2003 Accord losing MPG on highway
 

This is a rather difficult problem to describe but I'll do my best. I have a 2003 Accord EX 4 cyl, sedan with 22k and some change in miles. When I initially bought the car, I was getting on average 29-31 MPG highway (which is what it's driven on 90% of the time). Lately, I have been getting in the neighborhood or 25-26 MPG highway, sometimes 27.

The symptoms are: (mostly by feel)

1. Must keep accelerator pressed with significant pressure to keep car at speed.

2. When backing off of accelerator, the car slows very very quickly (no coasting to speak of)

3. It drives, ALMOST, like the parking break is stuck or something. I can sense resistance in the forward movement (at least it SEEMS like resistance), but no brake lights are on and the parking break is not engaged.

I was told there was no "break in" period but I didn't push the car until I had about 900 miles on it.

Does anyone have any thoughts as to what might be causing the gas mileage to have dropped like it has?

Kip

Re: 2003 Accord losing MPG on highway
 

KDunagan@nntp.fuse.net wrote:
> This is a rather difficult problem to describe but I'll do my best.
> I have a 2003 Accord EX 4 cyl, sedan with 22k and some change in
> miles. When I initially bought the car, I was getting on average
> 29-31 MPG highway (which is what it's driven on 90% of the time).
> Lately, I have been getting in the neighborhood or 25-26 MPG highway,
> sometimes 27.
>
> The symptoms are: (mostly by feel)
>
> 1. Must keep accelerator pressed with significant pressure to keep
> car at speed.
>
> 2. When backing off of accelerator, the car slows very very quickly
> (no coasting to speak of)
>
> 3. It drives, ALMOST, like the parking break is stuck or something.
> I can sense resistance in the forward movement (at least it SEEMS
> like resistance), but no brake lights are on and the parking break
> is not engaged.
>
> I was told there was no "break in" period but I didn't push the car
> until I had about 900 miles on it.
>
> Does anyone have any thoughts as to what might be causing the gas
> mileage to have dropped like it has?
>
> Kip

I would go to hi test gas for a tank and put in a can of injection cleaner
You may have gotten fouled gas and the injectors could be gummy.
If it works it's a damn cheap fix.
Mike

Re: 2003 Accord losing MPG on highway
 

KDunagan@nntp.fuse.net wrote:
> This is a rather difficult problem to describe but I'll do my best.
> I have a 2003 Accord EX 4 cyl, sedan with 22k and some change in
> miles. When I initially bought the car, I was getting on average
> 29-31 MPG highway (which is what it's driven on 90% of the time).
> Lately, I have been getting in the neighborhood or 25-26 MPG highway,
> sometimes 27.
>
> The symptoms are: (mostly by feel)
>
> 1. Must keep accelerator pressed with significant pressure to keep
> car at speed.
>
> 2. When backing off of accelerator, the car slows very very quickly
> (no coasting to speak of)
>
> 3. It drives, ALMOST, like the parking break is stuck or something.
> I can sense resistance in the forward movement (at least it SEEMS
> like resistance), but no brake lights are on and the parking break
> is not engaged.
>
> I was told there was no "break in" period but I didn't push the car
> until I had about 900 miles on it.
>
> Does anyone have any thoughts as to what might be causing the gas
> mileage to have dropped like it has?
>
> Kip

I would go to hi test gas for a tank and put in a can of injection cleaner
You may have gotten fouled gas and the injectors could be gummy.
If it works it's a damn cheap fix.
Mike

Re: 2003 Accord losing MPG on highway
 

KDunagan@nntp.fuse.net wrote:
> This is a rather difficult problem to describe but I'll do my best.
> I have a 2003 Accord EX 4 cyl, sedan with 22k and some change in
> miles. When I initially bought the car, I was getting on average
> 29-31 MPG highway (which is what it's driven on 90% of the time).
> Lately, I have been getting in the neighborhood or 25-26 MPG highway,
> sometimes 27.
>
> The symptoms are: (mostly by feel)
>
> 1. Must keep accelerator pressed with significant pressure to keep
> car at speed.
>
> 2. When backing off of accelerator, the car slows very very quickly
> (no coasting to speak of)
>
> 3. It drives, ALMOST, like the parking break is stuck or something.
> I can sense resistance in the forward movement (at least it SEEMS
> like resistance), but no brake lights are on and the parking break
> is not engaged.
>
> I was told there was no "break in" period but I didn't push the car
> until I had about 900 miles on it.
>
> Does anyone have any thoughts as to what might be causing the gas
> mileage to have dropped like it has?
>
> Kip

I would go to hi test gas for a tank and put in a can of injection cleaner
You may have gotten fouled gas and the injectors could be gummy.
If it works it's a damn cheap fix.
Mike

Re: 2003 Accord losing MPG on highway
 

KDunagan@nntp.fuse.net wrote:
> This is a rather difficult problem to describe but I'll do my best.
> I have a 2003 Accord EX 4 cyl, sedan with 22k and some change in
> miles. When I initially bought the car, I was getting on average
> 29-31 MPG highway (which is what it's driven on 90% of the time).
> Lately, I have been getting in the neighborhood or 25-26 MPG highway,
> sometimes 27.
>
> The symptoms are: (mostly by feel)
>
> 1. Must keep accelerator pressed with significant pressure to keep
> car at speed.
>
> 2. When backing off of accelerator, the car slows very very quickly
> (no coasting to speak of)
>
> 3. It drives, ALMOST, like the parking break is stuck or something.
> I can sense resistance in the forward movement (at least it SEEMS
> like resistance), but no brake lights are on and the parking break
> is not engaged.
>
> I was told there was no "break in" period but I didn't push the car
> until I had about 900 miles on it.
>
> Does anyone have any thoughts as to what might be causing the gas
> mileage to have dropped like it has?
>
> Kip

I would go to hi test gas for a tank and put in a can of injection cleaner
You may have gotten fouled gas and the injectors could be gummy.
If it works it's a damn cheap fix.
Mike

Re: 2003 Accord losing MPG on highway
 

On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 14:59:50 -0500, KDunagan@nntp.fuse.net wrote:
>Does anyone have any thoughts as to what might
>be causing the gas mileage to have dropped like it has?

Automatic transmission problems.

Have the fluid checked, flushed.

I don't think there's a recall on this tranny yet (I assume you have
the auto), but Honda has been having all sorts of auto problems in
recent years, and that's what your symptoms sound like.

J.

Re: 2003 Accord losing MPG on highway
 

On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 14:59:50 -0500, KDunagan@nntp.fuse.net wrote:
>Does anyone have any thoughts as to what might
>be causing the gas mileage to have dropped like it has?

Automatic transmission problems.

Have the fluid checked, flushed.

I don't think there's a recall on this tranny yet (I assume you have
the auto), but Honda has been having all sorts of auto problems in
recent years, and that's what your symptoms sound like.

J.

Re: 2003 Accord losing MPG on highway
 

On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 14:59:50 -0500, KDunagan@nntp.fuse.net wrote:
>Does anyone have any thoughts as to what might
>be causing the gas mileage to have dropped like it has?

Automatic transmission problems.

Have the fluid checked, flushed.

I don't think there's a recall on this tranny yet (I assume you have
the auto), but Honda has been having all sorts of auto problems in
recent years, and that's what your symptoms sound like.

J.

Re: 2003 Accord losing MPG on highway
 

On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 14:59:50 -0500, KDunagan@nntp.fuse.net wrote:
>Does anyone have any thoughts as to what might
>be causing the gas mileage to have dropped like it has?

Automatic transmission problems.

Have the fluid checked, flushed.

I don't think there's a recall on this tranny yet (I assume you have
the auto), but Honda has been having all sorts of auto problems in
recent years, and that's what your symptoms sound like.

J.

Re: 2003 Accord losing MPG on highway
 

In article <40044e37$0$12238$a0465688@nnrp.fuse.net>,
KDunagan@nntp.fuse.net wrote:

> This is a rather difficult problem to describe but I'll do my best. I have a
> 2003 Accord EX 4 cyl, sedan with 22k and some change in miles. When I
> initially bought the car, I was getting on average 29-31 MPG highway (which
> is what it's driven on 90% of the time). Lately, I have been getting in the
> neighborhood or 25-26 MPG highway, sometimes 27.

Cold weather.

Re: 2003 Accord losing MPG on highway
 

In article <40044e37$0$12238$a0465688@nnrp.fuse.net>,
KDunagan@nntp.fuse.net wrote:

> This is a rather difficult problem to describe but I'll do my best. I have a
> 2003 Accord EX 4 cyl, sedan with 22k and some change in miles. When I
> initially bought the car, I was getting on average 29-31 MPG highway (which
> is what it's driven on 90% of the time). Lately, I have been getting in the
> neighborhood or 25-26 MPG highway, sometimes 27.

Cold weather.

Re: 2003 Accord losing MPG on highway
 

In article <40044e37$0$12238$a0465688@nnrp.fuse.net>,
KDunagan@nntp.fuse.net wrote:

> This is a rather difficult problem to describe but I'll do my best. I have a
> 2003 Accord EX 4 cyl, sedan with 22k and some change in miles. When I
> initially bought the car, I was getting on average 29-31 MPG highway (which
> is what it's driven on 90% of the time). Lately, I have been getting in the
> neighborhood or 25-26 MPG highway, sometimes 27.

Cold weather.

Re: 2003 Accord losing MPG on highway
 

In article <40044e37$0$12238$a0465688@nnrp.fuse.net>,
KDunagan@nntp.fuse.net wrote:

> This is a rather difficult problem to describe but I'll do my best. I have a
> 2003 Accord EX 4 cyl, sedan with 22k and some change in miles. When I
> initially bought the car, I was getting on average 29-31 MPG highway (which
> is what it's driven on 90% of the time). Lately, I have been getting in the
> neighborhood or 25-26 MPG highway, sometimes 27.

Cold weather.

Re: 2003 Accord losing MPG on highway
 

KDunagan@nntp.fuse.net wrote in
news:40044e37$0$12238$a0465688@nnrp.fuse.net:

> This is a rather difficult problem to describe but I'll do my best. I
> have a 2003 Accord EX 4 cyl, sedan with 22k and some change in miles.
> When I initially bought the car, I was getting on average 29-31 MPG
> highway (which is what it's driven on 90% of the time). Lately, I
> have been getting in the neighborhood or 25-26 MPG highway, sometimes
> 27.
>
> The symptoms are: (mostly by feel)
>
> 1. Must keep accelerator pressed with significant pressure to keep
> car at speed.
>
> 2. When backing off of accelerator, the car slows very very quickly
> (no coasting to speak of)
>
> 3. It drives, ALMOST, like the parking break is stuck or something.
> I can sense resistance in the forward movement (at least it SEEMS like
> resistance), but no brake lights are on and the parking break is not
> engaged.
>
> I was told there was no "break in" period but I didn't push the car
> until I had about 900 miles on it.
>
> Does anyone have any thoughts as to what might be causing the gas
> mileage to have dropped like it has?
>
> Kip

I'm surprised no one else mentioned tire pressure.Be sure your tires are
set at the right pressure.
Or maybe you have a tire defect,generating high rolling resistance.
Have you rotated your tires recently?

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik-at-kua.net

Re: 2003 Accord losing MPG on highway
 

KDunagan@nntp.fuse.net wrote in
news:40044e37$0$12238$a0465688@nnrp.fuse.net:

> This is a rather difficult problem to describe but I'll do my best. I
> have a 2003 Accord EX 4 cyl, sedan with 22k and some change in miles.
> When I initially bought the car, I was getting on average 29-31 MPG
> highway (which is what it's driven on 90% of the time). Lately, I
> have been getting in the neighborhood or 25-26 MPG highway, sometimes
> 27.
>
> The symptoms are: (mostly by feel)
>
> 1. Must keep accelerator pressed with significant pressure to keep
> car at speed.
>
> 2. When backing off of accelerator, the car slows very very quickly
> (no coasting to speak of)
>
> 3. It drives, ALMOST, like the parking break is stuck or something.
> I can sense resistance in the forward movement (at least it SEEMS like
> resistance), but no brake lights are on and the parking break is not
> engaged.
>
> I was told there was no "break in" period but I didn't push the car
> until I had about 900 miles on it.
>
> Does anyone have any thoughts as to what might be causing the gas
> mileage to have dropped like it has?
>
> Kip

I'm surprised no one else mentioned tire pressure.Be sure your tires are
set at the right pressure.
Or maybe you have a tire defect,generating high rolling resistance.
Have you rotated your tires recently?

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik-at-kua.net