I'm considering purchasing a clean '92 Accord wagon w/ 118k mi, automatic, and have a few concerns.

1) There is a buzzy vibration at idle that gets worse when in gear (stopped). When I let off the brake and accelerate or maintain speed, it goes away. If I floor it though, it shows back up above 5k RPM and you can feel it in the floorboard. It is also worse in reverse than drive (stopped). Motor mount perhaps? Any common problems with these that may explain it? I've owed other fours that didn't vibrate like this, never drove an accord though.

2) The A/C doesn't work. Button pressed, nothing happens, no light (button), and the compressor does not cycle or come on. Again, any common prob's with the A/C?

3) Might need power window motors. Have any of you changed yours? If so, is it difficult? Expensive?

Anything else I should look for on the car?

Thanks,
Casey

 

1. Is that buzzy sound coming from the engine? Does it sound like the valves are ticking? Could be engine mounts or maybe the exhaust is loose or something? Iono about u but my 91 accord sounds buzzy like the valves are clicking.

2. If the AC is gone, its more than likely the condenser up near the radiator. Mine has a crack in it but i've been too lazy to fix it. maybe when summer comes around i will.

3. my car is a 91 accord and its got 160k miles on it, and the power windows have never failed. but i did replace a window once and chaning the motor should be pretty easy.

Some tips if u're buying it are see if the timing belt has been changed, should've been done at 90k miles. see if the distritutor has also been changed, they go out on the accord's occasionally. other than that these cars are extremly reliable. goodluck!!! and and get an EX model, LX, DX's suck i wouldnt mind having alloys and a moonroof!

 

It's not really a sound, so much as a feel, like the vib's from the motor are being transfered to the body/chassis. It's constant, no misses. Also, no valve or lifter ticking that I can hear.

I will assume the timing belt hasn't been changed, it's a dealer. How difficult is it to change the timing belt on these?

 

its a biatch to change the timing belt without the right tools, take it to the shop, will probably cost around $400 have them take off like $500 off the selling price if they havent replaced the timing belt or something, cause its recommended at 90k miles or else your timing belt can break and destroy your pistons/valves.

 

yeah dont assume the timing belt has been changed, It will cost you more later on.

 

Yea, I understand the importance of changing the timing belt, just wandering how involved it is. I've done most of my t-belts in the past, some are easy, some not so much. I never assume the belt was changed without seeing a copy of the work order. This guy probably bought it at auction, I'm sure he knows/has nothing.

Any more on the other issues?

 

I dissagree. I replaced mine on my 92 Accord 2.2L about 6 months ago. It's not a hard job at all, it is very time consuming though. If you do it step by step, you are ok. There aren't really any "special" tools to have, but you do need a mechanics tool set. It also involves unbolting one of the motor mounts, and the cross-bar, and lowering the engine 3 - 4 inches in order to get the clearence to get the timing cover off.

Deffinitely a bitch though, plan on at least a full day if you are a home mechanic type. Dealer around here charges about $450 i believe.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by gotdurt &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm considering purchasing a clean '92 Accord wagon w/ 118k mi, automatic, and have a few concerns.

1) There is a buzzy vibration at idle that gets worse when in gear (stopped). When I let off the brake and accelerate or maintain speed, it goes away. If I floor it though, it shows back up above 5k RPM and you can feel it in the floorboard. It is also worse in reverse than drive (stopped). Motor mount perhaps? Any common problems with these that may explain it? I've owed other fours that didn't vibrate like this, never drove an accord though.

2) The A/C doesn't work. Button pressed, nothing happens, no light (button), and the compressor does not cycle or come on. Again, any common prob's with the A/C?

3) Might need power window motors. Have any of you changed yours? If so, is it difficult? Expensive?

Anything else I should look for on the car?

Thanks,
Casey</TD></TR></TABLE>

1. motor mount. have a buddy sit in the car and put it in gear. but have him hold the brakes and e-brakes up and give the car a little bit of gas as you look under the hood. if the engine rocks back and forth look for the mount thats loose.
*make sure your car is in a open area so you car wont take off and hit something/someone*

2. probably need a new A/C compressor.

3. pop the door panels. take off the old motor. pop in a new one.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BuRRR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">1. motor mount. have a buddy sit in the car and put it in gear. but have him hold the brakes and e-brakes up and give the car a little bit of gas as you look under the hood. if the engine rocks back and forth look for the mount thats loose.
*make sure your car is in a open area so you car wont take off and hit something/someone*

2. probably need a new A/C compressor.

3. pop the door panels. take off the old motor. pop in a new one.</TD></TR></TABLE>

As far as the mount goes, I think so too. Being worse in reverse, probably the front. I'll have the sales guy earn his money and help me diagnose...

If there are no common A/C issues, I'll start at the switch and work my way up, that is if it doesn't take a charge. Many compressors are designed to shut down when the system runs out of freon.

That's all I need to hear about the window motors. Usually not hard to do, but I had a RX7 that was a pain. Just wanted to check with an owner, I doubt the car lot would be real happy with me tearing into the door panel to see.