Older Honda Accords

treoster · May 2003

In regards to "use synthetic instead of 5w20 by mikejdsn".
I think it's horsepuckey that the engine is smoother and quieter...I've use regualr and synth in many cars for many year, and it never affected the performance.
The synth may last a while longer, but I change every 3K, so there's no advantage to synth over regular.

(I know many will disagree, but I've taken two, new civics, given one synth, and one regular oil, driven them more or less the same, and after 100,000 miles (3K oil change interval), when the engines were opened up, you couldn't tell the difference.)

lichtronimo · May 2003

I saw this 3M paint protection product when I was at the dealer last week installed for $199.00:

http://cms.3m.com/cms/US/en/2-168/czuzuFG/view.jhtml

Its basically a clear film applied to the leading edge of the front fenders, hood and bumper to prevent paint damage. You couldn't see it unless you look very closely for the rear edge cutting across the hood. Seems like a good deal.

mikek37 · May 2003

I was looking into it also. But you can definitely notice when you are from 5-10 feet away. The same can be said about rock chips, they can only be seen from 5 to 10 feet away. Its one or the other, see ht eplastic coating or see a few rock chips. I chose the rock chips.

jmess · May 2003

Wait until you get 10 or 20 rock chips and you will have wished you went with the plastic film. I chose the plastic ;-)

mitchflorida · May 2003

For whatever reason, I had put off doing the ventilation filter change out. The dealer wanted an incredible $115+ Tax to change the darn thing out . . so I just never had it done.

After 4 years and 51,000 miles, I finally went to the local Goodyear dealer and he replaced the filter for only $55 installed. It took the poor guy at least 45 minutes to get the job done . .. no way I could have done it on my own, glad I didn't try. But the difference in air quality is incredible , and it cools a lot better as well. This change out should be done every 2 years or so. For do it yourselfers see below. Has anyone attempted to do it themselves

P.S. Goodyear used a Purolator air filter . . I trust just as good as Honda air filter that cost double the price!

http://www.batauto.com/articles/cabinair.shtml

dindak · May 2003

$115??????

Must be made of gold.

mikejdsn · May 2003

i don't think treoster read my message carefully about using the synthetic oil. I swithced from using 5w20 to synthetic 5w30 and noticed significant differences. I will never use 5w20 again. In my old prelude, I prefer regular over synthetic.

mikek37 · May 2003

Significant differences, I honestly doubt it...

isellhondas · May 2003

Are a miserable job to replace. I watched as one of our top techs struggled to replace mine.

It's also very easy to break the plastic panel.

seaf · May 2003

Are available at:

http://www.osa.go.jp/anzen/html2003e/as105.html

They show the mazda6 (Mazda Atenza) beats the Accord by a slight margin. This coupled with the availability of side curtain airbags in a 4cylinder pretty much swayed me toward the Mazda6. I have been fairly undecided between the two before, and now every one of my own criterias are met by the Mazda6 (styling, reliability, value, safety).
I was not sure of Mazda6's safety compared to the Accord's until now.
Not trying to start another "this car versus another" thread, but just thought I'd share my own buying decision thought processes. I've been a Honda owner for quite a few years, and I believe Honda is still a good car company, but there are other competitors nibbling very closely behind.

mikek37 · May 2003

The plastic is more noticeable then tiny rock chips. Best of luck with the 3m protective barrier though. Did you get the full package ( Headlights, mirrors, fender).

alpha01 · May 2003

Isn't the Japanese Accord the TSX here, making that comparison not exactly valid? I may be wrong.
~alpha

theparallax · May 2003

The JDM Accord is the same thing as the TSX over here, but both cars are on the same platform and the main differences are the exterior sheetmetal and suspension. The frame is basically the same.

talon95 · May 2003

Given that there are different safety standards in Japan vs. the US, it's more than a bit of a leap to assume that the Japanese and US models will perform the same. If the absolute highest safety ratings are that important to you, I'd wait until you can compare US spec models.

silverk21 · May 2003

I’m experiencing the same thing with my EX V6. Believe me; my problem is not from driving through puddles or washing the car after being driven. I had the same problem with my ’98 and the dealer said I must have driven though a puddle or went through a car wash. I did not know that improperly torqued wheel nuts were a common cause. Since I never take the tires off myself, it makes you wonder who really is responsible for the warping. Thanks for the info.

treoster · May 2003

On the 2003 Accord (and possibly other years), these are a breeze to replace. Complete do it yourself job, even for the total luddite.

The filter is expensive from the dealer, b/c they include the plastic housing, whichis completely unnecessary if you already have an in-cabin filter installed.

Just find a micronAir retailer and get the filter itself. Part codes can be found at www.micronair.com.

I replace mine 2x a year, and it makes a big difference.

dindak · May 2003

They seem to hit a lot of cars these days, I've seen this issue in other forums also. I wonder if they are all made by the same supplier.

Kirstie_H · May 2003

Join us tonight, 6-7pm PT/9-10pm ET for Town Hall Trivia Night and member-to-member chat  come test your knowledge and chat with fellow members!

http://www.edmunds.com/townhall/chat/townhallchat.html

See you there!

houstonsedan03 · May 2003

Does is REALLY guarantee against acid rain, eliminates waxing, guarantees against fading and loss of gloss FOR 6 YEARS???????? No waxing for 6 years? Hard to believe. Claims it repels sun, dirt chemicals, acid rain, oxidation, and salt?

robr2 · May 2003

Here's a link:

http://www.ias-inc.net/pages/products/tw.asp

The telling fact is the 5 product maintenance kit sent to you. Sounds like someone has to apply something to keep that gloss.

houstonsedan03 · May 2003

Thanks for the link "robr2", but it only says a few words. The kit you get with the package does come with wash soap, leather conditioner and cleaner, glass cleaner and a clay bar I believe. But, "aftermarket" claims you don't necessarily have to use all that because I made a comment about what if a person has their car washed and detailed and doesn't do it themselves. They claim it still guarantees against acid rain, eliminates waxing, guarantees against fading and loss of gloss FOR 6 YEARS???????? No waxing for 6 years? Hard to believe. Claims it repels sun, dirt chemicals, acid rain, oxidation, and salt? I'm wondering, here in Houston, it gets in the upper 90's which is a lot of hot sun!! For 3 months also, sometimes more. That's a lot of heat on a car paint that sits outside at work. That's why I was wondering if it really would look "new" in 6 years. And I still can't believe the product claims you don't have to wax for 6 years. Can you imagine no waxing your car for 6 years, with our hot sun in Texas, and it it still has the same gloss as when it was new? The product claims, no loss of gloss.... Still hard to fathom. Also, those weekend trips to Galveston is a given for salt air. I was hoping that someone that had this product applied to their car, several years ago, would comment on if it really works.

mikek37 · May 2003

They are correct. You dont have to wax the section where you apply the protective film.If it is like the 3m Guard, then it doesn't have to be waxed, because the paint is covered till the film is removed.

The paint will be just fine. Still be as shiney as new. The film is acting as a protective barrier, offering UV protection and the main advantage no more rock chips.

As for not yellowing, or holding up against that hot Texas sun you have down there, who knows?

If I were to get one, I would purchase the 3M brand film.

But Ill deal with the occasional rock chip, instead of plopping on a piece of plastic.

As with anything, its not a perfect product.

Yes it protects against paint chips, but when you are about 5 feet away you see this piece of plastic over your entire hood. People say its not noticeable, yes it is! Kinda like putting on seat covers. I have never seen the point of them.

mikek37 · May 2003

Do any accord EX-L V6 owners regret not geting the Acura TSX?

gee35coupe · May 2003

I usually drive my GS300 but last night I had our 03 EX-L coupe. When I was mergig on the freeway I saw soome lights darting in and out of traffic. Not being one to let a good rabbit leave I took off behind the car(another 03 LX 4 door). It's was funny to watch the reaction of the guy when I matched his speed and passsed him at about 110. It was an auto, so our 5 speed left him sitting there. The whole time I was thinking "A TSX would be great in this situation." My GS300 is just too big to have that much fun in.

talon95 · May 2003

"Do any accord EX-L V6 owners regret not geting the Acura TSX?"

I don't... I prefer the styling of the TSX to a degree, but since I've made the transition into the auto tranny phase of my driving career after years of driving stick, the V6 is better suited for an automatic than the 4 in the TSX.

gee35coupe · May 2003

My GS is an auto. It's a very nice car. But I found out last night that I think I'm shifty. I think my GS's time will be limited. I'm fighting the urge though

dbnr01 · May 2003

I have a 2003 Accord V6, after driving the car for an hour if I take the key out of ignition, it is burning hot. I can hardly touch it, wanted to know if any one else has same problem. Thx.

riship · May 2003

Accord 03 exv6 sedan. They are Micheline Energy, but I am now realizing there are so many energy tires. The tires do say s8 on them and i found a michlin energy s8. they also say "radial xse". There is a energy plus xse, but mine say plus nowhere.

Secondly does it matter. My mother punctured a tire with only 3K on the car. She was not smart and drove an additional 300 feet or so. I'm not sure but I think the tire is ruined. If I have to replace the tire is it better for any reason to get an identical tire. Reviews on these tires aren't so great and they are expensive. MXV4 S8 is 144 at tirerack and I don't even know where to find them in Houston.

robr2 · May 2003

You generally should having matching tires on each axle (brand, size, model, wear). Since you only had 3k on them, you can probably get by with just one.

I recently had to buy 2 tires when I slid on ice, hopped curb and blew out a tire with 20K on it.

ultima · May 2003

Since ya'll mentioned the TSX, here's a nice review that just came out... Though, I'm not sure if any V6 owners would feel let down by the power difference -- haven't driven one yet, but the consensus seems to be most (myself included) would have liked a V6 version of the TSX. Again, haven't tested one, so can't speak directly to the "power" issue.

Enjoy the article:

http://www.autoweb.com/content/research/index.cfm?id=17699;TAWEB&- amp;action=showArticle&aid=138526

houstonsedan03 · May 2003

There are a lot of comments on this subject. I didn't read them since I haven't had this problem. I think I was reading them on the "Honda Accord Problems Part 2" section, most "recent messages". Try there and let me know if that isn't the correct section.

houstonsedan03 · May 2003

I did get this package when I bought the car new in December. I talked 'em down to $300. That included 12 free details also. I thought at that price it would be worth it if it did all that it claimed for 6 years, and if it didn't, there is a warranty. I was just wondering, does it really work? But, as far as the look? It looks beautiful. Your comment, "but when you are about 5 feet away you see this piece of plastic over your entire hood." Just looks like a waxed pretty shiny car to me. I don't see any plastic at all. I know you were talking about the 3M brand, and this is different. My car was new in Dec. so it still should look new. I just wanted to comment on what you were saying about the hood looking like it has a piece of plastic over it. Nope, can't tell at all, guess that's why I was wondering when I bought it new, drove it for a week, took it in to get it's SuperPolyShield and got it back and it looked the same to me! Was even wondering if anything was even done! But there again, I have a warranty.

03lxv6 · May 2003

Hello,

I have posted similar questions before and have received some replies. Some have very warm key and some just have warm key.

I find my key is very warm on warm days. On cool or rainy days it does not.

seaf · May 2003

Seem to be more comprehensive and informative than the U.S. tests by NHTSA and IIHS, though I will probably wait for the U.S. IIHS offset results since I still have a few months to wait. The Japanese do full-frontal, offset, and side collisions, with actual measured data posted, whereas the IIHS only has 4-5 categories for results, such as good, acceptable, marginal, poor. NHTSA provides more detailed data similar to the Japanese tests if you click on the car model to get more detailed info than the 1-5 star ratings.

As for the Japanese accord being the TSX here, they share the same structure underneath, so I wouldn't expect a big difference.

bburton3 · May 2003

Have some reputable tire dealer look at the tire for damage-it probably is not damaged. There are a lot of better tires out there-take a look at tire rack-I prefer Michelin X-One's. The new Bridgestone Potenza's are very good also. However if the person driving the car does not push it in curves, on wet and in snow-the stock tires will probably be ok. The energy Michelin's have a bad rap for breaking loose-when they do-forget about it-really hard to recover. The ratings in TR reflect those problems-somebody who really knows tires said it was something about the way the belt is designed/made.

Course if you drive like a granny-nada problemo-I would not have a set if they were free however-two too many real scarey spins.

alpha01 · May 2003

You are incorrect. The IIHS summarizes information by ranking Good, Acceptable, Marginal, and Poor. ALL injury measures and intrusion measurements are available right there on the website. Choose a vehicle category, then click the blue highlighted link that says "frontal offset crash details". The information shown here is far more extensive than that which is provided by the NHTSA.

~alpha

talon95 · May 2003

It's not the shared structure, it's the safety standards mandated by the different governments that make the difference. The Japanese tests may be more comprehensive in your opinion, but they still aren't testing US spec cars. So it's an apples-to-oranges comparison at best.

If you want to speculate about what the Japanese tests might imply for US spec cars, that's your perogative. If I was truly concerned about safety, however, I'd want to see the results of tests on the specific design that I'd be buying. And that's not the Japan spec cars.

seaf · May 2003

Thanks for pointing that out alpha. The IIHS does provide details that I never knew existed.

Talon95, I compared the data recorded for the dummies for both JDM Mazda6 (Atenza) and JDM Accord, most of the numbers are very close, with a slight edge to the Mazda6. I compared the two relative to each other, so I don't think I was comparing apples to oranges. Both cars were judged by the same standards, crashed and tested using the same technique and instruments.

As for using JDM crash tests to deduct similar results for the U.S. models. I'd say that's a pretty fair comparison. You aren't always going to get the exact model specification of the car model you plan to buy. For example, what if the there are differences between a V6 model and an I4? Or ones that were built in a different factory from steel imported from a different place? There are many factors that can contribute to test results. I'm looking for a general comparison, and the JDM results can provide a good estimate. If I had to buy a car right now I'd use those results since that's all I have to base my decision on.

carscout · May 2003

Hi there, I am new to this discussion and would like to get some advice on purchasing an Acura/Honda.

My budget exceeds 16 grand so anything below is fine. Im looking for a 2 door, 4 cylinder, v-tec engine Acura/Honda, which is reliable and decent looking. Can anyone help me out?

mikek37 · May 2003

You might be able to get a used 2000 Accourd coupe, maybe even an EX V6, but that might be pushing it. Check out the solora, but that car is a bit feminine for your taste. Both nice cars.

gee35coupe · May 2003

heavy duty bumpers, I don't think it's a fair comparison. Check out the front of a Euro Atenza vs. a 6 or a U.S Civic SI vs the Euro Civic Type-R and you'll see the difference in the front ends. As far as cars being built of the same platform, the Odyssey, TSX, and TL are built off the Accord platform also but that doesn't make them perform the same in a crash test.

Aditionally the difference isn't even worth discussing. Kinda like the margin the Accord had over the Atenza in the side impact measurements.

mitchflorida · May 2003

I have a 99 coupe and live in Florida, where there is no need for all-weather tires, like the oem Michelins, which give a very loose "cruiser" type ride.

I went to the 225-55-16s.. first bought the Bridgestone Potenzas, which are good but too harsh a ride and noisy.

When I had to replace them, I went with a less expensive brand Dayton (I think they are also made by Bridgestone Firestone) and they drive much better, more comfortable, very quiet, stop on a dime. They are only $100 a piece compared to the $135 for the Potenzas, which I really didn't like driving on.

robertsmx · May 2003

Unfortunately, the stock tires in Accord (Michelin MXV4 Energy) are very expensive. I will suggest going with the same tire and since you don't have too many miles on the original tires to start with.

The original Michelins in my 98 Accord lasted 52K miles. At Discount Tire Company, they were $127/tire to replace couple of years ago so I went with Michelin Rain Force at $83/tire. But the second set didn’t last long, and now I’m on Yokohama YK420 ($86/tire). First 100 miles or so on the Yokohamas has been nice from ride/handling aspect. I have not had a chance to test it in rain (it may happen tomorrow as I drive to Ohio) though. They are quieter (better than the two Michelins I have had), and manage to (impressively) suppress the noise even from the creases between concrete blocks on bridges and roads.

BTW, I went up from P195/65/R15 to P205/60/R15 with the Yokohama.

fezo · May 2003

I did something like that when going from the original Michelins to Dunlop A2s. Very happy with the results.

pat · May 2003

Hi fezo - haven't seen you here in Sedans in a while, welcome back!

isellhondas · May 2003

You've actually been missed!

blane · May 2003

fezo:

I put four Dunlop Sport A2s on my '96 Subaru Legacy GT (before selling it last year) because of some great reviews on Tire Rack. They handled quite well. BUT... they were extremely noisey. I'm surprised that you are as happy as you've indicated.

ckrll · May 2003

I have an '03 Accord Coupe and replaced the Turanza EL41 with Bridgestone Turanza LS-V. There are not many options in 205-60-16 -- luckily the LS-V is an excellent tire, far better than the EL41. The local Firestone store was ready to deal. I basically got 4 for the price of 3.

John

zcarguy · May 2003

Dyno plots confirm that the Accord 4 cyl is making alot more power than the factory rating suggests!

Check it out at (TOV) temple of Vtec under Articles
http://www.vtec.net/articles/view-article?article_id=80004&pa- ge_number=2

kdbirch · May 2003

Has anyone experienced engine failure with the 93 Honda Accord while driving and after sitting for a few minutes or hours the engine restarts and runs fine for a few days and it fails again? I took it to the dealership and they weren't able to diagnose the problem. In fact, they say the engine runs just fine!

Thanks,
kdbirch

Older Honda Accords

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