Buying Diesel Accord

[crazy eyes]

Hi,

I'm just looking for a bit of help. I'm looking at buying a 2004-2005 accord and I am finding it hard to find a good one. (I'm in Ireland) I have come across one that that seems like it has been really will looked after and the owner says it has a stamped service history from new and he serviced it on time with 0 w30 castrol fully synthetic through his ownership. He bought it in the UK and the only other owner was Royal Bank of Scotland.

The only thing that is putting me off is the fact that the timing chain was not replaced on it. I'm just wondering will the timing chain go regardless of how well the car was serviced or was the chain only likely to go if it was not service regularly. Would it be a waste even going to look at this car car knowing the chain has not been replaced.

Here is a link to the car :http://www.adverts.ie/car/honda/accord/2005-honda-accord-for-sale/5198138

Thanks for any help as it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[apintofmild]

My two penneth: At that mileage I'd leave it.

 

[Jon_G]

Hi Karl and welcome to TypeAccord.

You're right to worry about the chains... they were a problem with the pre-facelift (2004 and 2005) diesels (later ones had slightly different chains and very different tensioners). However, I understand that - if they're going to fail - they'll tend to have failed much sooner than this example's mileage. My 2005 model went to almost 160k miles / 256k kilometres on its original chains before they became noticeably noisy (cam chain had stretched a bit). You need to listen to the engine when fully up to temperature and idling... the tensioners are hydraulic and lose the ability to cope with a worn chain when the oil pressure drops. Mine make the exact same noises as this one here... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmFe9rUjfa8

Otherwise, the clutches are a common weakness and so are cracked exhaust manifolds... ideally these should have been replaced. Check carefully otherwise!

 

[crazy eyes]

My two penneth: At that mileage I'd leave it.

Is this because of the high mileage of because they tend to go wrong around now?

Hi Karl and welcome to TypeAccord.

You're right to worry about the chains... they were a problem with the pre-facelift (2004 and 2005) diesels (later ones had slightly different chains and very different tensioners). However, I understand that - if they're going to fail - they'll tend to have failed much sooner than this example's mileage. My 2005 model went to almost 160k miles / 256k kilometres on its original chains before they became noticeably noisy (cam chain had stretched a bit). You need to listen to the engine when fully up to temperature and idling... the tensioners are hydraulic and lose the ability to cope with a worn chain when the oil pressure drops. Mine make the exact same noises as this one here... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmFe9rUjfa8

Otherwise, the clutches are a common weakness and so are cracked exhaust manifolds... ideally these should have been replaced. Check carefully otherwise!

Thank you I'm enjoying the site so far. The owner told me the manifold has been replaced but I haven't asked him about the clutch. Is that the typical sound of a tired timing chain. It sounds very distinct and hard to miss.

So would the chain generally have given up the ghost at this stage of it was to go? I will be keeping up the servicing as it as been serviced. I have serviced all my cars every 6,000 miles.

The only other car I am seriously looking at instead of an accord is an Audi A4 1.9 tdi but I prefair Honda's and have always had one since I started driving.

 

[edgeoftime]

Does the proposed one sound like the one in the video? If yes then leave it or get the vendor to put it right (some chance)!! Consider this however how many thousands of Accord mk 7's diesels are running around the world? and how many of them have had to have any major repairs? I am on 198,000 miles, I change the oil at 6,000 and do the filter at 12,000, no engine problems yet, just brakes and suspension bushes, and the latest a short drive belt and coming soon a new alternator, the old one is noisy but still charging. Mine is a 54, bought second hand at 90,000 miles three years old, again a repmobile but serviced regular, mostly motorway use (had to be at that milage) use your own judgement after all it's your cash.

 

[crazy eyes]

Does the proposed one sound like the one in the video? If yes then leave it or get the vendor to put it right (some chance)!! Consider this however how many thousands of Accord mk 7's diesels are running around the world? and how many of them have had to have any major repairs? I am on 198,000 miles, I change the oil at 6,000 and do the filter at 12,000, no engine problems yet, just brakes and suspension bushes, and the latest a short drive belt and coming soon a new alternator, the old one is noisy but still charging. Mine is a 54, bought second hand at 90,000 miles three years old, again a repmobile but serviced regular, mostly motorway use (had to be at that milage) use your own judgement after all it's your cash.

No I have to view the one in the ad on the weekend. If it sounds like the one above I'll be running away . That is something to think about. A friend of a friend has on with over 200,000 miles on it and it was regularly serviced and its still running 100%. It was after driving this one that I decided i wanted one.

 

[edgeoftime]

No I have to view the one in the ad on the weekend. If it sounds like the one above I'll be running away . That is something to think about. A friend of a friend has on with over 200,000 miles on it and it was regularly serviced and its still running 100%. It was after driving this one that I decided i wanted one.

They are streets in front of the "other"oil burners

 

[chew]

I have a 2005 I cdti and also used to own an audi a 1. 9tdi there is alot of things I prefer about the Honda ie spec and equipment and smoothness of the engine but if asked which one I would recommend on high milage it would be the audi just my opinion having owned both I sold the audi to a friend at work it is now on 185000 miles and running really well having done 4 trips to Albania and back no problem only downside is it sounds like a tank.

 

[Jon_G]

A friend of mine has a high mileage 2003 A6 with the 1.9TDI engine and I have to say it's pretty good. Electrical problems from water leaking into the cabin are bad though!

 

[Fandango]

A friend of mine has a high mileage 2003 A6 with the 1.9TDI engine and I have to say it's pretty good. Electrical problems from water leaking into the cabin are bad though!

Yes, I had the S6 (the semi skimmed RS6, with the V8). A lovely car, but got expensive when the passenger footwell flooded, as there are several electronic bits there.