Question on Hondas

Yeah. Make sure some wannabe Ricer didn't get his hands on it and mook it up trying to make a Drifter out of it. Too many of them out there.

danl wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:

Your year range covers two generations.

For the '98-'99, there's the famous ignition-switch Safety Recall. If that's been performed, there will be a punch-mark above the 8th character of the VIN in the engine compartment. There'a another recall or TSB on chafed wiring near the firewall, but I can't remember exactly which years have that.

For both generations there's a TSB out for engine rear-main oil seal leaks.

I'm pretty sure there's an automatic transmission TSB out as well.

I'm sure there are a lot more, but I don't have time to search my extensive collection of files for all of them.

If you /really/ want to know the /complete/ answers, go to Honda's own Techinfo site, here:

. Pay ten bucks for three days of all-you-can-download. All TSBs and recalls are there, specific to the year and models you choose. This is the same info the dealer has.

not too many with the skillz to be fwd civic drifterz dude.

first thing this guy needs to do is figure out which of the two generations he's talking about - if he wants one of the 2000 or earlier generations with its wishbone suspension and excellent handling, or the

2001 with its buick handling. with the 2000 or earlier, check for the rear suspension bushings. other probs with other generations, but that's the biggest one i know for 96-00.

Thanks for the info.

Again, thanks for the info. Still looking in the Central FL area. Have now noticed motor replacements, and after market accessories more. Lookin closely for nuts and bolts that have been worked on and noticed quite a few that owners have no explanation for. Pass on those.

Thanks Dan

don't be too paranoid or unrealistic. there's nothing wrong with a competently wrenched car. or if the price is right, you can take the risk anyway.

the reality is, this is a breed of car that's got an enthusiastic tuner following, and now that the good civics are all 11-23 years old - typically well past the first original owner - your chances of finding one that's been untouched or if so, one that's been competently maintained, are slim to zero. just find one whose body is straight, whose interior condition is something you can handle, and pay a price that reflects fixing the rest. if this doesn't work for you, just buy a new one. or get a buick.

Central FL has one great big advantage we don't have in Mass...NO RUST! I would gladly take a body from the south and stuff a "new" motor in it, because then I would OIL the body and get another 10-15 years out of it! ;)