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1. The rack and pinion is leaking power steering fluid, about 16 oz every 2 weeks, ($600 parts and labor); The engine will not start on hot days if the engine is hot (mechanic thinks it is the fuel relay), and the ratchet on the emergency brake needs some work. The total for the last two items is about $400. Otherwise the car has never had any serious problems. It has a new timing belt, new tires, new brakes, new exhaust system, and the engine always runs fine. The total for repairs will be about $1100 to get these problems fixed. I really like the car, and after 20 yrs. have trouble letting it go. Does anyone think these repairs can be done significantly cheaper? If not, is there a market for this car? My plan would be to put it on ebay and see what happens (listing the problems).
Thanks!
Jenny
Thanks,
Katie
i have a 93 prelude vtec - my a/c has only worked intermittently for the last 2-3 years. the compressor will turn on for about 5 min or so, and then turn off for about 15 minutes. this cycle seems to repeat over and over. not sure if this year is prone to these problems, but if you really need a/c, i would recommend going to a honda dealer that can diagnose the problem. the cost will probably be $70 - $100, but if you decide to get it fixed, they'll usually apply the diagnostic fee to the repair.
does the green LED light up when you press the a/c button? if not, trying blowing compressed air around the button to see if it is just a dirty or corroded contact.
hope this helps!
b-from-a
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
If you liked your accords, you'll love the Prelude. It is truly a fantastic car. I have a 2001 Prelude Type SH with over 71,000 miles on it that I bought new in April 2002. It is so well put together, handling is phenomenal, it is a good road car for distance traveling... Think FWD BMW made in Japan.
What kind of 5er do you have? E39 or E60?
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Sports package is definitely the way to go as far as BMWs go. MY Mom has an '05 (225hp) 530iA without the sports package. My parents didn't go for it at the time because BMW made you buy active steering with the Sports Package. It is still a really nice driving road car. It has great steering and balance.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
by the way, i've been putting in 87 octane now for nearly 3 yrs, with no (apparent) noticeable performance difference.
maybe i'll buy a new civic si sedan to replace my prelude...? hmmm... any thoughts?
Maybe when gas comes down a little (ha ha), try a few tankfuls of 93 and see what happens. Maybe because your car has OBD-I computers it doesn't get affected by the lower octane :confuse:
The new Civic Si is cool. You get lots of features for your money. A great engine and chassis (I've read). I'm just not in love with it though. Drive it and let us know what you think. How come you're thinking of getting rid of the Prelude...troubles or just want something different?
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
He diagnosed the rattling noise as coming from a portion of the gasket beneath the valve cover that has rotted away. It is also leaking a tiny bit of oil. He said he could fix it, but also advised doing a tune-up (change spark plugs), changing the timing belt & water pump just as a preventative measure while the have the valve cover open. He also told me I should put headers (I declined).
So I'm going to get an estimate from him for all this work and probably give him the car for a day sometime next week.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Changing out the valve cover gaskets is not a big deal. If that was the only problem, doing the TB/WP as well is a huge expense that is not really necessary at this time. But since you're already having it done, might as well go ahead.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
I only have 42000 miles on it, so it is relatively young, but in reading your posts, it looks as if my clutch could go in the next 20k?
How much did that cost you?
Also, do you have factory brakes on yours or did you put on after market parts? I have to replace my front brakes and thought about looking around some. I don't race my car, but I do like to push it everynow and then. It is basically a commuter car to and from the airport on a weekly basis.
Regarding tires, you said you put winter tires on it? What kind did you decide on? How do they handle?
Keep your great posts coming! I'm very interested in hearing how your open heart surgery went! Good luck...
I have a 2000 Prelude Type SH - Crystal Metallic Blue. Absolutely love it. I have to get the front rotors and pads replaced. Does anyone recommend using non-factory parts for any reason? I don't race my car and have never had a problem with braking performance with the factory parts, but I thought I would ask anyways.
Thanks in advance!
If so, can you describe it? I'm not sure that I have actually ever gotten it to engage. I'm sure it's there, but I don't know how to tell. I guess one way would be to find someone with the base model and take both cars out and try to corner in the same fashion in order to feel the difference.
Also, when I first start driving my car, I hear a mechanical vibration (hum) that sounds like something is engaging or being balanced. It lasts maybe 1 second. It has done this since Day 1. Does anyone else hear that? Wondering what that is.
As far as the hum noise, that is completely normal. It is the ABS pump that comes on each time you start your car. It does that to keep it from sticking. I love my prelude, it's one of the best front drivers cars out there.
timothyaw is right about the hum being the ABS checking itself. Not to worry.
Regarding the clutch; just like people, every car and situation is different. I actually had my clutch replaced at 52,000 miles. Now before you freak out and sell your precious prelude (j/K), my car's situation is a bit unusual. My Prelude basically spent a little more than the first two years of its life in NYC. I lived in Manhattan (parked on the street) and commuted to my job in The Bronx. My ride to work was great as there aren't too many people on the road before 7:00 AM going out of the city (reverse traffic). Coming home the traffic was atrocious, bumper to bumper, on and off the clutch between 1st & 2nd gear (3rd once in a while)...Then once I got off the exit it was time to drive around looking for a parking space on the street, stopping at every light (they aren't in sync going across town, and finally it always took a little bit extra getting my car into the spot with its abnormally wide turning radius (and my anal retentivness when it comes to parallel parking).
I never noticed a problem or if the clutch was "slipping." One day driving I went to merge onto the highway. 1st to second was no problem, then the car wouldn't go into third unless I double clutched. I brought it to the dealer and he said the clutch was fried. He said the traffic killed it.
I didn't replace it with another stock Honda clutch. I actually replaced it with a Centerforce Clutch which is much stronger than the stock Honda clutch.
Replacing the clutch was NOT cheap ($1800 :confuse:)The ATTS unit has to be removed and re-installed in order for the clutch to be replaced. This results in a mandatory 5 hours of additional labor.
Funny you have to get your pads and rotors replaced, I'm still on my factory originals at 72,500 miles! I guess part of the reason I went through a clutch (and still have the original brakes) is because I downshift all the time :P. If I were going to replace my pads and rotors (which I will do at probably 100K miles just for piece of mind), I would upgrade them. You can get a set of Brembro stock replacement rotors and PBR/AXXIS brake pads (popular with the BMW guys) that will outperform replacement geniune Honda brake pads/rotors and fit just the same.
ATTS is infinitely variable. It is transparent. I'll be the first to admit that you might not know it is there for the most part. Supossedly it really helps at the track (I wouldn't know because I don't track my car). If you take a 10mph hairpin turn at speeds higher than posted and hit the gas at the apex of the turn, you can actually get the car to "pull itself" around the turn (or rotate the tail) and behave like almost like a RWD car. On a non-ATTS Prelude, the nose heavy FWD car would plow straight because the tires are overloaded.
How long have you owned your car?
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
So my car has fully recovered. As you've read in my posts from the past week, I had quite a bit of preventative maintenance done on my car while I had the valve cover gasket replaced. First time my car has had major mechanical work done on it (besides my Sirius Radio, iPod connector, & Apexi World Sport Exhaust) outside the dealership. Here's the laundry list of things I had done: Timing Belt & tensioner replaced, Balance belt replaced, New Water pump, new valve cover gasket, new iridium tipped spark plugs & spark plug wires, new distributor cap, new pcv valve, & new cam seals.
The guy who worked on my car was absolutely astonished at how mechanically clean my car is (especailly with over 72,000 miles). He said that usually he takes off valve cover gaskets and they are gunky and sludgy. He told me he could have taken the valve cover from my car and pretty much eat off of it. Synthetic oil every 4K will do that for you.
My car is noticably quieter and throttle response seems quicker. With 72,500 miles my Milano Red 2001 Prelude Type SH is still pretty much as tight as it was when new. I love the way it handles & love the scream of the car when the car hits VTEC when I'm on the highway. It still looks good and draws compliments after I wash it. People who don't know too much about cars ar shocked that my car is a 2001.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Have you replaced your stock tires yet?
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Both my children (4.5 and 3) are now in front facing car seats. We don't do it often, but it works if we need to. The kids tend to kick the back of the seats, so we take off their shoes. I'm pretty confident I'll be able to make it through the car seat phase intact.
Thanks for the snow tire suggestion. I have a brother-in-law who is a car-junkie and he does a lot of his own maintenance. I think I'll get him to help me with the swap.
I'm into my 7th year of ownership and no problems so far other than normal wear items, so I'm really impressed thus far. I have a couple rust spots on the bottom of the driver door due to chipped paint, that I need to address, but no other rust problems, like the Hondas of old.
Gentlemen, I think we have ourselves a winner for the long haul. Just too bad I don't have a 3 car garage!!!
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Honda's are known to keep that "tight" feeling for years and years. Some of the best cars on the planet. But some of these new honda's and their mission, we'll just have to see. I would like to get my hands someday on a 06 BMW M3! The last year before they do a FMC. I've hear on the bimmer boards that alot of the people aren't too keen on some of the pictures coming out on the change. But I'll take the 06 M3. For now it's all Prelude. I'll always keep this car, no matter what other cars I get. It's a keeper
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
I dig BMWs. They are such phenomenal driving cars. BMWs are the only cars that could replace my Prelude (imho) as far as having superior driving dynamics. Even the new 3 series is too soft for me. I can only hope for maybe a 2 series coupe with a Turbocharged 4 banger.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
But for guys like us, BMW is the only real other car company that really interest us. I've always thought of Honda as the little BMW. Honda has been known as having fun driving cars that are not expensive as BMW.
I agree most cars today are getting too big, WAAAY too much techky stuff, disappearing manual transmissions, it all disguest me. That's why I'm keeping my good ole cars for now, until somebody wakes up and realizes that there are some people out there that wants a performance vehicle that is not too heavy, only has a cd changer in the dash. Like we said the s2000 is just this. The simple pleasures inside but the greatest effort goes into the performance. Awww how I wish for the days.
BMW did a great job by keeping the weight pretty close between the new E90 3 series & the old E46 3 series. But that comes with a price. The E90 BMW is going to be that much more costly to fix with all that aluminum in the front.
FWIW, I like driving the E46 much better than the new E90. The E90 is a nice car, but too soft for my tastes.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
everything still on track for your little one? good luck and bring a camcorder!
to answer a question from sometime back:
i definitely don't want to sell my prelude but i don't know that it will be able to be used for a 22 mile each way highway / city commute for too much longer. the civic si sedan might be a fun but economical car that could allow the prelude to hang on as a third car for a couple more years. if i get to test drive one, i'll definitely post my impressions.
whatever happened to the h22 engine that was used in the prelude? did it "evolve" into the 2.0 liter engine used in the civic si? seems strange that such a good engine (one of ward's ten best engines for a bunch of years) would just dissipate into oblivion...
how much does the 97 - 01 prelude weigh? i'm still getting right at 30 mpg average. last tank was 30.4 actually....
atob
1993 brittany blue green metallic prelude vtec
i know exactly what you mean about taking the shoes off first! we've had to do that as well. there have been a handful of occasions that wife and our 5 and 2 yr olds have piled in the prelude and driven 30 minutes or so. fortunately, i'm usually driving so it's my wife whose knees have to eat the passenger airbag for the duration.
regarding the clutch, i too replaced mine early at about 60k miles or so. the clutch was actually fine, but the third gear had some premature teeth wear. while they had the tranny apart i opted to have the clutch replaced so i wouldn't have to do it later. this was in 1997!
enjoy the ride,
atob
I understand if you are thinking of parting ways with your Prelude. The Civic Si sedan would definitely be a viable alternative. LSD, sharp handling, Avante Garde styling... it would definitely be worth a test drive.
I know that the curb weight for my car (Type SH) is 3042lbs. The base model comes in at under 3K pounds.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD