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Honda Civic: Problems & Solutions
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Comments
Thanks
I believe it is a 1999 model.
We got to where we were going and barely cold air was blowing by then.
Thanks.
I have changed the thermostat and flushed the system. The car still overheats. The passages in the radiator look clean. This car has had regular service and has not been neglected. Any idea on what is wrong? Would a bad head gasket make the car overheat? If so, how?
By the way, I had 92 Accord that started to do the same thing. I replaced the thermostat, water pump, and flushed the system. None of this fixed the problem; I had to sell the car.
My Honda days maybe over! I love the way they drive but I have had problems with them and they are not cheap to fix.
Thanks for any help.
If I had to pick a manufacture it would be Toyota for the least problems. GMs are cheapest to fix. The Hondas had problems I think are uncaled for, but would not show up unless you kept the car for a long time. All the CV joint boots in the Hondas went bad after about 6 years.
We have never repalced a GM CV joint boot, they are made out of a plastic material, not rubber like Honda. The Accord had to have the roof repainted under warrenty and the paint in general did not hold up well.
Believe it or not, the Hondas cost the most to own. The GMs had the most problems when new, then stood the test time very well. The Toyotas have been just excellent.
Back to the Civic, how does a bad head gasket cause an overheat condition? We have never had a head gasket go on the GMs or Toyotas. Increasing RPMs when the temp is rising just makes it overheat faster. Coolant has had to be added to both the Accord and Civic. The engine has not been run in the red zone, if you turn on the heat on full it is possible to drive the car and the temp goes back down.
abc246, when replacing thermostats, be sure it's an OEM thermostat. Some aftermarket ones won't quite work. Also, if you haven't replaced your water pump when you did your timing belt, you should. Another thing to remember is that use of normal anti-freeze is harmful to Honda cooling systems. Other manufacturers are adopting these particulate-free formulas now but for Hondas, they are a must and have been for years.
Yes, head gasket leaks cause overheating. It happened to my brother's 350 Chevy pick-up.
I've had my '95 Civic since new and with 103K miles on the clock, the only thing I've replaced is the timing belt and water pump ($400). A minor, fan-speed electrical component was replaced under warranty a few years ago.
I don't like the brand new Civics but I'm considering an Acura RSX in the next year or so ... either that or a Celica GTS.
--- Bror Jace
What brand of anti-freeze should I used. Our newer GMs use Dex-cool. Is that OK? It is orange color. I did not know about this and used reg anti-freeze in the Hondas. The GMs have a sticker under the hood recommending a type of anti-freeze.
I did the water pumps when I had both timing belts replaced. It was about $400 each :-(
Now the Civic overheats with the A/C off during highway driving (both cooling fans on). It kills me because this is a low mileage, well cared for car.
The older damm GM cars are still going strong (91 DeVille-155K, 92 Bonneville-135k, 88 Chevv truck-165k). They all had A/C problems, but no engine problems nor transmission nor axles nor timing belts. I still am a Honda fan. They drive GREAT!
this is to anyone experiencing the same problems or knows someone who is experiencing the same problems as i am:
i have owned a 2001 civic ex coupe for approximately two months and have had to refill the power steering fluid twice, the car is to the point that the steering wheel takes extra effort to turn as it is much stiffer than normally. I would like to know if anyone is having the same problems or similar to me and what you have done to remedy the situation. Thanks
And if there is a loose fitting in the power steering the higher pressures needed to turn the larger contact patches would cause a leak in the system.
Your problem may be just a PCV (Pollution Control Valve) problem, which is cheap to replace.
If it's the catalytic converter, it should be covered.
to big D. With 13,000 driven, Ive gotten anywhere from 27 mpg in the city to 41 mpg on the cross the southwest trip, but i usually get about 33 mpg. Sure im not going to win many drag races but im not into wasting my gas with piss ant punks! And Ive got a car I can run into the ground for up to at least 10 years and 250,000 miles, while other sorry asses will have to buy at least two cars in the same period. The following have been my minor problems:1) rattles in mid-console area and back speaker area-- which the dealer fixed, 2)front-bumper paint peeling off after getting the car detailed--repainted by dealer, 3)platic passenger insert near door lever falling off--fixed by dealer.
Civic -
Pros:
1. Cheaper base price, under $18k
2. More reliable and cheaper to maintain
3. Better gas efficiency
Cons:
1. Boring appearance and styling
2. Less fun and powerful to drive
3. Consumer complaints about declining quality (based on personal research finding, no real data)
Jetta -
Pros:
1. Distinguish style
2. Relatively affordable price, around $20k
3. More powerful and fun to drive
Cons:
1. Heard owner complaints about various problems, though most are minor, still discouraging
2. VW dealerships have bad reputation for service
3. Requires premium gas, lower gaas milleage
RE: 250k logevity. Well, I wish it to you, but that's an extremely optimistic outlook, way beyond the average speedo reading in wrecking yards for ANY car. 250K would be in the 99th percentile, if that!
But, I really wish you wouldn't insult our host or anyone else here. These are FAMILY forums and not a bar room discussion area.
Long term is MUCH different!
Your Subaru example is a good one.
Sorry, mdriver, Civics are really great long term cars that last a long long time!
fxashun,
Was your last post directed to me? I didn't say anything about tires or quality slipping ?
I KNOW you wouldn't say Honda's quality is slipping. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.
speedometer spikes to 60 then sits at 0 then suddenly it starts working again .(the contacts are all clean )
To the person with the power steering problem, did you use OEM Honda fluid? If not, you may have cause a leak and possibly damage to your pump. Honda and Acura were pioneers in speed-sensitive steering and have used their own type of fluid for over a decade. Just look at most bottles of aftermarket fluid and they say NOT to use them in Hondas.
Moving on: Yes, I know the RSX is based on the Civic. It saddens me deeply ... and I'll probably go with the Toyota Celica GTS instead. It's almost the same car on paper but with better styling and a price tag about $2-3K less. This is actually a serious dilemna for me as I've been a diehard Honda/Acura fan for at least a dozen years. <:^(
Lastly, I know McCheapson Struts are an 'acceptable' suspension set-up ... but I much prefer the previous, conventional wishbone configuration. The traditional layout is more durable and ages much more gracefully. More than that, it's a sign that Honda is willing to scrimp on engineering. <:^(
--- Bror Jace
I just bought a new civic and I love it. The ride is smooth, fast and very fun. The color is Silver I/ black interior, its sharp looking. So far I've put 300 miles on it in. I know its new, but I haven't felt rattling of the steering wheel. I've had it at 85 and it was as smooth as it could be. No rattling what so ever, it corners like its on rails. all I really got to say is that if you take care of your civic, then it will last a long time. I want to modify it a little, just make it faster, so if any one has some ideas, please e-mail me.
Later
"B"
Runs like a champ. AC is cold, engine is smooth, stereo sucks in radio mode but the CD player rocks, no squeaks or rattles. You just gotta love Honda, this car feels like it's ready for at least another 100K.