2004 Accord rattles

Hi,

I just bought an Accord, replacing a Nissan Pathfinder (I really liked the
truck, but became tired of bleeding money at the pump).

Nice car, but my problem is that the car seems full of squeaks and rattles.

¿Is this common?

My last "Honda" was a 1990 Acura Integra, which even though was a lot
cheaper, it felt much better put together.

-Indirecto

 

I have a squeak between my windshield and dashboard on the drivers
side. I also have a rattle under the seatbelt loop on the drivers
side. I don't think it's that bad...it happens sometimes, not all the
time. It's a 2 door BTW, it might make a difference.

 

I also have the same squeak between the windshield and dashboard on the
drivers side.

 

Well, I went to the dealer and they decided to replace the center pop-up
console storage under warranty.

They said they'll try and fix the other rattles. We'll see wha happens.

 

I have the 4-doop 4-cyl

 

In my experience with my 2003 Accord the answer is aggravatingly: YES!

John

 

Know how come?

Is it because they're made in the USA? (all Accords have been assembled
there for a while, no?)

 

My '96 Odyssey (the four door model built on the Accord platform) was built
in Japan. It had all sorts of squeaks and rattles. My '00 TL (Ohio built)
has clearly worse fit and finish than the Japanese Odyssey, but about the
same collection of rattles and squeaks. I think it must be a Honda
trademark wherever they're made.

 

design issues, tolerances, or suppliers.

yep, and this particular generation seems designed with cost-cutting in
mind.

 

Some newer Toyotas are also prone to interior rattles and squeaks. And of
course, some North American brands also have them (including my friend's '02
Ford Windstar, which has been a rattle trap since the day he bought it new).
From what I hear, all car manufacturers are under government pressure to cut
costs. So don't blame the manufacturers; blame the governments.

Personally, I'd take a rattly but mechanically sound Honda or Toyota over a
rattle-free but mechanically flawed Ford or Crapsler.

 

On my 2003 Civic Hybrid, I almost got used to the rattles before I insisted
that they do something about it on my third visit to the dealer for other
things, where I mentioned the rattle each time.
I noticed they used a sound deadening tape according to the service
writeup.

Poor design? Cost cutting? There is some value in cutting the price below
perfect and fixing the fallout. That also means they should be prepared to
fix the fallout without question.

You might have to insist. I was arguing with some service flunky, which I
try never to do. It's generally not their fault. I got frustrated because
my calm and cool approach was not causing him to seek help. I told him I
quite simply would not pick up the car until it was fixed. He got the hint
that time, and asked someone else, who seemed to have no problem at all
"looking in to it". He seemed to acknowledge the point that I think is
there. Some rattle, some don't. It's cheaper to fix the ones that rattle
than upgrade the product.

 

Yep...I had a squeak in the rear headliner near the window which went away
when I pressed on it. Now, I have a rattle in the rear side curatins and
also near the seatbelt. I will ask them to fix it when I bring it in for my
first service.

 

Yes.

 

No. My 87 and 98 Accords were buit in Ohio, and do not rattle or squeak.

 

since when has the government told honda they have to cut costs? its none of
their bisiness.

 

hm... maybe someone ought to open a mobile "fix a rattle" service, like
those mobile windshield and paintless dent repair places. for out of
warranty cars, of course. just carry a bunch of liquid nails, dynamat, felt,
fasteners, and spray foam around with ya.

 

I had a '90 RS auto Integra and it was solidly built. My wife's '90
manual LS was also great.

My '04 Acord has only 400 miles on it, so time will tell. Right now
it is as quiet as a funeral home. But, there were so many complaints
about squeaks & rattles on this board that I nearly didn't buy it.

On the other hand, my '96 I30t had significant issues with the 200
watt Bose stereo making lots of rattles. The dealer eradicated the
noises, and at 96,000+ miles it is still very quiet.

I think it's the luck of the draw, and how persistent you are about
demanding that it be fixed.

JM

 

I think I can fix them...If I just knew how to remove the side curtains...

 

There are a few things going on here:

1) Newer cars with airbags don't need a padded dash and other plastic
pieces, which were made with a softer plastic.

2) That softer plastic was usually PVC and there is a big move among the
health advocates/nazis(choose one) to completely ban PVC due to the
presence of phthalate plasticizers and lead stabilizers. You'll see one of
those "DO NOT REMOVE" labels, courtesy of the "State of California" on
anything sold with PVC in it now, which warns about washing hands after
touching it. The cable on my new keyboard has such a label. From what I
see and know, the evidence is kinda slim really and the plastics industry
is adamant about the safety of PVC but it does sound like an unnecessary
risk to use it for baby toys... which often get chewed or sucked.

3) All the auto mfrs are under pressure to lighten their vehicles and the
plastics industry has responded with new olefin polymers (basically
polypropylene and mixes of it) which can be made thinner for similar
strength and durability. They are also harder, therefore rattle more
easily and break more easily than the softer materials used before.

Every time we get a new widget, it almost always requires some refinement
and the fastening methods used for the previous generation of plastics does
not always work satisfactorily for those new plastics. Some of them have
been modified but need umm further work.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

Oh, great... more Proposition 65 creep.
I saw a parking garage with one of the California Propostion 65 warning
placards, "This area is known to contain ... chemicals..."
The problem is that if they are required to label a parking garage because
it merely contains exhaust fumes, and maybe the occasional fluid spill, how
am I supposed to know if an area is really storing some hazardous
chemicals?