Request opinions on my sort-of-new Accord
in [Toyota Camry]
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From: Otis on 17 Sep 2009 22:20 General questions which is why I included five NG's. I've actually had the car for almost a year (bought 9-25-08). The car had a mild steering wheel shimmy at 60-70 mph that I noticed driving it home from the dealership the day I bought it. The car had not been sitting on the lot long ( a week or so, being recently delivered), so I doubt there were flat spots on the tires. I decided to let it go and forget about it. Still, you don't expect this with a brand new car with six miles on it and equipped with Michelins. The shimmy pretty much stayed, but as I said, it is mild. I rotated the tires at about 6500 miles a couple of months ago, which is when the little Honda Maintenance Minder told me to (cross to front as the manual said). Since then, I've noticed that, along with the usual shimmy, it gets a good deal worse when I press the brake at highway speeds. I doubt very seriously that the rotors are warped, but that the wheels were somehow not completely balanced at the factory. And maybe crossing the tires at rotation made the effect worse. That's my guess. I took the car out to the dlership today, explained, and the guy wanted to check the brakes (he said three hours for some reason) and possibly *turn* the rotors. Why? I've never had rotors turned in my life; if they got too grooved I'd just replace them. Considering the time, and his talking about turning rotors, I decided to hold off for now. Do you think I should take the car in and have them at least check the balance on the wheels (free till the 1 year anniversary of purchase)? I could just see those guys working on the car, and driving off with it *worse* than before. I've had this happen occasionally over the years. And a-n-o-t-h-e-r thing..... I was recently talking casually to a guy who runs a body shop. We were near my Accord and he immediately mentioned that the gap between the hood and fender on the left was not the same as the corresponding gap on the right side of the hood. And sure enough, it wasn't, and very noticeable even though I never noticed. He said that was very unusual for Honda and even asked me if the car had been wrecked. Pic link below. There is sunlight reflection a little on the left gap, but you should still be able to see it. The gap on left is noticeably bigger than the one on the right. The hood opens and closes nicely and everything seems tight and right, but it does look kind of bad. What do you guys think? Should I complain to Honda about it? Thanks a lot. http://s603.photobucket.com/albums/tt116/LyraVic/?action=view¤t=GEDC0178.jpg
From: dsi1 on 17 Sep 2009 22:32 Otis wrote: > General questions which is why I included five NG's. > > I've actually had the car for almost a year (bought 9-25-08). > > The car had a mild steering wheel shimmy at 60-70 mph that > I noticed driving it home from the dealership the day I bought it. > The car had not been sitting on the lot long ( a week or so, being > recently delivered), so I doubt there were flat spots on the tires. > I decided to let it go and forget about it. Still, you don't expect > this with a brand new car with six miles on it and equipped with > Michelins. The shimmy pretty much stayed, but as I said, > it is mild. I rotated the tires at about 6500 miles a couple of > months ago, which is when the little Honda Maintenance Minder > told me to (cross to front as the manual said). > > Since then, I've noticed that, along with the usual shimmy, it gets > a good deal worse when I press the brake at highway speeds. > I doubt very seriously that the rotors are warped, but that the wheels > were somehow not completely balanced at the factory. And maybe > crossing the tires at rotation made the effect worse. That's my > guess. > I took the car out to the dlership today, explained, and the guy > wanted > to check the brakes (he said three hours for some reason) and possibly > *turn* the rotors. Why? I've never had rotors turned in my life; > if they > got too grooved I'd just replace them. Considering the time, and his > talking about turning rotors, I decided to hold off for now. Do you > think > I should take the car in and have them at least check the balance > on the wheels (free till the 1 year anniversary of purchase)? I could > just see those guys working on the car, and driving off with it > *worse* > than before. I've had this happen occasionally over the years. > > And a-n-o-t-h-e-r thing..... > > I was recently talking casually to a guy who runs a body shop. We > were near my Accord and he immediately mentioned that the gap > between the hood and fender on the left was not the same as the > corresponding gap on the right side of the hood. And sure enough, > it wasn't, and very noticeable even though I never noticed. He said > that was very unusual for Honda and even asked me if the car had > been wrecked. Pic link below. There is sunlight reflection a > little > on the left gap, but you should still be able to see it. The gap on > left is noticeably bigger than the one on the right. The hood > opens and closes nicely and everything seems tight and right, > but it does look kind of bad. What do you guys think? Should > I complain to Honda about it? Thanks a lot. > > http://s603.photobucket.com/albums/tt116/LyraVic/?action=view¤t=GEDC0178.jpg It sounds like your rotors are warped. How could it be a wrecked Honda? You got it new. If you're worried about this, the body-fender guy should be able to tell if it's been in a accident pretty easily. Nice looking car though...
From: jim beam on 17 Sep 2009 22:42 On 09/17/2009 07:32 PM, dsi1 wrote: > Otis wrote: >> General questions which is why I included five NG's. >> >> I've actually had the car for almost a year (bought 9-25-08). >> >> The car had a mild steering wheel shimmy at 60-70 mph that >> I noticed driving it home from the dealership the day I bought it. >> The car had not been sitting on the lot long ( a week or so, being >> recently delivered), so I doubt there were flat spots on the tires. >> I decided to let it go and forget about it. Still, you don't expect >> this with a brand new car with six miles on it and equipped with >> Michelins. The shimmy pretty much stayed, but as I said, >> it is mild. I rotated the tires at about 6500 miles a couple of >> months ago, which is when the little Honda Maintenance Minder >> told me to (cross to front as the manual said). >> >> Since then, I've noticed that, along with the usual shimmy, it gets >> a good deal worse when I press the brake at highway speeds. >> I doubt very seriously that the rotors are warped, but that the wheels >> were somehow not completely balanced at the factory. And maybe >> crossing the tires at rotation made the effect worse. That's my >> guess. >> I took the car out to the dlership today, explained, and the guy >> wanted >> to check the brakes (he said three hours for some reason) and possibly >> *turn* the rotors. Why? I've never had rotors turned in my life; >> if they >> got too grooved I'd just replace them. Considering the time, and his >> talking about turning rotors, I decided to hold off for now. Do you >> think >> I should take the car in and have them at least check the balance >> on the wheels (free till the 1 year anniversary of purchase)? I could >> just see those guys working on the car, and driving off with it >> *worse* >> than before. I've had this happen occasionally over the years. >> >> And a-n-o-t-h-e-r thing..... >> >> I was recently talking casually to a guy who runs a body shop. We >> were near my Accord and he immediately mentioned that the gap >> between the hood and fender on the left was not the same as the >> corresponding gap on the right side of the hood. And sure enough, >> it wasn't, and very noticeable even though I never noticed. He said >> that was very unusual for Honda and even asked me if the car had >> been wrecked. Pic link below. There is sunlight reflection a >> little >> on the left gap, but you should still be able to see it. The gap on >> left is noticeably bigger than the one on the right. The hood >> opens and closes nicely and everything seems tight and right, >> but it does look kind of bad. What do you guys think? Should >> I complain to Honda about it? Thanks a lot. >> >> http://s603.photobucket.com/albums/tt116/LyraVic/?action=view¤t=GEDC0178.jpg >> > > It sounds like your rotors are warped. it's extremely rare for honda rotors to actually warp. it is however extremely common for surface rust and incorrect torque procedure to create symptoms /like/ warping. solution: clean the disk and wheel interface of rust. apply a little antiseize. re-bolt the wheel with a two or more stage torque process, using a torque wrench. > > How could it be a wrecked Honda? You got it new. If you're worried about > this, the body-fender guy should be able to tell if it's been in a > accident pretty easily. Nice looking car though...
From: jim beam on 17 Sep 2009 22:45 On 09/17/2009 07:20 PM, Otis wrote: > General questions which is why I included five NG's. > > I've actually had the car for almost a year (bought 9-25-08). > > The car had a mild steering wheel shimmy at 60-70 mph that > I noticed driving it home from the dealership the day I bought it. > The car had not been sitting on the lot long ( a week or so, being > recently delivered), so I doubt there were flat spots on the tires. > I decided to let it go and forget about it. Still, you don't expect > this with a brand new car with six miles on it and equipped with > Michelins. The shimmy pretty much stayed, but as I said, > it is mild. I rotated the tires at about 6500 miles a couple of > months ago, which is when the little Honda Maintenance Minder > told me to (cross to front as the manual said). > > Since then, I've noticed that, along with the usual shimmy, it gets > a good deal worse when I press the brake at highway speeds. > I doubt very seriously that the rotors are warped, but that the wheels > were somehow not completely balanced at the factory. And maybe > crossing the tires at rotation made the effect worse. That's my > guess. > I took the car out to the dlership today, explained, and the guy > wanted > to check the brakes (he said three hours for some reason) and possibly > *turn* the rotors. Why? I've never had rotors turned in my life; > if they > got too grooved I'd just replace them. Considering the time, and his > talking about turning rotors, I decided to hold off for now. Do you > think > I should take the car in and have them at least check the balance > on the wheels (free till the 1 year anniversary of purchase)? I could > just see those guys working on the car, and driving off with it > *worse* > than before. I've had this happen occasionally over the years. very common mistake. and one that allows the unscrupulous to soak you for new brakes more often than not. never allow any wheel monkey to re-bolt your wheels with air tools - should always be done by hand using a torque wrench. > > And a-n-o-t-h-e-r thing..... > > I was recently talking casually to a guy who runs a body shop. We > were near my Accord and he immediately mentioned that the gap > between the hood and fender on the left was not the same as the > corresponding gap on the right side of the hood. And sure enough, > it wasn't, and very noticeable even though I never noticed. He said > that was very unusual for Honda and even asked me if the car had > been wrecked. Pic link below. There is sunlight reflection a > little > on the left gap, but you should still be able to see it. The gap on > left is noticeably bigger than the one on the right. The hood > opens and closes nicely and everything seems tight and right, > but it does look kind of bad. What do you guys think? Should > I complain to Honda about it? Thanks a lot. > > http://s603.photobucket.com/albums/tt116/LyraVic/?action=view¤t=GEDC0178.jpg
From: dsi1 on 18 Sep 2009 04:38
jim beam wrote: > it's extremely rare for honda rotors to actually warp. it is however > extremely common for surface rust and incorrect torque procedure to > create symptoms /like/ warping. > > solution: clean the disk and wheel interface of rust. apply a little > antiseize. re-bolt the wheel with a two or more stage torque process, > using a torque wrench. > I've never owned a Honda so I defer to your expertise - all the cars I've owned had the standard warping rotors. OTOH, I've never had a car that was sensitive to rust on the wheel hubs. Does this happen mostly with steel wheels or alloy wheels? Those grease monkeys sure do like to over-torque those wheel nuts! |