03 Accord V6 6MT: Lots of fun problems. Need help :/
 

I have here list of issues with my Accord, and I'm hoping to get some insight into what exactly is wrong. I'm thinking some issues might be related.

To start, I've owned this Accord for almost 6 years now, and it's got about 140k on the odometer. I moved to MD last summer and took the car in for MD inspection at a dealership. I realize going to a dealership was a bad idea, but I figured I'd be OK since I've never had a single problem with the Accord. They quoted me at over $3,000 worth of repairs just to pass inspection.

Problem 1 - Suspension: The Honda dealership said the front lower ball joints have excessive play and the front lower compliance bushings are split. When I got the car back, having not gotten any of the repairs done, I noticed that I could feel every tiny bump in the road (Problem 2). I'm almost 100% sure I did not have this issue prior to taking the car in for inspection...which leads me to believe that it's somehow related to the ball joints and/or compliance bushings. I have a slow leak in both front tires, so I initially suspected the bumpy ride was due to that. But I came to find that the tire pressure was right where it needs to be, yet I the issue remained. I don't hear any unusual noises when I turn, brake, or accelerate. Its just a very rough ride...everything in my car is shaking loose lol. It is also important to note that the tires have uneven wear. The outside edges are more worn than the inside, and it appears the exterior outside edge may actually be more worn than the interior outside edge. I realize low tire pressure could be cause for this. But does excessive wear on the exterior outside edge indicate any particular problem?

Problem 3 - Engine Mount: I took the Accord in for a recall on the power steering hose a month or so ago, and I was told of a few more issues. They said the front engine mount is broken. I have been searching online about the suspension issue, and I've found a few people mention that a bad engine mount can be cause for excessive and unusual noises and bumps. So I was wondering if it could be the engine mount causing the problem.

Problem 4 - Oil leak: When I bought the car, I found out that the car was going through oil. It wasn't much at first, just needed a quart between oil changes. I checked the driveway for oil for several days and found nothing...never saw any oily spots underneath when changing the oil either, so I figured the missing oil was leaking into the engine and being burned off. I later heard that its common for Hondas to have leaky valve seals, which from what i understand causes some oil to burn off. I chalked it up as not being a major issue and just made sure to keep oil in the trunk. Now it's gotten to the point that I go through a quart every 800-1000 miles. And unfortunately I don't stay on top of checking the level, so I only put oil in when it fails to start on the first crank lol. During my last trip to the dealership for the recall, they also noted that there was oil leaking at the rear of the motor. They suspected it was the rear main seal. They said they have to pull the tranny just to diagnose it, which sounds like a load of BS to me. I tried looking around behind the motor from the top and saw no oil residue. Its probably also worth noting that I spilled a pretty large amount of oil (~1 cups worth probably) on the engine while trying to refill the oil from a 5 quart jug with no funnel. I was filling it in the front of the motor, obviously, but I was thinking maybe there's some way some leaked to the back of the motor? This happened only a few days before bringing in for the recall. Are there any common oil leak/burn problems I should look out for on these accords?

I was going to run outside and try to see if I can see any of the above mentioned issues, but the sun has set. I'll have to do it in the morning. In the mean time, is there anything I should look out for, common problems, etc? Any particular diagnosis methods to try? I am fairly mechanically minded, but I don't really have the tools to do much now. I live in an apartment, on a hill, and am not allowed to "work on my car" on the property. I also really only have basic tools - screwdrivers, wrenches, sockets, pliers, etc. I don't even have a jack outside of what comes with the car.

edit: Just to add a bit more... when I idle, the RPMs oscillate up and down a couple hundred RPMs. This has been an ongoing problem for years. I have a high output alternator for my stereo amplifiers. It has a smaller pulley and likely puts an increased strain on the motor. My battery light flicks on and off, which I believe to be from the voltage regulator in the aftermarket alternator (no voltage dips though). I've never once in my life seen an oil light come on, even 2+ quarts low. I assumed the 03 accord didn't have an oil light. I've read oild leaks can be due to high pressures in the engine resulting from a bad PCV valve. It seems to only be an issue with the 4cyl. though. Anyone hear about this issue on the V6?

Testing the ball joints will require jacking up the front of the car. Then you would have to push/pull on the tire at 12/6 o'clock. then try 3/9 o'clock. If the steering wheel is turned until it locks, the tire should move very little.

Google ericthecarguy suspension noise. That video will show how to push and pull on the tire to find loose suspension parts.

Verify your suspension is in good shape, then consider getting an alignment done.

Since you don't have the tools or a place to do this, take your car to another shop and have them inspect it.

It may have been your post in someone elses thread that I saw earlier today, because Ive watched ericthecarguy's video already lol. I don't know how I feel about tugging on my tire while using that rinky-dink Honda jack. It'll probably fall of the jack if you breath on it to hard. I was hoping to avoid taking it into someone, because that $80+ just for a diagnosis. And if I can't afford the repair at that time, theres no hope of them eating the diagnosis cost. But it's looking like I may have no choice. Hopefully I can see something tomorrow when I take a look.

You should be able to pick up a hydraulic jack for pretty cheap. Harbor Freight is a good source for a DIY person, because you don't use those tools that often.

I just went out to try to diagnose some of the issues just now. I did not jack up the car, which I realize would have helped a lot. I was feeling around behind the tires. The front lower ball joints don't seem to be deteriorated. They were a bit mushy (not firm), but so were the front upper ball joints. I didn't feel and cracks, abrasions, grease, etc. on them. I really couldn't see the compliance bushing very well...too much crap around them. I probably should find a place to jack this thing up so I can try prying on these components. But honestly, clearly SOMETHING is wrong with the suspension if the ride is so rough, so I'm thinking maybe I should just go ahead and replace them. Is it worth it to replace the upper ball joints or any other components while I'm at it (from a financial perspective)? If they already have the control arms off the car, the additional labor shouldn't be too much, right?

As for the engine mount. I really couldn't see it from the top. I found the side mount, and it seemed to be functioning as intended (I know the dealership said it was the front). I tried putting the car into gear and letting out on the clutch to see if the engine would rotate. I really didn't see much motion, in 1st or reverse. There was a very tiny movement, but it probably was within tolerance. I've had mounts go bad on other cars, and the engine freaking jumps up like 6 inches sometimes (ford taurus comes to mind). I guess that doesn't necessarily mean the mount isn't bad though. Again, this is looking like another thing I'm going to have to run by a mechanic.

I checked again for oil leaks (without getting under the car). I've again found nothing. No visible oil on the engine from the top, except where I spilled the oil by the filler cap. I wasn't seeing anything from the view in the wheel wells. And I backed the car up and saw nothing in the parking spot. I usually park in 1 of 4 spots in front of my building. The other three had cars in them, but the one I was in didn't seem to indicate any oil had been on the asphalt any time recently. I doubt I could afford any sort of repair for a leak besides simply replacing the PCV valve. So I think I will just go ahead and do that and pray that is the reason for this issue!