- Apr 5, 2005
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My parents are driving me nuts. They are freaking out about their vehicle (2005 Accord V6 5AT, 68k miles) and its performance during this past year's winter. my mom is complaining that the car is unable to stop in snowing conditions, that the rear wheels are sliding the car around anytime she brakes in ice/snow conditions, and that the car keeps skidding forward. the TCS/ABS light flashes (as the manual states it should) and that they think the ABS functionality is broke.
They spent a ton at the dealer to replace all brake pads, rotors, and brake fluid, got their timing belt replaced (at only 68k miles, ugh) but they still have problems in the snow. the tread on their tires are still have decent tread. i purchased them myself about 4 years ago (good year assurance triple tread all season touring). at this point, i'm at a loss. they are ready to sell their completely paid off vehicle, and won't let me or my sister buy the car off them (my dad says he doesn't want us to die before he does- i think he's being overly dramatic and irrational, but I dont know, i've never driven the car in these conditions!!)
I took the car for a test drive yesterday in raining conditions, did some hard stops, and i feel the brake's abs system pulsating when i do that. I wasn't able to recreate the conditions where the abs/tcs light blips though, and i dont' think there will be any more snowy conditions up here in philly. I have a pretty much identical car, an 07 Accord 4 cyl and their car's brakes are a little grabbier than mine, but that's probably because they just replaced everything.
If I take this car to the dealer, is there something the dealer can look at regarding the brake system that i'm missing?
My mom is still against selling the car. they already dumped around $1500 this year into the cars braking system and major maintenance item (timing belt) and i would have to agree with her. If they still have the car by next winter i'm going to purchase a set of steelies and give them a dedicated set of snow tires, other than that i have no idea what else could be wrong with the car.
cliffs:
parents have no confidence in car's ability to brake in winter conditions
spent $1500 on brand new brakes, rotors, brake fluid and timing belt - so it will hurt even more if they sell the car now.
tires are still decent with about 60-70% tread, 4 years old Good year all seasons
Is there anything else that could be preventing the car from braking well in slippery conditions? ABS malfunction? TCS (vehicle stability assist) problem?
if parents keep car, i will buy them dedicated snow tires and see if it helps. I really don't think anything is wrong with this car!
Update:
Thanks for all your input, looks like it points to a crappy all season tire issue coupled with the fact that this was the worst winter in a while where they actually had to deal with driving in the snow. this is my parents first car with ABS / VSC, so they aren't used to the lights flashing or the ABS feeling when it kicks in. Definitely their first real winter with this vehicle. i suspect they are inherently distrustful of it because a: something is flashing on the dashboard and omgz!!!!11, 2: the feeling of brakes pulsating to them makes it seem like something is malfunctioning.
i told them this afternoon that i'll get them some rims and some new winter tires next fall. if they still bitch and moan i'll help them sell the damn thing, keep the winter tires for myself and get them some awd car or hell, another 1996 toyota camry that doesnt have ABS or VSC, lol.
one more thought, a stuck brake caliper cause the car to swerve when the brakes are applied right? that's one thing I guess i'll have a mechanic look at when their state inspection time comes up.
They spent a ton at the dealer to replace all brake pads, rotors, and brake fluid, got their timing belt replaced (at only 68k miles, ugh) but they still have problems in the snow. the tread on their tires are still have decent tread. i purchased them myself about 4 years ago (good year assurance triple tread all season touring). at this point, i'm at a loss. they are ready to sell their completely paid off vehicle, and won't let me or my sister buy the car off them (my dad says he doesn't want us to die before he does- i think he's being overly dramatic and irrational, but I dont know, i've never driven the car in these conditions!!)
I took the car for a test drive yesterday in raining conditions, did some hard stops, and i feel the brake's abs system pulsating when i do that. I wasn't able to recreate the conditions where the abs/tcs light blips though, and i dont' think there will be any more snowy conditions up here in philly. I have a pretty much identical car, an 07 Accord 4 cyl and their car's brakes are a little grabbier than mine, but that's probably because they just replaced everything.
If I take this car to the dealer, is there something the dealer can look at regarding the brake system that i'm missing?
My mom is still against selling the car. they already dumped around $1500 this year into the cars braking system and major maintenance item (timing belt) and i would have to agree with her. If they still have the car by next winter i'm going to purchase a set of steelies and give them a dedicated set of snow tires, other than that i have no idea what else could be wrong with the car.
cliffs:
parents have no confidence in car's ability to brake in winter conditions
spent $1500 on brand new brakes, rotors, brake fluid and timing belt - so it will hurt even more if they sell the car now.
tires are still decent with about 60-70% tread, 4 years old Good year all seasons
Is there anything else that could be preventing the car from braking well in slippery conditions? ABS malfunction? TCS (vehicle stability assist) problem?
if parents keep car, i will buy them dedicated snow tires and see if it helps. I really don't think anything is wrong with this car!
Update:
Thanks for all your input, looks like it points to a crappy all season tire issue coupled with the fact that this was the worst winter in a while where they actually had to deal with driving in the snow. this is my parents first car with ABS / VSC, so they aren't used to the lights flashing or the ABS feeling when it kicks in. Definitely their first real winter with this vehicle. i suspect they are inherently distrustful of it because a: something is flashing on the dashboard and omgz!!!!11, 2: the feeling of brakes pulsating to them makes it seem like something is malfunctioning.
i told them this afternoon that i'll get them some rims and some new winter tires next fall. if they still bitch and moan i'll help them sell the damn thing, keep the winter tires for myself and get them some awd car or hell, another 1996 toyota camry that doesnt have ABS or VSC, lol.
one more thought, a stuck brake caliper cause the car to swerve when the brakes are applied right? that's one thing I guess i'll have a mechanic look at when their state inspection time comes up.
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