I seriously need some help, I waited for a while because i think that things are too bad, but it is starting to get out of hand.

First of all, my family has a 03 Accord EX-V6 Sedan.

I'll start off with brakes.
The front brake pads were replaced at 22k km and rotors were turned (less than 5% on the pads). The front brakes were replaced at Barrie Honda under warranty.

Currently the car has 36k. So my brother brought the car in for a a type2 service. Found out the rear brake pads needs to be replaced and rotors to be turned. The dealer also said that there is 4mm of pads left in the front. Keep in mind the front pads were replaced at 22k. so they only have 14k on them. Anyway, the rear brakes were done at Markham Honda. I wouldn't mind if Honda covered it under warranty, but Markham Honda end up charging my brother for parts and labour! 178 for labour, 90 for parts.

I thought our cars have a 3 year bumper to bumper warranty. I am aware that brakes are 'wear and tear' items, but in my case, wouldn't it be considered to be 'abnormal' wear?

Aside from this, there are also many other problems.
- Wind noise from front passenger door
- Alignment issues ... couldn't get the car to perfectly straight (done at sisley)
- "Popping noise" from the accelerator, the car was brought to honda to get welded, after the car was welded. The popping noise did decrase, but it is still there. (done at sisley)

Don't get me wrong.. i love this car. But if i have to go through brakes and live with all these problem from a car thats not even 2 years old.... I rather drive something else.

Anyway, does anyone have any suggestions on what i can do?
Different dealers?
Go aftermarket brakes?
Trade in the car?

HELP!!


Thanks in advance,
Sherman

 

The New accords have a bullentin out for a shake and brake. (vibration while braking at highway speeds) In that warranty, we turn the rotors and replace the pads. UNDER warranty.

Brakes ARE wear and tear and WILL NOT be replaced unless there is a service bullentin such as up above. It would not be abnormal.

Your rear brakes would not be under warranty. Though with 4mm of pads left, you can still go awhile on those pads. New Hampshire state inspection limit is 1mm. Below 1mm and it fails.......

Alignment issues......03-036 <---- that service bullentin is for "drifting to the right"
Wind noise.... tell your dealer to check out ID 03-035, 03-057, 03-085 <---wind noise on front windows.

Gas pedal noise may be related to 03-058 but i couldnt read it cause my internet explorer frooze on me.

Alignment issues......03-036 <---- that service bullentin is for "drifting to the right"

I got all this information because for the most part, the dealer you are going to sounds like idiots. This would never happen at my honda dealer.

Almost ANY problem on a Honda, Honda already knows about and lets the dealer and techs know VIA Honda System we run through the internet. Being a Tech, I have the ability to get the info anywhere on the internet.

Your welcome.

<-------Honda Technician

 

It sounds like they already performed the shake and brake update on this car. I've seen two 03 accords, both v6 cars that seem to have just eaten the brake pads. The only thing they had in common was a lot of miles put on in a very short time. Approx. 20k-25k per year. I went for a ride last week with a lady whose rear pads were at 10% at 40K miles. She was a brake rider so I sent her down the road.

 

Before the update, our service manager wouldnt let up change out the pads, most time they didnt need em. But these things would warp like no other.....

I also have had more than a few new crv's with less than 15k miles and the inner damn rear pad is GONE.

 

Sounds to me like everyone is howling on the 400 and braking real hard.
I had an 89 Prelude and I never ever had a warped rotor in this car in 380K.
I buy a new Accord in 99 and wham I warp the rotors in the 1st 10000km.
I think the quality of the rotors has dropped over the years. Honda disagrees as would be expected. I figure some bean counter realized they could increase profits by using cheaper steel in the rotors - saving on the initial cost - and then clean up the profits with increased brake service. You get the idea.
However, warped rotors and heavy brake wear are generally caused by hard driving - period. I know because I brutalized my car early on as you are. I know the 400 series of highways you drive on and I know the speeds that people drive here. We have the fastest stretches of highways in North America hands down. Just to keep up you have to do at least 125-130km on our highways so it's no wonder we are hard on brakes.
Do you have an automatic? I hate them. You HAVE TO BRAKE EVERYWHERE! Downhills (real annoying!), around easy street corners (real, real annoying!), on/off ramps, everywhere! Try a standard and leave some "cushion space" on the freeways and see how long your brakes last. I drive my car hard and routinely get 40-50000km out of my brakes. You can't imagine how much easier it is to drive in traffic with a standard in the right gear. Down on the gas to accelerate, off the gas to brake - really tricky.
Here is a description of the person that is ruining your brakes;

2 footed driver (in an automatic), kamikaze gear shifter ( in a standard). Hard on the gas, hard on the brake, constantly. Impatient, tends to tailgate, speeds. "Howls" and I mean "howls" up any 400 series highway on occasion.

Sound like anyone you know? When I warped my rotors I know exactly when and how it happenned. Whovever warped your rotors probably knows the same information.
I also heard recently that we have the highest volume of traffic in North America.
You had probably better get used to braking me thinks.
Oh yes, watch out for a navy blue Chevy Suburban on the 400 near hwy 89. It's unmarked and it's fast.

 

Thank you for all the responses...

Calculator,
So for the brakes, there is nothing that i can do with getting the money back on the rear brakes? Is there any sort of warranty on the newly replaced rear brakes? What if they get worn out within a year? Would Honda replace it?
As for the front, how long will 4mm last?

skiier,
Before the 03 Accord, my family has a 5th gen Accord. It had 200k km on it and if i remembered correctly, the brakes were only replaced once! So i also agree with the decrease in the quality of brakes. I also dislike automatics, but i don't have a choice, so i'll leave that alone.
As for driving habits, i don't believe we drive too aggressive, we often let off the gas when we see things slowing down ahead (eg. red light). BUt anyway, thanks for the headsup on the under cover popo..


As a general question.. how SHOULD one use their brakes. Should the driver apply the brakes early and lightly to come to a stop...or apply later and harder?

 

You wont get refunded on the rear brakes.

There is no warranty on the newly replaced rear brakes, But if they go oddly fast, like 10k miles. They will most likely "Goodwill" the brakes (permission from honda to replace for free, or replace for free, but you pay labor) unless something else is found, such as a busted caliper or something of that sort.

4mm depends how you drive. I would say 6 months, could be more, could be less.

How should you brake.......DO NOT ride the brakes all the time, and DO NOT act like a race car driver on the brakes......get my drift?