Rattling Noises from 2003 EX's??

[kutiepotpie]

I've seen a few people online who seem to have the same rattling problem. It seems to be coming from both windows from the front driver and passenger doors. The noise is faint, but since the car is quiet and with no music on, it's just irritating. The noise gets worse in cold weather. Has anybody else had this problem or had a dealer fix it? I don't want to go to the dealer and have them say, "We don't hear anything."
And just this last week, the center console seemed to have to rattling loose piece on the inside of it somewhere. It stops when i hit the side of it with my fist (haha)...but eventually comes back.

[nighthawk]

This is also an issue w/ my 2003 Pilot. It is discussed thoroughly at http://www.honda-pilot.org/. Just do a search on SCRUNCH, as it is affectionately called by us Pilot Owners. Some have used tape, velcro, and other material to muffle the sound but no fix yet. Honda basically tries to rub down w/ Silicone lube, but this is a temp fix. We're still waiting on a permanent solutions. For now turn up the radio and enjoy the new ride...;)

[kutiepotpie]

hahahaha!
yes, I've tried to fix it myself. I assumed it was the wax from when the dealer cleans the car to give you, so I wiped the tracking and the window clean of it. I think it got worse. I also thought that silicone lub would help but haven't tried it yet. my friend recommended putting a small piece of carboard between the door and window to tighten it up and just never open my window again. I decided, like you ;) to just turn the music up and ignore it!
hopefully there will be a technical service bulletin come up regarding this ratting real soon!

BTW: do you like your new pilot?

[y2jdaddy]

Sounds like the noise you are referring to seems to be coming form the front dash near the windsheld near each corner. If it's a "creaking" noise and sounds like something is loose...it could be a faulty clip in the A-Pillar. It's a minor adjustment they make by replacing the clip by going under your fenderwell. I had this problem when I first bought my '03 Accord Coupe but after the repair it completely dissapeared. I've seen this same problem posted at other forums.

[kutiepotpie]

daddy: do you know what they did to rid the problem? i've heard some get their tracking lubbed with silicone. i've heard one person getting new tracking. what did they do to your car?
:rolleyes:
i really hope a service bulletin goes up for the EX-rattling...i don't want to be sent home with: "we don't hear anything ma'am. come back when there really is a problem."

[PsychoBueller]

I have an LX with the same rattling. Please don't forget about those of us without a sunroof! :)

[y2jdaddy]

The specific repair they did on my Accord was termed: the "A-Pillar" trim clip; adjust and replace.

I've seen the other postings about other trim problems or lubrication problems but mine was specifically a "crackle", "creaking" sound from the drivers side corner of the dash. Just tell the service people that you read on some forums that it was the clip in the A-Pillar. Hope that helps.

[cozmcse]

Hi everyone,

I just bought my 2003 Accord coupe EX-L V6 2 weeks ago. The day I drove it home I noticed a creaking sound from the driver side windshield in the vertical area where the glass clips are located. when I would go over a bump or crack in the road. I brought the car back to the dealership and the mechanic checked the windshield clips and they were perfect. The mechanic finally located the problem and it was a bolt with 2 washers on it not tighten on the passenger door side of the glovebox. I believe that he said it was going into the glovebox (maybe the pivot point for the glovebox hinge??) The mechanic tightened the bolt and the noice was gone. The mechanic stated that the sound travelled through the dash and made it seem like it was coming from the drivers side windshield area.

Michael

[Pestco1]

Had seen several posts on another site about windshield clips used during assy. that come loose and cause this noise. Dealers pull headliner and remove them to mitigate noise. Had rear pass. window noise in '03 coupe. Apperantly from wiring harness loose, they used foam tape to resecure. all is now perfect!!

[princess]

Check the bulletins....see if your noise is described there!

[Ganz]

Where do you go to check the tech bulletins?
Thanks

[princess]

Many are in the "Factory Direct" thread.

[raff]

rattling noises are common among the 7th gen accords... take your car back to the dealership and they should be able to rid ur car of the maraca noises. here i will make a list of possible things you should keep a good eye out for.

1. wrinkled window trim molding
2. rattling from any part of the interior of your car
3. sunroof not shutting completely
4. drivers side seat movement (seat shifts when braking and accelerating)
5. clutch creaking
6. clutch vibrating
7. trouble starting car (fuel pump pressure regulator problem)
8. steering wheel vibration when braking at high speeds (due to warped rotors)
9. radio screen plastic warping
10. headliner sagging
11. car pulling to the right (alignment?)
12. "sticky" sunglass holder

there are probably some i did not mention but these are the ones i can think off the top of my head.
note: if you take your car to the dealer for most of these problems and can have them fixed fairly quickly

oh and by the way you can check the Technical Service Bulletins herehttp://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/tsb/
if a problem you have is listed here then print out that specific TSB or whichever ones apply to you, take it to the dealership with u, and if the dealer tries to give you some BS then whip that sucker and out shut them up :)

[tsanyc]

Has anyone heard issues about the 2004 Accords? I am buying an Accord pretty soon, and would appreciate your input...

Thanks

[raff]

the 2004 sedans have been out for about a month now... it's too early to say if they have got problems for not... as for the coups, they aren't out yet (not that i know of atleast)...

[meaccord]

Originally posted by tsanyc
Has anyone heard issues about the 2004 Accords? I am buying an Accord pretty soon, and would appreciate your input...

Thanks

Like any new model car there will be a few issues to hammer out. 7th generation honda accord has had over a year of production to work out the common kinks. I believe the new model started coming out in august 2002.

Raff has a list of some issues but i dont believe them to be wide spread or applicable to the majority of all 2003/2004 accords.

I own a 2003 accord EX , build date july 2003, ive had it over a month now and no rattles, creaks or other problems... its been solid so far... pound on wood:D

Keep in mind, forums only provide the opinion of the very few that actually use them... and honda sells thousands of accords..

You are in a good position to buy the 2004 model since factory has had well over a year to correct minor issues. Its a solid car and you will not regret buying it.. good luck!

[raff]

Originally posted by meaccord
Like any new model car there will be a few issues to hammer out. 7th generation honda accord has had over a year of production to work out the common kinks. I believe the new model started coming out in august 2002.

Raff has a list of some issues but i dont believe them to be wide spread or applicable to the majority of all 2003/2004 accords.

I own a 2003 accord EX , build date july 2003, ive had it over a month now and no rattles, creaks or other problems... its been solid so far... pound on wood:D

Keep in mind, forums only provide the opinion of the very few that actually use them... and honda sells thousands of accords..

You are in a good position to buy the 2004 model since factory has had well over a year to correct minor issues. Its a solid car and you will not regret buying it.. good luck!

with all due respect meaccord... you really can't say much cuz you've had your car for only 1 month... only time will tell...

[meaccord]

Originally posted by raff
with all due respect meaccord... you really can't say much cuz you've had your car for only 1 month... only time will tell...

You re right Raff, but my opinion is not based solely on my experience... I am looking at the overall "big picture"... a few complaints doesnt constitute a generalization of the problem..

If you can show me some numbers that would suggest that those problems you listed were chronic, then i would have to agree with you. But I just dont see the numbers to justify the generalization.... True there are some first year growing pains,, but as the model year goes on I would expect a decline in complaints..

[princess]

I agree with meaccord, there's really just minor stuff going on & they are working on fixing them. I'd much rather have an Accord with some noises than safety issues! Honda has NEVER waited for the government to TELL them to do a recall. They have caught them before & dealt with them. The government ends up doing major investigations with other makers. For example right now the Durango is having a problem with ball joints breaking off at about 30K. The whole joint has rolled across the highway, causing danger to the driver & the other drivers on the road. Dodge doesn't see it as a problem YET.

My Accord hasn't had the noises I've heard others having. Is it perfect? No, I don't like the new headliner or the new leather. The '02 felt better to the touch. If I get a letter from Honda saying my VIN is part of a recall I will be thrilled that Honda is standing behind their product & doing what they can to fix it. I will also likely whine about HAVING to deal with it!:)

They always work the bugs out, if possible. My sunglasses door does what it supposed to. My headliner stays in place. No weird noises. No weird wrinkles. No pulling to one side.

:D

I'm happy!

[raff]

you both are correct... i'm pretty sure that the 04's have had all the kinks out... but i only listed the problems that i have heard of... you might have them... you might not... just something people wonna watch out for so they can get it taken care of asap or while their cars are still under warranty... i honestly have had only 1 or 2 of those listed above, my main concern was getting the info out there for people who own an 03, isnt' that what this board was meant for? sharing info? haha :)

[princess]

I agree that IS what this forum is supposed to be about!!:grouphug:

[meaccord]

dido.. is great to share opinions... Great to highlight those points Raff, i see your point.. i was just attempting to keep things in perspective:D

I believe , as soon as there is a problem/issue that we bring it to honda's attention ASAP so they can find a fix/solution... I read some owners are attempting their own fixes... but then honda doesnt hear of the complaints..:(

[Red04EX]

Originally posted by raff
the 2004 sedans have been out for about a month now... it's too early to say if they have got problems for not... as for the coups, they aren't out yet (not that i know of atleast)...

raff,

They are definitely out now as I took deliver of a red on on 11/1. So far the car has been very quite. No real "abnormal" sounds as of yet but I only have about 130 miles. I do notice a higher amount of road noise over my '99 TL but nothing the radio can't handle. :D

[pdqgp]

there is another fix out there, but mine was the locking mech. coming down into the door. The rattle your hearing is the metal on plastic tapping together ever so slightly when you hit a bump. That's what it was in my case. I fabbed a sound deading mold around it with some Dynomat when I had my sound system installed.

[CatchMe]

Yep, I have the same thing eminating from my center control unit. Like right next to the driver side climate control. I swear im gonna punch that sumbitch one of these days. It comes and goes as it deems necessary.

[princess]

Welcome catchme!

[raff]

on a side note, my car has the "seat movement" issue on the drivers side... under slightly heavy breaking conditions the seat moves forward about 1/2 inch and when i have completed the stop it moves back to the original position and whe i make a left turn the seat shifts to the right side but i can't feel it moving back to the left.... HAHAHAHA so my seat moves forward, backward, and right... what a bummer...

[uvman]

I had a similar problem on my '01 civic, no problems with my accord though. On the Civic it was just some bushings where the seat was bolted down. Once I had them replaced all was snug again.

-Dan

[go77306]

Not back and forth, but left and rigt! do you have any solutions?

My car also has rattle noise from driver side door/window.
And the sunroof too! if I open the sunroof, after few minutes I can hear the sparking noise from the sunroof! what can I do? I already took it to the dealer, they said they couldn't feel the seat movement, the couldn't hear the rattle noise, they said they only can reproduce the sunroof sparking noise once, and they fixed it for me - but it is still there! waht I can do????

if anyone has a fix for the rattle on the dorr/window, can you please provide photos as well?

BTW, anyone in this forum from Toronto has the same problem but dealer cann't fix it?

Thannks!!!



Originally posted by raff
on a side note, my car has the "seat movement" issue on the drivers side... under slightly heavy breaking conditions the seat moves forward about 1/2 inch and when i have completed the stop it moves back to the original position and whe i make a left turn the seat shifts to the right side but i can't feel it moving back to the left.... HAHAHAHA so my seat moves forward, backward, and right... what a bummer...

[princess]

Did you already look through the bulletins? There was one about the door window area. I thought I've seen one about the seat movement, too. Read through, you may find an answer!:)

The "sparking" noise is a weird one!! Never heard of such a thing!

[go77306]

are you talking about this? Is this a TSB? I guess it isn't...

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/complain/results.cfm

Make : HONDA Model : ACCORD Year : 2003
Crash : No Fire : No Number of Injuries: 0
ODI ID Number : 10062268 Date of Failure: March 15, 2004
Component: SEATS
Summary:
POWER DRIVER'S SEAT SHIFTS IN ITS TRACK WHEN CORNERING



Originally posted by princess
Did you already look through the bulletins? There was one about the door window area. I thought I've seen one about the seat movement, too. Read through, you may find an answer!:)

The "sparking" noise is a weird one!! Never heard of such a thing!

[princess]

I meant the ones here in the "factory direct" area. You may find what you need there. Sorry, I forget there's other places.... silly me:)

[go77306]

Thanks, find the window noise one, but don't see anything about seat and door/sunroof noise :-( Guess I have to wait untill some TSBs.. or, I can use my camcord to record the noise and send a DVD to HONDA, see what they can do.

[princess]

Although there isn't a "bulletin" on the glove box rattle, there is a tech letter about light leaking & the fix is foam tape. Tell your tech to check the Aug 03 Service news.

The dash noise sounds like it could be the A pillar.

There was only one bulletin so far about the moonroof, 03-003. It says it doesn't close properly. Could the noise be from not closing all the way? Do you have a visor? Bean had an issue with his visor making noise.

I had a seatbelt noise & had the part replaced that attaches to the "wall" of the car. It still made the noise. It sounded like a faint "ching". I chose to not keep having it replaced, but you might try.

The driver's side door rattle could be 03-085. It's in the threads in the factory direct.

Sorry that's all the help I can be at this point. If anything new gets released I'll be posting it in the factory direct area....

By the way, welcome to the board!!:D

[go77306]

Thanks, you are so helpful!

Originally posted by princess
There was only one bulletin so far about the moonroof, 03-003. It says it doesn't close properly. Could the noise be from not closing all the way? Do you have a visor? Bean had an issue with his visor making noise.

No, I don't have a visor. There is no noise if the sunroof is closed. Today, I heard another noise from sunroof area, if Iput my hand on the roof, the new noise is gone. (this is a new noise, not the sparking noise)


The driver's side door rattle could be 03-085. It's in the threads in the factory direct.


I will take a look.


Sorry that's all the help I can be at this point. If anything new gets released I'll be posting it in the factory direct area....

By the way, welcome to the board!!:D
No, you have been so helpful! Thanks!!!