vanberge

I'm getting acclimated to my new car: 4 door 99 Civic DX.

Trying to learn about it... Get a feel for the things that are common issues, common tips/tricks/upgrades, that kind of thing.

Anybody have any tips for a new owner getting started?

What are some common mods?

Heck, what kind of oil should I use??? :-)

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

Getting started doing what?
Search.
https://honda-tech.com/search.php
Noobs come here all the time asking the exact questions you are. The answers still haven't changed.

vanberge

Wow, thanks so much grumblemarc for making a new member feel so welcome to this forum/community.

A "welcome to the forum" or "congrats on the ride" would have been fine... Why even reply

I searched "DX" in the post titles and it returned nothing. I have googled and searched quite a bit already.

I've never owned a honda before. I'm looking for a little support / guidance.

Thanks so much for your exact lack thereof.

vanberge

Doing a search for all post by grumblemarc has shown me just how "helpful" you are to ANYBODY that asks any question on this site...

So, now I've learned honda-tech.com's ignore list. It works.

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

So you can search for all my posts but not the answer to any of the questions you just asked? I'm sorry guy but I'm not the welcoming committee.

There is a sticky that explains how to get answers to almost all of the questions you just asked PRIOR to posting. THAT is the biggest tip/trick I or anyone else can possibly give you.

Libertariat

There are so many visitors to this website can you imagine what that would be like if we were cordial to every new member? Here's an idea:

New member post: Hi, here's my car. What do I do?

Veteran: Hey, nice car. Welcome to H-T and you should do X, Y, Z.

3 minutes later:
New member post2: Hi, here's my car. What do I do?

Veteran: Hey, nice car. Welcome to H-T and you should do X, Y, Z.


12 minutes later
New member post: Hi, here's my car. What do I do?

Veteran: Hey, nice car. Welcome to H-T and you should do X, Y, Z.

4 minutes later

New member post: Hi, here's my car. What do I do?

Veteran: Hey, nice car. Welcome to H-T and you should do X, Y, Z.

______________


You get the idea.

This stuff gets old. This is a technical forum. For the most part we don't get a rats *** about what your car looks like, how old you are, or what cool JDM part you found. We want to help you fix your car if it has problems or help your troubleshoot.

The best way to get us to not like you is to act like a clown once your criticized on a public forum.

By the way, your oil cap says what oil you should use.

Common issues? Honda has published recall lists.

My best advice I can give you is read these forums. Look in the build threads, appearance thread, and read tech threads. Search for problems similar to yours in the archives and 80% of the time someone has had the same problem and the solution has already been determined. As grumblemarc mentioned most all problem solutions can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions section of this technical forum.

vanberge

EK, I respect what you're saying.

But the fact is that I've been watching this forum for the better part of a week, searching around on VARIOUS topics, and was really just trying to put my foot in the door with this community.

Your answer to my thread is at least a respectful one. Thank you for at least being respectful of a forum newcomer. Not like I can't take constructive criticism, but it's like the goal is to never see a new post on this website?

Obviously I've gone about this the wrong way according to people that frequent this site... so I'm sorry I guess.

The oil cap tells me the grade / viscosity. Not honda-tech veterans recommended brands. Conventional vs blend vs full synthetic. These are the sort of things I was after, as an example.

Tony M.

I use Castrol Motor oil. I wanted to use Mobile 1, but was told that if you change the motor oil like that (meaning from regular to synthetic) you can cause leaks. I don't know, but not going to take that chance! LOL

Since you have a 4 door you should get SiR front and rear bumpers. They look sick on a 4DR IMO. What color is it? Is it Auto or Manual?

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

Since he ignored me maybe somebody can post him a link to this thread from 6 days ago that asked the same question about oil.
https://honda-tech.com/forums/showth...+oil+synthetic
And this link to a H-T Google search.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&s...onal+oil+honda

vanberge

It's a silver with auto tranny.

So far all I've done is put silverstar headlights and new wipers in it. Oh and I ordered a Clarion deck that should be in tomorrow... so that's my weekend project.

Thx for the oil recommendations.

Tony M.

Since your getting a deck I would recommend speakers. I put a Kenwood deck in mine and liked it, but the stock speakers were horrible. So I bought Pioneer 6x9 for the rear and the same for the front, and it sounded MUCH better, so much more clear. Now I have a Rockford Fosgate 10 in the back with a 400 watt AMP. Gives it just the bump I like.

vanberge

I was hoping that an upgraded head unit would help the speakers out... sounds like I'm SOL on that. :-)

Did you keep the stock speaker wire in there and just replace the speakers?

Tony M.

The deck wont make much of a difference at all. I though that too, but ended up having to replace the speakers to make a difference. The rear speakers just plugged right in like the stock ones. The front speakers I had to wire in. It wasn't hard at all. And I know nothing about wiring and I did it. LOL
The AMP and SUB I had a Audio shop here where I live install.

Libertariat

With regard to oil:

It doesn't really matter what you use. You could use the cheapest oil on the face of the planet and as long as you change it regularly you'll be fine.

Honda engines are very resilient. A basic oil change on a regular basis is more than you'll ever need.

I personally use Mobil 1 or Quaker state synthetic and change it every 10,000 miles. I use a napa WIX filter and change it every ~3,000 miles.

I inspect the valvetrain frequently and I've never noticed any sludge buildup.

Been doing this for ~70,000 miles now. Engine runs like the day I got it.

HoldTheRice

Sadly, you are going to get this treatment on any forum.

Searching will answer any of these questions. More than "dx" is going to be required for ample results. Try engine codes, or specific terms in which you are looking for...

Using google, with a "honda-tech.com best oil" for example, will pull only results from this site.

D Griff

Yeah, google searches result in much better answers, the search function on this site is awful.

96hb

Sadly, being a serious douchebag is the h-t way. As was said, doesn't really matter what type of oil you use, just change it regularly. Typical first mods would be some sort of suspension lowering and getting some wheels and tires. I would also recommend doing a basic tune-up if you haven't already. Things like plugs, wires, dizzy cap and button, replace all fluids, check your brakes, etc. Good luck and don't let the a-holes run you away. There is a wealth of information on this site.

HandleTech

Fog lights is the first thing to do.
Have fun with ur new ride!

eddies_ls88

as far as oil change your oil regularly. on a higher milage car i would stay away from synethic motor oil. seems to create leaks in the motor. id recomend getting an alarm for your car if your installing a head unit. and if its detachable take it with you everywhere you go. bad people are just looking places to steal.

tklee

well, for starters... get a vtec!

SeanK325

well, for starters, delete your account.

vanberge

And this is exactly what I was hoping for with this thread.

Thanks for all the info guys! By all means, keep it coming.

Libertariat

Everything in this thread would have been found exponentially faster if you had used google or the search function on the top right hand corner of the page.

We also have a very useful and informative FAQ with links and DIYs.

96hb

It always amazes me when 'vets' always take the time to type out responses such as yours, when you probably could have given him a few pointers in the same time or less.

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

The info is already out there. What is wrong with following the addage "Teach a man to fish"? Some people don't do hand-holding, like myself. It is far better to do the research yourself so that it sticks in the brain. IMO people that tend to hold hands for new people are doing them a dis-service since they really tend to learn nothing.

The BEST piece of advice to give a new person is pointing them to the search so that they can take advantage of the more than a decade of experience that has gone on before them. NOT using that resource is a shame.