Haynes Repair Manual Honda Accord / Learn to repair an Accord / See my video
Written: Jan 22 '08 (Updated Feb 08 '08)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Informative for the novice and seasoned mechanic. Very detailed instruction and excellent pictures.
Cons: I wrote an extensive review and found no cons.
The Bottom Line: Cost me $17 for this manual and has saved much more than that over time. Manual is worth its weight in gold!
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| nonedude's Full Review: Haynes Repair Manual Honda Accord 2003-2005 |
Basic Background
Haynes auto repair manuals exist for the vast majority of car, truck, & sport utility models on the road today. These manuals are labeled on the front cover with a picture of the vehicle and display car manufacturer name, followed by specific model, then applicable year(s).
Example:
Honda Accord 2003 to 2005
Picture of Silver Accord Sedan is located below the manual title.
This particular manual
--About the Cover:--
I have seen more than one Haynes automotive manual, and pending vehicle manual, they differ in background color on the cover. The Honda Accord 2003 to 2005 manual has a purple background at the top and quickly fades into a black background coloring as your eye scans down the cover. The word “Honda” is printed in Yellow Text. Immediately following is the word “Accord” in white text.
Manual is printed in recycled paper per front cover.
Back Cover for this manual contains the following:
Itemized list of manual contents
Routine Maintenance, Tune-up procedures, Engine Repair, Cooling and Heating, Air Conditioning, Fuel and Exhaust, Emissions Control, Ignition, Brakes, Suspension and steering, Electrical Systems, Wiring Diagrams.
Also mentioned on back cover
Step by step procedures included with photos
Written from hands-on experience based on a vehicle teardown using commonly available tools.
Valuable short cuts are included to eliminate the need for specialty tools.
Notes, Cautions, and Warnings for the home mechanic
Color Spark Plug Diagnosis
Easy to use index
Cracking the Cover Open
The Honda Accord has a 4 cylinder or 6 cylinder engine available. Procedures sometimes differ based on engine size/type and repair being performed. This manual will breakdown where differences are and how to repair accordingly. This type of attention to detail is important and even noted on the first page in the table of contents:
Chapter 2 Part A – “Four Cylinder Engine”
Chapter 2 Part B – “V6 Engine”
Reading in between the lines quickly tells me that Haynes people know what they are doing when they create automotive manuals. To create a manual takes a collaboration of people. For this manual you need at the very least mechanics, technical writers, professional photography, and illustrators to work together in creating a manual with the goal of informing the Home Mechanic (like me) who does not know the inner workings of his/her vehicle inside out.
Table of Contents
This section is being provided because I feel it may be very informative to those who are interested about Haynes manuals in general, whether or not you own the 2003-2005 Honda Accord.
--Introductory Pages / Section is 26 pages long from 0-1 to 0-26
Includes: About the manual, Introduction, VIN, Buying Parts, Maintenance Techniques – tools – & working facilities, Jacking/Towing, Jumping battery/Booster starting, Chemicals and lubricants, Conversion Factors, Fraction - decimeter - millimeter equivalents, Safety, Troubleshooting.
-- Chapter 1 Tune-up and routine maintenance / Section is 23 pages
-- Chapter 2a Four Cylinder Engine …………………………/ Section is 14 pages
-- Chapter 2b V6 Engine ……………………………………./ Section is 17 pages
-- Chapter 2c General engine overhaul procedures …………/ Section is 20 pages
-- Chapter 3 Cooling, heating, and air conditioning systems / Section is 16 pages
-- Chapter 4 Fuel and exhaust systems ………………….… / Section is 20 pages
-- Chapter 5 Engine electrical systems ………………….… / Section is 10 pages
-- Chapter 6 Emissions and engine control systems ….…./ Section is 26 pages
-- Chapter 7a Manual Transaxle …………………….……../ Section is 4 pages
-- Chapter 7b Automatic Transaxle …………………….…./ Section is 6 pages
-- Chapter 8 Clutch and driveaxles ……………………..…./ Section is 12 pages
-- Chapter 9 Brakes ……………………………………..…/ Section is 14 pages
-- Chapter 10 Suspension and Steering ………………...…/ Section is 18 pages
-- Chapter 11 Body …………………………………..….../ Section is 18 pages
-- Chapter 12 Chassis electrical system …………………./ Section is 30 pages
-- Common Engine Overhaul Terms ……………………/ 4 pages long
-- Index …………………………………………………./ 7 pages long
Back inside of manual cover is titled “Common Spark Plug Conditions”
--NOTES:
Manual is 236 pages. Pages are not numbered 1,2,3,4,5, etc. Instead pages are listed by chapter number dash page number.Example “ 2 - 10 “ is chapter 2 page 10.
Each and every chapter starts out with a table of contents listing sub-items (or subtitles).
All subtitles appear in bold print. Subtitles are laid out nicely and make it easy to find chapter related topics.
Most chapters (not all!) have a notes section on the last page. This blank area is designated for writing any information you desire which may be helpful to you.
The “Common Spark Plug Conditions” section on the back inside cover of manual has color photographs of spark plugs in various conditions. These pictures show exactly what a healthy used spark plug should look like and also 10 other pictures showing how a plug can go wrong. All pictures describe condition, symptoms, and recommendations to fix problem. If a spark is improperly worn, you most likely have more than one problem and a simple replacement plug will not fix the core problem.
Photos and Illustrations
All photo’s and illustrations are in black and white (except previously mentioned spark plug section on back cover which is in color). There are literally hundreds of pictures in this manual. I can’t find one that does not provide an informative caption. A few pictures also include arrows to point out specific components or precautions amongst other surrounding contents in pics for added clarity.
Text in manual will refer to corresponding photo/illustration when applicable.
Pro's
Use of this manual should lead to the following:
How to correctly buy parts for vehicle and how to determine/locate root cause when problem is unknown.
Maintenance procedures are defined just as well as in depth repairs.
At the very least, it can be used as an encyclopedia for the novice mechanic or car owner. Simply reading manual, without using the practices, should help you understand anything a mechanic tells you about your car.
The mechanically inclined should be persuaded to try repairs they may have never done before.
Specific Experiences with this Manual
I have replaced brakes on cars before and was confident prior to doing my first brake pad replacement on the Honda Accord that the job would be no big deal for me. Well it was easier than any other brake job I have even done, I just found out the hard way and it took this manual to teach me.
After pulling the brake assembly apart, using brake cleaner to clean up the area, and installing new pads, I had to put the brake assembly back on the car (rotors). I pulled out my trusty brake pad spreader to push the piston back inward. I twisted and twisted the spreader to no avail, the piston was not moving!
I’m like “GREAT, NOW I CAN’T PUT THE BRAKES BACK ON!”
I looked in my Haynes manual at the brake section and wanted to see what they said about pushing the piston back in.
I will now quote the caption located directly under the photo which pertains to the specific problem I encountered.
BEGIN QUOTE FROM PICTURE CAPTION:
To provide clearance for the new brake pads, back the piston into the caliper bore by rotating it with a pair of needle nose pliers.
END QUOTE
Directly on top of the piston is what appears to be a super sized Phillips screwdriver slot (cross shape) all I had to do was twist the piston counter clockwise and it rotated back into bore so brake pad assembly could be re-installed! It took seconds to accomplish this feat, piston turned with ease! I looked at my disc pad spreader and said “You are fired!” I don’t need you for my car! Pad spreaders are good tools (and cheap) but much more awkward and time consuming than simply twisting a piston.
This manual has also helped me many times with purchasing fluids and reservoir capacities.
Torquing bolts, nuts, screws, etc. is crucial in automotive. Manual provides torque specs where necessary and I have referred to those specs on more than one occasion.
Manual taught me how simple it is to replace cabin air filter for interior vents (Heating, Air, & Fan).
Manual has provided me with enough confidence to try the following procedures when they become necessary (have not done yet, but read how to): Replace EGR valve, Replace PCV valve, & Lube necessary spots.
Ultimate Opinion
I think all drivers can benefit from the purchase of a corresponding Haynes manual which applies to their specific vehicle.
Even seasoned professional mechanics don’t memorize every single aspect of a vehicle, this manual can be helpful to them for reference info.
To the person who never opens the hood of their vehicle and could not locate the oil cap:
Photo’s and illustrations are worth their weight in gold.
If you ever need a jump for a dead battery, manual details exactly how to do it correctly. Trust me, there are many wrong ways!
The troubleshooting section can save you from getting ripped off by an unscrupulous mechanic. This section alone has 84 detailed problematic possibilities listed and the corresponding solution and chapter reference number.
Example 1: “Engine starts but stops immediately”
1) Loose or faulty electrical connections at coil or alternator (see Chapter 5)
2) Insufficient fuel reaching the fuel injectors (see Chapters 1 and 4)
3) Vacuum leak at the gasket between the intake manifold and throttle body. (see Chapters 1 and 4)
Example 2: “Engine hard to start when cold”
1) Battery discharged or low (see Chapter 1)
2) Malfunctioning fuel system (see Chapter 4)
3) Injectors leaking (see Chapter 4)
A novice should be able to tell if a mechanics diagnosis is on the right track by referencing this manual. If a mechanic tells you other things are needed to fix a specific problem, one could at least seem somewhat knowledgeable by questioning the unrelated suggestions.
I purchased this manual for $17 at my local Pepboys over 2 years ago. This is a top rated product in my opinion and has saved me many times more than the purchase price!
About the manual
Haynes Publishing Group
Sparkford Nr Yeovil
Somerset BA22 7JJ England
Haynes North America, Inc
861 Lawrence Drive
Newbury Park
California 91320 USA
Haynes Honda Accord 2003 thru 2005 Manual# 42015
Video by Me on Youtube
I posted a video on YouTube which provides some insight to the Honda Accord Haynes Manual.
Direct link to Video (please copy & paste in browser):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmhWMdV2uHE
My Profile page on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/NoneDude4Epinions
My username: NoneDude4Epinions
I plan on adding more product videos in the future, please feel free to subscribe to my channel, I welcome anyone to do so. Videos are edited with simplicity; I do not have the time to spend making them look very professional.
Thanks for reading my review!
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Recommended:
Yes
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