buying a car service

[rnbguy]

hey guys i just got a 96 EX civic...

i want to service it as the moron before me didnt even look after it

I MUST:

change the battery as it seemed to go flat on me.. im worried there might be soemthing using the battery while the car is off, so i might plug my volta meter to it, not sure if thatd help...

I HAVE:

toped off oil, not flushed it (dont know if thats really necessary on a non vtec non turbo car)

toped off coolant with regular coolant.


I WILL:

- change sparke plugs

anything else i should do?

Also aside from mechanics it looks like the owner must have worked inside car and left their greezy finger prints all over the car bumper, can i get that off somehow? i know washing detergent isnt good for paint

I look at this car and actually feel sorry for it... :confused:

[Bayani]

Degreaser for the prints.

I suggest getting Arronng to Detail your car if you're in Sydney.

(Edit your Profiled Details in 'userCP' found in the top menu)
Or click here: UserCP (http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/usercp.php)

Maybe you should get a full service; new fluids all around, stant thermo, etc

:]

[Rice_4_life]

with any 2nd hand car you should really give it a major service esp. in your case where the car wasn't looked after.

[aaronng]

change the battery as it seemed to go flat on me.. im worried there might be soemthing using the battery while the car is off, so i might plug my volta meter to it, not sure if thatd help...
If it is not holding charge (but your alternator is good), then see if your audio system, a light or the alarm system is draining the battery. Otherwise, change the battery.



I HAVE:

toped off oil, not flushed it (dont know if thats really necessary on a non vtec non turbo car)
Change the oil. Doesn't matter if it is non-vtec or non-turbo. You don't know the history of the engine oil and when was the last time it was changed. Honda FEO is cheap.



toped off coolant with regular coolant.
Use Honda coolant. If you have already mixed it with regular coolant, then you have to replace all of the coolant (don't put it off for too long)



Also aside from mechanics it looks like the owner must have worked inside car and left their greezy finger prints all over the car bumper, can i get that off somehow? i know washing detergent isnt good for paint
Wash your car with proper car shampoo. Use the same mitt with car wash solution and see if it cleans off the finger prints. It usually does. Otherwise, you can always just use a paint cleaner like Meg's brand Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner or ScratchX. I'd rather get ScratchX as it doubles both as a paint cleaner and a light swirl remover.



I look at this car and actually feel sorry for it... :confused:
Don't feel sorry for it. Just get all fluids changed including transmission fluid, brake fluid, clutch fluid, engine oil, coolant. For all of those except engine oil, you should use Honda OEM fluids. For engine oil, you can use other brands too as long as they are the right viscosity (should be 10w-30 for your engine)

[Limo]

dont forget the oil filter,

also how many kms has it done/does it have service books. cos other things that you may want to think about are like the timing belt etc (if its done high kms)

[Drew]

Oil
Oil Filter
Air Filter
Fuel Filter
Spark plugs and leads
If Automatic then new Automatic Transmition Fluid from Honda is in order
If Manual the MTF should be fine
Replace coolant

If the car is around 100,000 - 200,000 - 300,000 etc etc
Change the cambelt and water pump and associated seals

Check the brake pads and disks and shoes/drums if you don't have disks on the back

It really comes down to how much you have/want to spend of the car and how much you know/can do yourself

[rnbguy]

okay im pretty sure i can do most of this, ill have to drain the oil completly im sure theres instructions on here, oil filter i have no idea with, air filter is a pod filter and should be cleanable from what i can see so ill get cleaning fluid for it... spark plugs are easy to change im not sure on the gap though so ill have to look for that, manual transmission fluid man i got no idea where the drain plug is for that.... coolant as well im not too sure if there is a radiator draining system ill look that up too on here...

its 110 km, i never belive if anyone says they did timming belts because they lie when u buy it off them, so that will be something i need to do soon too i dont think myself, anyone have a rough quote how much this cost there civic, was it around 600-700?

brakes are perfect ive checked em...

strange thing is when i press down on clutch (car off or on) it makes a squeeky noise but previous owner said thats normal in ek (not sure if his lying)

[rnbguy]

heres the check list spread out:

- oil flush

- oil filter:
http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27509&highlight=oil+filter

- clean air filter

- sparke plugs (gaped)

- MTF

- coolant:
http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36830&highlight=oil+flush

- brake fluid:
http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11867&highlight=oil+flush

- clutch fluid

- cambelt and water pump and associated seals

- use blue plug under passenger seat to find any other issues to be fixed:
http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8218

- fuel filter:
http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40747&highlight=oil+change

- power steering fluid

[aaronng]

strange thing is when i press down on clutch (car off or on) it makes a squeeky noise but previous owner said thats normal in ek (not sure if his lying)
If the squeak comes from the inside of the passenger compartment, it's the master cylinder. If it comes from the engine bay, it's bearing for the release fork.

[rnbguy]

does it need to be changed as it doesnt bother me and driving seems normal? also how hard is this to change and how much is a master cylindeR?

[rnbguy]

okay i figured the answer to that, ill just leave it till something acts up or noise gets worse, i might check if its leaking...

im slowly filling up the links above incase someone new buys a ek and wants to service it correctly to feel like a newer car :P

[Drew]

Thats a stupid thing to do...

Get it fixed now... otherwise when it stops working you will have to pay for a tow truck

[nugget666]

okay im pretty sure i can do most of this, ill have to drain the oil completly im sure theres instructions on here, oil filter i have no idea with, air filter is a pod filter and should be cleanable from what i can see so ill get cleaning fluid for it... spark plugs are easy to change im not sure on the gap though so ill have to look for that, manual transmission fluid man i got no idea where the drain plug is for that.... coolant as well im not too sure if there is a radiator draining system ill look that up too on here...

its 110 km, i never belive if anyone says they did timming belts because they lie when u buy it off them, so that will be something i need to do soon too i dont think myself, anyone have a rough quote how much this cost there civic, was it around 600-700?

brakes are perfect ive checked em...

strange thing is when i press down on clutch (car off or on) it makes a squeeky noise but previous owner said thats normal in ek (not sure if his lying)



my squeeks too. but i fixed my wit ha bit of grease. but its come back after 8 months.

[nugget666]

If the squeak comes from the inside of the passenger compartment, it's the master cylinder. If it comes from the engine bay, it's bearing for the release fork.




it was the realease for im pretty sure too.

[muhhan]

Don't think anyone's mentioned power steering yet. Change your power steering fluid. Also, fuel filter is worth changing.

Get hold of a service manual for the EK civic. It is like the bible for your car!

And if you are doing things yourself make sure you do them properly. That means replacing all the seals and other bits and pieces (eg. spark plug seals, rocker cover bolt seals, rocker cover gasket, dust seals, o-rings, etc.) even if it costs you an extra $50 for those bits and pieces you're still saving a bundle on labour.

One more thing, if you want parts that are guaranteed to fit go to your Honda dealer and get it from them. They will also be far more helpful than the generic sales person at a regular auto shop. The little extra you have to spend to get OEM is well worth it to avoid the hassle and pain in the a$$ that cheap crap will cause you.

[rnbguy]

its not always squeeking very rarely and to be honest i dont even know if its comming from inside or outside, i might get a mechanic to look at it and tell me if it needs to be changed.

thanx for the tip guys ill make sure to shop honda only