Hi all... this is my first honda, I bought it for the gas mileage and it seems like a very nice little car. It's a 92 ex coupe with 164k miles on it. I have a couple questions i'd like to ask you guys "the pros" about this thing.

First, how hard is the timing belt to change? the guy said he hadn't changed it and didn't know if the guy before him had or not

second, the transmission (auto) seems to shift fairly hard from 1st to second

third, My only problem with it thus far is that it upon startup... sometimes it'll start right up, and sometimes it takes maybe 20 to 30 seconds of cranking to get it to start up... like a weak fuel pump or something like that... going down the road if I just stay in the gas enough to keep it up to speed it feels like it kind of surges a bit... which is why I think maybe a fuel filter....

anyway... if there's any other nuggets of wisdom you guys can offer a new honda owner I'd appreciate it...

Thanks and I look forward to reading/contributing for a long while here..

 

ok, i used to own one of those, till i caught the motor on fire. so here it goes

#1 Timing belt is hard if you dont have the know how or the tools. You need to remove the alternator and the power steering pump, then the TB cover and some other stuff a manual could tell you better then i could. Make sure you have a timing light, or you'll get all your stuff off and be going no where

#2 I had a standard trans, but from what friends have told me, the 4rth gen trans arent generally that strong. I would take it some where, get it flushed, and get new fluid

#3 Could be nasty injector, bad fuel filter, bad fuel pump, etc. When you turn the key to the #1 position, you should here a noise, thats the fuel pump and it should run for 3-4 seconds. If you dont here that, change the fuel filter. If not that check plugs, cap and rotor, plug wires, then finally id get someone to check the injectors.

Well, good luck and i told you all i know about the questions you asked me. Happy Driving!

 

2. Actually I have never heard of one of these autos dying on anyone. And it is absolutely normal to have that firm 1-2 shift. Every single auto I have driven in of this gen car (about 10 of them) have done this.

 

There are lots of places to get info on changing the T-belt, the ALT does not need to be removed, nor the P/S pump
if you are in any doubt, put on a new T-belt, counterbalance belt, water pump and seals, including the 'oil pump' seal.
Your 'first' honda...Hondas of that era have a positive shift not a GM mush shift, the idea is that the clutch plates will wear less if enganged with positive hydraulic pressure, common complaint of 'first' time owners.
When you go to start the car wait for the CEL to turn off and the fuel pump to build pressure before cranking. If the previous owner was too cheap to change the T-belt, you should consider new NGK spark plugs. They only last around 30-40k miles.
You are cruising on the highway with light gas pedal; you might be feeling the trans going in and out of 'lockup' watch the RPM to see if it changes a couple hundred RPM when that happens...it's normal

 

I suspect your fuel pump is going out. You would need to check the fuel pressure to be sure. I had a 92 Accord for 12 years, and the fuel pump was one of the few things that did go out. Good luck