i have a 90 crx si, i have had it as second owner since 98, took good care of it, had one wreck but had it all fixed, later d16 blew rod and got ZC dohc swap, have had ZC for 2 yrs and works great and also trans shifts smooth, ZC probably only has about 50 or 60,000 miles or so and will last a long time.

i have'nt taken my car into a shop for a while and my AC went out in August so since it is going to start getting warm i wanted to just get that fixed, i also knew it needs new steering rack and has brake light on dash, but thats all i knew of it needed.

but the mechanic called from honda house, and he just said the AC compressor is'nt kicking on, but he has to look at it more.
then he told me it was unsafe driving with the steering rack shot the way it was and he said he would have to special order it and it would be around $740 (parts and labor) but then he said "its not just that, this car needs several thousand worth of work" which to me just sounded negative or assuming, cause here i am a devoted crx entheusiast who is willing to give this car a 3rd life and he just is basically saying that its better for me to just take the engine and put in another car thats better condition. he has to look at it more though.

the bottom line is it drives great cause the engine and trans and clutch are good, i realise with 185,000 miles the stuff such as balljoints, tie-rods, steering rack are going to need to be replaced, but i was expecting that anyway, and those parts have felt sloppy lately so i knew, but i just don't want some mechanic telling me its not worth fixing, cause i love the car and i know how great a crx is when its in good condition, but on the other hand i have to wake up to reality that its not going to last forever and i have thrown money at every little problem more than most would, maybe it is time? even know inside i could'nt get rid of it, i always planned on keeping it and restoring it to perfection.

it would be a really hard decision, i would rather buy some used accord and just keep it and slowly work on it myself cause to sell the crx i would'nt get anything worth what i put into it over the years, if i added all the stuff over the years to keep the car good plus stereo etc... it would be probably $18,000 or so.

even if i was going to swap the zc engine and the si tranny over to a different 90 hatch or crx it would be hard to find one in good condition, so i don't know i will just have to think if its worth putting couple grand into my car or get rid of it, any thoughts, opinions, etc.. ?

(i know this is'nt a technical question i just felt like ranting)

 

I've got $50 that says the mechanic will offer to buy the car from you after he gives you an outrageous bill.

And of course it's going to cost more to replace everything than the car is worth.

My a/c repair job on my last car cost nearly $1200....EVERYTHING was shot. Nearly all of the 'blue book' value on the car. But it was worth it to me.

That's what you've got ask yourself....is the car worth it to YOU. CRX's are getting rare.....if you ever want another one in the future you may have a very difficult time finding it.

 

Well, the blue book value of these cars is not much at all, so just about anything you have to fix will be a significant portion of its value.

But, that's not what it's all about. Who cares what the mechanic said? Something that really bugs me about the automotive industry is, mechanics etc always think its their right to give you their unsolicited opinion on everything.

I had a guy at an exhaust shop try for 15 minutes to convince me to not weld up my Kteller mandrel bent exhaust because he thought I sould go with something else. Did I ask his opinion? Nope. But, he sat there and argued with me for 15 minutes about it.

The point is, mechanics think they know more than anyone else. This guy probably doesn't know anything about you or your enthusiasm for older cars. Just tell him to do what he's paid for and leave the rest up to you.

Mechanics like that bug me. That's one of the reasons I do everything myself.

 

go junkyarding and do the work yourself its a great way to learn

 

ebay source for ball joints/tie rods/and other front end susp stuff.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...photo

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by HT Chaplin &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">go junkyarding and do the work yourself its a great way to learn</TD></TR></TABLE>
Word
Blue book and greater scheme of life no its not worth it dump it.
But I'm sure you love your car and want to enjoy it that makes it worth it.

I would say keep it fix it yourself cheap enjoy it. You got all of us to help you

 

thanks for all the opinions, actually i did do stuff myself (the stuff i could do) for a while and avoided taking it in, but AC is'nt something i can do and i am in texas so its going to get warm soon, but i know exactly what you mean, like what the guy said above about the exhaust, i did the same thing, like a year ago i had the Kteller mandrel bent put on and he was saying to use his pipes instead but i still went with the one i wanted.

i am not letting him steer me in a negative direction, i do still like my car, i was planning on getting a lot done but mainly took it in for AC, i did'nt even tell him to check the other stuff in the first place, so i don't know why he was saying all that, he probably is just overwhelmed and stressed since he is starting a new workweek and its monday, i am not letting me think anything, i will just have AC done and then think to do the other myself (along with friend) but i would need a rental car for a while to get all of it done, but the main thing is i only want to repair just the stuff that is absolutely needed. btw, i don't have the money for this stuff i am using credit card, i am already in a transition of moving so this is'nt good timing already.

i will see what he says, i already knew i could shop around for who does AC work the cheapest but i just did'nt have time, i was in a screw it mood, just wanted to get all repairs done at once.

no reason to get rid of it, it has no rust, has new shocks/springs, zc engine, tranny works good, new clutch, exhaust system, maaco paint, starts all the time no problem and runs good, he is just talking about suspension/steering/AC stuff, he also said one cv joint and also trailing arm bushings and some other stuff i don't remember.

 

i can rebuild that steering rack with $15 in parts. you can too. its only the rack end bushing and the pinion bearing that could possibly be "rebuilt" on the rack itself.

if youre willing to do the work yourself, its no where near NOT worth fixing up.

just focus on FIXING whats wrong, not just slapping bling parts on.

 

its so weird how if you ever talk to a mechanic they never sound positive or hopefull towards your car, i mean some are but most just make everything sound like your just heading towards doom.

like one guy who was completely opposite was a mech at NTB who was checking my car and he actually kept saying how much he liked my car and he even raced hondas on the weekends, so that is a guy who is cool and who just wants to help your car and is hopefull, but most just are like "its gonna be too much for you to fix" and all negative, just sucks.

 

if the AC isnt working and its not an easy fix, then just ditch it all. ive heard texas heat can be bad, but i wouldnt put hundreds of dollars into fixing it.

although, i would understand if you did. i got my latest crx last year from an old lady who still had the AC working, its great.

but everything else like steering rack and tie rods, thats just buying new parts from online dealers for the cheapest price and slapping them on.

 

mechanics point of view is different..

you may see the car as a CRX and cornerstone in import racing..both drag and road race

where to him it may be another honda

Take in a car that the mechanic respects and things maybe different

 

Tyson, yeah i remember you helped me a little while ago about the rack, i did look into it and i know exactly what to do about doing just the rack and what to order, but i guess its not just the rack, the guy mentioned all this stuff along with the AC so it was just being overwhelmed on how everything is going bad, so therefore making me think its not worth doing the rack, but i am more positive now, he just got me thinking like i had to get rid of my car but i am not listening to him.

i think i will just tell him only fix AC and take my car home and just get rental car for like 2 weeks or something or more (first order stuff and make a plan) and i can do some stuff. i just thought it was time to take it to a pro to get a check over just for safety and just cause if you have'nt taken it in that long then it just seems i needed to.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Outsane &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">mechanics point of view is different..

you may see the car as a CRX and cornerstone in import racing..both drag and road race

where to him it may be another honda

Take in a car that the mechanic respects and things maybe different

</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yup, and a mechanic will pick up the car for cheap and turn it for some profit. Just do the work yourself it is easy. Just get a couple buddies and get it done.You will get frustrated, pissed, upset, bloody knuckles, stumped and when you are all done you'll say "Huh, if I would have done it that way it would have been better, well next time" and you'll have a lot less money in your car.

 

the car is old, theres no denying that. it needs maintenance. maintenance requires some time and money into it. if thats not of value to you, get rid of it. there will always be someone else who will.

and i wouldnt put any value in it as some kind of "cornerstone of import racing". its just a frickin car.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tyson &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
and i wouldnt put any value in it as some kind of "cornerstone of import racing". its just a frickin car. </TD></TR></TABLE>

some people do..

it was just to give the idea..

 

its a matter of if i want to fix all that bad enough myself while saving money and just finding time to do it and getting a rental car to get to work, but probably have them do AC if i want that cause i dont' want to get involved in that, but yeah i am just thinking get AC done take it over to parents house (can't work on it at my rental) and put it on jack stands and get started and just put a lot of effort into it just to think of how happy i will be when its done. .........and the money i saved.

again thanks for replying so fast and talking, who knows i might of got rid of my car if i did'nt get on here, just getting on here i knew i would get more positive feedback since people on here actually like crxs.

 

but then again, i might get all that done and then transmission will go out, with my luck, i mean tranny has 185,000 and won't last forever, you just never know

 

id keep it, fix it and call it good. you will not only gain a little knowledge of working on your car but have a greater appriciation (sp) for the car afterwards.

 

it sums it up pretty much in your signature "if you drive an EF, its always a project"

 

Get your parents to call overhauling. I would give my left nut to see what foose would do to a CRX.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by n3h3bkau &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Get your parents to call overhauling. I would give my left nut to see what foose would do to a CRX. </TD></TR></TABLE>

he'll put some big chrome wheels 2 tone paint and nawwwwzzzzzzzzzzz!

save another crx you can alwasy find used parts from other people dirt cheap

 

How about trying to find a hobbyist or friendly HT mechanic that lives withan an hour of you. They may be willing to help you with the car for much less than they would professionally otherwise, just be respectful, pay for food and drinks, and set something up ahead of time.

Just a thought.

p3

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by phoenix_iii &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">How about trying to find a hobbyist or friendly HT mechanic that lives withan an hour of you. They may be willing to help you with the car for much less than they would professionally otherwise, just be respectful, pay for food and drinks, and set something up ahead of time.

Just a thought.

p3</TD></TR></TABLE>

^^^^^^^^not a bad idea:

if you get some horrible bill then find someone whos an enthusiast and have him help you, pay him of course, then you learn as you go.

or buy the helms, get some tools together and learn on your own.

 

don't let that bastard rape you of your crx man. that's just retarded. i've put well over what my cars worth into it twice over, sure i wonder about my sanity sometimes, but then something always happens where I end up being reassured about the choice i've made. Whatever you do good luck, and if you choose to get rid of the car, can I have it?

 

talked to him today and he said that it is something electrical that is'nt kicking the compressor on, and so far its 80 bucks diagnosis, he said if he were to diagnose it further it could be anywhere from 80 to 160 bucks and then he could give me the quote on exactly which AC components need replacing, but the AC really is'nt the main thing, the more needed repairs are the suspension/steering systems.

he said it would be $740 for steering rack (parts/labor), then he said something that sounded like total bullshit to me but you guys can verify it, but he said "you need new controls arms, about $700 for fronts and $800 for the rears"

at this point sounds like he is just trying to say something that i can't afford so he won't have to work on my car, i was just trying to get some quotes or prices on if they did the work on my steering/suspension repairs but instead he does'nt give any kind of straight answer so now i am thinking to probably just eat the 80 buck diagnosis fee and go get the car and take it home and start the work myself or just get a quote somewhere trusted. i was actually going to have them do the steering rack and put it on the credit card and forget about AC but when he started mentioning things like $800 and $700 for control arms then i already knew i just need to go pick my car up.

its funny how i sort of came to a decision to just have them do the steering rack and forgetting the AC stuff but still he has to make it harder and add control arms and who knows what else, its like he is doing anything he can to force me to not be able to fix my car, does'nt make any sense, he is'nt being realistic, he already knows i don't have lots of money and that i am using credit card so i don't know.

i will pick it up i guess but only thing is he said steering rack is so bad that it should'nt be driven like that cause i will hurt myself or other people, so i could take it home and think of a plan from there but i still have to get to work and i can use my moms car for a little but she will need it sooner or later then from there i would need a rental car, problem is i don't know how long it would take to repair all the stuff it needs, or just buy a used beater for daily while i work on crx but then who knows if that one would need work also.