SubwayEatFresh

Hi everyone!

I own a 2002 Honda Civic EX 5spd with appx 110k

I've had the car for about 2 and a half years now. I bought it with about 88k. I later realized I was a bit of a dummy, and bought a car that might have been abused/not maintained/taken care of very well. Cracked bumper, weird small dents/chips, aftermarket junk intake, somewhat not perfectly kept interior.


But then again, I'm somewhat of a perfectionist. It was a great deal at $5400.

Over the past few years I've had a handful of problems. The major problem being a shaky rattle when I was driving above 40 and under 60 mph. For some reason a shop I was working with couldn't simply diagnose the problem without trying a few things, they couldn't pin-point the exact problem. I had a handful of things done including replacing springs, axles, ball joints, tires, and more. Now my CV joints still "tick" when I turn sometimes, but the axles are brand new! So I'm assuming maybe they were called brand new but simply 'refurbished'? I don't know, they came directly from NAPA!


The CV joint ticking noise I can deal with for the time being. It's annoying but I really don't want to drop a big chuck of cash on getting the joints replaced AGAIN!




My main point of posting this thread is due to my current situation. About 6 months or so ago, my check engine light began to flicker a bit. I ran a test at a shop and it came back as 420(I think?!) which was the catalytic converter. I had the cat replaced and it was OK for a short while, now the light is back and it's on permanently. However it WILL go off for a short amount of time and then back on solid (maybe off twice in the past few months for a few hours).

I took it to get looked at and the consensus is that the flex pipe needs replacement. Apparently my entire exhaust system was re-welded up higher under the car to allow it to be lower to the ground ...



My exhaust system itself is pretty crummy on there. I don't want to rice the car out at all, in fact I'm going for a more stock look.

My thoughts are to have the entire exhaust replaced (catback) as well as the flex pipe. I figure now would be the best time, as I need the flex pipe replaced anyways.


Is this a good idea? Any recommendations/suggestions before I do so?


I'm looking to move into a new vehicle in the near future. Don't get me wrong, I love the Civic! But I'm sick of dealing with problems caused by the previous owners neglect! It's taking up too much of my effort, time and $$$ !






One more thing!

I've noticed a sound, that got gradually worse over the past year or so. It sounds like a very slight 'bearing' scraping noise. It's not a grinding or anything that sounds really rough. It's very faint. I had it diagnosed last year and they said it could be the throw bearing. However, I'm wondering if it's just a noise related to the flex pipe being destroyed ... could this be possible? The sound isn't THAT much worse, but it definitely is odd.


I'm just trying to figure out what's worthwhile with doing to this car at this point.

Replace flex pipe, exhaust, cv joints, throw bearing, etc, etc? Spend a ton of money doing so, for a Civic with 110k which I don't really want to/plan to own much longer?

I know Civics go forever, but I still don't want a money pit of a vehicle. But how the hell can I sell it with a check engine light on? For a hell of a discount, I know! ... Tough decisions ... suggestions/info very much appreciated!


Thanks!

lazlong

You can get a salvage downpipe for cheap as it doesn't have the cat in it. Try here: http://www.car-part.com/ or local craigslist. Then have them re-weld the rest. Shouldn't cost more than $200 for everything.

Any other codes?

SubwayEatFresh

Thanks for the reply. If I was to buy a new downpipe (that is synonymous with flex pipe, correct?) would that automatically include the cat? I definitely don't need the cat, as a new one was just installed recently.


That is the ONLY code.


And I will mention, yesterday morning on my way to work the check engine light went away .... and then last night on my way home after driving for a few hours it came back on.

So it's definitely sounding like something with an air-flow-related sensor throwing the light on and off randomly.

SubwayEatFresh

So I just called a shop in town, I explained the issues.

Long story short, they said they'd have to look at it to diagnose.



So here's my dilemma....is it worth it?

Is it worth it to pay for diagnosis and repairs now? On a car with 110,000 miles that obviosuly wasn't well cared for prior to my ownership ... and may encounter more, even worse problems in the future?


Diagnosis, exhaust,bearing elements, etc ... This could be over a $1000 job ... I just don't have a good feeling dumping any more $$$ into this car at this point.


Would you guys agree? I know it's tough to say, but it's got me in a real dilemma here.


I'd like to upgrade to a newer car and trade this it ... but I know the check engine light being on will really force them to give me absolute low dollar on the car

lazlong

Get a second opinion, call around some more. Try to find an independent that works on one or two brands. Honda being one of them. lol

Sorry, reading comprehension isn't the best sometimes. By downpipe I mean the manifold. There's no "flexpipe" per se. There are flex points, with gaskets, where the manifold/downpipe and cat meet and where the resonator and muffler meet. Is this OEM stuff or aftermarket?

The major OEM components are the manifold (#1): http://www.hondapartscheap.com/parts...fold-sohc-vtec

-and the cat (#4), the resonator (#11), and the muffler (#3): http://www.hondapartscheap.com/parts...t-pipe-muffler

-with gaskets (#'s 13,14,17) in between

-and held together with either #5 and #28 (bolts and nuts) or #15 and #16 (bolts and springs).

With no other codes (specifically P0137,P0138,P0141, or mis-fire codes) I can almost guarantee it's an exhaust leak like they said.

*Get the exhaust leak fixed as cheaply as possible, change the oil, get all your stuff out of it, vacuum it out, run it through the car wash, and trade it in.

SubwayEatFresh

Thanks for the advice!

Gotcha on the manifold! I haven't actually looked at it myself, I don't have a lift available to me ... so it's kind of tough. I really don't want to put any money into this car, so I guess putting the minimal amount in to get the most out of it will be the best option at this point. Short term > long term.

I'm thinking that might be best. Simply clean it up as best I can, minimally repair it to avoid the check engine light, then trade in when I upgrade. I just hope that the exhaust leak can be repaired fairly cheap. I hope the cat conv. isn't actually bad again; Even though it's brand new...