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Comments
Underneath the engine is clean, so there is no oil leak.
I have to admit, I rarely check the oil on my Accord. Usually I get it changed around the 4000 mile mark. I'll check it then and it's usually about a half inch below the full mark.
Even if I had to add a quart every 3000 miles I would consider it perfectly acceptable.
Have had to replace valve cover gaskets when they get hard and leak oil-but that is really easy to see. Look at the filter and see if there is oil dropping on to the exhaust pipe-also check out the drain plug-any leaks around that.
When I spoke to the service managed about this, they said that it is within spec to have that discrepancy. But my belief if that cars with matching ride height on the left and right side will track more straight than those cars with unmatched springs. My own car has a ride height and that differs 1/4' from right to left.
I write this because I think it is highly probable that the ride height might have an influence on the alignment of the car, and I wish I had known of this and checked it before I purchased my car. I still think the Accord is a good car, but this experience will make me more cautious about wheels and suspensions on new cars in the future. Never trust a salesperson who says, "A wheel alignment will fix that." Always make sure your car is exactly right before making a deal on it. I think it is reasonable when buying such and expensive object that the alignment be consistent and perfect.
I have made a written on-line complaint to the NHTSA, and will write a letter to American Honda this weekend, but otherwise I think I might have to accept this flaw in my car and move on. Thanks to everyone who has helped on this message center who has read postings, and good luck to you all.
I've had two brake-related problems so far on my 03 EX-V6. First, excessive grinding noise from the pads about two weeks after I purchased the car. The dealer was at a loss as to the solution, so I called HCR, which worked with the dealer to fix the problem.
Now, at 7500 miles, the brakes shudder if applied when I'm driving more than 60 mph. The dealer told me that it's likely warped rotors, and that I might be liable for any repair cost (ludicrous). So I called HCR as a preemptive strike. Lo and behold, the dealer called today to let me know that they spoke with HCR and I would not be liable for any repair costs, and would I care for a rental car?
I don't suggest abusing the HCR option, but in cases like this, it certainly seems to help.
good to know that when mine go bad, i won't have to pay
Talking US units, it lost ~ 0.7 quart the last 3000 miles.
Between the Max and the Min marks on the dipstick there is a quart (946 ml for Canadians). In fact Max means 5 quarts and Min means 4 quarts of oil in the engine.
Bodble2, the oil in the I4 engines also stays remarkably clean between changes. I wonder if it's because the 5W20 they recommend for my 2001 is better than the classic 5W30.
Bburton3, your post reminded me that in fact I lost some oil during the last 3000 miles. It's because since I own this car I always replaced the oil by myself except once - in February. It was too cold so I went to Canadian Tire and there Arnold Schwartzeneger replaced it. He tightened the drain plug so much that the washer got probably partially compressed. In July I replaced again the oil - by myself this time. After the replacement I noticed oil spots on the garage floor and on the drain plug. After some head scratching I went to Honda, bought some new washers and replaced it. The oil leak completely stopped ! Obviously I have no clue how much of the 0.625 quarts were lost at that time. Also I lost a little bit when I replaced the washer.
By the way I always use a torque wrench when tightening the drain plug.
Sorry for the long message, but if you replace the oil by yourself I thought it could be useful for you to read my story.
they just turned the rotors.
note - the car is at about 1700 miles. the car had NO gas in it. gas light had been on for two days. i put gas in it right away this morning. smell went away, but by that time, the car was already warmed up too.
thoughts?
Absolutely normal-see if you can find any gasoline without the gasohol additive and see if that makes a difference. Oh about 4 months ago a law went thru making mandatory at least a 20% ethanol content in all gasoline in a couple of years-the farmers have real clout.
It's appreciated by me and others, I'm sure!
berbel
Next, I can try to deal with the vibrating doors when its cold or there is too much bass in the music (Howard Stern's voice makes the doors vibrate a lot) - anyone find a fix for this one?
Anyone have the a-pillar on the passenger side vibration? Any answers for that one?
frustrating with an otherwise great vehicle.
The proponents of ethanol are companies like ADM. They make the money. They just pretend it will raise the price paid to farmers for corn. Actually those companies are also in the large farm business too.
That bill passed with almost no attention in the media as to its real benefactors just like the house pay increase passed. I only heard it mentioned on WLW 700 am.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Use a small screwdriver and be careful not to scratch anything.
The Honda dealer has the tiny replacement bulb.
Nothing to it, really.
Sam
It didn't fix my car.
Thanks in advance.
i am not letting anyone touch the car just yet...;)
Justin - This Service Bulletin applies to cars with a symptom of "drifting to the right at highway speeds". It applies to all 2003 Accords, but not all Accords need it done. If your car is fine, you don't need this done.
Maybe they did fix it before they made our 08/03 cars?
yours is still working great, right? mine is...
I don't think I saw any 6th Gen with the "thump at start" TSB applied when I bought my 01 and this was around from the beginning of that Gen, I believe. A simple reroute of a vacuum line.
Now, if you're aware of any TSBs that apply to your vehicle, after you've purchased it, the dealer would have no problem doing them during warranty I suspect.
You have to do your own homework. This is where sites like this are very beneficial.
Yes! Mine is still great...and I continue to keep my fingers crossed!!
With the A/C off, most if not all of the time, window mist will form. Older systems required the A/C compressor to be switched on manually but carmakers figured that it would be more user-convenient to make it automatic.
keep letting me know how yours is doing. i will do the same!
I believe that on previous versions, and most domestics you can, though.
Like you posted, the main reason the A/C turns on is because the evaporator removes most of the humidity in the air(condenses on the evap, and causes the water drips under the car) and can more efficiently "defrost" the inside of the window.
It does NOT put a significant drag on the engine or cause the car to use much more fuel!
It's a GOOD thing!
I've tried different brands of gas (including those without ethanol content) but the smell just won't go away. My dealership service manager tells me that they've had two other customers complain about the smell, but eventually the smell went away. He told me that as long as the check engine light doesn't come on, there is no leak in the exhaust system.
I've read somewhere that Accords sold in Japan had a technical bulletin on faulty exhaustion pipes. My Accord was assembled in Japan; I wonder if that has anything to do with the smell.
Any advice? Should I just wait and see, or do you think there is a potential problem?
I think Toyota, Honda and others jumped the gun and maybe should have used the old specification for a year or two more.