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Comments
My 1990 Civic had levers on each rear side window that would prop and lock them open.
Do the new Civics have the same levers? When I logged onto the Honda website, and took a look at the inside of the vehicle from the "visuals" section, I did not notice those levers. Did I miss them, or do they still come equiped with levers to open the rear side windows?
Thanks!
What kind of Civic are you talking about? 2 door coupe or 3-door (htbk)??
'06 Civic LX coupe
'11 BMW 335i coupe xDrive
'13 Honda Accord sedan (wife's car)
carlady/host
My '97 hthbk doesn't have those levers. It would be a nice feature though. Don't know why the early Civics had them and not the new generation.
Probably because people got hurt with them in small accidents? Who knows? Maybe they 're saving money...
'06 Civic LX coupe
'11 BMW 335i coupe xDrive
'13 Honda Accord sedan (wife's car)
How great the Honda Civic
It runs forever
I'd be interested to hear from people out there who have put an absolutely incredible amount of miles on their Honda Civic hatchbacks, and what kinds of preventive maintenance (if any) folks have done to enable such excessive mileage. My cousin has almost 300,000 miles on his '89 DX, SAME ENGINE. It doesn't burn oil, and it passes the emissions inspection every year without a hitch. All he has done is change the oil every 3,000 to 4,000 miles. He uses regular, 5w30, NOT synthetics.
Anyone else?
whether or not there existed a cigarette lighter or
some other 12volt power supply - so I can plug my radar detector in. Does anyone know for sure whether the 1999 hatchbacks have cigarette lighters?
You guys were very helpful when I was buying it last year. I very much need your help again.
Thanks,
Vida
I have the same symptoms in my '97 Civic DX.
When putting it in reverse it grinds sometimes or a little but that 's normal in almost all Civics from what I 've read.
If I understood right, the car pulls when you stop on the brakes at highway speeds? Could be the surface of the road or the rotors are starting to get warped - although you should have noticed a vibration on your Civic. Unfortunately the dealer will tell you that this is a maintenance item and need to resurface your rotors unless you raise hell with them and convince them you 've been babying the car and rarely apply the brakes... Civic are notorious for warped rotors. I 'm getting mine replaced soon and resurfaced because I have 76,000 mi. on them and I think if they resurface them I will only have problems again in a few thousand miles.
Ok, as far as the iginition not turning fast enough, there was a "service bulletin" out for '96 and '97 models from Honda that warned dealers of a semi-defective Water Pump whose only symptom would be delayed engine start-up. Mine does exactly the same thing. Sometimes it takes 2 sec. to start the engine but it's been like this for a very long time - probably since I 've had 10K mi.
Have been neglecting it and I 'll probably have it replaced when I do the timing belt around 85-90K miles. I will however try and have it replaced for free due to the service bulletin.
Service Bulletins are not recalls and Honda is not obligated to have the owners notified. The dealer is supposed to correct the problem if you take the car in with those specific symptoms/problems but 99% of the time they don't do it! You have to ask for it. Honest and mechanically good dealers will recognize the symptom of a slow starting engine right away and diagnose it according to the service bulleting AND repair it for free. Don't know why they don't fix 'service bulletin' related problems because they get paid by Honda to do it. I guess it must be because they don't make much from Honda. They get a predetermined amount of money for the work. It could be true that they wait until the warranty is over and then charge you an arm and a leg to replace the water pump. They make more money that way! Something to think about... good luck and keep fighting them!
There is a place on the Internet that used to publish service bulletins but I haven't been there for over a year. If I can find it again I 'll let you know.
'06 Civic LX coupe
'11 BMW 335i coupe xDrive
'13 Honda Accord sedan (wife's car)
There is not even an ashtray in my '97 Htchbk.
Come to think of it, my Integra doesn't have one either. I actually don't mind because my car doesn't smell bad like my other cars used to, due to the ashtray being full all the time. I just throw my butts out the window now. One of these days I 'll get a ticket (or cancer)
'06 Civic LX coupe
'11 BMW 335i coupe xDrive
'13 Honda Accord sedan (wife's car)
Let me reiterate this to make sure that I understand:
I should go to the dealer and tell them that I have a delayed starter and that I know that 97 and 96 HOndas have defective water pumps that cause a slow start. I should ask them to replace the water pump?
As for the reverse gear, it grinds but also, often it does not "fall into place" in which case I have to repump the clutch and than it jumps smoothly. Is this what you are experiencing?
The brakes; actually it feels like when I had an old bicycle that had loose brakes and when I would go down the hill it would slightly pool. With the car, of course, the feeling is more subtle. So, what you suggest is to go in and insist that they resurface the rotors (and of course not charge me for it)? I have no problem arguing with them and I will tell them I am very gentle on the brakes and do not use them. I took the car to a random mechanic who told me that I have 60% of the brakes left. Should this be normal for 10800 miles? I am not a wild driver at all and really only use the car on the weekends to go out of town.
Thank very much. I would appreciate, of course, if you would forward the service bulletin site if you find it.
where is the 12 Volt accessory plug located? I looked in the catalog for the 99's and there is NO mention of it; I can't find it in the photo's either.
At least recycle the old oil; that's the best thing you can do.
carlady/host
'06 Civic LX coupe
'11 BMW 335i coupe xDrive
'13 Honda Accord sedan (wife's car)
I'd be curious to hear from any Civic owners out there with Snow Tire - Yes/No - opinions.
obviously the front speakers will go nicely into the doors.
where do the rear speakers go? the Crutchfield catalog says 'rear deck', but I don't see an open port anywhere back there.
'06 Civic LX coupe
'11 BMW 335i coupe xDrive
'13 Honda Accord sedan (wife's car)
Also, what does it mean if your brakes "slide" or "pool"? I've been in the business a long time and have never heard these terms. I doubt if resurfacing the rotors would solve anything.
And, if it takes two seconds of cranking before your car starts....So what? Do you expect it to have "instant on" like a television?
What am I missing?
Hatch CX.
obviously the front speakers will go nicely into
the doors.
where do the rear speakers go? the Crutchfield
catalog says 'rear deck', but I don't see an open
port anywhere back there.
Although, the DX comes with 4 speakers...so the DX must have some additional plasic back there to house rear speakers. The CX doesn't.
I had a 90 base model, and there was wiring back there for rear speakers but no place to put them. I guess you could put speaker boxes back there, but in this day and age they'd probably get lifted. Thanks.
carlady/host
Actually, it probably doesn't make much difference. Not like the old days!
thanks again!
The same with the stick shift. That 84 had such problems at starting with 90.000 miles and people advised me to sell it before the transmission went bad. I never waited long enough to see it gone. I sold the car at 105.000. As for the brakes, it just does not feel smooth when I brake at 75mph and up and I am wandering if perhaps the brakes are not wearing out properly.
Thank you for all your clarifications. I just want to stay on top of it because this HOnda has to work for me for at least 10 years without major expenses. I will go to the dealer and ask them to adjust the brakes. I have about 11000 miles on the car now.
As far as the slight grinding noise when putting it in reverse, it's normal. My car had that from day one! Sometimes it won't even engage the first time. You have to let the clutch up, try again and it always works good that way and without a noise. You 'll get used to it, and do it unconciously next time..
'06 Civic LX coupe
'11 BMW 335i coupe xDrive
'13 Honda Accord sedan (wife's car)
Production on the 2000 models is not far off, so if anyone out there in New England wants a Silver one, it's best to see the dealer in September to order one. I learned that the dealerships typically do not buy many of these hatchbacks - only 2 at a time. The one that I got had to be sent down from another dealer.
Good Luck all!
It came with 2 keys. They are different keys, buy both work for all locks and ignition. One is even a bit longer than the other. Any ideas? What's up with that. I asked the salesperson, and he said one was cut at a different dealership......I don't buy that one.
Why do I have 2 different keys that work the same?
it would have been nice to have the 5th gear, but i really didn't miss it. freeway was fine.
i sold the car with 150,000 miles on it.
i loved it.
most automatic transmissions only have 4 gears, and they do great on the highway.
I don't know about Honda, but VW (and Toyota) has 2 keys. One open every lock ( Master key) and other ( Service key) can't open trunk or glow box. This service key is convenient when you give your car for service man. He can start car, drive it but he can't open your trunk or glow box.
It's a 94, red, 50,000 miles, never been wrecked and a good reliable car. Any suggestions for a good price for it?
Thanks!
I can get the cheap black steel rims from aftermarket places, but they look like crap without hub caps, and I hate hub caps anyway.
Thanks
Truth is, my '87 Si Hatch with 242,000 miles is *still* more fun for me to drive! The power steering is great in the new vehicle and I'm sure the susupension is improved (wishbone was only available in Preludes I think when I bought mine), but...I gotta love my engine over the new one even after all these years.
No offense to those purchasing DX Hatches, I'm just giving another testimonial to Honda's build quality. I'm keeping mine through Q1 '00 and will have to increase my search (and down payment) for a peppier vechicle.
I'd consider the Si Coupe, but I hate to give up the Hatchback handiness and I can't say I dig the styling of the Coupe...oh yeah, and I want a light color this go around.
ya might wanna wait for the 2001's; word is that they are changing some things for the better.
on another note: i just bought the 99 CX with an automatic; it ain't as peppy as my '90 manual, but i did get the groovy power steering that comes standard with the automatic.
i'm saving on speeding tickets. hey, what's a good radar detector anyways?
I dunno for cars...I have always used big eyes, rear view, and a rubber neck!
For motorcycles, the champ seems to be Valentine...but I don't know if they are moto-specific.
Mook
CX? They are the kind that do not require hub
cabs; in fact - they use the good ole Honda logo
center caps. The rims have a unique design: small
circles stamped out, all around the entire
diameter. I am wondering where I might get them
(without having to go to the dealer and pay a
ridiculous price). I want to use a set for snow
tires.
I can get the cheap black steel rims from
aftermarket places, but they look like crap without
hub caps, and I hate hub caps anyway.
Thanks
I'm looking at a 1992 civic hb si with 120,000k. engine in good condition.
one owner/ all records/ reg service- timing belt changed @ 90,000k, new
tires, new muffler. Car drives well, very tight, clutch was good- small prob
getting into reverse.
Only major problems are cosmetic- small dent in right front fender/ paint
chips, etc. no rust. Owner asking $ 4800.00 but I get the feeling he would
settle for around $ 3,600.00 Is this a reasonable price? Cosmetics are not a
major issue for- looking more for reliability. And how many more miles do
you think I could get out of this car?
thanks
randy