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Comments
When I started having A/C trouble with my '98 GS-R, I needed to have the condensor and radiator replaced. Turns out that all the highway driving I do had caused the radiator/condensor fins to become bent (small stones and other debris) and even clogged (tar, dust & road scum). Long story short -- $1200.00 later, everything was back up to snuff.
Yes, it is a poor design, and the parts are expensive. Depending on your insurance deductible, you could make a claim on the radiator. With a $500 deductible, I did, and got most of the repair costs back.
My suggestion is to get some aluminum screen from a home supply store and affix it with zip-ties in front of the radiator, behind the bodywork. It'll give you better protection from small stones and keep the other gunk out of there, too. I did this on my Integra (post-repair) and have done the same for my Prelude. Works great, and cost me $11.
Thanks for the tip about the screen, himiler. Will do.
What about oil changes? My salesman insisted it only needed to be changed every 7000 miles and the service department is saying 3000. I driven an average of 1700 miles per month and I do about 80% highway (in N. NJ so there is traffic about 50% of the time) 20% city.
You'll be well within safe limits for your car if you do changes every 4-5K.
It works great. I bought some gutter guard at Lowes for $2.00(Home Depot will have it also)
Used a piece of cardboard first to get the size right, and cut it with some snips/cutters. Make sure you wear some gloves.
I then slipped it in from one side, behind the license plate holder and then used one small zip tie to hold it to the vertical brace on each side of the license plate holder. A trick to getting the zip tie in from the front is pre-bend it so it maintains a U-shape before feeding it in from the front.
(or you can take your whole bumper off, but the whole install from the front of the car took me about 20 minutes...not including cutting the gutter guard)
Recently got my RSX base, with leather-wrapped steering wheel. What's the better way to clean/preserve this leather thingy? There must be some sort of wax, but I'd need so little amount for wheel only!
Thanks in advance - Vic
And in terms of the gear lever movement, I have noticed on other sticks I have driven that same thing happening, especially my sister's 97 civic. Again, it's a matter of wearing stuff in I think. good luck....
I've also noticed gear lever movement in other cars, but once again, mine didn't do it before I had my transmission 'fixed', so its kind of troublesome. I'm going to give it a week and see how I feel then.
Thanks for the input.
good luck!
You mean besides the CD changer that Acura already makes for the RSX?
I have a '99 Jetta GLX vr6 w/34k, and I'm getting a little fed up with its problems.
I'm interested in the RSX-S, Golf TDI, and WRX. Any suggestions? I've read some of your problems, and that all seems manageable compared to my Jetta.
What do you think? I'd appreciate it.
JBkreegs
Revka
Host of Hatchbacks & Wagons
I live in Minneapolis, and I've noticed that most of you all live in even more heavily populated areas. There must be a honda/acura specialist shop in your area you can take your car to. I found one here in the Twin Cities called OHV Motors. It is run by a bunch of (now former) Honda racing mechanics, and they ONLY do Hondas and Acuras. If you live in this area you shouldn't take your car to anyone else. I just discovered them and they are awesome. I'm not trying to advertise for them or anything, I just want to help those of you who seem to be getting run arounds from your dealers. These guys tell it straight up, and have many vehicles they have kept in good running order for well over 200,000 miles. Just go to OHVMotors.com to see their record for yourself.
so it is in their best interest to keep a good service department. servicing one car can make more profit than selling a car.
you'll have to rethink your logic.
I'm sure the fun factor of the TSX must be just as high b/c I've heard its tranny is driver friendly.
Not fair that the Canadiens get all of the good stuff. That's why I opted for the cloth interior with mine....no heated setas to back me up in the wintertime.
Question of the day:
If an RSX sold in Canada has heated seats and mirrors, what does an RSX sold in Alaska have? US sold RSX's do not have the heated seats and mirrors...and yet, Alaska certainly should qualify for cold temps.
Perhaps there are no Acura dealers in Alaska?
Anybody have the answer for this one?
Anyways after using the wife's car w/heated seats, I'm going to a GTI or WRX w/heated seats.
I'll miss acurra's qualiity, but I want some comfort when I'm driving.
I'll miss acurra's qualiity, but I want some comfort when I'm driving.
oh, c'mon....it can't be THAT bad. How long does it really take to warm the car up so the heater is blasting hot air?
And even in Maine, how many days a year do you really need to keep your butt warm?...all for the sake of losing the Acura quality?
On cold mornings in NH I start the car up 5 minutes early...warms up the interior and melts the ice on the windshield.
I care more about heated mirrors than heated seats. I wonder if there's a way to get heated mirror functionality in my 2002 RSX-S. : \
:-O
That's not fair!!
I care more about heated mirrors than heated seats. I wonder if there's a way to get heated mirror functionality in my 2002 RSX-S.
I feel the same way.
If what you say is true than it shouldn't be too hard for the dealer to switch over to the heated mirrors. The hurdle has been adding the heated mirror controls into the wire bundle coming from the door and routing it throuhg the dash. Very time consuming and expensive. Now that it comes standard, I would think it would be as easy (ok not too easy) as swapping cable bundles and swapping the mirror assemblies.
The heated seats have been done already with very little work. (Not me but I heard it is fairly simple)
Perhaps waiting awhile to let them get more standardized with it and also wait for some good documentation on how to do it and it may be plausible to do it yourself once purchasing the harness, mirrors, relay, and switch.
I was wondering,is there anyone that can refer me to a place where I could find a set of the front fenders for the RSX? I don't care if it's used or not, but I'm looking for a set of factory fenders.
Thanks!
wwlccp, just do a search for that part # or description on google and also add "Acura RSX" in the search box.
Reporting on my experinces with RSX base bought new back in July'03. It's got 16K mile on it by now.
Love car, but can't help to list problems, real or preceived:
1. Gas mileage hit 33 miles/gallon once in late Aug'03, fell to 31 mpg later, and to 29 mpg in winter time (downstate NY). Dealer makes vague references to gas quality. Yeah, right!
2. Just a couple of days ago, in cold morning, pulled driver's side window down at toll booth. Sure it refused to roll back up. Pulled to the shoulder, helped it up with my fingers, it rolled up reluctantly, and door plastic panel was "wavering", suggesting window guide is out of alignment. Brought car to the dealer same day, they put some grease into guide, seems working for now.
3. This car workmanship is worse than that of my previous car, Mazda Protege. These little things, uneven plastic panels, screaching rear window wiper, floor carpet gets loose in corners... A pity!
that being said if my only complaint is fit and finish (and to date, at 4K miles it is) then i ain't complaining.
Gas mileage hit 33 miles/gallon once in late Aug'03, fell to 31 mpg later, and to 29 mpg in winter time (downstate NY). Dealer makes vague references to gas quality. Yeah, right!
Your drop in mileage could be that you are enjoying your car more (if you know what I mean) But the story about winter gas could also be true. Additives are sometimes added to the gas through the winter months to keep it from freezing. Have you had the regular dealer maintenance? If not, the air filter could be dirty. I've got the K&N filter in mine.
Just a couple of days ago, in cold morning, pulled driver's side window down at toll booth. Sure it refused to roll back up. Pulled to the shoulder, helped it up with my fingers, it rolled up reluctantly, and door plastic panel was "wavering", suggesting window guide is out of alignment. Brought car to the dealer same day, they put some grease into guide, seems working for now.
I've had mine squeal before (only the drivers side) when going down. This would only happen the first time I did it....and only on very cold mornings (around 15 deg F)
Besides that, 46,000 miles and still happy with it.
This car workmanship is worse than that of my previous car, Mazda Protege. These little things, uneven plastic panels, screaching rear window wiper, floor carpet gets loose in corners... A pity!
Sorry to hear about that. I got one of the first models in the fall of 2001...they had to have it brought in from over 500 miles away. I would have thought that mine would be more troublesome, but maybe they were extra meticulous putting the earlier ones together....don't know.
are you saying you tried to shift from 5th to 4th and ended up in reverse?? are you pistol gripping the shifter?
"FEEL" the odor? My, aren't we talented?
:-)
I'm assuming you mean smell the odor. Is this after getting out of the car and smelling near the right rear tire area?
What'd that be?
tell your "friend" they are done ever sitting in the driver seat and they should pay for every bit that Acura doesn't cover.
re: the lock out, i don't think the synchros wd let you put it into reverse from 5th, but to do so wd basically mean you might as well get an automatic. (when i say you i mean the "universal you").
What'd that be?
You got me there. Maybe someone else knows what it could be.
If it was all weather, I might wonder if you're confusing the smell with the catalytic converter smell, but you only smell it during wet weather.
Are you driving the car hard (high rpms) right before you smell it?
Have you run over any rubber ducky's recently?
(perhaps it got lodged up in your wheel well area)
:-)
I do, however, have the notchy 3rd gear problem...even pops out occasionally (rare, but annoying) on the shift. I plan to have it addressed when I take it in for my (overdue) 15k service. I note that there are several TSBs on this.
I have no idea about the smell thing...perhaps others have a guess.
I suspected cat converter, but it doesn't seem to be the case.
To answer your question, no, I didn't drive car hard before stopping and getting out and smelling this burned rubber thingy. Latest hypotesis is it's rubber bushing next to the muffler. Possibly, Acura used some kind of grease on this bushing, and hot water reacts with the grease with the smell as a byproduct. How 'bout that? I plan ask dealer this question at next service visit, but I don't expect much...