Honda Car Forum

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

Check the obvious first: tire pressure? transmission fluid level? Is the
car pulling? CV joints leaking? Noise from the steering gear?

Carefully touch all wheels after a drive. if a brake is sticking that wheel
will be scorching hot.

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

Air filter?

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions.

I know the tire pressures are correct and they have been recently rotated (last month). Not sure why cold weather would cause a drop in mileage but I called the weather dude here and told him what my issues were and could he please arrange for some warmer weather.

All the other suggestions were great. I'll try them as soon as feasible.

Regards,
kip

<KDunagan@nntp.fuse.net> wrote in message
> 3. It drives, ALMOST, like the parking break
>is stuck or something. I can sense resistance in
>the forward movement

Get out and test push.

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

It sounds like you're stuck on third....
Coast on neutral, see if it still drags.

"Tibur Waltson" <Toush@hi.com> wrote in message
news:45cf42f4d933e0a5b0e7c0c7cc1bde03@news.bubbane ws.com...
> <KDunagan@nntp.fuse.net> wrote in message
> > 3. It drives, ALMOST, like the parking break
> >is stuck or something. I can sense resistance in
> >the forward movement
>
> Get out and test push.
>
> > 2. When backing off of accelerator, the
> >car slows very very quickly (no coasting to speak of)
>
> It sounds like you're stuck on third....
> Coast on neutral, see if it still drags.
>

If you're insinuating that the tranny isn't using overdrive, then
technically, it's stuck in 4th. The 2003 Accord has a 5-speed automatic.