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Comments
Thanks in advance.
Less sheepskin to get dusty or dirty, and potentially more side airbag-friendly (though you should check with the seat cover manufacturer to be sure).
i prefer the timing belt set up always. you get preventative maintenance that way. with a chain, you drive it till it snaps. not fun.
can you call a Honda dealer and make them replace the chain, if you were willing to pay? or will they not touch it until it breaks?
I've been driving German cars [mostly MBs] with timing chains for 35 years, and involved with the MB Club most of those years, and have never heard of a chain breaking....ever....even in higher mileage cars. What does happen as the miles pile up is rough running and noisy idling if the chain starts to stretch. Then it's replacement time, which is a little more involved than replacing the belt, but not dramatically so. (MB had a problem with the 3.8 V8 engine from the early '80s, where for some mysterious reason they were using a single-row chain for US cars, and a double-row chain everywhere else in the world. After a spate of problems, most US cars got converted the the double-row chain, and that was the end of it.)
Technically, if the engine is an interference engine, a broken chain or belt would allow the pistons to hit open valves and the engine would be severely damaged. If it's not an interference engine, then the car would stop running, but the engine might not suffer damage.
In either case, I'd consider a chain a benefit because it's not expected to need any maintenance during the life of the car.......Richard
We decided to mount both of them in an outboard location because that leaves the rear seat passenger more room. We have used both in the center position using LATCH. All you do is use the two center LATCH anchors. They are close enough to allow for center location installation.
Installation is super easy and the seat is far enough from the back of the front seat where she still cannot kick the seat-back.
So when the timing chain broke, I don't think any internal parts could hit one another so there was no damage.
Those old, flat head Chrysler engines were actually quite durable. I'm old enough to remember that engine and drove similar ones in a couple of '50s Plymouths.....Richard
I follow the extreme maintenance schedual in the owner's manual, even though I fall into the normal category. I have changed the brake fluid, power steering fluid, transmission fluid (3 times), cabin air filters, air filter (3 times) and of course regular oil & filter changes. I do all of my own maintenance and I just inspected the entire car. The tires should still be good for another 10,000 miles (I rotate them at 6,000 miles). The rear brake pads still look great, but the front pads will need changing in the next 6000 miles. For the record I brake harder than most and usually not until I really need to stop. I've had no rattles and the car drives and shifts well. Honda gave me the 100,000 mile extended warranty free for the transmission issues that you all know about. Overall, I would say it's a great car with ample power and good handling. My only complaint would be the dealer response and customer care at the dealer near me has been less than satisfactory. P.S. I have an 04 Civic 4-door LX automatic and it's been flawless with 7,000 miles so far.
The center works by using the Latch anchors closest to the center on the outbooard positions. I can get my son's forward facing seat installed in less than 2 minutes. If you are using a infant seat with the base it is even easier all you do is plop the car seat in the base and your set to go.
One word of advice check the tighness of the tethers once a week. They have a tendency to loosen up over time.
I will state that with 2 car seats in the back, there is very little room for an adult to sit back there. A 10 year could probably manage but not an adult size person.
getting my recall work done Friday. hopefully all goes well. can only imagine what kind of rental i am getting for the day. as long as its not a Neon.
I saw a website that had acceleration times of old cars and I think a 1972 Buick Skylark 350 cu. inch V8 I had 20 years ago went from 0 to 60 in 9.1 seconds--I thought my Buick was VERY fast.
The 4 cyl. AT Accord has a 0-60 time of 9.0 seconds according to Consumer Reports which is a conservative source--some auto magazines show the Accord at a bit less than 9.0 seconds.
So, it could well be that the 2004, 4 cyl. Accord is faster than that Buick V8 and it uses less than half the fuel......Richard
We now have 5.7 liters powering our larger pickups and still putting out the same acceleration, and maybe even with the same or better mileage.
Of course, before variable valve timing and counterweights became commonly used in engines, many carmakers used V8s not for power, but for smoothness. They could build a 4 cylinder engine that had the same power at the time, but the vibration from it will give you severe joint problems (if not shake the car apart!)... Even a 6 cylinder at the time would be an unpleasant ride.
Even still, the more cylinders = smoother power delivery is still true today. I'm pretty sure that the Accord's V6 is smoother than its I4, especially when idling. Has anybody compared this back to back?
The Accord is shorter by 16.5 inches and narrower by about 5 inches. The Accord is taller (by how much, I don't know) and I believe has more interior space (except that a 3rd passenger could fit into the bench, front seat) and MUCH more trunk space.
The Buick's full-sized spare tire was stored in the middle of the trunk--a really stupid design. There was no pass-through from the trunk to the interior.
With respect to the cost of those cars, the Buick's $4,400 price in 1972 is equivalent to about $19,350 adjusted for inflation to last year when I bought the Accord for which I paid $22,700 before TTL.
I think that the additional $3,350 for the Accord was worth it because the Accord has: leather interior, electric seat controls, tilt/telescope steering wheel, moonroof, security system, alloy wheels, airbags all around, ABS, and enough additional goodies to make the Accord a better deal. The Buick had none of those features.
It's more fun to drive the Accord, but I wish I were as young as I was when I last drove that Skylark!.....Richard
I would want a quality timing chain over a belt any day. IMO, a quality double roller timing chain will last far longer than the rings, bearings, and valves. Older engines would have timing chains go in the 100K to 200K range, but that was years ago with single chains. Plus, some companies used nylon gears and it was the gears failing, rather than the chain. With all these 300K Honda engines running around, I would love to hear of a single broken chain.
In terms of engine smoothness, of all the things contributing to that equation, I doubt anybody could tell the difference (all else equal) as to whether the engine had a chain or belt (IMO).
I see the point of figuring routine belt changes prevents a major problem, but I think it doesn't realistically consider the minor rish involved with a chain. If you spent $500 replacing your belt every 60K, you could replace your chain at 180K and pocket $1000.
Just my thoughts
(Go, Chains, Go!)
And the Accord 4 cylinder engine is one of the smoothest, quietest and quickest engines of its type and will blow away anyone's old ideas about slow and noisy four cylinder engines.
I continue to marvel at the 4 cylinder Accord's overall performance......Richard
While I am on that point I gather that Edmunds makes it suggestion on changing the oil every 5k miles because that is consistent with the recommendations by Honda?
thanks for any advice
The 4 cylinder's chain needs no maintenance. Honda began using a timing chain in the Accord starting with the new, 4 cylinder engine in 2003--the 2002 and earlier used a timing belt.....Richard
Thank, I have the 4 cyclinder 2003.
I wish I knew how to get this information directly, thru the manual or another way. I was not confident with the answer I got from the dealier.
There is a slick European Accord wagon that you can see if you Google it--too bad we don't get it in the U.S., but the Honda SUVs are supposed to satisfy our need for wagons, I guess.....Richard
still don't quite understand how it effects draining or filling tranmission fluid, if at all. if i have the car at 30k miles, i will just let them do it i guess.
Used ones today are much sought after and they don't last long on our lot.
Go figure??
The leather seats were VERY comfortable. I didn't squirm or have to reset the seat position at all--stayed comfortable over the whole 500 mile drive (San Francisco to Palm Springs).
Same comfort on return drive 10 days later. I have an aching back often, but not in the Accord.
I don't think the 8-way power seat is available on the cloth EXs--not sure about that, but check to see all of the adjustments you can make on the cloth vs leather models. I think the main difference is that the seat cushion has a tilt feature for thigh support in the EX-L model...Richard
I just bought a '05 EX-V6. It is my first Honda Accord. I am in love! I have a bad back and am extremely senitive to seating. After I made the intial seat adjustment I have had utter comfort. I have taken some two hour drives and immensely pleased.
I had wanted the biege interior with the woodgrain look trim but had to settle for the grey with silver trim. I now think it is classy.
I was bothered by the leather "pinched" look at some of the seams. I like the "smooth" look better. However, I am getting used to that also.
The important thing is this is one comfortable ride.
Ralph
Gearheads say that belts provide these essential advantages, which I'm paraphrasing: quicker cam adjustments (particularly useful in a competition setting), smoother operation (acts as a "secondary harmonic damper"), and more accurate ignition timing.
The implication is that a chain system is a level or two lower in those areas, but obviously it has an advantage in terms of longer maintenance interval.
An "interference" engine design is probably independent of the chain vs belt issue except to say that said design yields higher compression and a more compact cylinder head, factors that blend with a high-performance engine design (which would then favor a belt system).
Back to our Hondas, the 4-cyl gen7 Accord may have gotten "chained" because it's no longer a "tuner" car.
Also, a timing chain - although it lasts longer - is supposedly more expensive to replace because it involves more labor and parts.
Ref: http://www.valvoline.com/carcare/articleviewer.asp?pg=pht20020901- - bd
I can find no mention at all in my owner's manual of timing chain or timing belt maintenance for my '04 Accord LX 4 cylinder. The only maintenance information is for 6 cylinders with a timing belt.
It looks as if Honda is leaving it up to 4 cylinder owners to check with their service departments for any information about this. The owner's manual really is clueless on this topic, as far I can see.
That's because Honda doesn't consider this a maintenance item. It should last the life of the car.
Many, if not most, dealerships make more money from their service departments than from new car sales. That's why the push so many services (e.g., fuel injector cleaner) that aren't mentioned in the owner's manual.
Anonymousposts -- I may be overlooking it, but I dont' see it. The only index item is "Timing belt" and that refers you to p. 227 and a comment about the 6 cyl. If you find it, I'll be embarrassed!
Then again I like the Bangled BMW's and the old bustle back Seville.
lmacmil: We actually just finished looking at the 2005 Altima. We liked the looks of them and test drove a 2002 when they were first introduced. We liked the drive but hated the interior. We had heard the 2005's were improved and my husband saw an ad for the SE-R Altima and wanted to take another look at them. So we drove down and sat in both an SE-R and a base 2.5S model. First let me say that the interior is much improved. However, it still isn't up to Accord and/or Camry levels. It's OK. The dash is pretty soft but switch operation and the spring motion of the sunglass holder and center console still leave a lot to be desired. The SE-R is one sweet package though with the 260HP 6-speed, gauge package, 18" wheels, and spoilers. But it's not sweet enough to convince us the grass is greener on the other side of our Accord fence. It's just a nice car.