So, both for my own tracking, and to share with the Interwebs, here is the history of my 2006 V6 6-speed manual Accord Coupe.
My previous car was a 2001 I4 5-speed Accord Sedan. Just 9 months after I rebuilt the engine with new rings and a complete head job (to cure my oil burning), and literally 2 weeks after installing new shocks and CV axles, it was totaled. Great timing, huh? Someone rear-ended me on the freeway and pushed me into the car ahead of me just to maximize damage. So time for a new car.
On the plus side, it did give me the opportunity to upgrade to the V6. I just wish I had had enough time to search for a sedan. So the rest of this post is going to be a "complete" listing of everything I've done to the car since I got it.
Car Bought September 2011, with 102,445 miles on it
Installed iPod Adapter, September, 2011, ~104,000 miles
UneekSupply iPod Auxiliary Adapter from eBay (Plugs into XM radio port)
Bought Manuals, September, 2011 ~104,000 miles
Main Helm Factory Service Manual - 61SDA08
Helm V6 Supplement - 61SDA09
This was before I learned that these manuals were available in PDF format. Although it IS still really helpful to have the hard copy to do quick references in the garage when I'm already dirty.
I also bought a reproduction Owner's Manual from eBay to keep in the glove box for quick reference items.
Replaced Rear Brakes, October 2011, ~105,000 miles
Akebono Street Performance Pads - ASP537
Centric Premium E-Coated Discs - 120.40055
Air Filters, October 2011, ~106,000 miles
Engine Air Filter, WIX - 49063
Cabin Air Filter, WIX - 24815
Interior LEDs, December, 2011, ~108,000 miles
I bought a kit from Diode Dynamics for two map lights (31mm), dome light (31mm), trunk light (194), license plate (194), and door puddle lights (194)
"Permanently" Installed GPS Unit, April 2012, ~115,000 miles
Fabricated a base/mount out of Styrofoam to hold my Garmin Nuvi 2460 in place in the lower cubby. I installed a cigarette lighter splitter behind the cubby and hid all of the wiring behind the cubby. Then I just used a block of foam that is wedged into the cubby to hold the Garmin's suction cup mount in place. I pretty much expected it to be a temporary solution, but it's worked so well that I haven't touched it since I installed it. It's only now, 3 years later, that I wish I had taken the time to paint it or cover it in felt to make it look more finished. Oh well. It's hidden when you close the cubby anyway.
Replaced Front Brakes, June 2012, ~116,000 miles
Akebono Street Performance Pads - ASP787
Centric Premium E-Coated Discs - 120.40046
Trunk Lock Actuator Assembly, June 2012, ~116,000 miles
Remote trunk lock stopped working, so I had to replace this part. 74851-SDA-K02
Did Some Major Maintenance, September 2012, ~119,000 miles
Replaced Clutch
LUK 08-047 clutch kit
Clutch Release Fork - 22821-PYZ-000
Clutch Fork Pivot Bolt - 22825-P0S-000
Clutch Fork Release Boot - 22841-PPP-000
Honda High Temp Urea Grease - 08798-9002
Honda Thread Lock - 08713-0001
Power Steering TSB O-Ring - 91345-RDA-A01
Honda Power Steering Fluid - 08206-9002
Honda Manual Transmission Fluid Replaced -
Thermostat w/ Gasket, Gates - 33992
Manifold to A-pipe Gasket (2) - 18212-SA7-003
A-pipe to Pre-Chamber Gasket - 18393-SDB-A00
Air Filter Inlet Tube - 17228-RCA-A00
Motor Mount, Front - 50830-SDP-A13
Upper Transmission Mount - 50870-SDB-A02
Right Motor Mount, Anchor - 9297 (Honda units weren't in stock when I needed it)
Removed the clutch slave cylinder one-way restrictor valve while it was out of the car
Replaced/Upgraded Some Suspension Components While it Was Taken Apart
TL-S Sway Bar, Front - 51300-SEP-A21
Front Sway Bar Brackets (2) - 51308-SDA-A00
Front Sway Bar Bushings (2) - 51306-SEP-A01
Front Sway Bar End Link, Left - 51321-SEP-A01
Front Sway Bar End Link, Right - 51320-SEP-A01
Front Sway Bar End Link Nuts (4) - 94050-12080
TL-S Sway Bar, Rear - 52300-SEP-A11
Rear Sway Bar Brackets (2) - 52308-S3M-A00
Rear Sway Bar Bushings (2) - 52306-SEP-A11
Rear Sway Bar End Link, Left - 52325-SFY-J01
Rear Sway Bar End Link, Right - 52320-SFY-J01
Compliance Bushings (2) - 51394-SDB-A11
Tokico Front Struts (2) - TOHTS507F
Tokico Rear Struts (2) - TOHTS507R
Cardone Select (New) CV Axle, Left - 66-4221
Cardone Select (New) CV Axle, Right - 66-4207
Replaced Timing Belt & Water Pump
Aisin Timing Belt / Water Pump Kit - TKH002 (includes timing belt, idler pulley, tensioner pulley, hydraulic tensioner, & water pump)
I did all of this work all by myself, except for the couple of hours that I needed an extra pair of hands to realign/reinstall the transmission. Even with two people that was a hug pain the butt!
It was a LOT of parts. And this doesn't even include some stuff like engine mounts I found as I took things apart.
Installed New Spark Plugs, January 2013, ~125,000 miles
NGK 5266
This wasn't as bad as I feared it might be. But maybe that is just because I have skinny arms. I didn't have to remove any parts to get access to the rear plugs.
Installed New Upgraded Headlight Bulbs, February 2013, ~126,000 miles
Philips HIR2 9012 Standard Halogen Headlight Bulb, trimmed to fit. I just used a set of the large size of nail clippers to trim the plastic. It was a little bit tough, but it worked really well.
Got New Tires Installed, August 2013, ~131,000 miles
Got a new set of BFGoodrich g-Force Sport COMP-2 tires installed. Compared to the crap tires that were on the car when I got it, these were a massive improvement in performance. Although next time I think I'll look for something with a stiffer sidewall for better transient/turn-in response. (And not to rub it in, but I love the fact that here in Phoenix, I can run High Performance Summer category tires all year round.)
Bought New Spare Tire/Wheel, August 2013, ~131,000 miles
Finally got around to finding a decently priced spare tire that works with the V6 MT's larger diameter rotors. (Embarrassed to admit that I drove around for 2 years without a spare tire. But I DID at least have a can of Fix A Flat in the trunk!)
Replaced Window Tint, August 2013, ~131,000 miles
The window tint on the rear window was getting wavy and hard to see out of. And the driver's window had some scratches on it. So I removed the tint and installed some fresh tint. This is necessary in Phoenix.
eBay window tint. 35% for front, 20% for all other windows
Body Work, September 2013, ~133,000 miles
After a minor hit and run fender bender I had to have some work done on the left front corner of my car. Replaced front bumper cover, front left fender, and a bunch of little support brackets and clips, and had the bumper and fender painted, with a blend to the driver's door.
CAPA certified bumper cover from eBay, primered. Looked like it could have come from the same mold as the bumper I took off. Seems, date stamp locations, etc., all identical.
I tried buying these "Various MFR" inner fender liners and splash shield from RockAuto.com (HO1249117, HO1248117, and HO1228117), but they were complete crap. They were flimsy, which I could deal with, but the mounting holes didn't even line up. I ended up trashing these and buying the OEM parts from Honda.
Fender, primered, Honda - 04630-SDN-A90ZZ
I did all of the remove and replace work on this project to save a few bucks. I installed the new fender and had the body shop spray the fender and blend to the door, and they sprayed the bumper off of the car to get the best coverage. Then I installed the bumper and the rest of the trim. I've got other Honda part numbers for the brackets I replaced if anyone is really interested. But I figure most people would just let the body shop buy these parts, so I'm not going to bother listing them individually.
Installed New Wiper Blades, October 2013, ~133,000 miles
Trico 16-260 NeoForm Driver's Side Wiper Blade with Teflon. I got this from RockAuto.com on a closeout item sale for only $3.82!
Trico 16-180 NeoForm Passenger's Side Wiper Blade with Teflon. I got this from RockAuto.com on a closeout item sale for only $3.80!
Maintenance, February 2014, ~138,000 miles
Engine Air Filter, WIX - 49063
Hood support struts, Monroe (2) - 901670
September 2014, ~149,000 miles
Finished removing the rest of the pin striping from the body panels that didn't get repainted during the body work.
New Key, November 2014, ~151,000 miles
Bought a new complete key from eBay to replace a cracked key case that I have. The metal key shank actually broke free from the plastic case, so the remote part of the case would periodically fall off of the metal key while I was driving. Not ideal. Bought the new complete key (because it was cheaper than buying just the blank key), had the key cut to match at ACE Hardware, and transferred the keyless entry remote and the RFID chip from the broken key into the new key case. New working key for less than $50.
Installed iPod Mount, February 2015, ~155,000 miles
Installed a Vena Clip Grip dash mount to hold my iPod in place for easier music selection/playback. It's not exactly how I envisioned installing it, but it was the best I could do with the adjustments available with this mount. The main reason I went with this one was because it was cheap, and it was rated to have very good sticking power, which it does!
March 2015, ~157,000 miles
Bought and installed some new LED lights for the 31mm map and dome lights (3175) since the previous ones had died several months ago. I have additional info on this change in another post, here.
Topped off the clutch fluid in the master cylinder
Rechecked the torque of all of the spark plugs. I tightened each one a few degrees with a beam torque wrench, and they were all right in the range of 13-15 ft-lbs.
Other Miscellaneous Items
Many oil changes.
I don't remember when I did this, but I replaced several burned out bulbs in the seat heater and moonroof switches with these units from Radio Shack - 272-1092. I learned later that they are Neo Wedge Type A (T3) units, so next time I think I will seek out LED versions to replace them.
Replaced the battery with a CostCo battery. Maybe even twice. For some reason I don't have receipts for this.
Gas Mileage
I'm one of those nerds that tracks my gas mileage religiously. Mostly because I like looking at data.
Gas Mileage for a Full Tank Refill
Minimum - 18.5 mpg
Average - 22.4 mpg
Maximum - 29.2 mpg
Average 15.3 gallons per refill, with 342 miles per tank.
I once managed to go 435 miles on one tank.
One time it took 16.8 gallons to refill. This was a little bit too close for my comfort.
Blue points/line is mpg at each refill
Magenta line is lifetime average mpg
Black line is a rolling average of the last 10 tanks
First red vertical line is when I installed new clutch, timing belt, etc.
Second red vertical line is when I installed new plugs
In March of 2012 I moved into my new house, which has a much shorter/more city driving commute. You can see the reduction in average mpg.
My previous car was a 2001 I4 5-speed Accord Sedan. Just 9 months after I rebuilt the engine with new rings and a complete head job (to cure my oil burning), and literally 2 weeks after installing new shocks and CV axles, it was totaled. Great timing, huh? Someone rear-ended me on the freeway and pushed me into the car ahead of me just to maximize damage. So time for a new car.
On the plus side, it did give me the opportunity to upgrade to the V6. I just wish I had had enough time to search for a sedan. So the rest of this post is going to be a "complete" listing of everything I've done to the car since I got it.
Car Bought September 2011, with 102,445 miles on it
Installed iPod Adapter, September, 2011, ~104,000 miles
UneekSupply iPod Auxiliary Adapter from eBay (Plugs into XM radio port)
Bought Manuals, September, 2011 ~104,000 miles
Main Helm Factory Service Manual - 61SDA08
Helm V6 Supplement - 61SDA09
This was before I learned that these manuals were available in PDF format. Although it IS still really helpful to have the hard copy to do quick references in the garage when I'm already dirty.
I also bought a reproduction Owner's Manual from eBay to keep in the glove box for quick reference items.
Replaced Rear Brakes, October 2011, ~105,000 miles
Akebono Street Performance Pads - ASP537
Centric Premium E-Coated Discs - 120.40055
Air Filters, October 2011, ~106,000 miles
Engine Air Filter, WIX - 49063
Cabin Air Filter, WIX - 24815
Interior LEDs, December, 2011, ~108,000 miles
I bought a kit from Diode Dynamics for two map lights (31mm), dome light (31mm), trunk light (194), license plate (194), and door puddle lights (194)
"Permanently" Installed GPS Unit, April 2012, ~115,000 miles
Fabricated a base/mount out of Styrofoam to hold my Garmin Nuvi 2460 in place in the lower cubby. I installed a cigarette lighter splitter behind the cubby and hid all of the wiring behind the cubby. Then I just used a block of foam that is wedged into the cubby to hold the Garmin's suction cup mount in place. I pretty much expected it to be a temporary solution, but it's worked so well that I haven't touched it since I installed it. It's only now, 3 years later, that I wish I had taken the time to paint it or cover it in felt to make it look more finished. Oh well. It's hidden when you close the cubby anyway.
Replaced Front Brakes, June 2012, ~116,000 miles
Akebono Street Performance Pads - ASP787
Centric Premium E-Coated Discs - 120.40046
Trunk Lock Actuator Assembly, June 2012, ~116,000 miles
Remote trunk lock stopped working, so I had to replace this part. 74851-SDA-K02
Did Some Major Maintenance, September 2012, ~119,000 miles
Replaced Clutch
LUK 08-047 clutch kit
Clutch Release Fork - 22821-PYZ-000
Clutch Fork Pivot Bolt - 22825-P0S-000
Clutch Fork Release Boot - 22841-PPP-000
Honda High Temp Urea Grease - 08798-9002
Honda Thread Lock - 08713-0001
Power Steering TSB O-Ring - 91345-RDA-A01
Honda Power Steering Fluid - 08206-9002
Honda Manual Transmission Fluid Replaced -
Thermostat w/ Gasket, Gates - 33992
Manifold to A-pipe Gasket (2) - 18212-SA7-003
A-pipe to Pre-Chamber Gasket - 18393-SDB-A00
Air Filter Inlet Tube - 17228-RCA-A00
Motor Mount, Front - 50830-SDP-A13
Upper Transmission Mount - 50870-SDB-A02
Right Motor Mount, Anchor - 9297 (Honda units weren't in stock when I needed it)
Removed the clutch slave cylinder one-way restrictor valve while it was out of the car
Replaced/Upgraded Some Suspension Components While it Was Taken Apart
TL-S Sway Bar, Front - 51300-SEP-A21
Front Sway Bar Brackets (2) - 51308-SDA-A00
Front Sway Bar Bushings (2) - 51306-SEP-A01
Front Sway Bar End Link, Left - 51321-SEP-A01
Front Sway Bar End Link, Right - 51320-SEP-A01
Front Sway Bar End Link Nuts (4) - 94050-12080
TL-S Sway Bar, Rear - 52300-SEP-A11
Rear Sway Bar Brackets (2) - 52308-S3M-A00
Rear Sway Bar Bushings (2) - 52306-SEP-A11
Rear Sway Bar End Link, Left - 52325-SFY-J01
Rear Sway Bar End Link, Right - 52320-SFY-J01
Compliance Bushings (2) - 51394-SDB-A11
Tokico Front Struts (2) - TOHTS507F
Tokico Rear Struts (2) - TOHTS507R
Cardone Select (New) CV Axle, Left - 66-4221
Cardone Select (New) CV Axle, Right - 66-4207
Replaced Timing Belt & Water Pump
Aisin Timing Belt / Water Pump Kit - TKH002 (includes timing belt, idler pulley, tensioner pulley, hydraulic tensioner, & water pump)
I did all of this work all by myself, except for the couple of hours that I needed an extra pair of hands to realign/reinstall the transmission. Even with two people that was a hug pain the butt!
It was a LOT of parts. And this doesn't even include some stuff like engine mounts I found as I took things apart.
Installed New Spark Plugs, January 2013, ~125,000 miles
NGK 5266
This wasn't as bad as I feared it might be. But maybe that is just because I have skinny arms. I didn't have to remove any parts to get access to the rear plugs.
Installed New Upgraded Headlight Bulbs, February 2013, ~126,000 miles
Philips HIR2 9012 Standard Halogen Headlight Bulb, trimmed to fit. I just used a set of the large size of nail clippers to trim the plastic. It was a little bit tough, but it worked really well.
Got New Tires Installed, August 2013, ~131,000 miles
Got a new set of BFGoodrich g-Force Sport COMP-2 tires installed. Compared to the crap tires that were on the car when I got it, these were a massive improvement in performance. Although next time I think I'll look for something with a stiffer sidewall for better transient/turn-in response. (And not to rub it in, but I love the fact that here in Phoenix, I can run High Performance Summer category tires all year round.)
Bought New Spare Tire/Wheel, August 2013, ~131,000 miles
Finally got around to finding a decently priced spare tire that works with the V6 MT's larger diameter rotors. (Embarrassed to admit that I drove around for 2 years without a spare tire. But I DID at least have a can of Fix A Flat in the trunk!)
Replaced Window Tint, August 2013, ~131,000 miles
The window tint on the rear window was getting wavy and hard to see out of. And the driver's window had some scratches on it. So I removed the tint and installed some fresh tint. This is necessary in Phoenix.
eBay window tint. 35% for front, 20% for all other windows
Body Work, September 2013, ~133,000 miles
After a minor hit and run fender bender I had to have some work done on the left front corner of my car. Replaced front bumper cover, front left fender, and a bunch of little support brackets and clips, and had the bumper and fender painted, with a blend to the driver's door.
CAPA certified bumper cover from eBay, primered. Looked like it could have come from the same mold as the bumper I took off. Seems, date stamp locations, etc., all identical.
I tried buying these "Various MFR" inner fender liners and splash shield from RockAuto.com (HO1249117, HO1248117, and HO1228117), but they were complete crap. They were flimsy, which I could deal with, but the mounting holes didn't even line up. I ended up trashing these and buying the OEM parts from Honda.
Fender, primered, Honda - 04630-SDN-A90ZZ
I did all of the remove and replace work on this project to save a few bucks. I installed the new fender and had the body shop spray the fender and blend to the door, and they sprayed the bumper off of the car to get the best coverage. Then I installed the bumper and the rest of the trim. I've got other Honda part numbers for the brackets I replaced if anyone is really interested. But I figure most people would just let the body shop buy these parts, so I'm not going to bother listing them individually.
Installed New Wiper Blades, October 2013, ~133,000 miles
Trico 16-260 NeoForm Driver's Side Wiper Blade with Teflon. I got this from RockAuto.com on a closeout item sale for only $3.82!
Trico 16-180 NeoForm Passenger's Side Wiper Blade with Teflon. I got this from RockAuto.com on a closeout item sale for only $3.80!
Maintenance, February 2014, ~138,000 miles
Engine Air Filter, WIX - 49063
Hood support struts, Monroe (2) - 901670
September 2014, ~149,000 miles
Finished removing the rest of the pin striping from the body panels that didn't get repainted during the body work.
New Key, November 2014, ~151,000 miles
Bought a new complete key from eBay to replace a cracked key case that I have. The metal key shank actually broke free from the plastic case, so the remote part of the case would periodically fall off of the metal key while I was driving. Not ideal. Bought the new complete key (because it was cheaper than buying just the blank key), had the key cut to match at ACE Hardware, and transferred the keyless entry remote and the RFID chip from the broken key into the new key case. New working key for less than $50.
Installed iPod Mount, February 2015, ~155,000 miles
Installed a Vena Clip Grip dash mount to hold my iPod in place for easier music selection/playback. It's not exactly how I envisioned installing it, but it was the best I could do with the adjustments available with this mount. The main reason I went with this one was because it was cheap, and it was rated to have very good sticking power, which it does!
March 2015, ~157,000 miles
Bought and installed some new LED lights for the 31mm map and dome lights (3175) since the previous ones had died several months ago. I have additional info on this change in another post, here.
Topped off the clutch fluid in the master cylinder
Rechecked the torque of all of the spark plugs. I tightened each one a few degrees with a beam torque wrench, and they were all right in the range of 13-15 ft-lbs.
Other Miscellaneous Items
Many oil changes.
I don't remember when I did this, but I replaced several burned out bulbs in the seat heater and moonroof switches with these units from Radio Shack - 272-1092. I learned later that they are Neo Wedge Type A (T3) units, so next time I think I will seek out LED versions to replace them.
Replaced the battery with a CostCo battery. Maybe even twice. For some reason I don't have receipts for this.
Gas Mileage
I'm one of those nerds that tracks my gas mileage religiously. Mostly because I like looking at data.
Gas Mileage for a Full Tank Refill
Minimum - 18.5 mpg
Average - 22.4 mpg
Maximum - 29.2 mpg
Average 15.3 gallons per refill, with 342 miles per tank.
I once managed to go 435 miles on one tank.
One time it took 16.8 gallons to refill. This was a little bit too close for my comfort.
Blue points/line is mpg at each refill
Magenta line is lifetime average mpg
Black line is a rolling average of the last 10 tanks
First red vertical line is when I installed new clutch, timing belt, etc.
Second red vertical line is when I installed new plugs
In March of 2012 I moved into my new house, which has a much shorter/more city driving commute. You can see the reduction in average mpg.