I have the non-OEM aftermarket kit which is 99.7% similar to the OEM in looks, performance and durability. Where it's different are in the OEM logos and markings, which are (understandably) missing, and some Home Depot-ish looking screws which I replaced anyway.
If you'd rather have an installer do it, a Best Buy/Circuit City installer might do it for - and I'm guessing here - $100 to 150 on his own time. I did it myself in about 4 hours, most of which was thinking the instructions through to avoid doing things twice or worse, breaking things.
Good news is that the non-OEM kit is available on eBay for below $85.00 delivered. Installer-done, your total cost is $235.00 max for an aftermarket kit (which makes the dealer offer seem overpriced).
On the rare occasion I use them in Atlanta, I find that the lights illuminate the road and shoulders immediately ahead of the car that the headlights miss.
Doesn't seem much when going fast, but going slow in very dense fog, you can imagine that the road and shoulders immediately ahead of the car are the only areas useful and possible to illuminate. Headlights are pretty useless against thick fog hovering a foot above the road, and the fog lights are able to fill that air space.
I have the fog lights and agree with what atlantabenny says. I would add that it increases the ability of other drivers to see you as well. I like the look of the ones from the dealer.
I've read a lot about this add-on and problems regarding the spoiler lifting from the adhesive. Just wondering if there is any1 out here who has not had any problems? I'd like to think that the issues w/the spoiler are isolated incidents, but thought I'd post anyway.
There was a small news article last week where a court (US?, State?) released State Farm from a court order that they had to use OEM parts...outside replacement parets were OKed by the court. If the rest of the insurance companies copy this new court decision, then the use of OEM parts only may be a thing of the past. I would imagine that copy-cat parts companies were fighting to get that release becaue it may dramatically increase their sales.
Anybody know the details of that decision and potential impact?
I just got myself a set of new alloys and Michelin Pilot Primacy, I think they have the coolest look and grip. the handling of my car surely has improved. Andbody has any upgrade options in Dubai region?? :lemon:
I had the deck lid spoiler put on my 2005 when I bought it through the dealer. So far I haven't had any problems. It's been on the car for about 2 months now. I'm hoping that it's isolated too.
I bought the same car you have. I was wondering what other accesories have you put on? I have the deck lid spoiler and the fog lights. I also put on the chrome door sills that I got from ebay and they look awesome as well as the chrome tail pipe finishers. I was thinking of the autodimming rear view mirror but I had my windows tinted and I heard the auto dimming mirror won't work if you have tinted back window obviously because it can't tell enough of a differencethe difference after tinting. At least that's what happened to my brother after he tinted his G35 the auto dimming feature stopped working.
Hey folks, I'm considering an XM Sat subscription and am curious to know the opinions of those who are using it regularly.
Other than 2 out-of-state road trips/year, my regular driving is within Metro and am never out of range of FM. Program preferences are 1) NPR/Talk, 2) Jazz, 3) Christian and 4) 70s/80s. 03 coupe's got the 6-disc changer but honestly, stock album music even with 6 different CDs set at "Random" puts my mind in neutral.
I'm also looking to install an MP3 source as an XM alternative or supplement.
Any comment, suggestion or opinion would be much appreciated !
I've become an XM Satellite Radio afficionado and rarely listen to AM or FM anymore. I've probably played one CD since getting My 2004 Accord Coupe 1½ years ago. I highly recommend XM, even more so if your Accord already has an OEM XM radio. Otherwise it requires installation of an antenna and a bit of creativity to mount an aftermarket unit (I did so in my wife's Subaru Legacy).
Here's a copy of XM's Channel Guide so that you can determine for yourself if the programming suits you:
If your Accord is already equipped with the Navigation System, channel selection can be via voice command. As you will see, all of the programming that you've described is available, in spades.
I've noticed many XM channels have DJs that talk a lot between sets of songs. They like to "acknowledge" callers or emailers and chatter. They also play promos and commercials for XM products and other XM channels. They seem to think that although you're tuned to a specific channel that you must not know what that channel is - so the DJs keep telling you over and over and over. Their version of "commercial free" doesn't mean they just play uninterrupted music. I just wanted uninterrupted music so I'm disappointed.
I was interested in buying an Accord VP. The only thing is the stereo system. It comes with 2 speakers. Does anyone know if the stereo itself and the car is prewired for more. I think it has 2 front speaker and was wondering it the wires were in the back already and if the stereo is formatted for more than 2.
Where do you live. The Honda dealers in Albany New York won't bug below $20,000 and thiis is during their "clearance sale". Of course I've been looking for a while and there is no difference between the "regular" and "clearance" prices. That's way I was looking into the "VP" Model.
The stereo is completely set up for rear speakers and the grilles and wiring are already there. You could either buy the kit from Honda or buy a set of 6X9 speakers elsewhere. Here's a link to the installation instructions:
I already had a 35% tint on my '05 EX-L sedan before installing the auto day/night mirror, so I can't say whether it would have worked any different or better than without tint...but I can say that it works extremely well with the tint. I was constantly flipping the old mirror from day/night and I don't even have to think about it any more. The mirror is integrated into the electrical system so it will automatically un-tint when you shift into reverse, for better visibility when backing up. The compass is nice too.
It's discouraging that everyone is having this problem. I've had the car a week now & am scheduled to take it in tomorrow morning for my aftermarket tint, spoiler fix, and pinstriping removal. If they can't fix the spoiler to make it right, I'm going to talk to them about replacing the trunk & putting the other spoiler on. Not sure if they'll do it, but it's worth a shot.
Yep. Honda has always left out certain features on the Accord DX trim level (on which the VP is based) even if they'd only cost a few bucks more per car to include them. I guess it's their way of encouraging people to consider the more expensive trim levels. However, the current generation is probably one of the better-equipped DX's they've offered -- no DX ever had power windows or a standard CD player before the '03. My '86 DX didn't come with a radio at all!
I'm in the military moving overseas and taking my '03 Accord to my duty station. The law of the country where I'm going requires a red fog light in the back of the car and wanted to know if Honda sells a version of this light to fit my American Honda. I know the American Accord is sold in Japan as the Inspire and in other countries around the world. I've search on the net for JDM parts but no luck so far. The Altezza tail lights won't meet the requirements. Any good websites??? Thanks.
The outside temperature gauge is standard on all models with the automatic climate control system (that includes the EX V6). The auto climate control system requires the outside temperature for its algorithm. It is an accessory on other models.
Hey I am new to the whole modified world and I have a 99 accrod v-6. I have seen alot of cold air intakes on ebay but none of them are name brand and they cost like pennies compared to the others. Can I trust them or do I need to stick with some of the big names I have heard like Greddy or AEM? :shades:
I would definitely and easily choose aem over the greddy. Why? That's what the import racers uses duh! :P The only thing you need to be concern about is driving during wet, rainy, snowy, dusty weather, because the only thing that is keeping your filter clean is the splashguard near your tires. If water gets sucked in and hydrolock your engine..... uhmm you can say hello to a mechanic and pay big bucks. that's a no no.
The cold air intake is located away from the engine to pick up colder, denser air and usually 9-12 inches from the ground. Make sure you get a hydro cut-off installed. AEM and Ingen are the top two brands. Greddy is know for exhausts but not necessarily cold air intakes. Also get a cat back exhaust and then if you want to take the next step get headers.
I'm with you on the injen cold air intake. I was gonna say that if you (htown21) want a better cold air intake, go with the injen. It's a lil bit more expensive as far as i can tell. i've tried the injen and the aem before, IMHO i would definitely choose the injen.
Just bought a 2005 Accord VP. Drives great! However, my son isn't quite satisfied with it and he wants power door locks. Is it possible to install power door locks on an Accord VP? How much would it cost? Thanks for the help.
The answer is yes. The dealer can install them. I have an 05 Accord that already has them. I purchased an 05 Civic for my son in March and the dealer told me he could add them. I don't remember the price, however.
I believe that if your alarm actually stopped the car (immobilizer) there would be something; sticker, etc to let you know about that feature. There might be info. at an after-market alarm/stereo shop about your system.
Not necessarily. Some seatcovers (including aftermarket leather) are "weakened" in the blowout area to allow proper deployment in an emergency. If the seatcovers you're considering have a sewn-in "SRS" tag, they should be safe to use if properly installed.
Just got an 05 accord LX, and I'm wondering if there is a way to get the same audio controls on the steering wheel as the EX for my LX. I don't think it would be that hard because it is standard on the EX, so the wireing should already be in there right? Has anyone else tried this, and any suggestions on where to get the controls besides the dealer?
I was thinking of getting the Lowrance i500C GPS system for my 05 Accord LX.
I think the GPS system comes with some adaptor and stereo jack to connect to the car stereo. However I have no idea how to do it myself. Any ideas? Or do I need to get a dealer to do it?
Get a Garmin 2610 ($609) or Garmin 2720 ($814) from GPSdiscount . They are much ,much better. Both have voice and directions. The 2720 also announces the street names. They are portable and the voice comes for a speaker in the 12Volt plugin.
I have a 2002 Honda Accord 4 door. I am moving to california and would like to tow a small trailer with my belongings. Is it even possible? If so what is my payload limit? Will it ruin my transmission because i have an automatic? if i can what is the best way to install it and how much do you think i will have to pay.
The Garmin 2610 has a handheld remote control, which I've found to be an essential feature for quick inputting (unit can stay stationary to maintain satellite contact during trip set-up). Also, with "safety off," a passenger can search for Point-Of-Interest phone numbers while on the go.
Not sure of the Lowrance dimensions, but the Garmin 26/27 series perfectly fits inside the gen7 Accord's center console box (below stereo). I got an external antenna and installed a separate power source so the unit stays put, but yet can be removed easily for use in another car. The box lid just swings shut to hide the unit from view.
If the Lowrance has remote and the hide-away dimensions, it'd certainly be an option.
Lastly, I'd look at processor speed of both units to see how fast it re-routes after a wrong turn or intentional detour. Quick processing means making quick corrective maneuvers, important when in strange and/or high-risk areas.
Your owner's manual will list your car's maximum towing capacity. You will definitely NOT be doing your transmission any favors by towing even a small trailer. Presuming you have an automatic transmission, if you must tow, then do a full transmission service before (if the factory fill fluid is still in the transmission) and again after the move. Make certain only genuine Honda Z-1 automatic transmission fluid is used, too. Welcome to Kaulee-for-knee-yuh - land of der Arnold.
Last week I leased a 2005 Accord LX AT. We are very happy with the car. It is my first Honda, but my parents are on thier 3rd (2 accords both with 300,000+ kms and 1 CRV).
In anycase, I am looking for something that may or may not exist. I am looking for a scuff guard for the rear bumper to prevent scuffs from putting things in the trunk. Similar to the step covers you see on minivans and SUVs that have painted bumpers. Tried these guys: http://www.handa-accessories.com/ but can't seem to find what I'm looking for. I guess an alternative would be to get a company that installs clear bras to put a peice over the portion of the rear bumper. I'm trying to prevent scraping up the paint since we will be putting a stroller in the truck often and my four year old now wants to put his back pack in the truck on the way to school etc.
2nd item, does anyone have any experince with the Honda Leather steering wheel cover? Is the LX steering wheel with the cover about the same thickness as the EX or does adding the cover make it to fat for a lack of a better description? I would love a leather steering wheel, but want it to feel right.
I have a black '05 v6 w/nav and I was considering getting them. I found a tire place that will chrome the factory rims that came on the car for a reasonable price.
Thanks for the point about handheld remote. Now that you've mentioned, I noticed that the Garmin units all come with the handheld remote but the iWay500c does not. Also the 500c is a bit bigger than the Garmin so I'm not sure if it can fit into the Accord center console box.
I'll wait and see if there are any offers coming up this fall before making a final decision. BTW, do you have any shops/internet websites to recommend for the purchase of GPS systems? I've googled and found so many different online retailers selling all these systems. Just not sure if some of them are reliable although I would think that major ones (eg amazon) should be ok.
PC magazine is knowelegeable on PCs not necessarily GPSs. Lowrance has long been known for marine and fish finders as the article says they are just getting into porable auto gps. The two leading GPS makers are Magellan and Garmin; they have been in the business a long time and have honed thier products to be very usable.
I have used Garmin street pilot III with voice, Garmin 2610 and Honda's built in GPS.
Garmin has a beanbag mount (you also can install permaannet and semiperminant mounting plates) and can be hooked up in any car in seconds; I have taken it on many business trips. Garmin shows speed direction, distance to finish, distancne to next direction etc. It has excellent search capabilties and it is easy to say your own waypoints and label them with names and differnet symbols. Also recalulates quckly if you make a wrong term. it has a computer interface and details of any point in the US can be loaded.
In summary the iway500C looks pretty good and you would probably be happy with it. I have used the Garmin products for over 4 years and I can attest they are very, very usable and one of the best. I like the new Honda except it is difficult to mark POIs and I have yet to figure out how to relable them.
But somewhere it is remembering the last addresses that I went to, I guess there is a very,very small potion of RAM that is writable. Just not enough for me to relabel the waypoints. I have a Garmin and can relabel the waypoints to things that are easier to remember that "13456 Fernbacker Lane".
Anyway thanks for the Alpine ROM info even though it wasn't exactly what I wanted to hear
cruisin in 6th :shades: up to 27.1 mpg on my daily commute
MidCow
P.S.- If it were all highway cruising and didn't have that mandatory stop-n-go jam up I could easily get the EPA highway of 30 mpg.
P.S.S. - The overall mpg and instantaneous mileage meter on the Accord NAV system is great for trying to maximize your miles per gallon.
The 2005 Honda Accord I-4 has a factory specified towing limit of 1,000 lbs, the same as many mid-size sedans. So a small trailer or small boat will tow well. By the way, the Ford Escape I-4s in both regular and Hybrid models also have a maximum towing capacity of 1,000 lbs. If you have a small trailer, then go to an authorized hitch installer and see what they offer. Enjoy.
Comments
If you'd rather have an installer do it, a Best Buy/Circuit City installer might do it for - and I'm guessing here - $100 to 150 on his own time. I did it myself in about 4 hours, most of which was thinking the instructions through to avoid doing things twice or worse, breaking things.
Good news is that the non-OEM kit is available on eBay for below $85.00 delivered. Installer-done, your total cost is $235.00 max for an aftermarket kit (which makes the dealer offer seem overpriced).
On the rare occasion I use them in Atlanta, I find that the lights illuminate the road and shoulders immediately ahead of the car that the headlights miss.
Doesn't seem much when going fast, but going slow in very dense fog, you can imagine that the road and shoulders immediately ahead of the car are the only areas useful and possible to illuminate. Headlights are pretty useless against thick fog hovering a foot above the road, and the fog lights are able to fill that air space.
My .02 - hope it helps.
I've read a lot about this add-on and problems regarding the spoiler lifting from the adhesive. Just wondering if there is any1 out here who has not had any problems? I'd like to think that the issues w/the spoiler are isolated incidents, but thought I'd post anyway.
Thanks so much! This forum rocks!!
Anybody know the details of that decision and potential impact?
I bought the same car you have. I was wondering what other accesories have you put on? I have the deck lid spoiler and the fog lights. I also put on the chrome door sills that I got from ebay and they look awesome as well as the chrome tail pipe finishers. I was thinking of the autodimming rear view mirror but I had my windows tinted and I heard the auto dimming mirror won't work if you have tinted back window obviously because it can't tell enough of a differencethe difference after tinting. At least that's what happened to my brother after he tinted his G35 the auto dimming feature stopped working.
Thanks
Other than 2 out-of-state road trips/year, my regular driving is within Metro and am never out of range of FM. Program preferences are 1) NPR/Talk, 2) Jazz, 3) Christian and 4) 70s/80s. 03 coupe's got the 6-disc changer but honestly, stock album music even with 6 different CDs set at "Random" puts my mind in neutral.
I'm also looking to install an MP3 source as an XM alternative or supplement.
Any comment, suggestion or opinion would be much appreciated !
I've become an XM Satellite Radio afficionado and rarely listen to AM or FM anymore. I've probably played one CD since getting My 2004 Accord Coupe 1½ years ago. I highly recommend XM, even more so if your Accord already has an OEM XM radio. Otherwise it requires installation of an antenna and a bit of creativity to mount an aftermarket unit (I did so in my wife's Subaru Legacy).
Here's a copy of XM's Channel Guide so that you can determine for yourself if the programming suits you:
http://www.xmradio.com/pdf/channel_guide.pdf
If your Accord is already equipped with the Navigation System, channel selection can be via voice command. As you will see, all of the programming that you've described is available, in spades.
Thanks. Dave
Dave
http://www.collegehillshonda.com/instructions/03accord/rearspeakers.pdf
Thanks
Dave
It's discouraging that everyone is having this problem.
Thanks again for your response!
Good Luck,
MidCow
thanks!
I recently bought a 1993 accord 2.2 SE 2dr and it seems to have a factory security system but no remote control.
It has a button on the control panel and the alarm periodicly goes off.
The dealership says it is not a real factory option but a dealer add on and they have no clue what to do.
My question is this. If I can't operate it, how can I disconect it and how deep does it go? Simply a noise maker or will it stop the car?
Thanks!
Which brand of car cover do you guys recommend?
I think the GPS system comes with some adaptor and stereo jack to connect to the car stereo. However I have no idea how to do it myself. Any ideas? Or do I need to get a dealer to do it?
Thanks
Thanks to anyone that might be able to help!
I'm looking at the iway500c because of the rave reviews it has received, including the PC magazine Editor's Choice award.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,,1817854,00.asp
Price-wise the iway500c is also competitive.
Not sure of the Lowrance dimensions, but the Garmin 26/27 series perfectly fits inside the gen7 Accord's center console box (below stereo). I got an external antenna and installed a separate power source so the unit stays put, but yet can be removed easily for use in another car. The box lid just swings shut to hide the unit from view.
If the Lowrance has remote and the hide-away dimensions, it'd certainly be an option.
Lastly, I'd look at processor speed of both units to see how fast it re-routes after a wrong turn or intentional detour. Quick processing means making quick corrective maneuvers, important when in strange and/or high-risk areas.
Last week I leased a 2005 Accord LX AT. We are very happy with the car. It is my first Honda, but my parents are on thier 3rd (2 accords both with 300,000+ kms and 1 CRV).
In anycase, I am looking for something that may or may not exist. I am looking for a scuff guard for the rear bumper to prevent scuffs from putting things in the trunk. Similar to the step covers you see on minivans and SUVs that have painted bumpers. Tried these guys: http://www.handa-accessories.com/ but can't seem to find what I'm looking for. I guess an alternative would be to get a company that installs clear bras to put a peice over the portion of the rear bumper. I'm trying to prevent scraping up the paint since we will be putting a stroller in the truck often and my four year old now wants to put his back pack in the truck on the way to school etc.
2nd item, does anyone have any experince with the Honda Leather steering wheel cover? Is the LX steering wheel with the cover about the same thickness as the EX or does adding the cover make it to fat for a lack of a better description? I would love a leather steering wheel, but want it to feel right.
Thanks!!
How do chrome rims affect the resale value?
Thanks for the point about handheld remote. Now that you've mentioned, I noticed that the Garmin units all come with the handheld remote but the iWay500c does not. Also the 500c is a bit bigger than the Garmin so I'm not sure if it can fit into the Accord center console box.
I'll wait and see if there are any offers coming up this fall before making a final decision. BTW, do you have any shops/internet websites to recommend for the purchase of GPS systems? I've googled and found so many different online retailers selling all these systems. Just not sure if some of them are reliable although I would think that major ones (eg amazon) should be ok.
I read your review and it sounds pretty good.
PC magazine is knowelegeable on PCs not necessarily GPSs. Lowrance has long been known for marine and fish finders as the article says they are just getting into porable auto gps. The two leading GPS makers are Magellan and Garmin; they have been in the business a long time and have honed thier products to be very usable.
I have used Garmin street pilot III with voice, Garmin 2610 and Honda's built in GPS.
Garmin has a beanbag mount (you also can install permaannet and semiperminant mounting plates) and can be hooked up in any car in seconds; I have taken it on many business trips. Garmin shows speed direction, distance to finish, distancne to next direction etc. It has excellent search capabilties and it is easy to say your own waypoints and label them with names and differnet symbols. Also recalulates quckly if you make a wrong term. it has a computer interface and details of any point in the US can be loaded.
In summary the iway500C looks pretty good and you would probably be happy with it. I have used the Garmin products for over 4 years and I can attest they are very, very usable and one of the best. I like the new Honda except it is difficult to mark POIs and I have yet to figure out how to relable them.
YMMV,
MidCow
You can't re-label any data on the Honda/Alpine Navigation System's DVD-ROM. After all, it's Read Only Memory.
But somewhere it is remembering the last addresses that I went to, I guess there is a very,very small potion of RAM that is writable. Just not enough for me to relabel the waypoints. I have a Garmin and can relabel the waypoints to things that are easier to remember that "13456 Fernbacker Lane".
Anyway thanks for the Alpine ROM info even though it wasn't exactly what I wanted to hear
cruisin in 6th :shades: up to 27.1 mpg on my daily commute
MidCow
P.S.- If it were all highway cruising and didn't have that mandatory stop-n-go jam up I could easily get the EPA highway of 30 mpg.
P.S.S. - The overall mpg and instantaneous mileage meter on the Accord NAV system is great for trying to maximize your miles per gallon.