Hey everyone,

I just bought this car, with 117 k miles on it. I bought it knowing about a small 3rd gear shifting problem, which I asked about before in here. After driving it around for a couple days, there seem to be a few more things that I was wondering if anyone had any insights on.

First, the parking brake got stuck halfway engaged last night, and started smoking and glowing after driving half a mile with it stuck. It apparently released itself after I moved the car backwards and forwards a few times. I just haven't used it since. It sat in the lot for like 3 months after the previous owner traded it in, so it's been suggested that there was rust buildup or something in the wire casing. I'm gonna bring it into my local shop or something on Monday.

Next, the cruise control doesn't seem to work. There's a button on the dash, and the little indicator light turns on in the panel, but it doesn't change the throttle at all. Maybe I just don't know which order I'm supposed to use it in, but I thought it was you turn it on, then in the SET \ DECL. button to get it to start, and then the ACCL \ RESUME button to go faster or return to the the previous speed after breaking or shifting gears. It's a manual tranny, but I've driven in a new car with it, and I got it to work fine.

The driver side lock doesn't go down manually or with the electronic controls, but when I use the key outside the car it goes down without any resistance and locks the rest of the doors. I locked it before when the car was running once, but I haven't since. I don't know if this is a problem or a "forgetful person's failsafe" type of a thing.

Since I haven't driven a 4 cyl engine car before, I don't know if this normal, but there seems to be a metallic rattle when the engine rpms are between ~2600 and 3700. I don't know if this is normal for 4 cyl engines, but it's kind of annoying, and I'd like to get a nice smooth sound when I accelerate. I'm not sure if this is similar to the "click" or "knocking" the other guy was describing, but it doesn't seem like it to me.

The engine also idles a bit rough, but I've seen a ton of threads about that, so I'll look there for what to do about it.

Well, that pretty wraps up what I've found to be wrong with it. Let me know if there's anything I can do personally, and what I should tell my mechanic to look for and fix.

Thanks!

~ David

 

i can help you with the drivers side lock, my car (90 accord lx) does that and im almost positive its so you dont lock you keys in your car. im assuming your talking about when the driver's door is open too. about the cruise control, make sure the clutch isnt in at all, if it is the system disengages itself. and that rattling could be the catalytic converter protective plate thingy. when u get ur ebrake checked have them check the bolts on that too to make sure its tightened all the way.

 

Thanks,

I was hoping I wasn't going to have to get the door fixed.

Some more questions about the cruise control... Does the little cruise control light turn off in the gauge cluster if the clutch is pressed? I didn't test it, but I will tomorrow if I end up driving. I'm pretty sure my foot was off the clutch, but I'll try it and see.

Thanks about the info on the cat too, I'll have them check it.

~ David

 

I can vouch for the lock thing, my 1990 EX does the same thing. If you want to be able to lock it without using the key, you can pull the handle then lock it and then shut the door, that works. To answer your "ticking/clicking" question, I would have to know where the sound is comming from. If it's comming from the engine, my guess would be you need to have your valves adjusted. If it's comming from under your car, I would go with Accord22 saying that it is going to be part of your exaust. As for the cruise control thing, just as Accord22 said, if the clutch is engaged at all, even just 1/4'', cruise control will not work. So be sure the pedal is all the way up and you'll be fine.