Older Honda Accords

gee35coupe · May 2003

masroz · May 2003

I've had my 03 Accord 4cyl now for five months and 9,800 miles. Initially the engine idled harshly, but has now smoothed out very nicely. Ninety percent of my driving is on the interstate so I'm averaging between 33-34 mpg. The car handles and tracks well. The only problem I've encountered is the center console squeeks a bit when my right leg rests against it. My only complaint is the road noise seems louder than it should be. I'd like to see Honda put in a little more sound insulation and soften up the ride a bit. If this were done the vehicle would be perfect in my opinion. So far though I'm very happy with the vehicle.

maxamillion1 · May 2003

I don't know if this has been posted yet, but I found the updates for the 2004 Honda Accord for MY 2004.

First of all, Noble Green will be dropped! I LOVE that color. Deep Green Pearl will be added.

The Most important change is....Side Curtain Airbags.

Get this. Side Curtain Airbags will be optional on all EX with Cloth models, but LXV6 and EX models with Leather will have them as standard.

The LX and DX models do without them, but at least the EX models have them as either options or standard.

maxamillion1 · May 2003

Collegehillshonda.com

jsjamala · May 2003

Side curtains available on regular EX...Finally. I guess it was worth writing the letter to Honda. When do the 2004 usually start arriving ?

hondadriven · May 2003

"I just bought a 1997 Accord EX 4 dr sedan and it didn't come with keyless entry fobs. From what the dealer has said, the system is installed in the car, but I need to get the correct key fobs and program them. Questions:

2) Where can I find instructions on how to program them?
Can I use the system with an aftermarket stereo or does it have to have the OEM stereo installed for the keyless entry system to work?
"

I just read the above on another Honda board and I'm hoping you guys can help out. I have the same kind of car ('97 Accord EX) which I got some yrs back without keyless entry / security system etc.
=> Is it true that the system is already installed in the car?? and offcourse any input on the above questions too....
Any input appreciated.. Thanks.

lilyedwards8 · May 2003

recently shopped around for an 03 Accord and got a quote of about 17,000 for an LX sedan, which is well under the invoice price. It comes out to a little under 20,000 after taxes and stuff, with no added options and the basic 3 year warranty. I wanted a low interest rate and told the dealer i could put over half down and they offered me 2.9%. I was wondering if anyone has any insight on whether this is a good deal to buy at.
Also I was wondering if this year really is a good time to buy an 03 model cause it kind of seems like the 03 might come out to be one of the runt of the accord line especially in years to come, being that there isn't really anything great about it at all.
Well any input?

maxamillion1 · May 2003

...you got a great deal. Congrats!

What color combo did you get?

maxamillion1 · May 2003

I am not sure when the 2004 Accord will arrive. I read it on Collegehillshonda.com maybe you can email them and find out?

glenn3398 · May 2003

thanks for the web site on the cabin filter replacement on the accord. I was about to bring it in to the dealer and when i saw your post i gave it a try. fairly easy with these instructions. thanks.

gregoryc1 · May 2003

Just had the 7,500 miles service performed by the Selling Honda Dealer. This included an oil & filter change. (This was the third one for this vehicle), Brake inspection, Inspection of: Suspension / Steering Components & Driveshaft boots, and Tire rotation. I had this serviced performed because: I value the quality of service at my dealer, I want all my service records to be at one location should something fail on this vehicle and warranty work is necessary, and I do not want any problems with the extended 7 year 100,000 warranty "down the road". The vehicle runs "GREAT". I do not have a "rough idle" that some people are talking about on this board, I do not have any exterior or interior rattles,(the vehicle is VERY solid), and I do not have an "odor" coming from the exhaust, that some people are discussing on this forum. The vehicle has GREAT acceleration, and it is VERY quiet. By choice, I burn 92 & 93 octane fuel,(Getty or Hess). When our 2000 Honda Civic comes off lease, we are considering purchasing the Civic, or purchasing another new 4 cylinder Accord. I HIGHLY recommend this vehicle to anyone who truly wants a QUALITY car. I owned and / or leased American vehicles all my life. Since 1997, my wife and I switched to Honda. We have had four,(4), Hondas to date. No problems with the vehicles, the dealer, the company or the service. They are an outstanding company and they produce a VERY HIGH QUALITY product. Chrysler could take some lessons from Honda. We know from experience. We had a new 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee that was the vehicle FROM HELL, and Chrysler warranty service stinks!!!!! ----Just my opinion. ----Greg

s852 · May 2003

You had 3 oil changes already at ony 7500 miles? Sound like a massive waste.
Maybe cars needed that in 1970.

gregoryc1 · May 2003

I am doing this "high quality" preventive maintenance because Toyota vehicles are experiencing a massive "sludge problem", due to an extended oil & filter drain intervals as specified in their owners manual. My Accord Oil is very clean when I have it drained, and I want to keep the interior of the engine that way, because I intend to own this vehicle for at least 7 years or 100,000 miles, without major engine problems. As far as it being a waste of natural resources, I have this service performed at the Honda Dealer, and they recycle the used oil, so as such, it does go back into the consumer pipe line. The oil & filter change at the dealer costs $18.99 + Tax =($20.13). This breaks down to $6.71 for each 1,000 miles on a 3,000 mile oil & filter change interval. (Cheap preventive maintenance) To some people, this is considered an "over kill" in terms of maintenance, but since I don't drink or smoke, I guess my vices are "frequent oil & filter changes and premium fuel for my 4 cylinder Hondas"!------Just my opinion. ----Greg

emale · May 2003

rant mode on!...i hate it when people call high octane fuel premium. as if there is any difference in "quality" between high octane and regular octane. most people who put high octane gas in a car that doesn't need it are just padding oil company coffers...sorry, rant mode off!

jcroberts · May 2003

I was glad to read the ZCARGUY sharing an article that the Accord 2003 2.4 L puts out 90% of its 162 ft/lb torque from just 2100 and all the way upto 5400 rpms. This is quite impressive for just a four culinder, while it gives me 30 mpg.
   Has anyone else notice the bottom of the front bumper getting scratched when pulling into a parking place with a high curb? I used some touch up paint, but I will have to be more careful about parking.
   My Accord is Japanese made (oil base paint) and is still showing scratches on its hood and roof. I am desiring to protect the finish especially since it is so new. Any ideas to protect the finish?
   I am very happy with my new Accord.

s852 · May 2003

Is a waste most of the time in cars that don't need it. However, apparently the new 3.0 V6 is supposed to be able to take advantage of the extra octane and increase the horsepower above 240. I have not heard if the 4 cylinder Accords will recognize higher octane and "up tune" to use it. I think people at vtec.net are experimenting with the 2.4 on a dynometer to find out.

As far as the oil changes, even if you are following the "severe" maintenance schedule, at 7500 miles, you still should not be on the third change yet.

If there is engine-damaging sludge developing developing during the recommended maintenance intervals, the solution should be to find out why and the fix the cause under warranty, not change the oil more often so you are oblivious to whatever is causing this problem.

according2me · May 2003

Try these two Edmunds threads. They have lots of info.
"Store Bought Waxes Part II (No Zaino Posts)" May 21, 2003 9:50am

"Zaino Car Polishes/Products--Your Experiences (Part 2)" May 19, 2003 5:07pm

blane · May 2003

"Toyota vehicles are experiencing a massive "sludge problem" really should have read: "CERTAIN Toyota vehicles HAD experienced a 'sludge problem' that Toyota has already addressed."

I know of no verifiable source that has claimed that ANY other brand of vehicle has had such a problem in recent years. If I am incorrect, someone, please point me to the correct link.

inkie · May 2003

Hi Greg,
If I send you a few empty Marvel Mystery Oil jugs and my address could you ask the dealer to fill the jugs with your used oil? So you can send it to me.

jmess · May 2003

We just got back from a 500 mile run in the wife's EX 4 banger. What an easy car to live with. Very smooth and reasonably quiet. I continued to be impressed by how well the 4 banger and the 5spd auto work together. The transmission always seems to find the right gear to match the throttle/load you are putting on the engine. The cruise control works very well. The 4 wheels disc brakes scrub off speed really well. I found the cloth seats to be comfortable for my 6'3" and 200lbs body. The car really feels at home at 80-90. I really had to use the cruise control and self control to keep at or below 80. I easily got 30 MPG with my heavy foot.

A couple of things I didn't like so much: acceleration from 60-90 is probably good for a 4 banger but you will find it lacking if you drive a good 6 banger on a regular basis like I do. As good as the 5spd auto is it would still be nice to have a manual mode for the times you want more control over gear selection. The steering has good center feel but is too numb or over assisted once you turn off center; which makes it harder to feel what the tires are doing at higher cornering speeds. I don't like the arrangement of the fan, sterio volume, and heater temp controls rotary knobs on the dash. I found reaching the temp control, without looking, to be a little awkward at times. I would often grab the sterio volume control instead; in this case climate control would be your friend. Split folding rear seat backs would be a lot more useful than the whole rear seat back folding. The all-in-one inside trunk and gas filler door lever requires some training before you remember when to push or pull.

No car is perfect but Honda has gotten much closer with this car.

gregoryc1 · May 2003

Check out this site: ---http://www.cartrackers.com/Forums/live/Toyota/28.html Read the entire posting. This oil sludge problem is a very serious issue with Toyota Owners. It could be an oil drain issue, or a heat issue, or both over a period of time. If it is a "heat issue" then the owner should be using a synthetic oil like Amsoil, with an Amsoil oil filter. But what would the "Toyota Bible" say about the use of "Amsoil Synthetic Oil" in their engines?????? It also could be the driving habits of some owners. I NEVER drive my vehicle,(after it has been siting over night), until I let it warm up to normal operating temperature. My vehicles DO NOT use oil and the engines are very quiet. This practice goes against what is listed in many owner's manuals, but a cold engine does not perform properly, and it puts an extra strain on component parts especially in very cold weather. Oil needs to circulate to every moving part, and metal parts need to expand. So as such, I have that second cup of "flavored coffee", and I let my vehicle idle for a coupe of minutes in the driveway before I take it out on the road for the day. I have been driving since I was 17, and I have owned or leased 17 vehicles to date, and I have maintained them in the same fashion without any engine problems. Ask yourself this question! Why is everyone VERY concerned about pushing oil and filter changes to high mileage intervals?----- It is just a selling point for the manufacturer. It demonstrates that this particular vehicle costs less to mainatin over a period of time. Question: ----Will the manufacturer be there when the owner has a major engine problem and no warranty???----- Without a "warranty", the manufacturer can take any position on an issue. Even with all you service receipts showing the proper oil change intervals, (as listed in the owner's manual), the manufacture can write the issue off as "owner abuse". Faced with this issue, will you spend your money on a "legal action" or on a remanufactured engine? Most people will purchase a replacement engine. So your best course of action is "high quality preventive maintenance". ----Just my opinion. -------Greg

gregoryc1 · May 2003

Hi Inkie! ---Nice to hear from you, but you used the term "Marvel Mystery Oil" on this site, and you know that this is not permitted!!!! The "Additive Police" are reading everything on this site, and they will react to your error in the near future. They might even have your "posting privileges" revoked from this site. Had you said "empty supplement container", this would have been acceptable. We must all be politically correct, and follow the owners manual "to the letter"! But on the other side of the issue, we can have some fun with one another dealing with vehicle maintenance ideas. After all, we are just sharing some ideas, information and maintenance practices. -----Have a nice day! -----Greg

03honda · May 2003

Is there a difference between the paint on the Japanese built Accords and the Ohio built ones?

emale · May 2003

wow! you are some kinda anal, gregoryc1...

but to each his own...:)

atlantabenny · May 2003

Primary difference is that US-made cars use water-based coatings for environmental reasons while a number of Japan-made autos (Hondas presumably among them) still use a chemical or solvent base.

From there, I can only make educated guesses on the quality of the final finish - one being that cars of either paint type will look the same when the cars are new.

Another is that over time, the chemical-based finish will probably hold its quality better, it coming from more developed technology.

In the near future however (based on referenced articles below) it would look like all cars will have water-based paint, and because of constantly evolving technology, will have the same long-term quality as before.

Bottom-line: For now, the Japan-made cars will probably look better longer, but will look just as good as the US cars when new.

Paint SMEs (subject matter experts), your thoughts would be interesting...

Some reference:
1) Japan - http://www.basf-coatings.basf.de/kernkompetenzen/fzlack/kn_en.htm
2) US & world: http://www.basf.com/static/OpenMarket/Xcelerate/Preview_cid-10240- - - 57510649_pubid-974236850984_c-Article.html

blane · May 2003

As I mentioned in Post #10572, "I know of no verifiable source that has claimed that ANY other brand of vehicle has had such a problem in recent years. If I am incorrect, someone, please point me to the correct link." If anyone (Greg?) has such a non-Toyota link I'll be please to read and evaluate it.

In the meanwhile, we should stop wasting money, natural resources and time while fattening the wallets of oil companies, "snake oil" companies and local purveyors of such products and too-frequent services.

03honda · May 2003

atlantabenny · May 2003

gregoryc1 · May 2003

I gave you the "link" in posting #10575. Please read the link!!!!!!! Here is the link again. ---http://www.cartrackers.com/Forums/live/Toyota/28.html-----This site talks about the magnitude of the Toyota Sludge Problem. It is a VERY BIG ISSUE. ---You seem to be VERY angry. ----Why?---Who is wasting money? ---Who is wasting natural resources, when used oil is being recycled? ---Do you dislike the large oil companies? ----Why?----Do you care to comment on these issues! ----Greg

carguy58 · May 2003

Change your oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles and you won't have any sludge. I don't bite on those every 7500 miles oil changes.

pat · May 2003

There is plenty of info right here about the Toyota sludge issue - just do a keyword search (left side of the page) for sludge.

Now, why are we making such an issue of that here in an Accord discussion? ;-)

There are lots of oil usage discussions on our Maintenance & Repair board - again, the keyword search will help find them.

airborne101 · May 2003

I just bought this 90 accord lx with 66,000 miles on it. Apparently it was sitting for quite some time. I had no power and it seemed to be starving for gas. I changed the fuel filter, cleaned the injectors. Now it dies if there is a half tank of gas in it. On a full tank it runs fine. Am I correct in assuming I need to drain the tank? Any suggestions would be helpful.

maxhonda99 · May 2003

I have a 2000 Accord Coupe EX-V6 which means it came with the rare tire size of 205/60VR-16! My Michelin's are basically worn out(MXV4 Energy) so I'm looking for a set of replacement tires. So far I have basically only found 4 tires in the Accord Coupe's size that I am thinking about. The choices are Yoko Avid H4s, Dunlop SP Sport A2s, Bridgestone Turanza LS-H and LS-V.

My current MXV4 Energy tires are V-rated, but I don't have a problem with H-rated tires. I'm totally against buying the MXV4 tires because quite frankly, they are overpriced for what you get. The ride is good, but the handling in wet or dry basically sucks. And they are not extremely quiet.

What I basically want to know is what tire did 1998-2002 Accord Coupe V6 owners(205/50-16) replace their Michelin's with?? Why? And how do they like the replacements as compared to the OEMs??

ANy help would be appreciated.

wcgilmore · May 2003

In a word-YES! Drain the tank and all should be fine. (Let me know how it goes,please.

blane · May 2003

Greg:

I asked you for a "non-Toyota" link regarding sludge. You've only provided a Toyota-specific link. Any other reference that you have to non-Toyota problems would be appreciated.

mitchflorida · May 2003

Dayton Z rated 225x 55 16

Great traction and breaking. Not all weather tires, so not recommended in the snow.

It drives much smoother and safer than the michelins. Cost $100 jper tire.

gee35coupe · May 2003

brought up the sludge issue years ago, I can tell you for a fact it has not affected any other make as it did those specific Toyota engines. There was nothing wrong with the engines per se but the maintenance interval in the manual was not frequent enough.

I have MXV4's on my GS and love em. No worse/better then the Turanza's on our 03 EX-L coupe.

tgozdalski1 · May 2003

I have 00 accord lx 5 speed. Original Michelins lasted about 50k, then I had a set of Yokohamas 420 from Discount Tires. I found Yokohamas to have a little more traction but they were a little louder and I did have some problem with balancing. After another 45k I replaced Yokohamas with Kumho Ecsta 716 hp4. I would highly recommend Kumho. I only have 10k on this set but the ride is much better with Kumho. They are quiet, offer comparable traction to Yokohama for less money. I don't think you will find your original size but Tire rack have this tire sized 215/60HR16 for $48 each. They also have 205/55HR16 for $61. These are H rated tires. I like them better then original Michelins or Yokohamas 420.
Tom

alupnyas · May 2003

Hello fellow Honda Accord owners. Something you might find a bit noisy...in a weird way. In an EX W/LEATHER I4 or EX V6 "roll all four windows down all the way, roll back the sunroof...and drive at 55 or above if the speed limit allows it..feel that, hear that..almost vibrates your stomach...WHAT A LOW FREQUENCY SOUND....ALMOST LIKE TWO 15 INCH SUBWOOFERS....goin woo'ah woo'ah woo'ah....Let me know if anyone else gets the same effect...kinda hard on your ears...so be careful..'LET ME KNOW FOLKS....

imidazol97 · May 2003

"As I mentioned in Post #10572, "I know of no verifiable source that has claimed that ANY other brand of vehicle has had such a problem in recent years. If I am incorrect, someone, please point me to the correct link." If anyone (Greg?) has such a non-Toyota link I'll be please to read and evaluate it."

I believe Blane is asking for a link about specific cars/engines that have had a sludge problem -- besides the Toyota problem...The
link
http://www.aera.org/Techside/enginesludge.htm
only speaks about generic sludge.

Have there been other engines with a tendency to sludge even when maintained at reasonable intervals?

bburton3 · May 2003

Read the reviews in Tire Rack-have a button on this site. Heard really good things about the BS Turanza tires. I really like Michelin X-One's but the Turanza's supposedly have better wet traction and are quieter. The only unknown is how stable are they-do they have to be rebalanced after the initial balancing. Have a set of X-One's with 82K on them and no balance problems at all-still very good wet traction. The Turanza's might not last as long as the Michelin but their new tread design and rubber compounds are really supposed to be superior. Also suggest comparing out the door prices for Tire Rack vs the local stores-big savings for me-although some chains will match tire rack.

Rotate every 10K or so to extend tire life.

maxhonda99 · May 2003

bburton,

I've read the Tire Rack reviews for the Bridgestone Turanza LS series tires. The reviews are generally good, but the tires are kind of pricey, therefore I was considering the Dunlop SP SPort A2s. The Michelin X-one's aren't made in my size. As I said before very few tire make are made in 205/60-16. Michelin's only choice is the MXV4 series, which I refuse to buy again.

I was basically just trying to get some input from someone who has switched tires on their coupes from the MXV4s to either the SP SPort A2s or Turanza LS series tires.

I've heard alot of good things(from tire rack reviews) about the LS Turanza, So I may fork over the extra cash for them.

I haven't checked about pricing yet at local shops, but I know some like Sears will come close to Tire Rack's pricing.

lichtronimo · May 2003

There is also a "T" speed rated tire (118 mph) available with a UTOG rating of 700 and 80,000 mile warranty which is more comparable to an X-One. The UTOG rating on the "H" speed rated (130 mph) Turanza is 400.

Tirerack had the "T"s for $63/tire versus $85/tire for "H" speed rated Turanzas and Michelin Energy MXV4 Plus at $119/tire.

usmc · May 2003

Hi,

I just bought a new 4 cylinder EX 4 door A/T. I really like this car (although I miss my 94 EX coupe tremendously)...but I have noticed a few things while driving the car. If you have noticed any problems with your vehicle please share!

First is it just me or are the brakes really sensitive??? This is something I need to get used to. I read somewhere else on another discussion board about some of the Accords having bad brakes (make loud noises). Does anyone know about this?

I noticed that this car idles really high (1200 rpm) after it has just started. I can practically drive out of the parking lot at 20 mph without using the gas pedal.

Also noticed that the rain will leak down the inside of the door if the windows are cracked or open (now I know why people are buying those ugly door visors!)

Overall, I think the car is great. It is my first new Honda in nine years...so I am adjusting to all the new gadgets and improvements.

Any comments or observations?

fezo · May 2003

Go for the Dunlops!.... Well, I like mine. I saw a poster (sorry, forgot name) mention these were noisy but they are far quieter than the original Michelins.

If you trade in a Toyota for a Honda will the Honda engine sludge? Sorry. Couldn't help myself. Every 3,000 miles or so on that oil and pretty much any engine will be fine. Certainly a Honda one will.

Good to know I was missed....

dudleyr · May 2003

The Dunlops are an excellent tire, and are affordable - stick with OEM size, don't go for a wider (and hence taller) tire.

maxhonda99 · May 2003

fezo,

WHich Dunlops do you have? the SP SPort A2s? You had MXV4's on a Accord Coupe before?

dudleyr,

Same questions for you as above.

blane · May 2003

Greg:

Thanks for the aera.org link to a decent generic discussion of sludge. Clearly there have been, and will continue to be, such generic concerns with engines that have not had their oil and filters changed regularly.

It is interesting to do a Google search on "engine sludge". The first few pages of links are overwhelmingly related to Toyota-specific problems. There's got to be a message there, realizing that Google's page-rank algorithm places the most popular links near the top of the search results list. See here: http://www.google.com/technology/index.html

charliecar · May 2003

Seeing the "hot key" issue come up again recently (message dbnr01 May 21, 2003 3:09pm ff.; I have it, too), reminded me to ask:

I've had my new '03 EX (4cyl, auto, cloth) for about 4 months now, and just took my first long trip, meaning one where I actually loaded several CD's into the changer and listened to them for several hours in a row while driving at interstate speed. When I ejected them (immediately after stopping the car), they were all (not just the last one played) disturbingly hot to the touch, though being the shape that they are, they cooled very quickly after being out. After I discovered it, I put in just one at a time for the rest of the trip. It still got hot, but at least came out after only one hour. I don't know how much heat a CD can tolerate. I'm sure that its useful lifetime must be shortened at elevated temperature.

The outside temperature was about 60, so I had little or no heat and definitely no air conditioning running. This hadn't happened before on short drives (or maybe the reason is short playing time), even in the winter when I did use the heat in the car. Is this a malfunction of the unit that I should take in for repair, or an unavoidable "feature?"

dudleyr · May 2003

Consumers Reports and tire rack both rate the sport A-2's very highly. I have driven then, but don't have a car with them right now. They are very reasonably priced. Their only shortcoming is average rolling resistance, so you may loose a little bit of fuel mileage compared to the MXV4. The Continental Touring Contact is closer to the MXV4, but has better handling. I have these right now, but they wear kinda fast.

Older Honda Accords

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