If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#21
|
|||
|
|||
R. P. wrote:
> "SoCalMike" > wrote: > >> try www.cartalk.com and use their mechanic locator. worth a shot. > > > Thanks for that tip, SoCal Mike! Looks like this time I picked the > *right* Honda dealership. > > Rudy > (formerly of Huntington Beach) > what did they have to say bout the last mechanic, if anything? ive personally never looked at the site myself, and chances are with my luck ill forget all about it if i ever need major service done... duh! |
Ads |
#22
|
|||
|
|||
"SoCalMike" > wrote:
> what did they have to say bout the last mechanic, if anything? Nothing. That shop wasn't even listed. Rudy |
#23
|
|||
|
|||
"jim beam" > wrote:
> ok. keep us posted with the result - add the data to the pool. Will do. Rudy |
#24
|
|||
|
|||
"SoCalMike" > wrote: > > try www.cartalk.com and use their mechanic locator. worth a shot. Well, I decided to get a second opinion on the possible reason for that howling sound coming from under the hood and visited one of the nearby independent shops specializing in Japanese cars that got really good rating from customers in www.cartalk.com. The shop has been around for a long time and I was able to talk to the hands-on owner who also test-drove the car. From that he could not really localize the source of the howling, so at his shop he got out his stetoscope and listened to the noise emitted from various components. To my relief he said he didn't think the noise was coming from the tranny but from the timing belt area. To be sure though, he suggested to leave the car there soon so he can remove the plastic cover over the timing belt and look and listen there. He also proposed a process of elimination by removing one belt at a time (not the timing belt, of course!) to see if any of those steps stops the howling. His best guess is that some worn bearing in the timing belt area makes the noise. As this second opinion is quite different than the first one that suggested the torque converter being the source, I decided to give the benefit of doubt to this second opinion as it seems to be the less costly alternative and who knows, it might fix the problem. If it doesn't, I can escalate the issue to other possible couses, such as the torque converter, just as I tried the ATF replacement first before trying the next, costlier option. In any case, this shop owner mechanic impressed me sufficiently to take my car to him in a couple days and see if his guess was right. I'll keep you posted on the outcome. Rudy |
#25
|
|||
|
|||
"R. P." > wrote:
> In any case, this shop owner mechanic impressed me sufficiently to > take my car to him in a couple days and see if his guess was right. > I'll keep you posted on the outcome. Well, here is the promised post: the problem is fixed. As it turned out the strange howling sound did not come from the transmission and not even from under the timing belt cover. It was coming from the AC compressor. This mechanic turned out to be what the www.cartalk.com responses indicated: the best one I ever came across. He localized the problem by removing one belt at a time to see if that caused any change in the noise and he'd found it when he removed the belt from the AC compressor. Since a new AC compressor from Honda costs a fortune, he suggested getting a used one from a junk yard from an identical car with low milage and that's what I got for a reasonable price. Luckily I also suggested to check the engine mounts while at it and sure enough, he found the rubber support in the front engine bracket broken which then he also replaced with a new one. He said the rear engine mount was OK though somewhat stretched. As that one is much more expensive, I left that one to be addressed at a future date. All in all, the engine sounds real good and quiet, as good as I ever heard it and the price was quite reasonable. I feel real lucky to have found this independent shop through cartalk.com and from one of you guys who suggested using that source. Without it I might have gone ahead with the suggestion of that Honda mechanic who diagnosed the problem as a bad torque converter. So much for authorized Honda expertise. Rudy |
#26
|
|||
|
|||
R. P. wrote:
> compressor. Since a new AC compressor from Honda costs a fortune, he > suggested getting a used one from a junk yard from an identical car with > low milage and that's what I got for a reasonable price. if the AC still works, id probably just drive as-is until the compressor fails. if it didnt work, then sure- a new compressor would be nice. or no AC? |
#27
|
|||
|
|||
"SoCalMike" > wrote:
> if the AC still works, id probably just drive as-is until the > compressor fails. if it didnt work, then sure- a new compressor would > be nice. or no AC? Sure, as I seldom use the AC, anyway. It's just that howling noise that bothered me, especially when I did not know where it was coming from. Also, is it really economical to buy expensive new parts for an 11 year old car with 205 K miles in it that I don't plan to keep longer that 2 or 3 years? Rudy |
#28
|
|||
|
|||
|
#29
|
|||
|
|||
"E Meyer" > wrote:
> Three years is the duration of the original warranty. If you plan to > keep > it that long, then I think new parts are justified. That does not mean that the parts only last 3 years though. In any case, I was willing to take the gamble because I've had some experience already with such used parts and it was all good. Rudy |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
suggestions to buy accord | yahmed | Honda | 3 | May 15th 05 08:02 PM |
2005 Accord: iPod-friendly? | Paul Wylie | Honda | 11 | April 5th 05 09:09 PM |
Honda OEM Parts Catalogs for Sale | Joe | Honda | 0 | February 12th 05 01:43 PM |
2005 Accord ... Should I? | DaveR | Honda | 21 | February 10th 05 12:15 AM |
2003 Accord power lock problem | Steve Driska | Honda | 0 | September 26th 04 04:02 AM |