03 Accord -100K mi. - upcoming road trip

My 03 Accord 4cyl with 100k will be doing two road trips this summer
across the Arizona/California desert. It still has the original water
pump, hoses and plugs. Thinking about the following maintence before
heading out:
Water Pump
Coolant
thermostat
Upper and Lower Radiator Hoses
Fuel Filter
Oil Change
Serpentine Belt & tensioner
spark Plugs
transmission fluid
brake fluid

HAs anyone had a water pump go past 100k on these cars? Or the
serpentine belt and hoses? I'm impressed tehy ahve lasted so long -
interested in others experiences.

 

Ask your dealer or shop about what's included in their complete timing
belt replacement package (lots of the items on your list should be
included and the timing belt, not on your list, is due for
replacement).
Hoses: a mechanic can tell you whether your hoses are OK.
Yeah, the other items are routine maintenance and should be done. May
as well change the power steering fluid and air filter while you're at
it and a throttle body cleaning isn't a bad idea. How's the PCV valve?
How old is the battery?
You might also want to check the spare tire and be sure you have the
tools (lug nut wrench) and ability to do it yourself.
Enjoy the trip.

 

don't touch the fuel filter unless you're having fuel starvation
problems. and i'll bet you're not.

and make sure transmission fluid is drain and fill, never flush. i
wouldn't bother with radiator hoses either, the car is only 5 years old
- it's not detroit garbage.

as for the rest, honda don't have a serpentine belt, but they do have
accessory and timing belts. you're at that time when they need to be
done. best thing is to dig out ye olde faithful owner manual and follow
the service schedule laid out in there. you'll note that it doesn't
include coolant pump. while it's common practice to replace, the
genuine honda article lasts a /long/ time. i had a crx with 305k miles,
and i got it cheap because the original factory pump had finally failed.
on the one hand, for the sake of $50 during a $600+ job, it's not
worth skimping. on the other, provided you've used quality non-silicate
coolant, it will probably last until the next timing belt change. same
for the tensioners - they just spin, they don't have much load.

 

eh. Not really. they're just average is my experience.

And besides, it costs what--$20? While he's in there changing the
timing (and accessory!) belt, it's ludicrous not to change the water
pump.

Yes, use Honda parts. Really. That includes coolant. To do otherwise
is penny-wise and pound foolish.

 

Absolutely no problem if you've followed the maintenance
schedule recommended at each 10,000 mile interval.
Hondas dont get cranky until their 2nd or 3rd 100K.

 

I have an '03 and 04 Accord 4 cyl. Honda made big changes on the '03 mode
as apposed to older Honda cars. First of the engine is on the passenge
side of the car and not the drivers side as older Honda's are. The wate
pump is not driven buy the timing belt because there is no timing belt
The cams are driven by a chain. There are also no accesory belts, al
under the hood is driven by a single serpentine belt. If it were my car
would change the plugs and service the trans and call it good.
Scot

-
Message posted using http://www.talkaboutautos.com/group/alt.autos.honda
More information at http://www.talkaboutautos.com/faq.htm

 

This car has no timing belt and does have a single serpintine belt. Cam
are chain driven and water pump driven by serpentine belt.
Scot

-
Message posted using http://www.talkaboutautos.com/group/alt.autos.honda
More information at http://www.talkaboutautos.com/faq.htm

 

Hi, I live in Phoenix but only have 90,000 on my '03 4cyl Accord. I thin
Honda says 105,000 on the plugs and 7 years or 120,000 on coolant .
checked my coolant a few weeks ago. Still at factory specs. I even went s
far as to drain my radiator down so I could look in at condition of th
inside of the radiator. Shined a light in to see what looked like a bran
new radiator, no deposits and no calcium build up. Honda coolant the bes
there is. My serpentine belt looks new. I drive my car in desert hea
every day. We have been over 110 for the last 9 days with 117 on Sat
Enjoy your trip and try not to worry.
Scot

-
Message posted using http://www.talkaboutautos.com/group/alt.autos.honda
More information at http://www.talkaboutautos.com/faq.htm

 

Many thanks - as for the timing belt, the manual says "for 6 cylinder
model only" - I'm going to confirm that with the dealer tomorrow. I
think I'm not going to fix what's not broke. Water pump is solid, no
leaks and the belts are not fraying.

 

Yes, I dropped it at Earnhardt's this afternoon and decided to do just
that. The serpentine looked really good - no fraying or cracks. Water
pump has no leaks or noise- this is an awesome car and I can't believe
it's got 100 k and still solid as a rock. Bring on the heat!

 

Thats what it looks like I'm going to do. Probably do the power
steering fluid as we. This is a great car and so solid after 100k.
Thanks for the reply.

 

Great, good to know. This car is so tight to this day, other vehicles
I've owned are on their second water pump at 100 K.

 

Really - drain and fill on the tranny fluid? What's the deal on the
flush?

 

1. drain and fill is honda factory procedure.
2. flush introduces contaminants. it shouldn't in theory, but people
always seem to have problems afterwards. probably because you inherit
other peoples crud from the machine.

 

ok, thinking older model.

 

* it's not a serpentine belt

* you can't tell whether the belt is going to go or not based on a
visual inspection

 

????

 

aren't Honda motors TRANSVERSE mounted?

 

or did he mean "FRONT of the engine"?
The K-series motors are opposite of older Honda motors such as H,D,or B-
series.

 

it is a serpentine belt! it runs everythin

-
Message posted using http://www.talkaboutautos.com/group/alt.autos.honda
More information at http://www.talkaboutautos.com/faq.htm