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Well at least I think it is a problem. It is a used 02 civic ex. My girlfriend just bought it. we have 30 days to get anything fixed on it. So far I have noticed two three things, the power jack (cigarette lighter) doesnt work, when pulling out from a stop where you have to turn sharp (like out of a drive way onto the road) the wheel pulls in the opposite direction with the most severe understear that I have ever felt, and the suspension is extremely hard. Every bump that we hit is felt rather harshly. It feels really stiff like no give at all. I am comparing all of this to my 2008 honda fit. The civic feels worse than my old metro did. Is this normal for this car? Oh and another problem is that the steering wheel is extremely easy to turn, like if you take your hands off of the wheel for a moment the car will turn drastically.

Are all of these things normal (except for the power plug which I will replace)? I know that they are not in the new civic, but I realize that the older ones were more economy cars. But then again the fit is supposed to be and it drives so much better.

Just let me know if I need to go get stuff fixed on it. We have had it for a week.

Thanks

-Syco54645

 
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^sounds like it, i've had my civic for 6 years now, got it new, and i haven't had any problems with the steering, can't tell you about the suspension though, i changed mine out after the first year, not because of a problem, i just dropped it

 
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any idea what the issues may be? as it stands the car is rather dangerous. my gf is learning to drive on it (25 and no license yet... but will have one soon) and it isnt good to learn on in its current state.

 
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honestly i don't know man, how's your alignment? has it ever been wrecked?

 
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yea i have the same problem with the suspension...its stock still and the road is bumpy. but my low pros are super thin too so that makes it worse.
did u put the vin # on carfax to make sure it hasnt been totalled

 
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no i have not done that yet... maybe we should. she didnt want to. it isnt driving right anyways. i have come to expect quality from hondas (i totaled my first fit and walked away with a few cuts from glass... when i say totaled i mean no back end) and it doesnt appear to be there.

 
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honda's are greatly built cars, they last forever if taken care of. check to see if it's been totaled, who know's, the person before you could have lowered it and then put all the stock parts back on when he got rid of it

 
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OK, did a carfax. Nothing wrong with it. It was a lease to own vehicle. No accident etc. So working on trying to figure out what is wrong with it now.

 
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Dude you just need an alignment and probably new struts and/or springs.

Alignment will run you 80-100 at the dealership and like 70 elsewhere. But if you just bought the car very recently, go to the place you bought it and tell them it needs an alignment, maybe you can get one free.

 
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For the acc socket... check fuse #18 15 amp in the under dash box.

 
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no it works it is just finicky and requires the plug to be in there just right otherwise it doesnt work. bump it and it is off.

 
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If i needed an alignment wouldnt the car show signs of this at highway speeds, mainly shaking? This doesnt happen and the tire wear seems to be ok.

 
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shaking is from a bad wheel balance, has nothing to do with alignment. the suspension on these cars is fairly soft, maybe yours was modified. mine rides harsh but i have aftermarket lowering springs and stiff shocks. sounds like you definately need an alignment at least.

 
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i agree with everyone else, if you want, try an alignment and get the tires balanced, have them check the shocks while they're under there

 
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well first of all, are you riding on stock tires? are they stock rims (typically 15s) with something like 185/65is tires on the? if thats the case, you should have no problems and you shouldnt be feeling anything wrong. it shouldnt feel any different than really any other car you drive in.

 
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i would also say its the struts. i dont think it has anything to do with your springs.

from what youre saying about the steering being way too easy, i have no idea. is there such thing as too much power steering fluid? who knows. thats something you really should mention as well. it should feel and turn exactly the way your fit does. ive driven new hondas and their steering feels exactly the same as mine (its also an 02) so i dont think yours should be any different. but yeah, with it drifting off like that on its own, thats an alignment problem. i never seen you mention it shaking so i dont think it has anything to do with the balancing.

as for your cigarette lighter power source. you can pretty much pull that entire square portion out without any tools. just put your finger in the power source and kind of pull on it....or carefully stick something flat into the seam along the edge and it just pops out. you can see the actual wire and little plug going to the lighter. make sure that thing is ok and not corroded or damaged for whatever reason. i know sometimes people do 'creative' things with that wire, it might have a little short or something. its easy to check.

 
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Not the stock tires, not even sure what size. The car came with steel rims too which I found odd for an ex. Is this normal or are these different wheels all together?

 
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It definitely does not feel like my fit. it drives more like a crappy chevy cavalier. If it drove as nice as my fit it would be a dream.

 
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post pics of the wheels so we know for sure.

 
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im pretty sure the ex comes with some kind of honda rim and not the black steelies w/hubcaps

 
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ok thats what i thought. are they an actual honda rim? is it possible to find a pic online of the rims you have on? or take a picture and upload it? also, can you read the side of the tire and tell us what it says for the tire size? like 185/65r15 or whatever it says. it will be much easier to help.

and yes fiend, the 02 ex should come with the 10 spoke into a 5 star style rim thats a 15". its the same one that came on the si or si-r model. from what hes describing im just wondering what they are.

 
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will post them asap. from what i remember the hubcaps dont evey have an h on them...

 
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^ so you have just steel wheels with hubcaps? or actual rims?

 
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alot of EX civics came with black steelies and hubcaps, 01-02 ex for sure did. maybe they just took off the hubcaps.

 
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I have a 01 EX Sedan and it came with steel rims (15s).

 
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really? i thought that was one of the perks (along with v-tech) of buying an ex, guessing that was an add-on option for those years

 
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well starting in 03, the ex coupe came with the old 2000 si rims, and later ex sedans came with the fat five alloys.

 
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^word

 
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That is what I thought too. Odd. Anyways, still no idea what is wrong with the steering. I checked the fluid and it is full. I was told maybe the system is just failing. Will be taking it in to be worked on none the less. Also, that one strut seems bad too, so we shall see. My uncle is a mechanic and so I will have him look at it on sunday. Thanks for all the help thus far. If we ever figure out what is wrong with it I will make a post.