Buying an EK4 - common faults?

[Chris S15]

Hi All,
In the market for an EK4. Just wanted to know what to look out for and what common problems they have.

Any tips and suggestions.

Thanx

Chris

[riruiz_88]

i my self dont own a EK4, but as with used cars there is always gonna some "problems" with them. just check it over e.g: oil, date timing belt was changed, rust and many more. i just noticed that u said that you wanna buy a EK4 yet you say "Car: Soon to be an EG"?:confused:. or if you dont really know what to look out for, get an inspection done by mechanic. cant really say there is this and that wrong with Ek's, its to of a general question man. maybe some EK owners might be able to help you more, but i hope i gave you a general idea :thumbsup:

[Spunkymonkey]

we've got an ek4 we've had for 6 years...and had no problems with it...

a few of the chips in the paint from rocks are getting a little bit of rust...but that's because the top layer is gone..

there really isn't any common problems I can tell you about as we haven't really had any problems with ours....

shocks are starting to go..but the car has 268,000kms on it lol....

[Limbo]

yeah ek4s are great. Just check to see if the engine is in good condition and if there are any signs of major crashes.

These cars are really reliable and generally do not have many problems.

[turbo convert]

its a honda unless the car is in terrible condition or badly mistreated i doubt you will have any mechanical faults!!!!
excellent cars

[misteR_bilzz]

passenger side power window switch is a so called common fault. they sometimes go slower than usual or only go one way.

[kn1ghtm4r3]

Open the boot and lift up the board/carpet and check to see if yah boot is flooding =9

but thats a problem with most hatches so yeah

[Muzz]

^^ Yeah i got that.
Nothing to worry about, some new gaskets for the tail lights and its all sealed up:p

Check for rust in the spare tyre well, mine had some very slight surface rust from the hatch leak.
Other than that, the cars been absolutly flawless, not one issue:)

[tRipitaka]

sunroof seals too..

[EKVTIR-T]

Also the rubber window seal above the side mirrors always gets jammed and pulls out from the window going up and down.

[VTEC16]

Iv had no issues with my car. Check for a good service history and all should be well =)

[EG5[KRT]]

check the torque mounts.. ive seen some that are broken or cracked.

[philBo]

passenger side power window switch is a so called common fault. they sometimes go slower than usual or only go one way.

damn straight...power windows on civics suck balls. :thumbsup::thumbsup:

[Chris S15]

I've done it! =)

I've bought myself a 97 Honda Civic Vti-R Hatch. Black.

Checked the boot. no signs of leakage or rust.

checked the sunroof. no signs of leakage, rust and seals well.

checked the window seals just above the side mirrors, yeah, the driver side is a little bunched. fixable? or will it be a re-occuring problem?

I checked the log books. stamped from 0-80,000km. but from 80,000km to 180,000km (now) hasn't been stamped but has been serviced every 5,000km (the owner gave me the number of the garage who serviced it for the past 5 years).

Would it be worth it for me to take it back to honda and start getting it serviced by them and stamped by them from now on? or would i just be wasting my money. eg: $180 for a minor service. Which i can do myself...

[VTEC16]

Grats mate! You'll love it =)

I wouldnt go to honda from now on.... Its not worth getting the 'H' stamp in your book if u havent got it from 80 - 180k. Either DIY (if you know it all) or get a good mechanic to take care of her.

[Chris S15]

oh, forgot to mention. my central locking doesn't work. =(

just take it to an auto electrician? i'd prefer to take it to someone who knows these cars and doesn't have to guess what they're doing.

[czy_sol87]

oh, forgot to mention. my central locking doesn't work. =(

just take it to an auto electrician? i'd prefer to take it to someone who knows these cars and doesn't have to guess what they're doing.

if u really want someone that knows what they are doin with hondas, then bring it back to honda or a honda specialist, otherwise bring it to someone that deals with alarms and central locking

i agree with the above comments, dont bother goin back to honda for services, aslong as u know that it has been serviced before and have the contact of the mechanic that has been serviceing it for the last 100k, should be right

[97EK1]

damn straight...power windows on civics suck balls. :thumbsup::thumbsup:

although mine has no power windows this was happening to me after my car got repaired but i fixed it by re seating the window seal it has a little tab on it and it pops into a hole neer the rear view mirror, the problem occurs when its not in the hole i don't know how else to explain it but it worked for me, my window seals don't move now :thumbsup:

[dupac->]

lol
i've had no major dramas with mine.

left window does suck balls..

left engine mount tends to go pretty easy..

leaking tail light (right one) for some reason ek's the black foamy thing is only sealed onto the left light not the right..? anyone notice that? ill post pics if i cbf.

^^ and because of that i think thats why some ppl get water in the boot.

but yeah overall top car.
just minor shit

[kn1ghtm4r3]

lol
i've had no major dramas with mine.

left window does suck balls..

left engine mount tends to go pretty easy..

leaking tail light (right one) for some reason ek's the black foamy thing is only sealed onto the left light not the right..? anyone notice that? ill post pics if i cbf.

^^ and because of that i think thats why some ppl get water in the boot.

but yeah overall top car.
just minor shit

yeah i noticed that. thought it was only me lol :cool:

i noticed a major problem in mine. when it hits 5500rpm+ it makes this really weird noise. :thumbdwn:

[honda_ek4]

I've done it! =)

I've bought myself a 97 Honda Civic Vti-R Hatch. Black.

Checked the boot. no signs of leakage or rust.

checked the sunroof. no signs of leakage, rust and seals well.

checked the window seals just above the side mirrors, yeah, the driver side is a little bunched. fixable? or will it be a re-occuring problem?

I checked the log books. stamped from 0-80,000km. but from 80,000km to 180,000km (now) hasn't been stamped but has been serviced every 5,000km (the owner gave me the number of the garage who serviced it for the past 5 years).

Would it be worth it for me to take it back to honda and start getting it serviced by them and stamped by them from now on? or would i just be wasting my money. eg: $180 for a minor service. Which i can do myself...

did you get that ek4 from lidcombe?

[dupac->]

yeah i noticed that. thought it was only me lol :cool:

i noticed a major problem in mine. when it hits 5500rpm+ it makes this really weird noise. :thumbdwn:
LMAO i hab same problem.. what is it? it goe BRAAAH!! :confused:

[ekhybrid]

check if its good

[Chris S15]

did you get that ek4 from lidcombe?

Yep.

I guess you've been looking for one too?

i have no idea what the 25th Anniversary one has that other non-25th Anniversary ones don't have. i reckon it's just the sticker. lol

[Joel The Mole]

i noticed a major problem in mine. when it hits 5500rpm+ it makes this really weird noise.

VTAK YO!!!!

[honda_ek4]

Yep.

I guess you've been looking for one too?

i have no idea what the 25th Anniversary one has that other non-25th Anniversary ones don't have. i reckon it's just the sticker. lol

hehe good luck with the car buddy:thumbsup:

[ekhybrid]

Yep.

I guess you've been looking for one too?

i have no idea what the 25th Anniversary one has that other non-25th Anniversary ones don't have. i reckon it's just the sticker. lol

25th anniv= arm rest ftw

[Chris S15]

25th anniv= arm rest ftw

really? where is this arm rest?

[SPEEDCORE]

The missus EK4 is a 25th special and no armrest :S

[ekhybrid]

really? where is this arm rest?

handbrake conpartment which doubles as an armrest
speedcore-ive seen 2 25thaniv's with arm rest so i assumed...prob a coincidence :)

[SPEEDCORE]

:( Ripped off!

[Chris S15]

:( Ripped off!

x2

oh wells...

[ZeForce]

Try a few 8k rpm shifts to see if the gearbox synchros are worn at all

[strafe]

I have heard (but never witnessed) the gearbox synchros can wear due to lazy drivers revving out 2nd and then shifting to 4th (not using 3rd gear)...

I purchased my Vti-R with around 100,000km on the clock, and the odometer hit the 200,000 mark last week. Here is a total list of problems i have had with my car:

* Rear Caliper Sticking due to worn boot, pin rusting up
* It seems to lose clutch fluid for some reason, I'll have to find out where it's all going one day...
* And Err.. that's it.....

If you service the car regularly, you should see no problems.. it's a very well built car. And it's not as if my car doesn't get a workout every now and then ;).

[Muzz]

In terms of reliability, you really couldnt get very much better IMO.

[Encor3]

I have heard (but never witnessed) the gearbox synchros can wear due to lazy drivers revving out 2nd and then shifting to 4th (not using 3rd gear)...

I purchased my Vti-R with around 100,000km on the clock, and the odometer hit the 200,000 mark last week. Here is a total list of problems i have had with my car:

* Rear Caliper Sticking due to worn boot, pin rusting up
* It seems to lose clutch fluid for some reason, I'll have to find out where it's all going one day...
* And Err.. that's it.....

If you service the car regularly, you should see no problems.. it's a very well built car. And it's not as if my car doesn't get a workout every now and then ;).
http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showthread.php?t=73119&highlight=clutch
I had a leaking clutch
I suggest looking under the clutch pedal to see if the fluid is leaking inside =) best to get it fixed other wise it could lock up your transmission

[VTEC16]

Its pretty cool how there are only a few minor posts on here.... there are a Brunei Saltan's Garage worth of EK4s on this forum!