I'm New: Accord Fan from CA needs advice...
 

Greetings All:
Glad to find this site. My ride:
2000 Accord EX 4 cyl Automatic Sedan LEV
Purchased used in 2005 with 32,000 miles
Now with 151,000 miles; replaced timing belt at 83K, (original) battery at 148K; no other major work.

Goal: Keeping this car on the road another six years!

Here's the deal: Just re-entered college as an adult. Have about six years to go for both undergrad and graduate degrees. I definitely do NOT need a car payment while working part time and going to school full time (in other words, I'm now a "starving student"; this is NOT an exaggeration).

What is/are the best thing(s) to do to keep my car sound? I have to drive a lot, mostly hard driving around town - lots of idling, braking, etc. - car also has to be kept outside year 'round (SF bay area, mild weather).

Got 264K out of first (new) 1984 Honda Accord hatchback, even though I didn't take good care of it (yes, I am ashamed...). Point being I trust Accords and want to do it right this time. I hope for another 70-80K miles over the next six years. What to do??? Thanks, all!

Change your timing belt (it is due every seven years or 105,000 miles, which ever comes first), get the brake system flushed, have the transmission serviced (drop the pan, replace the filter, top off with Honda ATF). Other than that, just normal maintenance.

Thank you, shipo; I am going to wait on the next timing belt. I need major brake work soon, (pads, rotors) and also shocks might be weak (all is original).

The automatic transmission doesn't have a pan. You just drain & fill the fluid. Assuming it's been a long while, I'd do that 3 times with driving a few days inbetween.

Your transmission is known to be a bit fragile. Be nice to it. (V-6 auto trans were worse, but still...)

Look through the maintenance schedule in the owner's manual. See if you find something that you think hasn't been done.
- New spark plugs were due at 100k, but maybe you don't call that "major" work.
- Fresh antifreeze every few years. Not for freezing, but for anti-corrosion.
- Fresh brake fluid every few years, like shipo said.

And also Welcome to the |Forums and Thank You for joining the HAF...

WheelBrokerAng :)