feck_on_a_stick Posted October 15, 2013 Author Share Posted October 15, 2013 I've owned this a few weeks now but been too busy with work to get a proper look at the car. Hopefully I'll get more done over the next few weeks. All I've been able to do lately was change the bulb behind the clock for one which now works. Pain in the backside but worth it. The previous owner removed whatever head unit he'd had in the car so I went looking a nice replacement and bought this wee Pioneer. Sounds fantastic for the money. Also has Bluetooth for calls and streaming music from my phone. I need to change the lighting to more closely match the amber interior lighting, but can't figure out how to do it. I'll have to get the manual out ffs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feck_on_a_stick Posted October 15, 2013 Author Share Posted October 15, 2013 Sunday was the first day I had a few hours free, so went out and gave it a good wash. I cleaned out all the usual door, boot and bonnet shuts that folks neglect over the years, Iron-X'd it and clayed it. I also quickly ran the DA over it but didn't have enough time to do it right. I wouldn't mind getting the stone chips and a few scrapes properly sorted at some point. I didn't really have time to stop and take lots of pics so just have a before and after, and even then it was almost dark, so pics are a bit wick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roylewaa Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 Looks showroom fresh I'm guessing by your first post that towbar is coming off? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feck_on_a_stick Posted October 15, 2013 Author Share Posted October 15, 2013 Thanks It's not as fresh as I'd like but I'll get back to the paint when I've a bit more time. I'd love the tow bar off, but need to find a replacement rear lip first as there's a hole in this one for the tow bar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snakey135 Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 Very nice mate... Paint comes up a good'n too!!Shame about the lip where towbar is tho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIKH25 Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 That looks so much better bud, there's a lot of sh1te on that claybar though and you can see how dull the paint looked in the before photo. It takes time though, mine was quite dull and lacklustre when I got it, so much better now but do need to get rid of some of the worse scratches and stone chips though. I had the same problem as you with the tow bar also but you might be surprised the cut in the lip is not that noticeable until you get right up close. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feck_on_a_stick Posted October 16, 2013 Author Share Posted October 16, 2013 Thanks folks Well I brought it down to a mate last night who has a lift so I can have a look underneath. First thing though we checked the ignition timing and it was waaaaay off, so after a quick bit of tinkering we're back on track and there is a biiiig difference in how it's going now. Once it got up on the lift though we discovered a few issues that I'll need to get sorted. I knew it was dripping something from the engine but now discovered that it's oil and seems to be seeping out of the sump. Fingers crossed a sump gasket will sort it out but its pretty messy underneath and oil has been flung backwards and forwards all over the bottom of the engine bay It's going to need new brake discs and pads all round. Fuel and brake lines look pretty rusty. Hoping a clean will sort them out, but I'm tempted to replace them all to make sure its properly sorted. I've no idea how it got through its last MOT to be honest as I'd be pretty confident it would fail here. The thermostat is also staying open and will need replaced. I haven't even got round to sorting out the ABS and SRS lights lol To be fair I know it's a cheap little 14 year old Civic but I'm happy to spend a few quid getting things done right on it. I don't have the time to sort everything myself so I think this time I'm just gonna leave it in somewhere. I do like the car even though all my VAG-driving mates are quoting F&F lines all the frigging time I'm now called Pizza Boy ffs, but to be honest I haven't even turned a wheel in the S3 since I brought this home lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krzys Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 A common issue is the sump bolts tend to loosen over time so worth torquing them up, but if you're replacing the gasket then this will go without saying! Looks pretty clean, that exhaust does look a bit out of place as far as sublte/stealthy looks go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feck_on_a_stick Posted October 16, 2013 Author Share Posted October 16, 2013 lol the exhaust def doesn't go with my usual stealthy outlook. It attracts a stupid amount of tits looking a race. Thanks Krzys. Good to know its more of a common thing and hopefully a quick, cheap and easy fix 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feck_on_a_stick Posted November 20, 2013 Author Share Posted November 20, 2013 So I left the car in with a local Jap specialist at the start of the month to give the car a once over, sort out the dash lights, replace the thermostat and an oil leak, thinking it would only be there a day or two and all would be good with the world. Erm.....nope. The car is still there The SRS light was reset and hopefully stays off. The ABS light was on as both passenger side ABS sensors were dead. Two used replacements sourced from 10000rpm, fitted and now working Power steering fluid bought as I'd noticed the reservoir was looking a little low. The existing sump turned out to be rotten and a replacement needed to be found. £200 from Honda and £50 for a sump gasket!! Feck off! lol So I sourced a used sump, albeit at almost £100 delivered and an eBay sump gasket. To be fair the replacement sump is in excellent condition Thermostat bought and now fitted. I knew the brakes could do with getting sorted and this was on my radar to do over the next 12 months, but after reading so many people getting ABS sensor problems replacing brakes on their own cars I decided to get the discs and pads done now. That brought me up to last Friday evening when I got a call from the mechanic saying that everything was fitted He then said he took it out for a test drive and when he brought it back he discovered another leak; this time from the engine but he couldn't figure out exactly where from. To be safe he suggested replacing: - The crankshaft oil seal- Camshaft oil seal- Rocker cover gasket- Timing belt I'd asked about the timing belt when I bought the car and the previous owner said he couldn't say if it was ever replaced, so like the brakes this was another thing I was going to get round to eventually, although it was always going to be sooner rather than later. I just didn't think it would be now lolol :cry: It took a bit of faffing around to find the replacement oil seals but these are now on order along with the rest of the list, and a new water pump seeing as the belt is being done. That brings me to now where I've not been able to drive the car in almost 3 weeks and I've just under £500 of invoices racked up, before labour. I've had the time to properly learn my lesson that buying a car with low miles really doesn't mean a thing when the car hasn't been properly maintained lol Also even though I've owned other Hondas I can't believe how expensive parts are for this car compared to VAG stuff. I'd understand if the engine parts were all built in Japan, but not if built here in the UK. A new sump for my S3 for example is £32 lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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