TravisJohnson

Well now that i have bought this honda, i am really starting to take a lot of interest on working on my own car. its a 2001 civic LX manual trans.

So far ive changed the oil and changed the cabin air filter (which hadnt seen the light of day since the assembly line stuck it in there).

I tried to take the air filter out, but ran into the dreaded cracked pastic...and i CAN NOT get that dang thing off there without breaking it apart. very dissapointing becase im sure the air filter needs to be changed.

But my question is what are some of the things some of you more experience owners would do to a car with 113k on it? i have no history of whats been done to it in the past.

thanks, travis

lowlife9

i would be very concerned if the timing belt had been replaced along with the other stuff that usually gets replaced at the same time like timing belt tensioner,water pump etc etc.

TravisJohnson

so your saying i should get the timing belt checked?
I took the car to a local mechanic today to see if he could get the air filter cover off, and he worked on it for about 15 mins and then flat out said he couldnt help me. I'm begining to think just paying the 250 for a cold air intake would be the best choice

CraigW

iTrader: (1)

It would be wise to know if it has been or not. They may have bailed on the car to avoid the 110k service.

Take a look at the drive belts in the bay...how many cracks are present on the inner ribs ?? If they were done recently there would be none or just a few. If the belts are cracked heavily, then most likely the work has not been done (its a huge gamble on a belt driven interference type engine over 110k and 9 years of age)

TravisJohnson

alright ill check out the condition of the belts next time i get a chance. and yes i know, but i paid cash for the car, and thats better than having a perfect car with a 300 a month payment.

Now im seriously considering ordering a cold air intake because i cant get to the stock air filter. I know there are some really nice and expensive ones, but what can i get for around $150 that would be best?

lowlife9

get a cheap ebay pipe and relace the filter with a AEM dry flow and as for the timing belt you may have got the deal of the century but if that belt snaps your screwed.

TravisJohnson

screwed as in a major repair?
and alright i think im just going to order a pipe off ebay

utahbmxer

Mine snapped around 117k miles, 2 1/2 years ago. I would make every effort to check that out. The repair was about $1,500. and now the engine is screwed, currently looking to swap it out. I have to do valve adjustments every ~5,000 miles and the Crankshaft journal bearings clicking like a Mother Effer, driving me insane from the noise they make.

Aside from that critical maintenance, you may want to look at new struts, I replaced mine @ 90,000 miles and there was nothing left of them, makes a huge difference on the ride quality and safety. Depending on who drove it, they clutch may have some good wear on it.

Anyways, just check out the timing belt issue. You do NOT want that thing breaking on you.

Keepitmovin

Spark plugs and MTF are easy maintenance at home and just go with a sri instead of a cai.

TravisJohnson

oh wow....alright ill have to get that timing belt changed right away. see, you guys have me a little paranoid now lol.

i thought about doing the spark plugs soon. I just hope i tighten them correctly

TravisJohnson

Well i have an appointment to get the timing belt changed for tomorrow morning. He said parts & labor it should be a little under 300 bucks. not too bad really, especially since it NEEDS to be done.

MidnightCivic

iTrader: (11)

You might as well do the whole tune up, i didn't do mine till i was @ 120k or so..no need to rush the timing belt.

Here is a list of what i did to it:

timing belt
water pump
crankshaft seal
camshaft seal
valve cover grommets(5)
valve cover gasket
AC / alternator belt
power steering belt
3 qrt of OEM Honda ATF-Z1


I also upgraded my brakes recently...

joe6680

What did this cost?

MidnightCivic

iTrader: (11)

Bought most of it off ebay as a package all oem tho from an actual honda dealership selling on ebay. Cost me around 150 total for parts

laack

300!! thats a steal

Ive never been quoted less than 700! I'm planning on doing/attempting my own this spring when it warms up a bit. what state do you live in?

lowlife9

thats just the one belt and nothing else you need to replace the timing belt tensioner also thats important . along wth the water pump and all the other belts while everything is disassembled.

TravisJohnson

I live in tennessee, but the work is being done in kentucky like 15 mins from my house. and yes the 300 is including the tension springs and entire kit. I wish i would have known to tell them to do the other belts while the car is taken apart, but its probably too late now because they would have to order the parts and im going in at 8 tomorrow morning.

after this its the rims.....but i think im going to stick with 14' because the tires are brand new and i would hate to have them go to waste for a couple extra inches of ballin-ness.

lowlife9

thats strange the tensioner olone cost me 125 dollars wiyh my discount at napa there usually 190-200 dollars i dont no it doesn't sound rite i mean 300 sounds like the labor alone you must have the cheapest mechanic in the world.

TravisJohnson

lol i do live in a really poor area of tennessee. he said 30 for the belt, 75 for the tensioner kit, and 150 for 3 hours of labor. and this is a legit place, not some hole in the wall. But ill be sure to post tomorrow when i get hit with the 500 dollar bill due to some sort of miscommunication lol

lowlife9

dam thats cheap for labor around here the cheapest ive found is 85 dollars an hour im jealous maybe the work quality mite not be there.

TravisJohnson

I'm not really worried, i honestly believe that they just cant charage outrageous prices around here because people just dont have the money.
Do you think the car will run better with a new timing belt and tension setup? or is it just one of those things that you can't tell its been done

lowlife9

na you wont feel anything except the feeling of security that its been changed

TravisJohnson

Well i had it done. I talked to the mechanic about replace the other parts, and he was totally down. New timing belt, tension kit, water pump,anti-freeze, and accesorry belts for $400.99.

The car REALLY drives better now

lowlife9

is it automatic ???

TravisJohnson

nope its a stick shift

g2s

Is the price quote from honda dealer?

g2s

Mine 2001 civic is already at 115K and never had timing belt change. I am worried to know your timing belt snapped at 117K. I live in California with nice weather. Hopefully, that factor give me a bit more time to have enough money for a timing belt change. Where do you live?