caffeinatedrealtor

I bought a 97 Integra from my daughter. It's a 4-sp automatic, LS model with approximately 148,000 miles. Since I bought it - the entire car has been troublesome.

First, it started overheating. The throttle body was replaced. New thermostate was also installed.

Oil Leak from the oil pan.
Transmission sluggish in passing gear (as in entering the merge area of an interstate, the tranny will bog down, then suddenly "kick in")

Took car to dealership for several repairs including:
1. Oil pan gasket to be replaced (for oil leak)
2. Head re-milled and placed back on vehicle.
3. Valves adjusted (they sounded like a washing machine)
4. Transmission shifting problems - they changed the fluid and put some type of additive in the tranny to "smooth" the shifting
5. Replaced AC belt
6. Changed the oil (although we had the oil changed not more than 200 miles before. They claim they had to change oil due to the oil pan gasket repair.

When I returned to dealership to get car, I asked how many head bolts they bought new. They told me TWO. I was told by a mechanic at a Honda dealership that the head bolts are known as "spring bolts" and they are one time use only. Is this true?

We had a second opinon by a reputable company in my home town...

The following was reported:
Oil pan gasket over torqued
Gasket slipped
No cover on bell housing
Radiator leaking
Passenger inner tie rod bad
Radiator hoses bad
Needs shocks and struts
Dented floor board on passenger side (from improper jacking)
Caps leaking
Rear wiper blade bad
Antennae motor shot
Driver rear tire bad
2 motor mounts bad
Transmission mount bad

I'm asking for some solid answers (and a lot of them, I know). I'm sick of this dealership giving me the runaround. They kept the car for TWO WEEKS, and all they did was change oil pan gasket, transmission fluid, placed tran additive inside, adjusted valves (they still tap), replaced the head (but didn't buy all new bolts)

Also, would the dealership need any RTV sealant for any of the above repairs? I'm beginning to think this fellow is taking me for a ride (no pun intended).

HELP!

mr.beeks

so what exactly is your question
the only one I found was sealant question.
list your questions please so we could help you better.

caffeinatedrealtor

I'll provide clarity:

1. What would cause the transmission to be sluggish in the passing gear. If you "manually shift" it works just fine, but entering the Interstate in the merging lane, it will bog down then "kick in". What causes that?

2. Are the head bolts a "one time use" bolt?

3. If valves were "adjusted" would they still tap? Dealership is trying to tell me that is "common in Acuras"

4. All hoses are "spongy" - is that an indicator of something serious going on?

5. Do you use RTV sealant on an oil pan gasket replacement?

Hope this is helpful enough to garner a response. Thank you in advance.

kronikSLOW

not to do any bashing but. why whould you buy a car with problems like that. second it is true you have to drain the oil in order to change the oil pan gasket. unless you intend to drink it and die. if you took it to the dealership as claimed, they probably definetly have a lift. so the dent was from previous owners. head bolts are not spring type disposable they are exactly that bolts. unless warped cracked or stripped you will re use them. since you had your head milled you should have gotten it re-timed. no where on that list did i see timing belt, water pump, tensioner, or crank seal. so you may want to look into those. not to be bashing but EVERY experience i have ever had with an acura dealership has been excellent, not the price but the service. i suggest you buy the factory manual or a haynes manual at least.

kronikSLOW

well i dont know much about automatic trannys but the auto integra tranny sucks you have to drive with the pedal to the metal everywhere. they could still tap if your valve guides are bad, or hella carbon on them. all hoses spongey well they are rubber you know. are you feeling them when car is at operating temp or cold. as for the rtv its a pesonal preference some people do some dont.

caffeinatedrealtor

The vehicle wasn't purchased from an Acura dealership, another car dealership. Regarding head bolts, then Acura mechanic mislead me when I telephoned them. Regarding "buying a car like that" - the car had a clean Carfax - CLEAN, so I thought it was a safer bet. We bought the car in January, the shop had it two weeks and said "that wasn't enough time to work on it." The used car dealership I purchased it from doesn't have an orthodox garage (its like a shed - trust me, I saw it). But thank you regardless for your advice, I will certainly look into things.