Earlier I wrote about the 680 mile return trip that I made yesterday from Central Florida in our first 2009 Honda Pilot 2WD Touring.

What I didn’t report earlier was that my father-in-law was in a 2007 Honda Pilot 4WD EX, directly behind me.

This was no accident….Because Accurate Automotive and Accurate Auto Sales are so interested in obtaining as much real-world knowledge about Honda and Acura vehicles whenever possible, we decided to place these two similar units on the same road together, in the same temperatures, at the same speeds and burning the same octane fuel, which was 87 octane regular gasoline for this particular test.

We started our journey back to the dealership about 1:45PM EST. The outside temperature was 86 degrees. Our first break was at Exit 5 on I-75 north, in Lake Park, Georgia. We topped off the gas tanks here. The 2009 Honda Pilot had consumed 10.88 gallons and the 2007 Honda Pilot 4WD had consumed 10.57 gallons. We had traveled 202.2 miles and the time that had elapsed since the initial fill-up was 2 hours and 45 minutes. This indicates that our average speed, up to this point, had been 73.53 Miles Per Hour (MPH).

Our next fuel top-off was at Exit 345 on I-75 North in Ringgold, Georgia. The temperature at the time of fill-up was 61 degrees. The 2009 Honda Pilot had consumed 15.33 gallons of 87 octane fuel and the 2007 Honda Pilot 4WD had consumed 15.89 gallons. We had driven 333.9 miles since the last fuel tank top-off and the elapsed time was approx. 4 hours and 45 minutes. This indicates that our speed had averaged 70.2 miles per hour.

Our final fuel tank top-off was when we arrived at the dealership. We had traveled 152.7 miles and the 2009 Honda Pilot had consumed 7.10 gallons of 87 octane gasoline and the 2007 Honda Pilot 4WD had consumed 8.81 gallons of fuel.

The results were that the 2007 Honda Pilot 4WD had consumed 35.27 gallons of 87 octane over a total of 688.8 miles, which indicates an average of 19.53 Miles Per Gallon (MPG). The 2009 Honda Pilot consumed 33.31 gallons of 87 octane regular gasoline over the same 688.8 miles, which indicates an average of 20.68 miles per gallon (MPG).

My own personal thoughts are that if we had burned 93 octane gasoline, the average MPG would have probably increased 1.5 to 2 miles per gallon. However, neither of these Honda SUVs require anything more than 87 octane fuel and the current supply of 93 octane is so low, that it was not available at Exit 5 in Georgia. To keep the MPG test consistent, we opted to burn 87 octane fuel through-out the entire test.

The reason I would have rather burned the 93 octane fuel is because of ECO (economy mode) on the 2009 Honda Pilot. In this mode, the vehicle computer cuts out 2 of the 6 engine cylinders when they are not needed, while traveling down the interstate. With the engine running on only 4 cylinders, during approx. 65% to 70% of the interstate driving, the 93 octane fuel would have allowed the vehicle computer to further advance the ignition timing, which would have likely provided a higher fuel efficiency average.

With design improvements to the new 2009 Honda Pilot,  a 680 mile test drive was given to the first one that we drove back to our dealership in Nashville, Tennessee. This test drive has enabled me to give you this Accurate report of the new 2009 Honda Pilot 2WD Touring.

As many of you know, I am the inventory purchaser for Accurate Auto Sales.  Even though we are a fully independent, non-franchised business, our sales team is  more than just a used car lot. At Accurate, we specialize exclusively in the sales and service of Honda and Acura vehicles. Our Sales Department travels considerable distances to obtain the Honda and Acura vehicles that you want and this pursuit requires a trip to Central Florida nearly every week to attend the dealer auctions, where American Honda is a major consignor.

Yesterday, I purchased several Acura and Honda vehicles from American Honda, via dealer auction. These vehicles included a 2008 Honda Accord EX-L Sedan  with 8 miles on it, a 2008 Honda Accord LX-P Sedan with 8 miles on it, a 2007 Honda Pilot EX 4WD with 17,038 miles on it, a 2005 Honda S2000 with 34,693 miles in it, a 2005 Acura RL with 42,082 miles on it and a 2009 Honda Pilot 2WD Touring with 12,243 miles on it.

The reason I could obtain this 2009 Honda Pilot so early in the model year is because it had been driven as a company car for American Honda and had been included in the pre-sale inventory with the rest of the Honda and Acura vehicles offered that day

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The biggest improvement with the introduction of the 2009 Honda Pilot Touring is not having to choose between Navigation or RES/DVD….Since the Honda Pilot was introduced in 2003, if a buyer wanted a “loaded” Pilot, they had to choose between  Navigation or the Rear Entertainment System. If they wanted both factory installed options, and wished to stay in a Honda built SUV, they would have to opt for a 2003 to 2006 Acura MDX Touring with a 189 in the middle of the vin or a 2007 / 2008 Acura MDX with a 284 or 288 in the middle of the vin. Starting in 2009, the Honda Pilot Touring is available with both Navigation (including back-up camera) , and the Rear Entertainment System (RES / DVD).

Some of the other notable changes and  ”creature comforts” involving this 2009 Honda Pilot Touring include:

1. The relocation of the gear shift from the steering column to the center instrument panel. American Honda had already moved the gear shift on it’s Odyssey vans between the 2004 to 2005 body style change and starting in 2009, the gear shift in the Honda Pilot has been moved as well. Personally, I like the move because many of our customers, especially women appreciate the unobstructed center console area but do not like the gear shift location on the steering column in the 2003 to 2007 Honda Pilots….The Acura MDX has always had the gear shift in the middle of the center console and that is a notable negative with many of our customers.

2. Additional headroom. Another positive, especially for the taller folks, is the additional headroom in the 2009 Honda Pilot. While the 2003 to 2007 Honda Pilots already provide ample headroom for most, especially when compared to the lower roof line of the Acura MDX, the added size of the 2009 Honda Pilot interior provides an open and roomy environment whether riding in the front seats, the center or the third row.

3. Driver’s Memory Seat. First introduced by American Honda in the late ’80s on the Acura Legend, this “creature comfort” has probably saved countless relationships. American Honda currently incorporates  Driver’s Memory Seat in all 2007 and up Acura models, the 2005 to current Honda Odyssey Touring and the 2009 Honda Pilot Touring. The switches for this can be seen in the same photo that shows the rear hatch switch below. The switches for the memory seat are to the right of the inside door handle.

4. Parking Sensors. Again, first introduced in the Honda production of vehicles on the 2005 Honda Odyssey Touring, these sensors are located on the front and rear bumpers. In the event the bumpers are getting too close to something while parking, the sensors activate an audible signal inside the vehicle which informs the driver. This is incorporated on the 2009 Honda Pilot Touring Edition and can be switched off in the event the driver does not wish to hear the signal.

5. Power Rear Hatch. First introduced on the 2005 Honda Odyssey Touring, is the Power Hatch. Starting in 2009, the Honda Pilot Touring has a control button on the inside of the left front door, a control button on the inside of the hatch itself and a control button on the 2 master keys. At the push of any of these control buttons, the hatch will automatically open or close smoothly and effortlessly.

6. Lighted Running Boards. While this might seem minor, I personally think that this indicates a direct courtesy that American Honda gives the female Honda Pilot buyer. Most of our customers like running boards to help them get into the Honda Pilot, the Honda Ridgeline the Honda CRV, the Acura MDX and the Acura RDX. If a lady is wearing a nice dress or skirt, a black running board can be a hard-to-see obstruction in the right environment, so American Honda illuminated it when unlocking the vehicle or opening a door. Not only does the lighting of the running boards look good but it also serves an important purpose.

The new 2009 Honda Pilot Touring is a very nice vehicle. However, the one negative that I give it is a considerable blind spot behind the rear doors. This blind spot is a result of the larger rear pillar post that supports the roof and is large enough that extra caution must be taken when changing lanes while driving.

In closing, I am personally impressed with the 2009 Honda Pilot Touring. I am also glad to see that American Honda chose to make the Honda Pilot an individual vehicle that stands on it’s own instead of being looked at as “in the shadow of the Acura MDX“. With the introduction of the 2009 Honda Pilot and the factory equipment associated with the Touring model, the Honda Pilot is equally equipped when compared to the higher models of the  2007 and up Acura MDX. In addition, the Honda Pilot can be bought as a 2 wheel drive or a 4 wheel drive unit, unlike the Acura MDX, which is only available in SH-AWD (4WD).

See how good MPG (miles per gallon) was on this 2009 Honda Pilot Touring during our 680 mile real-world test drive,     Click here.

This blog post could saves lives and thousands of dollars in property damage.

Have you ever considered the number of high-tech items and creature comforts that are on many Honda and Acura vehicles that have not been around very long?  These items include anti-lock brakes, power windows, power door locks, bluetooth technology, dual climate control, heated seats, navigation, back-up cameras, bumper sensors,……..and CRUISE CONTROL.

Cruise Control is a wonderful thing, especially on long trips. Back in November of 2007, I had the priveledge of driving a 2007 Acura RL back from Orlando, Florida to our dealership on I-24, just east of Nashville. During this 680 mile trip, I did use the cruise control and this particular vehicle had a sensor in the front grill that would even measure the distance of the vehicle in front of the RL and match the speed of the lead vehicle. If  I was too close, this 2007 Acura RL could even brake without me actually having to touch the brake pedal. This was cruise control on a velvet pillow.

Cruise control on Honda and Acura vehicles is a great thing….But our service department wants to warn all drivers on all makes and models of vehicles, to only use cruise control on dry road conditions.

The reason to only use cruise control on dry road conditions is because if the vehicle starts to lose traction while cruise control is set, whether in a hydro-plane situation or on an icy surface, the vehicle will automatically try to maintain the set speed and then when it gets traction, the vehicle will accelerate very rapidly and could cause the driver to lose control. This scenario happens very quickly and there are many drivers who have learned this as a result of a car accident.

At Accurate Automotive and Accurate Auto Sales, we value our customers and regardless of whether you come into our dealership here in Nashville, Tennessee for car maintenance on your Honda and Acura vehicles, or purchase a Honda or Acura vehicle from our used car department, or just periodically visit our website to learn a little more information about Honda and Acura vehicles, that you may not have seen anywhere else…That makes you are our valued customer.

On wet road conditions, be safe…..Please do not use your cruise control.

The disadvantages of not choosing Genuine Honda brake pads and shoes is tremendous.

This article is going to share some common mistakes associated with the choice that many Honda and Acura vehicle owners make in choosing a budget brake shop or nationwide chain of automotive repair centers that do not use Genuine Honda brake pads and shoes.

Even before the doors of Accurate Automotive opened on May 25, 1997, the technical staff already knew the importance of only using Genuine Honda brake pads and shoes. The reason that our service technicians were adamant about this was because of the expertise that was gained during their previous employment, at local Honda and Acura franchised dealerships, in Nashville and the Middle Tennessee area. While working as technicians in those service departments, they had seen first hand, the detrimental effects of using an aftermarket application for brake pads and shoes. Customer’s that had previously gone to a budget brake shop, would come into the dealership service department complaining about braking problems that were only caused from not using Genuine Honda Brake pads and Genuine Honda brake shoes on their vehicles.

Honda brake pads and Honda brake shoes will always provide the best performance results and should be your only choice as replacement brake parts for your Honda and Acura automobiles.

Many common problems associated with not using Genuine Honda brake pads and shoes include:

1. Excessive heat build-up,
which can lead to accelerated rotor warpage (vibration when braking)

2. Excessive noise
when braking and sometimes when just rolling down the road.

3. Glazing of the rotors
caused by organic composites in the brake lining that result a mirror-like / polished
finish to the rotor. Glazing results in reduced friction which causes reduced braking
efficiency

4. Aftermarket brake pads rarely last as long as the factory replacements and have a tendency to wear irregularly.

Everybody is striving to save money. As we all know, saving money shows intellect, street savvy, and confidence….except when compromising quality in the process; especially on safety issues involving your Honda and Acura automobiles.

At Accurate Automotive, you will never compromise quality on any repair or maintenance procedure involving your Honda and Acura automobiles; while at the same time, saving money on Accurate’s price compared to the traditional high costs of the dealership service departments in Nashville and Middle Tennessee.

For over 11 years, Accurate Automotive has always insisted on installing Genuine Honda brake pads and shoes. In that time, there have been a few shoppers who came in and said that price was more important than the brand of replacement parts, but Accurate Automotive has always said, “only Genuine Honda brake pads and shoes will be installed in our service department”. This is only one example of Accurate Automotive’s commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.

In closing, when you consider the additional cost of the Genuine Honda brake pads and shoes, when compared to the cost of the cheap aftermarket brake parts; how much more profit could Accurate Automotive have made, in the last 11 years,  by installing the cheaper brake pads and shoes? As far as Accurate Automotive is concerned, the answer is NONE…..When you consider the number of customers who received quality brake repair and the amount of trust and loyal customers gained by choosing to only install Genuine Honda brake pads and shoes, the profit is the customer base that trusts Accurate Automotive to maintain their Honda and Acura vehicles, while saving them money, but without compromising the quality of the repair or maintenance procedures.

I grew up in the 80s’ and this past weekend was a scene out of the movie Mad Max.

Even though this area is over 700 miles from Houston, we are seeing very low supplies of gasoline at our local gas stations. About ten days ago, the oil refineries in Houston had to temporarily shut down because of the expectation and danger of Hurricane Ike. As we all know, this caused a ripple effect in the price of gas across the U.S. This past weekend, in Middle Tennessee, many gas station owners opted to not buy fuel because of the higher wholesale price that they would have to pay and then pass on to the consumer. They knew that with the recent price drop in a barrel of oil,  when those Houston refineries did come ‘back on line’;  the gas station owners could buy the gas cheaper and avoid being accused of price-gouging. Once this was reported in the local Nashville, TN news, the fear of limited local gasoline supplies spread and many panicked drivers over-reacted and rushed to the gas stations…not needing gas but to simply top off their fuel tanks. This concentrated traffic to the fuel pump ran most of the gas stations dry by Friday afternoon. The few stations that did have gasoline, had very long lines. Many of these lines were 30 minutes to an hour wait, and had at least two police officers to keep the peace…yes, there were some fights reported at the pumps.

Currently, many of the gas stations have received a delivery of gas and only a handful of stations are out. However, many of the gas stations only have regular 87 octane….No mid grade 89 octane or super 93 octane.

Our blog readers who have Honda and Acura vehicles that call for “premium gas” can relax….You can burn 87 octane in your Acura and Honda vehicles. While our Service Department does not recommend the use of 87 octane gas in most Honda or Acura vehicles, it will not cause damage to the engine.

Honda and Acura engines are very high compression engines. American Honda can get a lot of power out of a little engine thru high compression and a short piston stroke. The recommended use of 93 octane is because of the desired stability of 93 octane gasoline over 87 octane fuel, especially in higher temperature conditions and higher engine RPMs.

The computer in your late model Honda and Acura vehicles will make the necessary adjustments in the ignition timing to allow the consumption of the lower octane fuel…..but don’t expect really good MPG (miles per gallon) while using the cheaper gas. While burning 87 octane fuel, you will see the reduction in fuel efficiency and performance……I promise that after using the lower octane fuel, many of you will never complain again about that extra .20 to .25 cent cost per gallon for the 93 octane gasoline.

Finally, one political note. Here we are, just a few weeks from a major election. I do not know about you, but I am voting for the folks who support our nation being fully self-sufficient on our own energy sources.  In my humble opinion, this is as important to National Security as growing our own food. If it was food supply instead of energy supply, would we ever consider relying on a foreign power?

Last week, Driver’s Way closed it’s Nashville used car dealership located in the Cool Springs / Franklin TN area . While this was a little bit of a shock, it was not completely surprising. In the past few years, there have been many issues that have transformed the pre-owned vehicle market across America.  Because of this the used car market has been required to become extremely competitive.

Price is the key and trying to sell used cars in one of the highest rent areas of Middle Tennessee obviously does not make sense.

Of the changes that have transformed the used car market, the most influential is still the rapidly growing use of the internet and how much research can be performed by the buyer, before ever leaving their house.

Another issue that has transformed the used car market is the different advanced technologies associated with all individual makes and models of vehicles on the road today. Think about this….Just a few years ago, you could go into any commercial area and find a service station. By service station, I mean a business that sold gasoline and had a couple of garage bays to tune-up and fix cars. In the mid-80s’, at least in Middle Tennessee, we started to see a decline of these traditional service stations. While the same business was still selling gas, those service bays had been transformed and that old garage had become a convenience store.

The reason is simple….you cannot work on everything and be an expert on anything. The used car market has the same situation today. Regardless of dealership size, any dealer will become less effective as he increases the number of various makes of vehicles that he tries to sell…it is that simple.

At Accurate Cars & Automotive Repair, our Sales Department specializes exclusively in buying and selling used Honda and Acura vehicles, except where trade-ins have been acquired. We are a non-franchised, independent business. Because our focus is exclusively on the sell and service of pre-owned Honda and Acura automobiles, you can be rest assured knowing our knowledge and expertise is accurately committed to Honda and Acura used cars. Our inventory purchaser was one of our original service technicians and before being employed by our firm, he worked in the service department of a local Acura franchised dealership in Nashville and a local Honda dealership in the Middle Tennessee area. All of our full-time technical staff are former service technicians, from franchised Honda dealerships located in the Middle Tennessee area as well. With one of our original technicians inspecting and purchasing our used Honda or Acura inventory and with a service department that is totally dedicated to working on the same makes, we think that you will agree that Accurate has the best pre-owned Honda and Acura vehicles for the consumer.

In this corner, we have a 2005 Acura RL…at a curb weight of 3,984 lbs, this ALL-Wheel-Drive unit is powered by a 300 horsepower,  3.5 Liter V6. Currently, the Acura RL is the top-of-the-line, most luxurious flagship vehicle of American Honda’s automobile production.

And in the other corner, with a curb weight of 3,344 lbs and powered by a 244 horsepower, 3.0 liter V6 Honda engine; we have a 2007 Honda Accord Sedan SE with an automatic transmission…

A Brief History about our MPG tests…As many of our  blog readers already know, Accurate Automotive opened it’s service doors on May 25, 1997 as an independent, non-franchised business that exclusively specializes in the service and repair of  Honda and Acura automobiles. In June of 2004, with the requests and encouragement of Accurate’s long-time and most loyal customers, who are also considered close and personal friends, Accurate opened it’s Honda and Acura Used Car department with the goal of becoming North America’s most recognized source for pre-owned Honda and Acura automobiles, trucks, vans and SUVs; as an independent, non-franchised dealer.

Nearly every week, Accurate Auto Sales makes a 680 mile trip to Central Florida, where they  purchase the majority of their Honda and Acura used car inventory directly from American Honda Lease Trust, via dealer auction. Because of Accurate’s appetite for information involving Honda and Acura vehicles;  in the early part of 2008, Accurate Auto Sales began driving 2 vehicles on the return trip from Central Florida,  as a real-world test drive for MPG (Miles per Gallon). Below is the most recent journal entry from September 17, 2008, written by our inventory purchaser, Ed Brian.

Ed  writes, our journey started at 2:00pm Eastern Time. We filled up both vehicle fuel tanks in Ocoee, Fl., which is just north of Orlando. Because of the very recent but temporary interruption of fuel supply in the southeast, due to Hurricane Ike in the Gulf, fuel prices were about 70 cents per gallon higher than just a week earlier. We also had some concerns that along the way, we could possibly find ourselves in some areas that were dry of gas and waiting for a fuel delivery, but this did not become an issue. We filled at the same stations where we normally stop.

Our first stop was simply a fuel tank top-off while stretching our legs and was  I-75 North at Exit 5 in Georgia. My father-in-law was in the 2005 Acura RL and I was in the 2007 Honda Accord V6. We had traveled 193.1 miles, our average speed had been approx. 80 miles-per-hour, the outside temperature was around 92 degrees Fahrenheit. The Acura RL took 8.27 gallons of 93 octane, indicating 23.35 miles per gallon; and the 2007 Honda Accord had consumed 7.65 gallons of 87 octane, indicating an average of 25.2 MPG. The 93 octane was $4.40 per gallon and the 87 octane was $4.16….Thanks to Ike.

The next fuel stop was on I-75 North at Exit 345. Since the last fuel tank top-off, we had driven 334.2 miles at an average speed of 75 miles per hour. Because the sun had gone down during this part of the trip, the outside temperature had progressively dropped to around 70 degrees and the air had become damp. Normally, this helps fuel efficiency and it did. The 2007 Honda Accord had consumed 11.92 gallons of 87 octane gasoline, which indicated an average of 28.4 MPG. The 2005 Acura RL had consumed 12.98 gallons of 93 octane, indicating an average of 25.75 miles per gallon.

When we arrived at the dealership, we had driven the final 152 miles at an average speed of around 75 MPH. The 2007 Honda Accord was filled and it was determined that it had consumed 5.31 gallons, indicating a final average fuel consumption of 28.7 miles per gallon (MPG). The Acura RL needed 5.26 gallons, which indicated a fuel consumption rate of 28.9 miles-per-gallon of 97 octane.

In closing, we were intrigued by how consistent the fuel efficiency was between both vehicles. While the Acura RL did require 93 octane fuel; even 500 lbs heavier and a 60 horsepower / 500cc  bigger engine, it gave back in the form of consistent and similar fuel mileage when compared to the Honda Accord V6.

Recommended tune-up intervals for Honda and Acura vehicles are much different than from just a few years ago. Within the past decade, Acura and Honda vehicles have gone from an engine tune-up every 30,000 miles, to every 105,000 miles on several items.

Ten years ago, at Accurate Automotive an engine tune-up every 30,000 miles included valve lash adjustment, replace spark plugs, air filter, fuel filter, PCV (positive crankcase ventilation) valve, and check curb idle.

Let’s go over them individually:

1.              Inspection and adjustment of the intake and exhaust valve lash.

At one time this process was recommended, in many maintenance schedules, every 15,000 miles on 4 cylinder Honda car engines and the 4 cylinder and the 5 cylinder engines in the Acura Integra, the Acura Vigor, and the Acura 2.5 TL.

Presently, on late model Honda and Acura vehicles, this valve lash inspection is only required every 105,000 miles, “otherwise adjust only if noisy”, as outlined in the maintenance section of the owners manuals for the specific model of Honda or Acura vehicle you have.

What changed? The longer intervals between valve adjustment was accomplished thru the use of roller rocker arms and the use of lighter engine oils, which greatly reduced engine friction.

2.               Spark Plug Replacement

In a previous blog post (click here), we discussed the introduction of the platinum tipped spark plugs, first introduced by American Honda  in the 1991 Acura Legend, and the additional service life of them….But just a few years ago, before the platinum tipped plugs, the recommended spark plug replacement interval was every 30,000 miles because of the erosion of the electrode. This would cause the spark plug gap to increase, which made the ignition coil work harder to jump a spark across the gap. Remember Ohm’s Law in 7th grade Science class? In this scenario, Ohm’s Law says that as resistance increases (a wider spark plug gap), voltage must be increased (for the spark to jump the gap). A wider spark plug gap, which requires more voltage, greatly shortens the life of the ignition coil.

Now, current model Honda and Acura vehicles have a recommended spark plug replacement of 105,000 miles, thanks to the application of platinum tipped spark plugs.

(the left coil in the photo below is the result of excessive resistance )

3.                  Engine Air Filter Element Replacement

Because the engine air filter is so critical to extended engine life, Accurate Automotive recommends that Honda and Acura auto owners use the severe service schedule, as outlined in their owners manual, for the engine air filter and replace it every 15,000 miles. It is cheap protection for the piston rings and maintaining good fuel efficiency.

NOTE: Accurate Automotive does not recommend the use of cold air intakes or any type of air filter element that is sold as an extended life air filter, a performance air filter, or a more fuel efficient air filter. To claim better performance from an air filter, the micron level must be less, which results in less protection against dirt particles entering the intake of the engine.

4.                   Fuel Filter Replacement

In the earlier models of Acura and Honda vehicles, there was a serviceable fuel filter located behind the engine. In late model Honda and Acura models, the fuel filters are incorporated into the fuel pump and  very small ones are located in the fuel injectors and fuel rail.

The fuel filters in the newer Honda and Acura vehicles do not require maintenance unless a performance issue is experienced. This is usually the check engine light illuminating that indicates a mis-fire in one or multiple cylinders, if the filters have debris in them.

5.                         PCV valve Replacement

While there is no actual interval for the PCV valve replacement, Accurate Automotive recommends replacement during the 75,000 mile service interval. The reason is because this valve is very important in not allowing crankcase pressures in the engine to build.

6.                         Engine idle Adjustment (curb idle)

Unless there is reason, such as stalling at stops, engine idle does not need to be inspected until 105,000 miles. The reason is because the computer (ECU) completely controls and monitors the engine idle at all elevations, air temperatures, engine temperatures, and loads on the engine (such as air conditioning and electrical loads such as the headlights being illuminated at idle).

Without a doubt, the tune-up procedures on Honda and Acura vehicles has been greatly reduced. Most tune-up items do not need to be performed until 105,000 miles. However, this is not a maintenance-free vehicle. Your late model Honda and Acura vehicles do still require servicing. These items include oil and fluid changes, micron cabin filter replacement, inspection and load testing of the battery and alternator, brake inspections, tire inspection (including periodic rotate & balance), windshield wiper insert replacement, and various other small items.

Yes, American Honda Motor Company has been good to it’s car buyers in regards to maintenance and at Accurate Automotive we will never sell you a maintenance item or procedure that is not needed and that we do not perform on our own Honda and Acura vehicles. Always count on Accurate Automotive for FAIR service and repair of your Acura and Honda cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs.

At Accurate Automotive, many members of our own technical staff  have been performing timing belt replacement procedures on Honda and Acura automobiles for nearly 20 years.

Most people know that a timing belt is an important part that needs to be periodically replaced on Honda automobiles, but these same folks may not understand how critical this component actually is.

Let’s start by discussing it’s function. The timing belt is a rubber toothed belt that links the crankshaft to the camshaft (or camshafts in DOHC, Dual Overhead Cam engines) . In a 4 stroke Honda automobile engine, the camshaft turns one revolution (360 degrees) to every two revolutions of the crankshaft (720 degrees).

Please note in the left photo below, that the crankshaft toothed  gear at the very bottom of the photo is much smaller than the two camshaft toothed pulleys at the top of the picture. This is a 2 to 1 ratio and is why the crankshaft will make two revolutions to one rotation of the camshaft.

 In the right photo above, as the camshaft rotates, it opens the intake valves, at the appropriate time, to allow fresh air into the combustion chamber, and it opens exhaust valves, at the precise time,  to allow the burnt fuel to exit the combustion chamber (see left photo below).

 If the timing belt breaks, the camshaft becomes out-of-synchronization with the crankshaft. With the crankshaft  turning, faster because of the momentum of the engine and the 2 to 1 ratio of the crankshaft to the camshaft, the pistons can strike the valves, as they are opening out-of-time and this is the internal engine damage that results.

The open valves strike the crown of the pistons and it bends the valves, possibly damaging the valve guides in the cylinder head as well. The right photo above is a picture of the top of a piston. If you look closely, you can see 4 half moon cut-outs that are machined into the top of the piston. These cut-outs are there to allow adequate room for the valves and gives an great indication of how tight the tolerances are.  It also gives you a clear understanding of how important the timing belt is in keeping the camshaft and crankshaft in synchronization.

At Accurate Automotive, our technical staff understands that the timing belt is critical on Honda automobiles. The belt has a recommended replacement of 105,000 miles or seven years (whichever occurs first). At Accurate Automotive, the Service Management and technical staff all agree, that because the timing belt has such a long life, that it is crucial to use quality parts….That is why the Accurate Automotive Service Department only uses the Genuine Honda timing belt on all Honda timing belt replacement procedures.

In addition to the timing belt, Accurate Automotive  also includes the balance belt (where applicable), camshaft seal (s), balance shaft seal and balance shaft seal retainer (where applicable), water pump, a new power steering belt, a new A/C belt, and a new alternator belt, which is standard on all timing belt replacement procedures performed at Accurate Automotive. (see right photo above)

Because our Service Department performs this procedure completely, with replacement of all belts and the water pump, it ensures that our customers will not likely have any maintenance issues associated with the timing belt or related components; and the next time the timing belt area should require any attention will be at the second timing belt replacement interval (at 210,000 miles).

The expense of the timing belt replacement may seem excessive, but it really isn’t.  On Honda cars, trucks and SUVs equipped with a timing belt,  this procedure is only performed every 105,000 miles and the cost at Accurate Automotive, for all the belts, seals, seal retainer and water pump included,  currently ranges from $500 to $700 (depending on model and engine size) plus tax and disposal fees.  Priced thru a local franchised dealer, the seals are extra and the cost of this procedure, using the same parts, can easily be several hundred dollars more simply because a franchised dealer has more overhead (cost of doing business).

To learn more about our Service Department and the many maintenance procedures offered by Our Firm, click here.

In an earlier post I was writing about the 2006 Acura TL that our dealership acquired on Tuesday, September 9th in Orlando, Florida.

This unit is nice. It is white with ebony interior. It has factory Navigation and the vehicle has less than 32,000 miles on it. It still smells new!!! I decided to drive this one home to Accurate Cars and Automotive which enables me to give you a review.  Every trip back to Nashville, TN gives me the opportunity to see how one of my newly purchased cars drives and what kind of real gas mileage it gets.  It takes me longer to drive back to Middle Tennessee instead of flying but by driving back, I get a real-world test drive of the Honda and Acura vehicles that I buy for our customers.

I started at about 1:00pm EST in Orlando, Florida. The Acura TL was smooth and responsive. The stereo with 6 disc CD changer was also very nice. I filled up the fuel tank in Orlando and started home. My first stop was 205 miles up the road at Exit 5 in Lake Park, GA. I went ahead topped-off the fuel tank, which took  8.12 gallons of premium (93 octane fuel). This indicated that the car was only getting 25.2 MPG, but because the Acura TL is so smooth and quiet, a few times I did look down and I was driving at 85 to 90 MPH. One helpful hint…use the cruise control on the Acura cars otherwise they may get you in trouble. Besides driving a little fast, another thing to remember about the lower than normal MPG on the initial 200 miles of the trip home, was that the temperature was approx. 90 deg. F and I had the A/C  on HIGH.

The next time that I stopped for a fuel stop was in Ringgold, Georgia. I had been 334.2 miles since the last fill up (see photo below). The fuel tank was not empty…but I needed to stretch my legs. I went ahead and stopped, took a break, and filled up the fuel tank. It took 11.29 gallons of 93 octane fuel. This indicated that the Acura TL was getting 29.6 miles per gallon….I had started using cruise control and I was driving approx. 75 miles per hour.

One final thing that I want to mention about the 2006 Acura TL. The TL is a very nice vehicle and they are not cheap….American Honda does not give these cars away and for good reason. There are not many cars that can compete with it in comfort, power, efficiency and safety. About 60 miles into Georgia, I was approaching a thunderstorm. There was a huge black cloud ahead of me. By the time I got to the area where I had seen the cloud, the storm had past and it was just sprinkling….but here is my point, I was in a construction zone and even at 60 MPH, I hit a tremendous amount of rain water running off from a recently departed down-pour. The water was flowing from the left side of the road across to the right shoulder in streams coming out from the cut-outs at the base of the concrete construction barriers. When the TL hit this road condition, in an instant, the Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) activated, which contributed greatly to the vehicle tracking straight and true……The Acura TL is very well designed and is one of the best vehicles on the road today.