Honda Accord 2000 V6 number of issues :(

[yoyomamama]

I brought a this car off craigslist in January, I am facing few issues with this.

1. When I take the car out in the morning, I shift from parking to reverse and the car jerks violently with a thud noise. I see this happening more when the car is cold. I googled and found people talk about motor mounts and some say transmission issues.

2. Two days back I left my work and went inside the car to see Brake light+Battery Charge light+ door open lights were ON. Again when I googled found bad alternator can cause these three lights to go on at once. I took the car to Autozone to purchase a alternator and after opening the hood noticed that the belt connecting from engine to alternator had slipped. That explains why the lights were ON. I was happy that I didnt had to spend $145 for the new alternator. But I noticed the alternator was turning off outwards its normal position. My colleague who saw it told be that the alternator belt slipped since the alternator shifted place.

I wonder if the jerk with the thud sound made the alternator to move from its normal position. I am taking the car to mechanic in couple of days and want to ensure the jerk issue is fixed. If he removes the motor to put the belt (its a tight spot with less working space) should I ask him to take care of other things as well.

3. My accord is very poor on gas mileage, I only get 14MPG in city while people claim it can go till 19MPG, how to increase the gas mileage.

4. The seller had put Tanabe Exhuast and the car is not quiet, the noise and vibration is more inside the car than outside. Any idea how to make the car quiet.

Appreicate any suggestions. Thanks in advance.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

Did you have this thing inspected before you bought it?

The transmissions in that generation accord were dogshit, the one in my GFs accord was replaced and is fine now. Its probably going out, may want to check if it will be done under warranty.

Exhaust? If it was loud why did you buy it?

 

[yoyomamama]

When I bought the car, the seller had driven it for a while from his home to the place where we met, so I didnt notice the jerk. Its got 118K miles. I didn't think the exhaust would get so annoying after driving it for a few days.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

I used to have a '98 Accord V6. I know a lot of those cars have transmission problems, and if memory serves the symptoms you describe are consistent with that diagnosis. I doubt Honda would cover it under warranty at this point, though they are generally good about fixing known problems out of warranty. I would get rid of the car if I were you. I honestly never liked mine and regretted buying it, even though it didn't suffer from the tranny issue.

 

[vshah]

just the fact that the seller had an aftermarket exhaust on there is cause for warning. do you have documentation of regular maintenance etc? if you plan on keeping it, I would get it thoroughly checked out.

 

[Kroze]

another car problem from craigslist eh?

sell it.