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Comments
Golf-
At what point in your ownership did you notice this problem? In other words how many miles did you put on the car when this problem became evident?
Has anyone else experienced this problem? If so when and at how many miles?
Also have you or anyone else on this board recorded the MPG for the V6, especially on interstate trips?
Such as? I'm curious now...
I test drove 2 similar model cars '08 EXL V6. No vibration or surge. They accelerated and ran firm and strong. The rear windshield is smaller than that of Accord '02 or '05 V6. Cost cutting? But from exterior it looks much bigger than the '07 V6. It looks really beautiful. The 2 fog lamps are useful. Front grill looks sportier than that of the I4. The 4 big chrome door handles look great.
That's your "lead foot" like my son's. It's not the car. If I drive it I will be able to achieve better MPG.
I agree. The power is so choice, I just can't seem to go easy on the gas pedal. Driving is fun again.
...... a long way from the near 40 (I-10W near Yuma; I-5N LA-SAC) I've calc'd...
.....but I was solo; tach indicating circa 2150 in 6th OD, no a/c..........
Some of the clueless with places to go, a large fuel budget and not enough time seemed to resent my pace..................several birds noticed as they roared past.
....best, ez....
my 1st honda after 6 maximas since 1985
2008 Honda Accord 6cy ex-l w/navi and have been satisfied so far
but..
I notice a "clicking noise" which kinda sounds like valves clicking and/or a little like a diesel clicking coming from deep in the engine. Not the clicking from the compressor or fans or timing belt pulleys either. Nope I did not pay off anyone for the new diesel either!
Anyone have similar noises?
The service rep had not heard this on another 2008 vcm engine (no other complaints) yet and suggested to monitor the "check engine lights" as if there is an issue these sensors would pick it up. The "clicking: seems to be more noticable after 75+ mph & 30+ minute trips. It is annoying when coming to idle and hearing it do these inside the cabin????
ideas??
speaking of service rep and timing "belt" I bought this top of the line Honda "assuming" it was a CHAIN timing belt only to find out at the "clicking" noise inspection it is a timing BELT
~$700 service at 110,000 :mad:
Now WHY would Honda revert back to the HIGH MAINTANENCE costs of a belt??
My last 2 Maximas('96 & '01) had CHAINS and being a high mileage driver that made me
also I've not had any noticeable issues w/ the vcm. Pretty smooth operating so far. ~1250 miles
....thoughts?
My Accord hybrid '05 gets 37K miles with absolutely NO NOTICE on VCM mechanism. My '08 EX-L V6 w/ Nav. gets only 24 miles in my garage under a thick extra large car cover now while I drive my 95 @ 252K miles and '02, '03, '05 Accord V6.
In fact, when my wife and I took delivery of my '08 EX-L V6 w/ Nav. she asked the internet manager to let me test drive it before we signed the contract. I did not test drive it but just drove it home because it's flawless and I can bring it back to the dealer any time before 36K miles/ 3 years if there is any problem. At several ocsasions, my wife got upset with me because I have obsessed with Honda technology and been doing lot of talk about Honda technology with her.
Accord is a true star model of Honda. Why wastes $45K+ on European cars with same or less value/ specifications. I do not think similar class European/ American cars can match with the Accord. The internet sale manager told me Honda made the '08 V6 EX Accord so people will only Accord and forget about MB or BMW, etc.
BTW, somebody may want to ask Golf to scan your sale contract with Honda & post it in this forum to prove he does own the car with VCM issue as he states.
I have several extra Accords at top working conditions to drive around so I want to take my time before driving much on my new one '08. One of my acquaintances bought a $60K+ sport MB and he let it stay in his garage for years without driving it much. I told his wife even without driving it much her husband's new MB will depreciate over time when new models come out and the engine & other parts in that car are still in the process of rusting. However, at low mileage the car is still better. That's similar with my Accord V6 EX '02 @ 61K mile. It still runs like brand new @ day one.
I told my wife that one folk in Edmunds forum tested the VSA of the Accord on highly snowy roads and its VSA worked "awesome". I said thanks to that folk because (1) I have never got a chance to test the VSA of my new car on snowy roads, (2) I am much more confident with Accord VSA and other safety features, (3) I get a chance to convince my wife that the new Accord has VSA that is truly needed when the drivers drive it on snowy roads and told her that I was right to buy a new Accord with extra safety features because my '05 Accord hybrid does not have VSA. I want to sooth her off that buying a new car is not always "luxury & unnecessary thing" when we still have "oldie cars" and they still run in "awesome" condition because I have "pampered and put fragrance on them when they get sick or need periodic maintenance". In NYC, there was a real story of an Accord owner that the thieves repeatedly stole goodie stuff in his Accord. And the last time they stole his whole Accord. There were several Volvo near that Accord but thieves did not steal or touch the Volvo. Thieves did steal my cousin's Accord in Canada. In Sacramento, thieves also stole old Accord. So, Accord owners, please be aware, .
Other car manufacturers may claim their cars have ABS, VSA, cruise control, brake assist, navi, etc...but it does not necessarily those features work at top conditions. But, with Honda when they claim their cars have specific features I am confident that those features work at top conditions because I have owned Honda motor bikes and cars for more than 40 years and been a loyal customers to Honda due to its excellence and its leadership in new technology.
As to Golf, the readers, especially Honda engineers and other engineers, may want to kindly ask him to scan his sale contract with Honda and post it here to prove his purchase of a new '08 Accord. His real name does not need to be revealed to protect his privacy. Mcpdjohn mentioned some bad guys even gave out badly low scores to nice Accord '08 to bring down its average score. If a buyer gives a Honda salesman under perfect score (less than 5) that review will be considered bad. Honda only counts the excellent score (5). So many Honda salesmen told me same thing.
Thanks for checking on...,me, Mcpdjohn. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to you and yours.
My powertrain warranty is 5 years/60,000 miles on my 2006 Accord. Your VCM should be covered under that, not just the 3/36k plan.
......probability for bottom line rectification of perceived VCM grief remains high.
..hang in there, 'ski.....it will all work out.
Season's best, ez....
Sure it is. If you take it for more than that you really shouldn't. Maybe we should all swear on a stack of bibles too. :surprise:
Let's drop the sarcasm and let the conversation take place between those who are interested, please.
The rest of you can move along - apparently there's nothing for you to see here.
A high-pressure turbo and an intercooler may be a complex system, but a tried and true system as SAAB initially used this system in the early '80s SAAB 900 Turbo. It's a very reliable design, and a high-pressure turbo will easily reach 150K miles without a failure if one changes oil regularly and uses a quality oil in the first place - and, not shut the engine down immediately after high-speed operation, so that you don't cook the oil out of the turbo's bearings.
Diesels, especially those used in over the road trucks, have been using this design for many years, and it's truly a reliable solution. I think some are just concerned with the long-term reliability question of the VCM system.
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Don't be offended, but I've read enough at this point and feel several of you need a dose of common sense.
I'm plenty experienced enough to realize that what I have to say won't register properly with most of you younger guys, but it will register with a few who are wise beyond their years.
Sure, it's nice to be green and add a few MPG and save a few hundred bucks a year in gas. However, it usually ends up costing you in other ways - especially long term.
I find things like turbos and VCM to be too complex and too annoying when working properly. There's no guarantee they will continue to work properly - even during the warranty period. I'd especially be afraid to own a vehicle long term with either setup.
For decades, reliability has been important to me. Fortunately, I've found that in my last 3 Japanese vehicles. I came to realize that added complexity often leads to additional trips to a dealer service department (if under warranty) and additional costs once warranty expires.
I expected to find complaints about Honda's newest (more complex) VCM system and here they are! Beyond the current complaints, I can't help but wonder how well VCM will work at 100k miles and beyond. Will the cylinders that are active at all times wear prematurely? Will vibration gradually increase as a result? Will the complaints be numerous enough to land Accords with VCM on the "do not buy" list? That would hurt resale value.
Given the motivation, I'd go for the 4-banger or non-VCM V6/6MT. However, nothing in 11 years has been able to "motivate" me out of my 1997 Maxima GXE V6/5MT. It's quiet, comfortable, very reliable, and gets great gas mileage, thanks to a smaller V6 and a curb weight of less than 3100 pounds. It's still very quick and torquey by today's V6 standards, which are installed in cars of similar size that have gained at least 350 pounds.
Perhaps it's my age, but there isn't a midsize sedan or coupe that makes my old Maxima seem ancient. My Maxima is quieter on the highway than the new Accord (What's Honda's excuse?), gets similar gas mileage, rides and handles almost as well, has comfortable cloth seats, etc. I travel 1350 miles to Florida and back every year in reasonable comfort and without worrying about a breakdown. At 140k miles, it's still in great shape!
As much as I like Honda and a few other Japanese makes, they're going down the wrong road, as far as I'm concerned. The only big plus in newer models is increased safety. Make me a slightly larger Civic that rivals my Maxima in quickness (with a larger I4 or small V6 engine), comfort, smoothness, quietness, roominess, and I'll ditch my Maxima. The new Accord has grown a bit too large and complex for me.
Perhaps the 2009 Mazda3 or 2009 Corolla will be adequate for a few years or until someone makes an inexpensive sedan that meets my criteria for simplicity and comfort.
I too did think about the wear on the cylinders but my conclusion was not that there will be pre-mature failure of the cylinders that work all the time (they would work anyway), I think the other cylinders would stay newer since don't get used as much.
As for longetivity, I think I read somewhere here that another forum poster, Viet, has had a relatively older Honda w/ VCM and it works fine. Apparently, VCM is not that new to Honda.
Won't this apply to any car? As in case of your Maxima, all cylinders are active at all times. The result... they should all wear out prematurely. :P
Today's cars are more complex than cars of 20 years ago. Car makers also have more knowledge about how to build them, and refine them, than 20 years ago. As complex as today's cars are, I think they are at least as reliable as they were 20 years ago. A lot has been learned (about how to make cars more reliable) over the past 20 years. At least those companies that believe in R & D (Research and Developement) as an investment have. As reliable as my 92 Accord was, my 03 Accord has been at least as reliable ($0 on repairs at 51k miles) so far.
Very honestly the only minor issue I have with my Accord hybird '05 is the occasional "very tiny humming noise" when it switches between the electric & gas engine or vice versa when the car slows down on the freeway ramps... Otherwise, the car runs very strong, like a big cruising ship. Car "glues" on sharp narrow small winding roads very impressively. Its 255 HP runs impressively & effortlessly on all hills with 30/ 37+ MPG. When I start the engine it "VROOOOOM" to show its strong muscles. When it cruises the hybrid components generates a tiny sound "EEER EEER" very intetrestingly. Many drivers gets addicted to that tiny sound. In '06 & '07 Accord hybrid that "tiny humming noise" issue has been much refined. I have not heard any complains about same issue with Civic hybrid. In all hyrbrids, Civic is rated number one. Accord hybrid is rated number 10.
The '08 top Accord (VCM, ACE, VSA, ABS...) gets top 5 stars on reliability, engineering, overall value,etc, by automobile critics. The '08 top Accord I bought 3 weeks ago is my sixth Accord on the row excluding my 1986 Civic and many Honda motor bikes.
Every products have gone through process of inventions and refinements. As far as to the VCM of the Accord, it is unnoticeable.
At some point, however, the Maxima is not going to run like you want it to - and you will be forced to replacing it. And when you do, don't fret. . . I believe you are already in the place you fear. . . . just like the 08 Accords, you can't simply tweak the carborator in your 97 Maxima to tune the engine . . the timing is no longer adjusted with a timing gun and a wrench. The days of "simple" automobiles are LONG past and your 97 Maxima, in its day, likely was more complex that the new 08 Accords. We're all stuck in this age of incessent refinement and the skyrocketing price of gasoline is only going to make the problem worse. When it does come time to replace your Maxima, all you can do is learn about the options and pick the lesser of all the evils.
Rest assured, manufacturers like Honda and Toyota are going to use technology that is tried and tested. They sell too many cars to risk any major failures. They are not at the forefront of anything and their ability to "push the envelope" is limited by their own success. Leave the true risk-taking to those who have less to loose or those who want to try to take a stab at gaining on the kings of market share.
the advertising is misleading in my opinion.
You clearly do not understand how the auto industry works nor the history behind many manufacturing issues with both these automakers and "certain" prts and or components from time to time Noone is perfect. Now what i will say is its not so much the makers ability to be first to market or have a defective design more then it is their ability to correct.. which they both do well usually in the end