uranjack

So we bought a used Honda certified 08 Civic LX. Well it seemed like a nice car, it was through 3 previous owners witch seemed weird for such a new car. The only problem with it was the far left side air conditioning vent. It had paint wear from what seemed like freeon like the spray kind.
We bought it in Febuary, so no need to use the A/C right? Well in March we had a somewhat hot day and put on the A/c it didn't come on. We scheduled a app. to get it checked out. Turns out that the whole A/c needed to replaced, since it was certified it was free. So glad thats now over.
So now fast forward to july, we started hearing a noise when turning the wheels to full lock, and when going over bumps were the suspension traveled down. Ignored it for about a month then finally just got tired of it and made an app. to get it checked out. (One more thing just this week the TPMS sensor started to malfunction.) "I had a sneaking suspicion that it was the driver side front strut." So today we had an app. at 8:30 am. Well we ended up not getting the till 9 well no biggie. So we get there turned out the app. was made to only check out the TPMS so I had to explain all the other stuff that was happening. (Another thing the A/C doesn't get cold as quick as other civics we have."People who are in are family have I should say") They say it will take an hour and to have a seat in the waiting room.
I saw an 08 Si in the showroom and went to check that out instead. Well 2 hours later they call us up to discus what they found. The TPMS was tested and nothing was found a miss. The car was test drove by a technician and the noise was not herd from the front of the car, the only noise he heard was from the driver side rear brake drum. They cleaned the drum and thats it. We had to pay $95 to get it checked out, well we were pissed since we here the noise every day so we didn't know how they couldn't here it. We got our car at 12:30. They said that we could have a technician ride along once he got back from lunch.
We had to go another place in merced were the Honda dealership is so we went there, knowing we were already going to go back I decided to see if I could still here the noise. Pulling out of the driveway of the dealership I herd it. Through the 10 minute round trip I herd it 5 times. So we get back to the dealership and get the technician to ride along. Right away I point out the noise to him. We took a short drive and herd the noise way too many times I was quite pleased at how the car was wanting to be fixed haha.
Well they put it back on the lift and looked at the front suspension. Well turns out my hunch was correct the front left strut assembly need to be replaced.
So in all a 1 hour app. Turned out to be around 4 hours and $95 dollars spent. They ordered a new strut assembly and are having it overnighted.
So hopefully in 4 days we will have it fixed. (Since it will be the weekend.)
I will continue to post on the with my questions and more about my dealings with honda.

bee guz

What I would do is find a different dealer, if it is a certified civic there should be no problem switching to a different dealer.

I would write honda and ask why you had to pay 95 dollars for a free repair.

barrett_5

There's two Honda dealers I go to regularly. One of which screwed me over (i won't get into details) and i'm not going back. I'd suggest a different dealer if you can.

uranjack

Well they were saying that the payment was because Honda doesn't pay to get these things checked. They only pay to get them serviced. I was like WTF. Well a little update. The TPMS sensor was off when we went to Honda, It was only on sometimes. Well all day today it has been on. Even though they said that the was no problems with the sensor?
I get what you guys are saying about the dealer thing, The thing is this is the first time one of our hondas has had a problem. We have bought 5 hondas at this dealer and on most we get the Oil change plan. We have never had any reason to think that they would do this. I am going to look at the Certified Warranty booklet I got when we bought the car and see if indeed they do not pay when they only look that the problem in question.
"Oh also found out today that they didn't snap the under-dash part back on correctly. One of the tabs was bent out. No biggy I was just like ok?"

TheMuffinMan

iTrader: (1)

Just going to toss this out there.....

You have a vehicle with 3 owners in 4 years (assuming they bought in 2007, probably did). You being the 4th owner. I don't know if you ran a CarFax or bought from a Honda dealership since you do not mention that. You also don't mention the mileage on the vehicle either. It also sounds like you really don't need any help? I did not catch anything in your post that would led me to believe you have questions H-T can help with? Sounds like the dealerships are being more than helpful - they can't always replicate problems easily.

The AC system being replaced should have been tested prior to your purchase, Honda however replaced it, you seem to be happy, so that whole part is a non-issue and can be excluded.

If you're having TPMS problems, it's just as likely someone had the tires replaced at some shitty tire shop and they damaged it. But that's not possible at all, eh? If is intermittent as you mentioned in your most recent post you really can't be upset Honda didn't find issues with it. And that most certainly is not Honda's fault and be replaced on their dime since they could have never seen the message AND probably were not the ones that replaced the tires last (IMHO).

You also mention having 5 previous Hondas - okay, great, did they have 4 owners before you got it too? Did you run a CarFax? Is it entirely possible your Civic was in a nasty accident and had the front end replaced outside of insurance? Yes.

Sorry you're having problems but I'm not sure what you're expecting to get from H-T?

uranjack

Seems like you didn't read my post all that well. Even though I didn't come out and say "I bought a Used Honda From a Honda Dealer." I said a certified honda. We did get a carfax with the car and no accidents. Honda was the last place to get the tires replaced.
If you saw in my "Most recent post" I say that it was on all day. Well today it has been also on all day.
Like I already said though I will continue to post on here. I do have questions about rims and acceleration and handling.
What I mean by we bought multiple hondas is that My family "Grandma, Grandpa, me." Have bought multiple hondas from the same dealership and same person.
The only way we could see someone not keeping the car was that they couldn't keep up on payments anymore so it went back to the dealership?

uranjack

Well here is one of my questions.
What is the best way to improve handling without lowering the car?
I don't want to lower the car. Were I live we have the table top bumps and I don't want to scrape.
I was thinking of putting this on. http://www.procivic.com/pages-produc...358/index.html
Oh I was also thinking of a top front strut bar.

TheMuffinMan

iTrader: (1)

I'm not going to assume anything. I did see it was 'certified' but you do not say from where. I could buy a "Certified used car" from just about anywhere - their "certification" being a clean carfax and it passing a quick look over. You are correct, I could assume you meant you bought a "Honda Certified Used-Car" but you don't outright say it.

If Honda was the last ones to replace the tires (and you have documentation of this, not word of mouth) then just bring the car in when it has the issue and they should replace the sensors. If you don't have documentation and it is simply word of mouth, the dealership can easily deny any 'Good Will' request by stating you had them replaced elsewhere.

You also very clearly state in your posts it was off when Honda looked at it and they were not able to replicate the problem. Hence, intermittent. On one day, off the next. I also assume when you purchased it it was off as well.

TheMuffinMan

iTrader: (1)

Before you start bolting **** on, I will suggest you get better tires - not crappy OEM (or OEM replacement) tires. In addition to tires spending the money at an HPDE or AutoX to actually learn the car will serve you much better than bolting on random parts in hopes it will function better. You could also look at the HFP suspension, which slightly lowers the vehicle, is an OEM part and helps performance.

uranjack

So look at Honda Factory Performance upgrades? Were could I get a list with pictures of these types of parts.
I get what you are saying, but I already know the car has a ton of idk what to call it body roll when going into turns at speed. I was just thinking getting beefier sway bars would help with this.
Also, would the rims that come on the Si be a good? Or should I look at a universal wheel.
I will be going to the dealer again to get the strut replaced and now the TPMS sensor has been on for 3 days straight so I doubt it will go off.

TunerN00b

You do know that most people who state that they want the car to "handle better" don't actually want what they state, right? They want the car to feel like it should handle better, but really don't care about the actual performance.

uranjack, you are correct in looking at bigger swaybars, both front and rear. They will reduce the body roll and increase responsiveness. Ignore strut bars, they do nothing. If that isn't enough, try adding a spring rubber to each spring on one axle.

Unless you really do care about the handling of the car, then TheMuffinMan put it correctly with:
seat time > tires > everything else

Also, don't think I'm being insulting with this post. My wife has said, "This car doesn't handle as good as my last one.", but when asked, "and when have you actually taken this car to its cornering limit?" her reply was "never, but it doesn't feel like it will corner as good.". She wanted the confidence of a responsive suspension with minimal body roll, I just wish she (and most other people) knew how to state what it is they actually want...

uranjack

I will not taken any advice in vain. I do get what he means. The only thing is the car is a daily driver. We also do not have the money to spend on things. I saw the sway bars as a cheap way to fix the body roll I get when taking a corner at high speeds. Heck even on some freeways I drive I still get alot of body roll. I do wish I could get new tires/rims but they are not in the budget. The strut bar was recommended by the Service technician who did the ride along when I said I was looking at bigger sway bars.
Little Update: In the morning I will be going back down to get the front left strut replaced. When I get there I will also ask for a refund of the $95 I spent on having them look at the problems. In the Certified Warranty manual, it does state that you have to pay if no problems are found. Well the strut problem was found and the TPMS light is still on. Wish me luck.

TheMuffinMan

iTrader: (1)

Some cars respond better than others to strut bars, newer Honda's don't really need them. Like TunerN00b said however, thicker sway bars will reduce the amount of body roll but having driven my '06 LX I really did not think it needed it from factory. Wider wheels and better tires will help your grip around turns and what I would personally do. I believe the SI wheels are 7" wide vs 6.5" for the LX so not a huge difference unless you can score a set for cheap.

uranjack

Well here is an update.
Had and appointment at 10 to get the strut replaced. Was also going to complain that the TPMS sensor was on again. Well being within a mile of the dealership it turned off. I was like WTF!@! Really? Well nothing I could do there. Once there I did point out that I should be refunded $47.50 for having them look at the strut since it was covered under the Certified warranty. After talking to the manager over the phone, they agreed since I brought the papers in that said it should be. They are sending us a check in the mail for that. A couple hours later We got the car back. (We had the shuttle take us to the mall.)
I test it to see if I here the noise, Well I heard a much much quieter noise, witch I though is just the strut settling into place. So off to my house I go, (I live about 45 mins from the dealer.) We getting into the city I live in and stop for gas. I get back in the car and there it is, The freaking TPMS sensor is on. (It's stating that it has a malfunction.)
Oh well. At-least the suspension is fixed.

uranjack

So I am thinking there is a short somewhere with the TPMS. What steps should I take to try to fix the problem? Should I push Honda to replace the sensors?

uranjack

I love when you fix one problem, and another comes up.
So they replaced only the front left strut. Well now I am getting a noise from the front right. Also after sitting for a while (like going grocery shopping) when turning the wheel you get a loud pop.

uranjack

Here is an update.
The noise when I go over bumps is gone! Yes.
Well now it is alot louder and much much more frequent when I turn the wheels.

HRsi-dan

How many miles are on your car? How do the tires look?

It may be the LCA lower bushing.

As for your question about better handling, if you want a better performing suspension, get the HFP suspension kit (it lowers the car .5" -1" and replaces all springs & dampers). It's only a slight drop and shouldn't affect drivability too much. The Progress rear sway bar is also a good addition. Also, you should get a custom alignment done as well.

Have you tried searching for some of this info?? There's countless threads about suspension and issues; check out 8thcivic.com for some of that info.

uranjack

Well I jacked up the car to get a look for myself. I believe it is the cv joints.

Zebra

We got a new 2008 Civic LX and the struts were bottoming out on dips; I thought that was odd, but let it go for awhile. Finally I had them checked and they were bad - fortunately replaced under warranty. But the service manager refused to do an alignment, saying strut replacement does not affect alignment. He was rather rude about it and said if I wanted it, I'd have to pay for it.
I checked the Factory Honda repair manual for the model and the strut replacement procedure called for at least checking the alignment to see if it was still within specs; the service manager was wrong. Furthermore the services that they attempt to sell are over-priced. Needless to say, I will not be returning to that particular dealership.

Sleepy_Red_hatch

Good morning!
just one question: is the tpms problem the actual "TPMS" light on the dash or the "low tire pressure indicator"? big difference, most of my customers complain of a tpms issue but they really just have a slow leak in one of the tires. sometimes a 3% drop in tire pressure will trip the low pressure indicator and when the tire heats up from normal driving the pressure goes up and turns the light off. just wondering.

causes of tire leakage:
time: honda states it's normal to lose some air over time
poor bead seal: a very slow leak can occur around the bead or even at the wheel weight
leaking valve seal: the tpms sensors have a rubber seal that can get old and crack
leaking valve core: could be not tight or simply corroded
puncture in the tire: if it's in the sidewall it is not repairable!

so please report back on which of the lights turn on on the dash