2005 Maintenance Advice
 

Hey guys,
For those who read my post a week or two ago, you know that I just
purchased a new 2005 Accord LX V-6 4 door sedan. I have a couple
questions regarding maintenance. First, can someone recommend a good
manual for this car? Haynes doesn't seem to have one for the 03-05
models. Secondly, I put a significant amount of miles on my car (about
30,000 annually). The dealership where I purchased the car is quite a
ways away from my house, and the Honda dealership nearest me is pretty
sleeeezy. Therefore, I would like to do the small maintenance
procedures (mainly oil changes) myself. Can anyone tell me if this
would void the warranty? If not, what kind of records should I keep
(receipts, dates of changes)??? This is my first Honda -- I owned
three nissans previous to this. Any advice would be much appreciated,
including additional maintenance advice other than what I requested.

Thank you very much.

Re: 2005 Maintenance Advice
 

In the back of the Owners Manual is an order form for Helms. Best manual
out there.

Keep receipts, and a running maintenance log. They cannot void your
warranty for doing your own maintenance.

G-Man


"DCDev" <vballdutchess@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1115050160.484491.310620@l41g2000cwc.googlegr oups.com...
> Hey guys,
> For those who read my post a week or two ago, you know that I just
> purchased a new 2005 Accord LX V-6 4 door sedan. I have a couple
> questions regarding maintenance. First, can someone recommend a good
> manual for this car? Haynes doesn't seem to have one for the 03-05
> models. Secondly, I put a significant amount of miles on my car (about
> 30,000 annually). The dealership where I purchased the car is quite a
> ways away from my house, and the Honda dealership nearest me is pretty
> sleeeezy. Therefore, I would like to do the small maintenance
> procedures (mainly oil changes) myself. Can anyone tell me if this
> would void the warranty? If not, what kind of records should I keep
> (receipts, dates of changes)??? This is my first Honda -- I owned
> three nissans previous to this. Any advice would be much appreciated,
> including additional maintenance advice other than what I requested.
>
> Thank you very much.
>

Re: 2005 Maintenance Advice
 

In article <1115050160.484491.310620@l41g2000cwc.googlegroups .com>,
"DCDev" <vballdutchess@yahoo.com> wrote:

> First, can someone recommend a good
> manual for this car?

The one the dealer sells.

Re: 2005 Maintenance Advice
 

On 5/2/2005 11:09 AM DCDev spake these words of knowledge:

> Hey guys,
> For those who read my post a week or two ago, you know that I just
> purchased a new 2005 Accord LX V-6 4 door sedan. I have a couple
> questions regarding maintenance. First, can someone recommend a good
> manual for this car? Haynes doesn't seem to have one for the 03-05
> models. Secondly, I put a significant amount of miles on my car (about
> 30,000 annually). The dealership where I purchased the car is quite a
> ways away from my house, and the Honda dealership nearest me is pretty
> sleeeezy. Therefore, I would like to do the small maintenance
> procedures (mainly oil changes) myself. Can anyone tell me if this
> would void the warranty? If not, what kind of records should I keep
> (receipts, dates of changes)??? This is my first Honda -- I owned
> three nissans previous to this. Any advice would be much appreciated,
> including additional maintenance advice other than what I requested.
>
> Thank you very much.

As G-man said, the Helms manual for your car. It's 60-70 bucks, and
well worth it.

The only way your warranty could be voided would be if some sort of
negligence could be proven, not just asserted. If you do the
maintenance yourself, 1.) know what you're doing, 2.) keep records, 3.)
don't worry. From your description, your warranty will expire in less
than 15 months anyway; very unlikely that anything will go wrong in that
time frame.


RFT!!!
Dave Kelsen
--
.... It takes at least one person cursing the darkness before someone has
sense enough to light a candle.

Re: 2005 Maintenance Advice
 

Yes, my warranty will expire in a little over a year, based on my
projected amount of driving. Do you think I should look into an
extended warranty, or rely on the fact that it is a honda and should be
reliable? Just looking for an opinion. Thanks...

Re: 2005 Maintenance Advice
 

In article <1115126341.265021.141470@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups .com>,
"DCDev" <vballdutchess@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Yes, my warranty will expire in a little over a year, based on my
> projected amount of driving. Do you think I should look into an
> extended warranty, or rely on the fact that it is a honda and should be
> reliable?

Boy, that's the question of the century right there.

I've said "it's a Honda, don't worry about it" for years. Then came the
98 V6 models with automatic transmissions--transmssions that were so
badly designed and made, it was like buying a Chrysler.

The transmission woes continued. Even after Honda re-did the Odyssey
transmission for 02, they *still* screwed it up and required a recall.

Honda has been replacing automatic transmissions like a mother changes a
newborn's diapers. Sad, really.

If you have a 4 cylinder model, especially a 4 cylinder model with
manual transmission, you're fine.

If you have an automatic tranny, though, hold your breath and hope that
Honda takes care of you when the time comes (note that I said "when" not
"if").

Re: 2005 Maintenance Advice
 

If Honda's AT's are so bad, as I have read in numerous places, why are
the cars still so popular? I purchased a Honda due to the reviews I've
read, and personal recommendations I've been given, stating that
Honda's are extremely reliable. Who wants to be replacing AT's so
much? I had a 94 maxima previously, and ran up 120K miles on it with
no major mechanical problems. The AT was just beginning to falter at
120K. I'll be extremely disappointed if I don't get the same
reliability and long life out of my Honda. I do a lot of long distance
driving, and don't feel like having a AT die while I'm a hundred miles
from home.

Re: 2005 Maintenance Advice
 

In the US anyone can advertise anything they want and reports are generated
for money. Did you ever notice the cars with the most glowing articles have
the most advertising space in the magazines. The American public is very
gullible and can't see past the advertising blitz....


"DCDev" <vballdutchess@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1115142305.679946.309980@f14g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com...
> If Honda's AT's are so bad, as I have read in numerous places, why are
> the cars still so popular? I purchased a Honda due to the reviews I've
> read, and personal recommendations I've been given, stating that
> Honda's are extremely reliable. Who wants to be replacing AT's so
> much? I had a 94 maxima previously, and ran up 120K miles on it with
> no major mechanical problems. The AT was just beginning to falter at
> 120K. I'll be extremely disappointed if I don't get the same
> reliability and long life out of my Honda. I do a lot of long distance
> driving, and don't feel like having a AT die while I'm a hundred miles
> from home.
>

Re: 2005 Maintenance Advice
 

I don't think that's necessarily true.

First, Honda's have to be some of the least advertised brands in my
area. I don't know about magazine space, but they seem to have fewer
TV commercials than most other brands.

Secondly, I wasn't referring to article reviews, I was referring to
glowing customer reviews. Although there have been numerous reports of
AT tranny trouble, the vast majority of consumer reports regarding
Hondas are very positive. If they have been having such severe and
wide AT trouble since 1998, why are the Accords still considered
such reliable, popular cars with such high resale value?

Re: 2005 Maintenance Advice
 

On 3 May 2005 11:23:58 -0700, "DCDev" <vballdutchess@yahoo.com> wrote:

>I don't think that's necessarily true.
>
>First, Honda's have to be some of the least advertised brands in my
>area. I don't know about magazine space, but they seem to have fewer
>TV commercials than most other brands.
>
>Secondly, I wasn't referring to article reviews, I was referring to
>glowing customer reviews. Although there have been numerous reports of
>AT tranny trouble, the vast majority of consumer reports regarding
>Hondas are very positive. If they have been having such severe and
>wide AT trouble since 1998, why are the Accords still considered
>such reliable, popular cars with such high resale value?

its a limited number. my 88 civics still going strong with 230k miles
on it. Right now, its sat up waiting for a half-shaft repalcement
(boot came loose on a long run, and so joint's knackered) but other
than that... Its V6 At's that are the problems ones anyway, and
personally, i can't stand AT. I'm the driver, i'll decide what gear i
should be in.

Re: 2005 Maintenance Advice
 

On 5/3/2005 1:23 PM DCDev spake these words of knowledge:

> I don't think that's necessarily true.
>
> First, Honda's have to be some of the least advertised brands in my
> area. I don't know about magazine space, but they seem to have fewer
> TV commercials than most other brands.
>
> Secondly, I wasn't referring to article reviews, I was referring to
> glowing customer reviews. Although there have been numerous reports of
> AT tranny trouble, the vast majority of consumer reports regarding
> Hondas are very positive. If they have been having such severe and
> wide AT trouble since 1998, why are the Accords still considered
> such reliable, popular cars with such high resale value?

It's a fair question. The fact is, that although it's a fairly large
*number* of transmissions affected, it's also a fairly small percentage.
In my own case, I have a 2001 Odyssey that just turned over 90K miles,
with nary a hitch. My 2003 Accord (4 cylinder A/T) just turned over 60K
miles (the same weekend...) Again, no problems whatsoever. But the
problem with the transmissions *is* real.

For unbiased (not necessarily correct) opinion, you might try Consumer
Reports; they do not accept advertising, for the very reason referenced
above in this thread. Further, the information presented in their
annual automobile issue is a conglomeration of data from many users. On
the other hand, those users are self-selected, and do not necessarily
represent a fair sample, statistically speaking. Of course, they are
not excluded from doing so, either. Take it, like anything else, with a
grain of salt.

As you can see, I have chosen to go with Honda, but your 'mileage' may vary.


RFT!!!
Dave Kelsen
--
.... Puritanism: The haunting fear that someone, somewhere may be happy.

Re: 2005 Maintenance Advice
 

DCDev wrote:
> Hey guys,
> For those who read my post a week or two ago, you know that I just
> purchased a new 2005 Accord LX V-6 4 door sedan. I have a couple
> questions regarding maintenance. First, can someone recommend a good
> manual for this car? Haynes doesn't seem to have one for the 03-05
> models. Secondly, I put a significant amount of miles on my car (about
> 30,000 annually). The dealership where I purchased the car is quite a
> ways away from my house, and the Honda dealership nearest me is pretty
> sleeeezy. Therefore, I would like to do the small maintenance
> procedures (mainly oil changes) myself. Can anyone tell me if this
> would void the warranty? If not, what kind of records should I keep
> (receipts, dates of changes)??? This is my first Honda -- I owned
> three nissans previous to this. Any advice would be much appreciated,
> including additional maintenance advice other than what I requested.
>
> Thank you very much.


------------------------------

Your usage will be way higher than most folks, so you'll just have to be
a lot more conciencious than the average driver :-)

I'd change the ATF 15,000 miles prematurely, twice, but I do that kind
of stuff myself. Then after that, I'd just follow the manual. Treat it
good, keep your ears open, and enjoy your Honda. Hand wax twice per year
to promote emotional bonding. You've got time to kill when you're on the
road anyhow. I used to do that. I did it last year, actually :-)

'Curly'

Re: 2005 Maintenance Advice
 

Thank you all for your input. It gives me some peace of mind about my
purchase to hear that although the tranny problem is real, there are
many people out there who have not experienced it.

Unfortunately, with the amount of city and stop-and-go driving I do, a
MT would drive me crazy. That's one of the bad things about NY.