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Car Forum / Honda Cars / June 2006Advice on problems found with my car...
Had a free tune up on my 110,000 mile 1997 Honda Civic today at my local Honda dealer (extended emissions warranty). They also performed a complimentary 40 pt. inspection and found the following problems: 1) timing belt may need to be replaced ( bought car at 60,000 and not so sure this has ever been replaced) 2) front engine mount broken 3) rear trailer arm bushings broken 4) oil pan gasket leaking 5) weak radiator hose 6) transmission, brake fluid, engine air filter service recommended I'm wondering first which of these problems should be my main priorities to fix and am wondering also the approximate cost for each of these repairs? I'll be getting some or all of these repaired in the next couple of weeks so any advice is appreciated, thanks!!! > Had a free tune up on my 110,000 mile 1997 Honda Civic today at my > local Honda dealer (extended emissions warranty). They also performed a [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > of these repairs? I'll be getting some or all of these repaired in the > next couple of weeks so any advice is appreciated, thanks!!! Timing belt. If you don't know, do it. Find a good independent who has confidence he can do it easily. When he's down there, he might as well replace the water pump for another $20 (and the various drive belts, as long as they're off). And as long as he has the coolant all drained, he should do the radiator hose (if he agrees it's weak). Those all go together, and should come first. I'd leave the oil pan gasket for last. Beyond that, I don't have an opinion. > Had a free tune up on my 110,000 mile 1997 Honda Civic today at my > local Honda dealer (extended emissions warranty). They also performed a [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > of these repairs? I'll be getting some or all of these repaired in the > next couple of weeks so any advice is appreciated, thanks!!! -------------------------------------- TB is overdue by AGE, drain-n-fill the tranny with Honda Z1, pan gasket is probably OK, just wet from sloppy oil changes. Why don't you know if the TB has been changed? I'd remember an expense like that . . get the original selling or servicing dealer to SEARCH their records. 'Curly' > Had a free tune up on my 110,000 mile 1997 Honda Civic > today at my [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > 60,000 and not > so sure this has ever been replaced) Do this a.s.a.p. It may be past due. Don't gamble. If it breaks (and they do break), the engine has a high probability of being destroyed. > 2) front engine mount broken Ask the shop how they know this. Ask about the wisdom of putting this off. Are you feeling odd vibrations at idle? This may or may not be urgent. Google is your friend. See http://www.autoguide.net/tmm/austin30.shtml for some info about motor mounts. > 3) rear trailer arm bushings broken This can likely be postponed. The car will not handle optimally, but these bushings on my 91 Civic have been broken for years. I'm just getting around to replacing them. If you are handy enough to remove a rear wheel, you can get a look at these 3-inch diameter bushings yourself. Here are two sites I am studying now to do the job myself. They'll help you locate the bushings. http://marketwareinc.zeroforum.com/zerothread?id=3442 http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread/1589298 (But doing it one's self means buying a $170 tool.) If you do have the trailing arm bushings done, consider purchasing them from Autoway Honda (mentioned at the first site above). I checked with them earlier this week, and they wanted about $40 a bushing, and only $6 for shipping. Email: AutowayHondaBerto@hotmail.com, I think. Or google for "autoway honda" in Florida. Your dealer will charge a lot more for these bushings. They have to be oriented correctly. I think I'd only trust the dealer (or myself) to do these. > 4) oil pan gasket leaking I agree with Curly. > 5) weak radiator hose Have them show you. It's probably not expensive, and since a loss of coolant can have a catastropic effect on the engine, if the hose looks worn to you, replace it soon. > 6) transmission, brake fluid, engine air filter service > recommended You should replace the air filter yourself. Very easy. Good thing to know and help you get acquainted with your car. Ask if you need direction, or try the link below for a free online factory service manual for your Civic. Brake fluid is due every two years or so. Failure to renew it will cause problems down the road. Pay the $100 or so and replace it. What Curly said re transmission service. > I'm wondering first which of these problems should be my > main [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > next couple of weeks so any advice is appreciated, > thanks!!! The link at http://www.honda.co.uk/car/owner/workshop.html has a free online maintenance schedule for your Civic. You should print a copy and follow it. It says when to replace the timing belt, among other things. > > 3) rear trailer arm bushings broken > > This can likely be postponed. The car will not handle > optimally, but these bushings on my 91 Civic have been > broken for years. I'm just getting around to replacing them. If there is no abnormal tire wear on the rear tires, I wouldn't waste the money. -- Tp, -------- __o ----- -\<. -------- __o --- ( )/ ( ) ---- -\<. -------------------- ( )/ ( ) ----------------------------------------- No Lawsuit Ever Fixed A Moron... > Elle wrote: > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > wouldn't > waste the money. Yesterday I was working on the rear, driver's side, lower control arm. When re-installing it, the play for putting in the control arm's outboard most bolt was very high. This contrasted with the passenger side, on which I also recently worked. I wiggled around the brake drum/hub assembly and simultaneously watched the trailing arm bushing. One of the bushings two legs apparently has completely sheared. That rubber in the bushing isn't really going anywhere, so at the moment I wouldn't say it's a serious safety issue. It may pose a risk to property, though, if, on a turn, part of the rear of the car swings one way while the other does not. OTOH, from a handling standpoint, I think I'll find the new TA bushings worth it. But that's just me. I'm sort of in this for the learning experience, too. I have the time. I have the new trailing arm bushings in my possession as of yesterday. I am calling around to see what different shops want to put them in. If any of them already have the special tool (http://www.shoptoolsshoptools.com/shopexd.asp?id=2784) already, it might very well be cheaper to have the shop do it. Or I'll grill Napa's shop press service about whether they'll install my TA bushings to spec (that is, correct clock and depth orientation). "Elle" <honda.lioness@nospam.earthlink.net> wrote Not to hijack the thread but to be complete: > I have the new trailing arm bushings in my possession as > of yesterday. I am calling around to see what different [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > they'll install my TA bushings to spec (that is, correct > clock and depth orientation). Three hours at the dealer's and also Pep Boys for a little over $240 for labor. This doesn't include an alignment which many recommend after replacing the TA bushings. Napa's shop now isn't sure they can even do the TA bushings. The tool goes for $170 total, so I'm leaning that way at the moment. I'm also investigating fabricating my own. The last time I was at the local Honda dealership to change the tranmission oil, the mechanic said my transmission would require a complete overhaul. 40,000km later, I'm still peeling away from the lights with the same old tired transmission. Since your car is old, I'd try to find a reliable independent, otherwise, maintaning the old Civic might become more expensive then buying new. However, for emission and fluid changes (other then regular engine oil change), I'd be inclined to use the Dealership. Since you bought the car at 50K, TB probaby wasn't already done. So, you're well past do. Also, brake fluid flush might be a good idea, if never done, but you might want to wait until the front pads need replacing to get that done. In many cases, the Dealership might have a special on the flush and brake work. Pars 98 Civic Hatch with 295,000km. You probably need to do the timing belt, since at 50,000miles, the previous owner probably didn't have it done. > Had a free tune up on my 110,000 mile 1997 Honda Civic today at my > local Honda dealer (extended emissions warranty). They also performed a [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > of these repairs? I'll be getting some or all of these repaired in the > next couple of weeks so any advice is appreciated, thanks!!! On 6/9/06 12:53 PM, in article 1149875630.385653.49220@j55g2000cwa.googlegroups.com, > Had a free tune up on my 110,000 mile 1997 Honda Civic today at my > local Honda dealer (extended emissions warranty). They also performed a [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > of these repairs? I'll be getting some or all of these repaired in the > next couple of weeks so any advice is appreciated, thanks!!! In order of criticality, I think your list is pretty much in the right order, though I think I would move the radiator hose up to number 2 on the list. The timing belt is overdue (look in the owner's manual for when it should have been changed). If it snaps, your engine will probably be trashed. As far as what you could do yourself for minimal expense, number 6 is easily done by the do-it-yourselfer. |
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