I just got my first Civic yesterday. It's a 94 EX Sedan, with a 1.6 V-Tec and a 5 speed.

I have a couple of questions and I couldn't find the answers with the search feature.

1. Which type of gear oil should I use?

2. Where the hell is the fill plug? And does anyone have a pic?

3. Is the Haynes manual OK, or should I buy a factory manual also?

4. How bad can it really be to change your own timing belt?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by calipornya &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I just got my first Civic yesterday. It's a 94 EX Sedan, with a 1.6 V-Tec and a 5 speed.</TD></TR></TABLE>

It's VTEC, not V-Tec. It stands for Variable Valve Timing and Electronic Lift Control.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by calipornya &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have a couple of questions and I couldn't find the answers with the search feature.</TD></TR></TABLE>

You're lying.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by calipornya &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">1. Which type of gear oil should I use?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Anything you want. Your engine isn't special. A semisynthetic or regular motor oil will suffice so long as you change it regularly.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by calipornya &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">2. Where the hell is the fill plug? And does anyone have a pic?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Fill plug for what? The engine oil fill cap is on the valve cover. The tranny fill plug is on the side of the transaxle or, if you're smart, you can take the VSS out and fill from there.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by calipornya &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">3. Is the Haynes manual OK, or should I buy a factory manual also?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Haynes is okay, Helms (factory) is far superior.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by calipornya &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">4. How bad can it really be to change your own timing belt?</TD></TR></TABLE>

It's a huge pain in the *** but far from impossible.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Archidictus &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

It's VTEC, not V-Tec. It stands for Variable Valve Timing and Electronic Lift Control.

You're lying.

Anything you want. Your engine isn't special. A semisynthetic or regular motor oil will suffice so long as you change it regularly.

Fill plug for what? The engine oil fill cap is on the valve cover. The tranny fill plug is on the side of the transaxle or, if you're smart, you can take the VSS out and fill from there.

Haynes is okay, Helms (factory) is far superior.

It's a huge pain in the *** but far from impossible.</TD></TR></TABLE>


Especially if you have a factory manual.... http://www.helminc.com

 

If by "Gear Oil" you mean the oil to put into your transmission, buy Honda's MTF (3 quarts should do). It makes for awesome shifting. The drain plug is on the side of the transmission closest to the pasensger side front tire, at the very bottom. It has a square notch in it that a 3/8 ratchet will just plug into. Once drained, replace the washer on the plug ($.33 @ honda and buy a bunch cause you should change these on your oil drain plug every oil change too) and put 33ft/lbs on it. The fill plug is located above that and requires a 14mm (I think) socket to open. You'll need some tubing and a funel to pour the gear oil into. You fill the tranny up until the oil comes pouring back out of that hole (2.7 quarts I think). Replace the fill plug, along with a new washer (this one is a different size from your oil pan/tranny drain plug), and drive it around the block to see if it blows up...

Good luck

 

Thanks you guys. It looks like I need a new throw-out bearing, and a timing belt/waterpump. Looks like a busy first weekend as a Civic owner. I just bought my Haynes for now, and nothing looks that bad. Actually kinda Volvo-ish. I hope no one takes offense to that.

 

The change amount in the tranny is 1.9 quarts!!!! Capacity is only 2 quarts, not all of it drains out either when you pull the plug on it. Unless you flush all the fluid out of the tranny, just put Honda MTF back in it.