back to Hondatech / 1 year ownership anniversary!
11-23-2016, 07:56 AM
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back to Hondatech / 1 year ownership anniversary!
Hey guys!
My name is Shaggy, and im back to Hondatech!
My old account cannot be logged into because of the Google registration, so I'm starting over!
I also wanted to give you guys a story about how I bought my first dream car one year ago!
ONE YEAR AGO, TODAY:
I bought my first car!
The same very car ive sought to find since I was 12 years old, when I received a model of this car, for my birthday. It was technically an EK9 model in green, but a 99 Ej6 works too
It's been a tiresome, aggravating year with my car but its taught me more than most people will ever know about mechanics (not on HT though), and I didn't know how to change a tire when I bought it.
To my friends, family and to the communities worldwide who've shared their knowledge, and got their own hands greasy in my own bay, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you've done.
With this post, comes with a ton of photos and videos on the year of progress there's been.
__________________________
Obviously it all started with the model car, and racecar games, like NFS and forza
STORY TIME:
November 21th, 2015 I call up my pal Austin and ask if he's willing to help me buy my first car in Virginia- im in md. asked if he could help me check it out and work a haggle.
We get to an advance auto parking lot in some town, and there she sits in her glory- my poorly maintained ride that I was about to purchase.
After a diagnosis of the problems, we settle and sign the title over for an exchange of 1500 cash. Not bad for a stock hatchie!
After I drive the previous owner home, I pay for insurance over the telly, and drive straight to a tag and title, about 35 minutes away. 300 more dollars later, I get my new plates, and take her home. I find out the car has no ABS brakes, because I had to slam it for a red light and landed halfway into the intersection. Scary stuff.
Town driving foe a few hours, leads me to find out there's coolant pouring all over the place, so new hoses happen, and the problem still remains.
Within the next few days, I take the car out onto the highway, and break down and lose all power on the i70 ramp. Awesome.
Grab a tow back to the house, and come to find out its got a dead battery and I can't get the car to start.
Nowhere to look, with no car experience, I go to YouTube and learn all kinds of new lingo. I go to check the distributor, pull it apart, and find a snapped in half ignition coil... Literally snapped in half. Replaced the battery and coil, plugs, wires and do an oilchange and she kicks right up.
Oddly enough, the car died at 169999 miles btw
Still, with my car leaking fluid, I fill her up and beat her around town, to find a new problem.. The damn Check engine light goes on for a P0420 code.. Bad catalytic converter, after some technical troubleshooting.
Replacement parts, and a new diagnostic tool (the BAFX -LIFESAVER $20-) later, I buy new exhaust headers / catalytic converter and replace it the DAY OF my emissions and safety inspection.. Sweet it's taken care of, but I'm still leaking mad fluid!
My DAD and I go to diagnose the issue head on, by replacing the thermostat, fan switch and another hose or two. To prevail, no change-
my uncle Tom and I, on a cold frigid night, replace a coolant temp sensor and he diagnoses that my radiator is cracked at the top... Awesome.
A new Radiator put in, with my pops assistance, solves the leak issue, and the fan starts working again (cracked radiators can't build pressure and won't activate because of leaking air. Tell your friends. Hondatech didn't help with that)
In the time, I had decided to give the transmission some new blood, loaded her up with some automatic transmission seafoam and found that the transmission was NEVER once serviced. The drain bolt required nearly 300 pounds of torque, which was me actually jumping/stomping on an extended breaker bar to pop it loose. The transmission fluid ran out in pitch black, fondue consistency and smelled burnt to ****. I replaced the fluid with the new AT fluid which was synthetic DW1 which replaced traditional OEM fluid in the early 2000's
I ran the car for 5 mins, heard some sloshing and within 10 seconds of driving, the acceleration jumped and performed 20x better than before.
In those last 5000 miles, ive replaced the fluid 2 more times to actually rid the old fluid completely and the transmission takes so much of a beating, but holds strong through it all.
Despite my car still heating past comfort levels, I head to a junkyard to find a scrapped civic and pull it's instrument cluster and use its tachometer and new Fuel gauge. Fits like a glove, and looks pretty, too. I got to even keep my original milage.
Keeping my overheating issues in hindsight, a rattle starts happening in the car and I know things start going bad. I decide to take a mid day trip to the heart of DC on a sweltering day to buy refinished wheels with brand new tires. Got them for one hell of a steal and overheated in DC at least 3 times.
After some speculation and testing, back home, ive (and others) have agreed that my car had a blown headgasket. I gather all of the new parts (belt, pump, gasket, tensioner) and start tackling the massive driveway project to pull the head and replace some stuff by myself (keep in mind, I don't know **** about cars)
Everything was going A-okay, until a SINGLE bolt on the intake manifold halted all progress for precisely 31 days. It was the center bolt, ans was stripped to a circle
Multiple mechanics flake on the assistance and I end up getting Austin back over with his friend Aziz And the engine head is pulled. In the process, something blew a coolant sensor and I was jerryrigging a fan switch for a few weeks, knowing the hazard that electrocution is possible. Literally juast stuck a wire in the ground and 12v so the fan would stay on. Thankfully that worked, but the switch was replaced and there she goes again.
New Headgasket, new timing, and the car is working wonders again! Turns out, the timing was off on the car by about 10 degrees and was rattling. Went away immediately!
Then comes the next project.
Replacing the rusted and broken suspension, and blown shock absorbers. Two shocks were blown, and one spring was rusted and broken through.
I happen to find a great deal on Koni shocks and Eibach pro racing springs in a manufacturer sale. Couldn't help it, and spent the money.
End up going to my pal Jon who used to be a Honda/Accra specialist.
By his amazing graciousness, time and good friendsmanship, we had replaced the suspension with a stomach full of bagels, beer and good music ("Lord knows I could go for some tacobell") in about 6 hours or so. I feel confident enough to do them myself at this time.
Over the past month or so, I've replaced the fuel filter which had hardly any flow whatsoever, and went to full synthetic performance oil. I've found my performance was going down severely, and found that my gas milage was getting less than 100 miles a tank, so I pulled the plugs, and found oil, halfway up my sparkplugs in each cylinder. Turns out my O rings were split in half on all 4 cylinders! Bought a new valve cover from a junk yard.
Soaked out the oil, and did a valve adjustment with minut knowledge on how to do so.
Turned the car on, genuinely thought I blew up my engine because it was clanking VERY loudly and found out the car needs to be dead cold to perform the adjustment. Knocked it out again, in 25 minutes the next morning and holy mother of God, it felt like a brand new car.
I'm now getting over 300 miles a tank, while launching from stops, and driving 90-100+ down the highway.
With that being said, this is basically the first year of having my car in a nutshell.
Even though there has been constant hassle (and I still need new tierods), all of the knowledge, and breakdowns have gave me a dream to make this car my project car. I won't finish building this car, and boy oh boy, I can't WAIT for these tax Returns to build an engine that's pretty much never been done.
I have a crippled wrist, so I'm planning a B20b block, b16 head w/ type r cams and a GSR automatic.
To all of my friends, and family again, thank you so much for the patience and information on all of this. It has not gone to waste by any stretch of imagination.
Enjoy the story, photos and videos- I'll be sure to keep everyone updated through the lifetime of the car
-Shaggy / Hatch Man
My name is Shaggy, and im back to Hondatech!
My old account cannot be logged into because of the Google registration, so I'm starting over!
I also wanted to give you guys a story about how I bought my first dream car one year ago!
ONE YEAR AGO, TODAY:
I bought my first car!
The same very car ive sought to find since I was 12 years old, when I received a model of this car, for my birthday. It was technically an EK9 model in green, but a 99 Ej6 works too
It's been a tiresome, aggravating year with my car but its taught me more than most people will ever know about mechanics (not on HT though), and I didn't know how to change a tire when I bought it.
To my friends, family and to the communities worldwide who've shared their knowledge, and got their own hands greasy in my own bay, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you've done.
With this post, comes with a ton of photos and videos on the year of progress there's been.
__________________________
Obviously it all started with the model car, and racecar games, like NFS and forza
STORY TIME:
November 21th, 2015 I call up my pal Austin and ask if he's willing to help me buy my first car in Virginia- im in md. asked if he could help me check it out and work a haggle.
We get to an advance auto parking lot in some town, and there she sits in her glory- my poorly maintained ride that I was about to purchase.
After a diagnosis of the problems, we settle and sign the title over for an exchange of 1500 cash. Not bad for a stock hatchie!
After I drive the previous owner home, I pay for insurance over the telly, and drive straight to a tag and title, about 35 minutes away. 300 more dollars later, I get my new plates, and take her home. I find out the car has no ABS brakes, because I had to slam it for a red light and landed halfway into the intersection. Scary stuff.
Town driving foe a few hours, leads me to find out there's coolant pouring all over the place, so new hoses happen, and the problem still remains.
Within the next few days, I take the car out onto the highway, and break down and lose all power on the i70 ramp. Awesome.
Grab a tow back to the house, and come to find out its got a dead battery and I can't get the car to start.
Nowhere to look, with no car experience, I go to YouTube and learn all kinds of new lingo. I go to check the distributor, pull it apart, and find a snapped in half ignition coil... Literally snapped in half. Replaced the battery and coil, plugs, wires and do an oilchange and she kicks right up.
Oddly enough, the car died at 169999 miles btw
Still, with my car leaking fluid, I fill her up and beat her around town, to find a new problem.. The damn Check engine light goes on for a P0420 code.. Bad catalytic converter, after some technical troubleshooting.
Replacement parts, and a new diagnostic tool (the BAFX -LIFESAVER $20-) later, I buy new exhaust headers / catalytic converter and replace it the DAY OF my emissions and safety inspection.. Sweet it's taken care of, but I'm still leaking mad fluid!
My DAD and I go to diagnose the issue head on, by replacing the thermostat, fan switch and another hose or two. To prevail, no change-
my uncle Tom and I, on a cold frigid night, replace a coolant temp sensor and he diagnoses that my radiator is cracked at the top... Awesome.
A new Radiator put in, with my pops assistance, solves the leak issue, and the fan starts working again (cracked radiators can't build pressure and won't activate because of leaking air. Tell your friends. Hondatech didn't help with that)
In the time, I had decided to give the transmission some new blood, loaded her up with some automatic transmission seafoam and found that the transmission was NEVER once serviced. The drain bolt required nearly 300 pounds of torque, which was me actually jumping/stomping on an extended breaker bar to pop it loose. The transmission fluid ran out in pitch black, fondue consistency and smelled burnt to ****. I replaced the fluid with the new AT fluid which was synthetic DW1 which replaced traditional OEM fluid in the early 2000's
I ran the car for 5 mins, heard some sloshing and within 10 seconds of driving, the acceleration jumped and performed 20x better than before.
In those last 5000 miles, ive replaced the fluid 2 more times to actually rid the old fluid completely and the transmission takes so much of a beating, but holds strong through it all.
Despite my car still heating past comfort levels, I head to a junkyard to find a scrapped civic and pull it's instrument cluster and use its tachometer and new Fuel gauge. Fits like a glove, and looks pretty, too. I got to even keep my original milage.
Keeping my overheating issues in hindsight, a rattle starts happening in the car and I know things start going bad. I decide to take a mid day trip to the heart of DC on a sweltering day to buy refinished wheels with brand new tires. Got them for one hell of a steal and overheated in DC at least 3 times.
After some speculation and testing, back home, ive (and others) have agreed that my car had a blown headgasket. I gather all of the new parts (belt, pump, gasket, tensioner) and start tackling the massive driveway project to pull the head and replace some stuff by myself (keep in mind, I don't know **** about cars)
Everything was going A-okay, until a SINGLE bolt on the intake manifold halted all progress for precisely 31 days. It was the center bolt, ans was stripped to a circle
Multiple mechanics flake on the assistance and I end up getting Austin back over with his friend Aziz And the engine head is pulled. In the process, something blew a coolant sensor and I was jerryrigging a fan switch for a few weeks, knowing the hazard that electrocution is possible. Literally juast stuck a wire in the ground and 12v so the fan would stay on. Thankfully that worked, but the switch was replaced and there she goes again.
New Headgasket, new timing, and the car is working wonders again! Turns out, the timing was off on the car by about 10 degrees and was rattling. Went away immediately!
Then comes the next project.
Replacing the rusted and broken suspension, and blown shock absorbers. Two shocks were blown, and one spring was rusted and broken through.
I happen to find a great deal on Koni shocks and Eibach pro racing springs in a manufacturer sale. Couldn't help it, and spent the money.
End up going to my pal Jon who used to be a Honda/Accra specialist.
By his amazing graciousness, time and good friendsmanship, we had replaced the suspension with a stomach full of bagels, beer and good music ("Lord knows I could go for some tacobell") in about 6 hours or so. I feel confident enough to do them myself at this time.
Over the past month or so, I've replaced the fuel filter which had hardly any flow whatsoever, and went to full synthetic performance oil. I've found my performance was going down severely, and found that my gas milage was getting less than 100 miles a tank, so I pulled the plugs, and found oil, halfway up my sparkplugs in each cylinder. Turns out my O rings were split in half on all 4 cylinders! Bought a new valve cover from a junk yard.
Soaked out the oil, and did a valve adjustment with minut knowledge on how to do so.
Turned the car on, genuinely thought I blew up my engine because it was clanking VERY loudly and found out the car needs to be dead cold to perform the adjustment. Knocked it out again, in 25 minutes the next morning and holy mother of God, it felt like a brand new car.
I'm now getting over 300 miles a tank, while launching from stops, and driving 90-100+ down the highway.
With that being said, this is basically the first year of having my car in a nutshell.
Even though there has been constant hassle (and I still need new tierods), all of the knowledge, and breakdowns have gave me a dream to make this car my project car. I won't finish building this car, and boy oh boy, I can't WAIT for these tax Returns to build an engine that's pretty much never been done.
I have a crippled wrist, so I'm planning a B20b block, b16 head w/ type r cams and a GSR automatic.
To all of my friends, and family again, thank you so much for the patience and information on all of this. It has not gone to waste by any stretch of imagination.
Enjoy the story, photos and videos- I'll be sure to keep everyone updated through the lifetime of the car
-Shaggy / Hatch Man
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