01-Base-AT
98,500 miles


Whats up guys....

Newb to the Honda scene and car repair in general so bare with me. I have had the Lude for a year now , purchased with 93,xxx miles. No detailed maintenance records from previous owner but I see the 30k tune up sticker inside the engine bay. No oil leaks that are noticeable , burns a little between changes though which I have read is normal for this vehicle. T-belt and water pump yet to be changed. At times there is a noticeable tick in the engine , my one buddy said maybe needs a valve adjustment ? I dunno , anyway cant think of any more backround or current conditions to tell you about now but if you need to know just ask , I will try my best. Anyway to my question. I am scheduling an appointment at a very reputable shop to have the timing belt and water pump changed and I have 1500 to spend max. From everything I have read and heard so far I am estimating between 7-1k for that alone but there are several other things I would like to have done now as well. I know you tech guys probably dont like these type of questions , but I will put a wish list below of everything I would like done. Can someone give me their opinion on if I can get it all done for what I can spend. And if not maybe what you would suggest to omit and what to keep. I know this is very vague and probably hard to judge depending on the shop and rates but anyones best effort would be appreciated.

t-belt / tensioner (maybe a manual swap?)
water pump
ALL filters (fuel-air-oil etc)
ALL Fluids (oil-tranny-brake etc)
FULL tune up (cap-dizzy-rotor-plugs-wires)
Rotors / Pads (already have both)
Shocks
Valve adjustment

Thanks a lot guys.....

-Justin

 

at 100K its not a bad idea to replace anything and everything. you are pushing it on the price limits if getting it done at a shop. it cost me $200 for everything i needed, minus a water pump(already had one), for a manual tensioner parts. a shops going to get you for about $300 for parts if you are lucky plus labor. so you are looking at $400 if you are really lucky, but more like $500 just on the T belt, the rest will add up quick. Learning to do this stuff yourself is invaluable.

 

thanks for the response.

so your estimating about $500 for parts/labor on t-belt and water pump at a reputable shop ? Seems lower than what I have heard so far , but hey if thats the case I'll take it.

Just talked to the guy from the shop , will be dropping of the vehicle next tuesday for estimate on all the work Id like to have done.

I have done some more reading on h-t about what else to change when doing t-belt.
I guess its a good idea and relatively cheap to have all the seals replaced while they are in there huh ?


From the list on my first post in this thread , what parts should I make sure are replaced with OEM only ? What parts would you guys recommend , if any , that I should provide to him to make sure Im getting the best quality and continuity.


Thanks again......

 

i would replace all seals, gaskets, fluids, filters and belts with honda OEM parts...i personally try to replace everything i can with honda parts

 

yeah and if you order all the parts from say majestic at once, you'll get a break on shipping, rather than them charging a crap load for each and everything. the more you add to your order, the lower the shipping will go. it will save you money in the long run, if you get what i'm saying. so save up and order everything you can think of at one time.

 

Well I got my Lude back today from the shop. It may just be me but I am still noticing some hesitation , minor as it may be , around the 3k rpm range. I used the search and read up on the topic. Seems as though a few different things worked depeding on the situation , o2 sensor , CAT , knock sensor.....anyway getting the work done wasnt specifically for that issue but I had hoped it would work itself out anyway.

I have 2 questions. Opinions on what I ended up spending for the work I had done. I will post a full list of parts and labor below , and where should I start in terms of fixes to diagnose this slight hesitation. Again maybe its me , I dunno....I can get hyper critical sometimes , wish there was another prelude I could take for a spin to compare!

Thanks guys.

I will be taking some pics this weekend and putting them up in the official thread.
No appearance mods to the vehicle and I dont plan on anything crazy , maybe some classy rims and I sure love that oem lip kit on some of your rides. I do think I found a pretty damn clean stock prelude though. Im sure someone out there will be calling me a ricer for not talking about any engine mods , and I still havent figured out what exactly a ricer is , oh well what the hell do I car what anybody thinks anyway. Cant we just call it wanting to add a little extra style to what is already a pretty handsome vehicle. I mean come on , the lip kit was offered as an option by Honda and the car just begs for a different style rim. This is a daily driver so I just cant see the point in modding the engine but simply keeping it running the best it possibly can. This post has gone way off topic so heres the list below.......Thanks again guys.

LABOR

oil change/filter
coolant system flush/fill
Full tune-up
t-belt / water pump
bleed cooling system
cam seals
adjust valves
replace battery
replace fuel/air filter
replace valve cover gasket


PARTS

air filter
ngk plugs/wires
distributor rotor/cap
camshaft seal
balance shaft seal
crankshaft seal
water pump
valve cover gasket set
a/c - alternator belts
p/s belt
timing component kit
timing belt adjuster
fuel filter
Interstate battery


Total - $1,744.02

Next up is the calipers/pads/rotors and brake/tranny flush.

 

the 3k hesitation is commonly caused by plugged EGR ports. Another possibility is the Ignition control module, but i'd start with cleaning the EGR ports cuz it's a lot cheaper than a new ICM

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JD43 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well I got my Lude back today from the shop. It may just be me but I am still noticing some hesitation , minor as it may be , around the 3k rpm range. I used the search and read up on the topic. Seems as though a few different things worked depeding on the situation , o2 sensor , CAT , knock sensor.....anyway getting the work done wasnt specifically for that issue but I had hoped it would work itself out anyway.

I have 2 questions. Opinions on what I ended up spending for the work I had done. I will post a full list of parts and labor below , and where should I start in terms of fixes to diagnose this slight hesitation. Again maybe its me , I dunno....I can get hyper critical sometimes , wish there was another prelude I could take for a spin to compare!

Thanks guys.

I will be taking some pics this weekend and putting them up in the official thread.
No appearance mods to the vehicle and I dont plan on anything crazy , maybe some classy rims and I sure love that oem lip kit on some of your rides. I do think I found a pretty damn clean stock prelude though. Im sure someone out there will be calling me a ricer for not talking about any engine mods , and I still havent figured out what exactly a ricer is , oh well what the hell do I car what anybody thinks anyway. Cant we just call it wanting to add a little extra style to what is already a pretty handsome vehicle. I mean come on , the lip kit was offered as an option by Honda and the car just begs for a different style rim. This is a daily driver so I just cant see the point in modding the engine but simply keeping it running the best it possibly can. This post has gone way off topic so heres the list below.......Thanks again guys.

LABOR

oil change/filter
coolant system flush/fill
Full tune-up
t-belt / water pump
bleed cooling system
cam seals
adjust valves
replace battery
replace fuel/air filter
replace valve cover gasket


PARTS

air filter
ngk plugs/wires
distributor rotor/cap
camshaft seal
balance shaft seal
crankshaft seal
water pump
valve cover gasket set
a/c - alternator belts
p/s belt
timing component kit
timing belt adjuster
fuel filter
Interstate battery


Total - $1,744.02

Next up is the calipers/pads/rotors and brake/tranny flush.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Next time learn to do some of that yourself. You could have easily saved a ton of money.

Oh and why do you want to replace the calipers? Are they bad? Just get a manual and some tools and change the pad/rotors and flush the brake fluid and you should be set.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by vlang29 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">the 3k hesitation is commonly caused by plugged EGR ports. Another possibility is the Ignition control module, but i'd start with cleaning the EGR ports cuz it's a lot cheaper than a new ICM</TD></TR></TABLE>


Ok so I searched the egr port cleaning on here and it sounds like a fairy involved process , especially for me , oil and brake pad changes are as far as I have ever gone on my own vehicles. A good friend of mine probably has all the tools and he is pretty good with cars , mostly his mustangs though , not much experience with foreign/newer autos. I cant seem to find the link again but thru my searching I found a really nice write up with pictures and all , I think it was a pdf file. Tried searching again but cant seem to find that link again , if someone finds it will you post the link for me. Maybe I will print it out and show him the steps and see if he wants to try and tackle the project with me , if not , what is an average price to get the egr ports cleaned at a shop ?

Thanks for the response....

 

^^ I agree
You spent way too much on stuff you could have done your self.
Battery? seriously? If you can't replace a battery yourself just
If you've got money to burn throw some my way!

I just got my 90k service done with an H23 manual tensioner conversion and a valve adjustment, it cost right around $900 from a local tuner.
Come to find out later I could have saved ~100$ doing the valve adjustment myself, but oh well at least I know its down right.

No one is going to call you a ricer for not doing engine mods. Where'd you get that idea? its retarded.
Put some chrome tezzas on there, some cheap wheels with crappy tires, and an ebay fiberglass body kit that'll only be primered never painted, then we'll call you a ricer, club you over the head and give your car to someone else who'll take better care of it

just sayin

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by integra15 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Next time learn to do some of that yourself. You could have easily saved a ton of money.

Oh and why do you want to replace the calipers? Are they bad? Just get a manual and some tools and change the pad/rotors and flush the brake fluid and you should be set. </TD></TR></TABLE>


I hear ya. Finding the time to learn is my biggest problem , working 6 days a week and trying to plan a wedding with the fiancee are getting in the way. Also I would really like to find someone in my area that would be willing to take the time to do some of those type of repairs with me the first time , I would feel a lot more comfortable attempting them in the future that way.

I guess my want to change the calipers is just me going a tad overboard. I figured if im changing the rotors and pads may as well do the calipers and get a nice new shiny set. The ones currently on there are a little rusty and are not all that pleasant to the eye.

Any suggestions on calipers , or maybe an option to clean them up some ?
I already have the brake pads , and thru my searches on h-t I will prob go with brembo blanks ? Ive read they are cost effective and supposedly oem replacement quality ?

thanks for the response....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kyt &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">^^ I agree
You spent way too much on stuff you could have done your self.
Battery? seriously? If you can't replace a battery yourself just
If you've got money to burn throw some my way!

I just got my 90k service done with an H23 manual tensioner conversion and a valve adjustment, it cost right around $900 from a local tuner.
Come to find out later I could have saved ~100$ doing the valve adjustment myself, but oh well at least I know its down right.

No one is going to call you a ricer for not doing engine mods. Where'd you get that idea? its retarded.
Put some chrome tezzas on there, some cheap wheels with crappy tires, and an ebay fiberglass body kit that'll only be primered never painted, then we'll call you a ricer, club you over the head and give your car to someone else who'll take better care of it

just sayin </TD></TR></TABLE>

Battery was last minute. Guy at the shop called me about 2 hours prior to picking it up and said the car was cranking rough and suggest a new battery. Apparently it was original to the car ! So I told him to throw it in for me , no labor cost. If the vehicle wasnt already there and it needed changing I would have done it myself.

On the topic of the whole ricer thing , some h-t member called me out in one of my first posts on the board because I didnt mention any engine mods while discussing my plans for the car. Somebody in that thread came to my defense though !

 

if youre stilll get the hesitation you can also fix it just by making a block off plate that goes in between the egr valve and the where it connects to the engine.

i also had a hesitation and a loud tick from my engine and it turned out to be a bad exhaust leak so check to see if you see carbon build up around any parts of your exhaust. if you can't see carbon put your hand around any connection points to feel for exhaust gases.

another thing is you'll never get rid of the ticking forever. i think some of what you hear is the injectors. a lot of the honda engines are just loud.

looks like you live close to me too jd. shoulda had me come over and we coulda done the labor!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JD43 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Battery was last minute. Guy at the shop called me about 2 hours prior to picking it up and said the car was cranking rough and suggest a new battery. Apparently it was original to the car ! So I told him to throw it in for me , no labor cost. If the vehicle wasnt already there and it needed changing I would have done it myself.

On the topic of the whole ricer thing , some h-t member called me out in one of my first posts on the board because I didnt mention any engine mods while discussing my plans for the car. Somebody in that thread came to my defense though ! </TD></TR></TABLE>

lol yea if you didn't have to pay for the labor then hell right on, those things are heavy and I've got a bad back. Would have done the same.

here man check this out.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_burner

yonk is right too, Honda engines make a very distinct sound.
If you're used to other cars, especially domestic ones, a honda engine will sound like its ticking. the overhead cams make it even more so
you'll get used to it, and when it really is "ticking" you'll know it.

You should meet up with yonk one day and listen to how his engine sounds.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by yOnKiNaToR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">if youre stilll get the hesitation you can also fix it just by making a block off plate that goes in between the egr valve and the where it connects to the engine.

i also had a hesitation and a loud tick from my engine and it turned out to be a bad exhaust leak so check to see if you see carbon build up around any parts of your exhaust. if you can't see carbon put your hand around any connection points to feel for exhaust gases.

another thing is you'll never get rid of the ticking forever. i think some of what you hear is the injectors. a lot of the honda engines are just loud.

looks like you live close to me too jd. shoulda had me come over and we coulda done the labor! </TD></TR></TABLE>


Thanks for the input. Yah man montrose isnt that far , i woulda thrown ya a case of beer for all the labor


Back to the issue of trying an egr port cleaning for my hesitation problem....
Just got off the phone with Honda and they see a bulletin for the egr clogging as of last year but nothing about a warranty. He created a case number for me and said to
get an estimate from a honda dealership and fax it to honda directly and they will see what they can do to offset the cost for me. Anybody else get this response from them.