touring tires, mainstream family sedan.....hmmm who'd-a-thunk that it wouldn't handle like a sports car?

New Pads, resurface disk, alignment problems....maybe your cornering antics are an issue here.

Used to like the way Honda hanlded.....did you not test drive this car prior to purchase?

Good Luck with your Maxima...it is a 4-door sports car you know!

stekulve

My '03 EX has a whistle sound coming from the driver's vent area it seems. It happens even when the climate control system is totally off. Doesn't always occur, but when it does it drives me crazy. Can anyone tell me what it is, and how to to get it fixed? Thanks.

tomhawk

Just wondering if anyone has had any problems with the heating/air conditioning. I have a 2003 Honda Accord EX. The problem I had was that when I turned the heat on it would work but if I wanted to switch it to cold it would only blow out vent air. Then when I had it on cold and switched to hot it wouldn't get hot. I took it in to the dealership and it took them all day to find out what the problem was. Apparently there is a box that opens and closes and mine was getting stuck. They had to order this part and then tear out my entire dash board. Once I got the car back it smelled because apparently they had to replace all of my fluids, etc.

Anyway I still am not sure the problem is fixed. When switching from hot to cold I still hear a clicking noise and am not sure this is normal. It does however switch but sometimes I still have to play with the buttons to get it to. If it is on heat to begin with sometimes I have to move it all the way to cold then back to heat just to get hot air. I would take it back in but It doesn't do this all time as it did originally. The guy also told me the clicking is normal and there will be some delay.

tblazer503

first let's go thru the basics.

have you checked your tire pressure? I believe you should be about 32psi rear and 34psi front. I run about that in my car. your "road noise" may be caused in part by over inflated tires as they don't give as much. So will your cornering. The car seems kinda squirrely with overinflated tires because of a low contact area, and not as forgiving tires.

As for your alignment issue, you can take it into the dealer before 12k mi and have them align your car.

if you want the accord set up to ride quietly, hug the corners, and be light on it's feet... just take out the engine and tranny... I will almost guarantee that the car will corner well for how fast you can push it... =o) j/k...

In all seriousness... you really want to improve the "sportiness" of the car, drop some eibach springs, tokico shocks, get some upper and lower support bars, bigger sway bars, and drop some 255/40/19 tires on there. mainstream honda's have never been an "enthusiasts" car, IMO, but there are tons of components to improve it... oh yeah... 6piston brembo calipers with 15" cross/slotted rotors ... oh yeah... =o)

buddha456

I have a 03 EX V6 Accord Sedan (auto) with ~8000 miles on it. For awhile now I've been hearing a strange sound during hard acceleration, like when merging onto highways and the like. The sound seems like its coming from the front passenger area of the car, either through the air vent on that side or in the dash or in the engine on that side. It's hard to describe but sounds like either an air intake sound, an air leak sound or some sort of wheel on wheel high pitched kind of rubbing sound. One mechanic noted that sometimes during hard acceleration the clutch doesn't disengage all the way before going to the next gear and during that time period the clutch is loosely rubbing in a way that might make this kind of sound. One other interesting note is that it does sound like it happens during shifting. So, the sound starts to occur during hard acceleration right before the first shift and then dies away, and then starts up again before shifting into the next gear. The sound happens only during acceleration (in particular hard acceleration), not while cruising or braking. Anyway, does anyone have any idea what this sound might be and whether its indicative of something wrong going on or not? Thanks for any info in advance!

03lxv6

Back in the early days of my 03 LX accord, I usually hear a grinding noise from the right front side of the car when I first start it. Many people say it is ABS noise.

But now at 4500 miles, I noticed that I did not hear that grinding noise anymore.

I don't believe I have suffered that much due to the wind noise from my Honda. So what is going on here? Anybody has similar experience? Thanks.

lelandhendrix

I've mentioned this in another thread, but I really want to drive this point home.

I was initially somewhat disappointed with the road noise and cornering performance of my car, but now I couldn't be happier even with a BMW. In the beginning I noticed my car's suspension (03 LX Sedan) was doing everything right, but tires would scream loudly on the slightest provocation and also would hydroplane easily.

My fix was to get rid of the original tires, and I bought 17" rims and some performance tires. The whole deal (4 rims, tires balanced and rotated) was less than $600 from www.wheelmax.com.

I now couldn't be happier with the cornering performance, and the ride is MUCH quieter. I'd go so far as to say the road noise is down more than 50% on rough road surfaces. I have to strongly suggest this upgrade to everyone who likes a little bit of enthusiastic driving or just wants to feel safer in the rain.

fritz1224

$600 for 4 wheels and tires?(17 inch no less). Hard to believe. Just put 15 inch Turanza LS V on my 2k v6 Accord and them alone were close to $600. What tires and wheels did you get?

lelandhendrix

It is hard to believe, but I got some nice-looking 10-spoke 17" excel wheels, and Ventus HII H405 tires. They are uncommon and low-priced tires, but they put even my old set of pirellis to shame. Check out that web site I mentioned in my last post. Oh, and their huge sale ends tomorrow.

urchin34

Hawkins and Frank - all you have to do is check the JD Powers ratings to see that the 2003 Accord is not anywhere near what the old ones were. As for test drive, the Honda dealer here let me take it around exactly one block and told me it was company policy to limit the miles on new cars. Of course, I did not buy, but maybe others have?

jebinc1

To all who have been following my tranny saga -

Quick Recap - Took car in for 3750 oil change and asked a question about my tranny to service (double engagement and slight delay getting to "D"). Service replaced the transmission and the new one (as well as every other one on the lot) did the same thing. This is NORMAL. As a result of the swap, service created other problems. Dealer indicated that they would find me an '04 to replace the '03 and make me whole on the '03.

Final Chapter - They did just what they said. I picked up a brand new EX V6 XM/Navi sedan yesterday! What dealership is this you ask? Lynnwood Honda (WA). I would rate them very highly for sales and overall customer support/satisfaction! Rick F. in the internet sales is the best salesman that I have ever dealt with. Give him a call if you need a car and live in the Seattle area.
______________________________________________________________

Things I noticed about the 04 that are different than the 03 -- The 04 has;

... a seat belt warning system and automatic front air bag deactivation system when a passenger weighs less than 65 lbs

... an upgraded Navi DVD and software (20030629). For example, elevation is now accurate to 10 feet. The 03 rounded to the nearest hundred feet.

... XM is really nice. I never thought I would ever pay for radio, but I just might when the free three month OEM package expires. Great integration with Navi system!

... The drivers seat hip support is much softer. Electric seat are smoother running. On the 03 the seat edge was very firm/stiff. My 03 electric seats chattered as if a gear was missing a tooth

... NO RATTLES in the 04. The 03 that I had was a rattle trap.

... The car suspension seems more compliant and it feels to me to ride much smoother AND quieter. Perhaps this is all in my head, but I don't think so. I think some dampening was incorporated to reduce the rattling issues.

... Fit and finish seems much improved (tight gaps). The 03 was made in July, just prior to the retooling for 04. The tooling used on the early 04's might have better tolerances and run out then at the end of the run for the 03's (after 400,000 copies)

Well, that's about it. Questions are always welcome.

jebinc1

jebinc1

Does anyone know how to reset this airbag light? My dealers service department is staffed by idiots. They installed a day night mirror in my 04 (after I told them that I'd rather do it myself) and now the SRS light is on. Of course, I could bring it back to the dealer on Monday, but I'd rather reset it first myself. Is there a way?????

Thanks!

davidlean

My Accord EX 2003 4 cyl now has 2,100 miles on it. I just noticed that the outside edges of the front tires are wearing unevenly. If you rub your fingers over the tires, one direction feels smooth (towards the front); the other direction feels jagged. What is causing this? I have checked the tire pressure (32 front, 30 rear, as recommended). Car does not drift to either side, but it is lively over bumps (I assume that is the taut suspension. Any ideas? This seems like the beginning symptoms of a problem.

tblazer503

2 most common causes of tire feathering.

1>alignment. your Honda dealership should be able to do an alignment on the car. It is part of your warranty, but only during the first 12mo/12k miles.

2>taking corners hard. if you pretty consistently take corners (fairly) agressively, this will cause it as well.

As long as your tread is wearing evenly, you shouldn't have a problem. I have the same problem, but you can usually hear stuff rolling in the trunk when I take a turn. =o) I run 31/33 on my tires.

Already talked to michelin, and it's not a problem, pretty normal. bigger problems are uneven(inside to outside), cupping, etc.

capriracer

It is common for the outside edges to develop some feathering wear. Perfectly normal if not excessive.

Cause? When going around a corner, the outside has to travel a larger distance than the inside and it gets dragged.

Fix? Don't turn corners.

However, Tblazer is correct if the feathering is excessive.

Hope this helps.

qinsong99

My 92 accord LX cannot be started reccently without jumping. The car still runs like new. I am pretty sure the starter is working fine and the battery is still in good shape. Any of you have any clues about this problem? Is it possible the main relay or ignition coil? Thanks in advance.

chucko3

The wife used to own the 92 LX Accord.
The car had trouble starting. Especially, if it was a restart after a short driving.
After going to two dealer shops, one finally made a right fix for it. It was the ignition relay.

storm11

Have 11K on an '02 Accord EXL V6. Car is very nice but I'm starting to get concerned with the delay in the shift between 1st & 2nd under hard acceleration. Seems like the delay is far too much before grabbing 2nd. The problem is especially noticeable if you're slowing down to roughly 5 mph and then get into the gas hard. The tach needle swings way up during the delay between the shifts. Not comforting when you need that power "now," and you get nothing in response to your foot other than the sound of the engine sreaming towards the redline. I'll be bringing it in for an oil change soon and will have it looked at.

I know the transmission warranty extension does not include the '02's (which is the same 4 speed auto as the '98-'01's covered on the extension), but are other '02 V6 owners experiencing similar concerns and/or had actual serving/replacement requirements? I'd appreciate any information you may have.

Thanks

bodble2

"The tach needle swings way up during the delay between the shifts."

This characteristic was the norm for Honda automatics pre-1997. I haven't noticed it in any of the post-96 Hondas that we've had so I thought it was something that Honda's engineers have cured.

bodble2

That's great news! But almost seems to good to be true.

So they swapped you a brand new '04 for your '03 at no additional costs to you? Wow! Same equipment, or more equipment?

The problems caused by their service department to your '03 mush have been quite severe and incriminating, something that would have created a PR nightware for them if words got out.

rbruehl

On my former V-6 Accord, I use to get a clunk when putting the car in reverse. Finally, the transmission failed and Honda covered the cost for a new remanufactured transmission. Two months later, the transmission failed again and Honda replaced it once again.

Well, needless to say, the day I picked up my Accord after having the second remanufactured transmission installed, I drove it to a Toyota dealership. Traded it in on a new Solara SLE V-6.

Don't let the dealership tell you that it is normal because it isn't.
If you really like your new Accord, I suggest you buy the extended warranty which should cover you and give you peace of mind.

sockpuppet1969

boy am I glad a got the manual transmission

tblazer503

I hope you weren't responding to iceman, because he has put 180k on that transmission in 12 years.

hasn't failed yet.

iceman... probably a stiff torque converter. that would be my guess. my ex's moms 89 was a grabby shifter as well, but it had 150k on it w/ no problems. I would say you got your money's worth out of it, and if it has been working fine, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

jebinc1

PR nightmare yes. You can search these boards and find the details of the story. In short, they bought back the 03 at FULL PRICE(same as I paid in July). I did have to pay the price increase for the 04 (XM radio, etc.) Great customer service and sales department. Worst service department on the plant. I would buy another car from these guys, but the service will be performed elsewhere. Oh, exact same equipment and color (Graphite Pearl). The XM radio is really cool along with all the other subtle changes that you don't see posted.

aggie1995

Are you sure that the car has fully downshifted to 1st gear. Is there a chance that it is still in 2nd and therefore WAY down out of its power curve and hence the delay before you feel the speed come on?

That's what it sounds like from your description. I don't know if that is how it is supposed to be or a defect.

fjb323

Just back from first trip ( Vermont Leaf watch)about 500 miles. I find a Clicking noise coming from the lower left corner of the windshield where it meets the cowl,(just under the N.Y.S. stickers)it seems to happen only on uneven road surfaces. Has anyone else had this noise and is there a cure?
FJB323

atlantabenny

Have the same on my 03 v6 coupe. Wasn't there until about a month ago since its March 03 purchase. Not sure if summer heat was a factor. Seems like raw parts rubbing together when car body flexes. Bringing it in soon for warranty work, but am frankly concerned about the fix (removing dash can create new problems; not removing it can involve only a short-term solution). Will post outcome in due time.

justin

the most exciting change must be the power mirror controls. i hear they are "fixed" for 04. is that true?

storm11

Aggie1995 - No doubt. The car's in 2nd gear and the delay happens as it hooks back into first. It's a significant pause, especially when you need immediate power. A downshift is normal in any slushbox, depending on how much power you're asking for, but I've never experienced such a pronounced delay. Each auto I've ever owned had a tach in it. No other vehicle ran the needle up towards the redzone the way this car does before actually engaging the gear and getting the power asked for.

It's a dangerous flaw if it can't be fixed.

aggie1995

Good luck! If you've never experienced that before you probably do have a defect on your hands.

My only experience with Autos have been with Big 3 trucks which aren't really known for their transmission refinement.That's probably why my point of reference is off

jebinc1

What power mirror problem are you referring to? As far as I knew, the 03 mirrors worked fine.... Please elaborate.

tundraguy1

Mine does that particular clunk noise also, I hope its not serious, but in the first oil change I will tell the service advisor about it so they can check it.

justin

the mirrors work great, but the controller thingy is designed/put on backwards. not intuitive. you would think that pointing it left, would move the left mirror. it doesn't - it moves the right mirror. and vice versa. i hear the 04 controller actually makes sense. move the selector to the left, to adjust the left mirror, and so on.

is that right? or was that "fix" just a rumor?

spulaski

Had my Accord one week, it's an early 2003 model i got on a dealer trade to accommodate my request for model with navi. When opening the trunk after a rain, the drivers side taillight leaks like a faucet into the trunk. 292 miles on it when purchased, front driver seat had wear signs, navi outdated, extreme breaking problems, and parts missing. I wonder if it was wrecked by the dealer or what. It is my second one of the same model in two months as I wrecked my other one. Instead of having a damaged car, I opted to invest the money, 2200 out of pocket and 40 extra in car payments to get a "NEW" new car. What a joke. This being my 4th Honda Accord, I am extremely displeased. I feel a "Lemon" law action about to take place.

rbruehl

I was just relaying the experiences I had with my Accord. Hey, two replaced transmissions is a little to much for anyone to handle.

I have heard all kinds of excuses regarding the transmission such as it was a supplier problem.
Well, it is a Honda problem as well as an Acura problem.

Enough said!

jebinc1

I think the "fix" was a rumor. I will check it in the morning and repost the results.

tblazer503

That's why I got rid of my Trailblazer...

5 safety recalls in the first year ranging from fuel filter falling off(possible fire/explosion), park not set right(may roll away), cracked front A arm(may lose front left suspension), I just got 2 more in the mail a couple of months ago. =o(

nice truck, just not worth the hassle.

It just sounded like you were responding to the poster re: his 12 year old car, so I was just askin...

justin

thanks.

serendip

Think of it as pointing the TOP of the switch to the right or left - then it's adjusting the correct mirror!

justin

i got it now. like is said, the controller is labeled at the bottom on my car, so i thought the other way.

nothing big, just one of those items on a car where i wonder "what was Honda thinking??"...

i hear it is "fixed" for 2004 though...

gubawatts

I'm currently looking for a used Accord.. my price range <$10,000 will likely limit me to models in the 95-98 model years, 4-door, 4-cyl, auto or manual, with most approaching 100K miles. (The manual trans models are hard to find). I'll be trading in my 95 Windstar with 110,000 on it, worth all of $1,200 :-( The intake manifold and timing chain cover gaskets are leaking coolant... that's why there's an '01 Odyssey sitting next to it in the garage - no more big 3 for me!!!

My question is, what are the watchouts in these model years? I have found a 95 wagon, and a 98 sedan at local dealers, but haven't driven anything yet. I also plan to have my local mechanic give them the once over...

Any and all advice is appreciated...

Thank you.

serendip

I agree with you - it drove me crazy, until I ignored the indicator. It is one of those little things.

Another one for me is that the doors don't automatically lock, BUT, you can't open a locked door from the inside without unlocking it first. I want the reverse - lock the doors for me, but let me get OUT of the car when I want to!

jebinc1

The mirror switch positions are the same as the 03; at least on my 04 which was manufactured in September.

ineedhelp

My 1987 Accord's rear break lights are constantly on. Even when I remove the key and turn off the engine, the light is still on. This has drained my battery so I had to disconnect it. Does anyone know what may be the cause of this?

jebinc1

The brake light switch (probably located near the brake pedal arm) is stuck closed. I would start looking there.

aggie1995

Accord the only vehicle you considering?

My opinion is that Honda's don't make very good used car values due to their high resale value. Nissan or Toyota would probably fit the bill better. I've even seen used 2002 Camry LE for as little as $13k. At that kind of depreciation you could probably find a 2000 within your price range and it should give you the same reliability as the Accord.

Good luck

gubawatts

Thanks for the reply... You make a good point about the Camry, I am also considering the Camry.. I guess I hadn't thought too much about Nissan, but probably worth a look.

Thanks

yanker

Upon recommendations here and from the dealer
   I have changed gasoline brands three times and still get the smell. What is the long term solution to present to the dealer. My Accord is is an EX auto with just under 5000 miles.

massmarket