Honda Car Forum

Hi folks -
I've had this car for about a year and two months. The rattling is
non-stop. And it moves throughout the car. It's as if the car was
simply not put together well. Compared to my previous Accord and
Civic, I have been sorely disappointed. The rattles have been:

* Driver window (seems to be not sealing properly)

* Center console (squeaking)

* Rear head-liner (comes and goes, but when it's there it is
maddening)

* Under carriage (towards the front)

The dealer is about at their wits end with me. I realize these things
are hard to fix, and I don't blame then. At the same time, these type
of problems are enough to drive someone insane. It's not just me that
hears them, anyone that sits in my car regularly hears them.

Does anyone have any suggestions or similar experiences?

Thanks,
-Dan

Dan Miller wrote:
> Hi folks -
> I've had this car for about a year and two months. The rattling is
> non-stop. And it moves throughout the car. It's as if the car was
> simply not put together well. Compared to my previous Accord and
> Civic, I have been sorely disappointed. The rattles have been:
>
> * Driver window (seems to be not sealing properly)
>
> * Center console (squeaking)
>
> * Rear head-liner (comes and goes, but when it's there it is
> maddening)
>
> * Under carriage (towards the front)
>
> The dealer is about at their wits end with me. I realize these things
> are hard to fix, and I don't blame then. At the same time, these type
> of problems are enough to drive someone insane. It's not just me that
> hears them, anyone that sits in my car regularly hears them.
>
> Does anyone have any suggestions or similar experiences?
>
> Thanks,
> -Dan
====================
Dan,

I can guess where your old Accord was built... Somewhere on your door
pillar is a sticker that tells you where your NEW Honda was built. I'm
curious to know the answer.

:-( You could install really noisy tires. :-(

'Curly'

=================

Dan Miller <danm@danmiller.net> wrote:

> The dealer is about at their wits end with me. I realize these things
> are hard to fix, and I don't blame then. At the same time, these type
> of problems are enough to drive someone insane. It's not just me that
> hears them, anyone that sits in my car regularly hears them.
>
> Does anyone have any suggestions or similar experiences?


I got my 03 V6 Coupe in Nov 03, and it's been running great until
about a month ago. I started hearing these rattles, too.

At first it was my center console right underneath the radio.
That was easily fixed by my adding some cushion (stack of napkins)
inside the empty area. I think you have that silver door where you
push to open the center part? It moves up and down when you go
over bumps or sink-holes.

A month ago, I made a trip up to the mountains to play some
paintball, and it was very cold and bumpy ride. When I got back to
the city, I started hearing the rattles at the rear windshield on
the right side. Also on the driver's seat headrest. It's a little
loose so it makes a rattle until I bang on it with my head.

So today, Jan 12, was the first oil change that she needed.
I brought her in to the dealer where I bought the car from so
that I can get a tech to sit with me for a test-drive.

The tech did that this morning. He heard the rattles, and assured
me that I wasn't crazy. So he opened the trunk and such to make
sure the back-seat release is not rattling against the metal frame.

He told me that he will look into it with another mechanic and
asked me to wait in the waiting area while he do the oil change
and everything. About an hour later, they called me to the
counter and said they need to open up some body moulding? to track
down where the rattle is coming from. He said it would take
more than 3 hours and I had already been there for 2.5 hours.

I told him to hold off on it because I was late for work and
I would bring her back next Friday. I am going to be car-less
for a day.

Oh and they said it's not coming from the windshield area, which
I thought it did because the ceiling by the right rear is very
hung loose compare to the left side. It would allow up to
my wrist to be put in there.

I didn't force it, it just happened that it was that loose and
it's probably tapping against the windshield. I also thought
it was normal wear and tear plus cold weather.

If you find a solution before I do, please post it here or
send me an email. drewREMOVE_ME@tsen.org.

Thanks!

On Mon, 12 Jan 2004 10:35:02 -0700, "'Curly Q. Links'"
<motsco__@interbaun.com> wrote:

>Dan Miller wrote:
>> Hi folks -
>> I've had this car for about a year and two months. The rattling is
>> non-stop. And it moves throughout the car. It's as if the car was
>> simply not put together well. Compared to my previous Accord and
>> Civic, I have been sorely disappointed. The rattles have been:

>====================
>Dan,
>
>I can guess where your old Accord was built... Somewhere on your door
>pillar is a sticker that tells you where your NEW Honda was built. I'm
>curious to know the answer.
>
>:-( You could install really noisy tires. :-(
>
>'Curly'
>
>=================

I am starting to develop a rattle somewhere around the navigation
panel. Not too bad yet. This 2003 V-6 was built in Ohio, the same
place and same percentage of U.S. components as our 1999 V-6 which was
rattle free after four years. I don't think you can pin it on U.S.
manufacturing. I think it is more because of being the first of the
generation.

Dick

"Dan Miller" <danm@danmiller.net> wrote in message
news:b9d59005.0401120858.6f923e2@posting.google.co m...
> Hi folks -
> I've had this car for about a year and two months. The rattling is
> non-stop. And it moves throughout the car. It's as if the car was
> simply not put together well. Compared to my previous Accord and
> Civic, I have been sorely disappointed. The rattles have been:
>
> * Driver window (seems to be not sealing properly)
>
> * Center console (squeaking)
>
> * Rear head-liner (comes and goes, but when it's there it is
> maddening)
>
> * Under carriage (towards the front)
>
> The dealer is about at their wits end with me. I realize these things
> are hard to fix, and I don't blame then. At the same time, these type
> of problems are enough to drive someone insane. It's not just me that
> hears them, anyone that sits in my car regularly hears them.
>
> Does anyone have any suggestions or similar experiences?
>


I have all the same problems except for the rear headliner and my dealer has
been useless.

I'm curious, was your car assembled in Japan or Ohio? Mine was built in
Ohio and I am not impressed with the interior fit and noise problems at all.
This is my first Honda, and the "legendary quality" certainly is not there
from a body/interior integrity point of view.

John

I have all those same problems. And by the way, mine was built in Ohio. If
I'd wanted American build garbage I would of saved myself a lot of money and
got a GM. When I'm done with this car I'm gonna insist that my next car be
built in Japan. That is, "IF" I buy another Honda.

Sean

"Dan Miller" <danm@danmiller.net> wrote in message
news:b9d59005.0401120858.6f923e2@posting.google.co m...
> Hi folks -
> I've had this car for about a year and two months. The rattling is
> non-stop. And it moves throughout the car. It's as if the car was
> simply not put together well. Compared to my previous Accord and
> Civic, I have been sorely disappointed. The rattles have been:
>
> * Driver window (seems to be not sealing properly)
>
> * Center console (squeaking)
>
> * Rear head-liner (comes and goes, but when it's there it is
> maddening)
>
> * Under carriage (towards the front)
>
> The dealer is about at their wits end with me. I realize these things
> are hard to fix, and I don't blame then. At the same time, these type
> of problems are enough to drive someone insane. It's not just me that
> hears them, anyone that sits in my car regularly hears them.
>
> Does anyone have any suggestions or similar experiences?
>
> Thanks,
> -Dan

On Mon, 12 Jan 2004 10:35:02 -0700, "'Curly Q. Links'"
<motsco__@interbaun.com> wrote:

>Dan Miller wrote:
>> Hi folks -
>> I've had this car for about a year and two months. The rattling is
>> non-stop. And it moves throughout the car. It's as if the car was
>> simply not put together well. Compared to my previous Accord and
>> Civic, I have been sorely disappointed. The rattles have been:
>>
>> * Driver window (seems to be not sealing properly)
>>
>> * Center console (squeaking)
>>
>> * Rear head-liner (comes and goes, but when it's there it is
>> maddening)
>>
>> * Under carriage (towards the front)
>>
>> The dealer is about at their wits end with me. I realize these things
>> are hard to fix, and I don't blame then. At the same time, these type
>> of problems are enough to drive someone insane. It's not just me that
>> hears them, anyone that sits in my car regularly hears them.
>>
>> Does anyone have any suggestions or similar experiences?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> -Dan
>====================
>Dan,
>
>I can guess where your old Accord was built... Somewhere on your door
>pillar is a sticker that tells you where your NEW Honda was built. I'm
>curious to know the answer.
>
>:-( You could install really noisy tires. :-(
>
>'Curly'

I know where you're going with this, but let me tell you anecdotally
that I have an Ohio-built 2003 EX V6 that is as silent as a tomb and
as tight as a drum.
Someone always wants to blame these things on American assembly, but I
don't think anyone's ever approached the problem in a scientific way
and come to that conclusion. In fact there was a publication,
possibly Consumer Reports, but I cannot recall, several years ago that
concluded that Ohio Hondas and Kentucky Toyotas might be built better
than their Japanese counterparts.
Ron

Milleron <millerdot90@SPAMlessosu.edu> wrote in
news:cvb600l5sp5abbn37bl4jenmkoae2ovb2f@4ax.com:

>
> I know where you're going with this, but let me tell you anecdotally
> that I have an Ohio-built 2003 EX V6 that is as silent as a tomb and
> as tight as a drum.
> Someone always wants to blame these things on American assembly, but I
> don't think anyone's ever approached the problem in a scientific way
> and come to that conclusion. In fact there was a publication,
> possibly Consumer Reports, but I cannot recall, several years ago that
> concluded that Ohio Hondas and Kentucky Toyotas might be built better
> than their Japanese counterparts.
> Ron
>

I, too, have a Marysville Accord that is dead silent. Mine was built in
mid-June of 2003, so maybe they'd had a chance to work out any
manufacturing bugs by that time. Remeber folks, '03 was the first year of
a complete redesign. Even Honda isn't perfect, but if you demand it, you
probably should have waited for the '04's which are probably closer to it.

Milleron wrote:
>
> I know where you're going with this, but let me tell you anecdotally
> that I have an Ohio-built 2003 EX V6 that is as silent as a tomb and
> as tight as a drum.
> Someone always wants to blame these things on American assembly, but I
> don't think anyone's ever approached the problem in a scientific way
> and come to that conclusion. In fact there was a publication,
> possibly Consumer Reports, but I cannot recall, several years ago that
> concluded that Ohio Hondas and Kentucky Toyotas might be built better
> than their Japanese counterparts.
> Ron

=================

Like somebody else said, it's probably the 'first year model' problem,
more than anything. They are careful to wrap foam padding around
anything that might rattle, like the cables to the stereo, but I'd be
tempted to just find a few of those rattles myself and wedge some foam
in there, or a glob of silicone glue.

Dealing with the dealer is like hitting your head against the wall
(feels better when you stop).

ArmorAll solves some of the plastic-on-plastic squeeks too !

'Curly'

===========================

I have a 2004 Accord V6 Sedan w/Navi. This is the quietest car that I have
ever owned and I've owned over 30 in my lifetime. There isn't a single
squeak or rattle in the car. It's built like a vault. On cold mornings you
may hear a squeak or two for a few minutes until everything is warmed up,
but that's to be expected with any car. On smooth freeways there is hardly
no wind or road noise. On rough secondary roads, however, you do hear a
little road noise, but that also is to be expected with the fairly stiff
suspension that this car has. I've owned many Honda's, Acura's. and Toyota's
and this is by far the quietest of them all. By the way, my car was built in
Marysville, Ohio.

--
Ron Dahlgren
Vallejo, CA.
mailto:rondahl@650dialup.com
"Dan Miller" <danm@danmiller.net> wrote in message
news:b9d59005.0401120858.6f923e2@posting.google.co m...
> Hi folks -
> I've had this car for about a year and two months. The rattling is
> non-stop. And it moves throughout the car. It's as if the car was
> simply not put together well. Compared to my previous Accord and
> Civic, I have been sorely disappointed. The rattles have been:
>
> * Driver window (seems to be not sealing properly)
>
> * Center console (squeaking)
>
> * Rear head-liner (comes and goes, but when it's there it is
> maddening)
>
> * Under carriage (towards the front)
>
> The dealer is about at their wits end with me. I realize these things
> are hard to fix, and I don't blame then. At the same time, these type
> of problems are enough to drive someone insane. It's not just me that
> hears them, anyone that sits in my car regularly hears them.
>
> Does anyone have any suggestions or similar experiences?
>
> Thanks,
> -Dan