Hi you all.

Checking Transmission Fluid dipstick and noticed the fluid is coming out and the dipstick and is hanging inside the hole all loose.

1.)So my question is if the rubber is supposed to be untied or it was wrong stick since i bought the car or it shrink with heat over time, It is totally loose nothing holding it in. The car is 48,300miles and i haven't changed the ATF, just checked with the dipstick and appears to be right on the max top line and looks transparent clear red.

Also surprising but true i never changed the Engine AIR FILTER and i just open it and the bottom of the Filter is insanely dirty black like if it had oil dirt on it, For some reason i was hearing strange vibrating noise coming from the intake. I think i read somewhere recommendation to get a NAPA GOLD filter, is there something else moderated priced or should i go get the NAPA GOLD one?

-Just changed OIL-mobil1-mobil1 oil filter.

-drained Coolant fluid and bought Prestone gallon, is this brand ok?

-Heard brake fluids need flushing but i dont know yet how to do it and it was under MIN line and i refill it with some DOT3.

Next i bought some BRAKE PADS at PEPBOYS cost me $34.99 titanium set, hope this is good, so tomorrow i will be buying Front ROTORS $23 each at PEPBOYS. The current ones are totally bent.

If anyone can suggest me something better good quality but not too priced then let me know.

English not so good and hope someone understand.

 

Personally, I would stick with OEM (or K&N) air filters, and Honda coolant.
I use Hamp oil filters and Honda 5W-20 oil.
The brake fluid should be changed every three years. I had a friend do mine. (lines and all)


I have a manual transmission, and no experience with the automatics. Hopefully someone else can help you with that one.

 

My Fiance's '04 EX sedan has the same floppy dipstick. Didn't seem right to me, but I asked the Honda tech at the local dealership and he said don't worry about it coming out. My only thought is that it is a zero pressure system (the AT) so there won't be any blowout.

As for replacement parts, I just did a tune-up and brake replacement on her car. I ordered all my stuff through instockauto.com - They have the best prices on OEM replacement components direct from the manufacturer, for example they sell the same Nissin pads as OEM, but direct from Nissin for 40% less than the dealership. Same for spark plugs, air filters, etc.

 

Great thanks.

right now checking the instock website for Brake rotors, they have a few different brands. I heard BREMBO is a high quality brake brand isnt it?

They have regular BREMBO rotors $41-each = List price $69
Other brands-------- OPparts $21-each = List price $88 ?

The huge price difference on list prices confuse me, if someone can guide me on which set to get?
I plan to buy the cheapest Rotor set for $22.99 each=$36 pair with rebate coupon at PEPBOY, I dont want to end up buying a lower quality for more.

Also the prestone coolant/antifreeze type i bought at pepboys doesnt specify for Alluminun engine, i just wasted $11 on Coolant ?
instockauto.co have the HONDA genuine coolant too expensive $25.. any recommendation?

 

I try and stay away from "bottom of the bucket" parts. In many cases, you get what you pay for. List price is the Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price (MSRP). The lower of the prices is the price at which instockauto.com sells the items at, which is much less expensive than MSRP, the reason why I shop there.

Will the Prestone antifreeze hurt your motor? No. However, it will not perform nor last as long as the Honda antifreeze. If in doubt, you should always purchase OEM fluids. Some motors are engineered to run on specific blends of antifreeze. The same holds true for transmission fluid, only buy OEM.

Brembo is one of the top names in brakes, they make brakes for Formula 1, Le Mans, and many high performance sports cars like Porsche and Ferrari. With brakes especially, you do not want to cheap out. I use Brembo rotors on my Integra-R, and recommend them for most of my friends. OP-Parts makes OEM replacement rotors, they would be similar to the Pep-boys units you are looking at. I would highly recommend purchasing the Nissin pads for your civic, as they are OEM equipment and are very good construction.

Regards.

 

try wrapping the rubber stopper on the trans dipstick with electrical or duct tape to help seal up the hole. its not an "approved" honda repair but it should stop the fluid leak and help prevent dirt or water from getting in the transmission. while you're in there, changing the ATF is usually a good idea. its easy to do yourself, just make sure you get your fluid from the dealer. 3qts honda automatic transmission fluid.

buy the best brakes you can afford. your brakes and tires are the most important parts of your car. don't go cheap.

 

Thank you all a bunch, im on it

 

Back to problems, having hard time pushing in the brake piston. any tips?

also half of the rubber protector around the piston is missing, any ideas if this is bad or anything that should be done

 

Buy a caliper rebuild kit. (or new calipers)

 

Ok, finished today with the front brakes and they are good now, adjusted the best i can the back drums.The car is braking nicely now BUT still having problems with the noise while moving, Its hard to tell but seems like its coming from the Rear. CIVICs always have road noise but there is something very annoying in it

by the way i bought a new Engine Filter and the car have tremendous power now, its simple but incredible what a dirty filter can do to the engine Horsepower.

Whats next? replace all the rest of the Wheel bearings? replace back drums, Replace pulleys which are making noise already at start, Transmission Oil, Spark Plugs, When does the alternator die?, soon timing belt? what else still a bunch more to name for sure.

Having cars is a pain and the civic turn out to be cheaper than i thought so, i havent finished paying this piece of junk and having all these problems. I used to drive the cheapest V6 Ford f150 2004 at a Job i had long ago and i put 54,000+ and giving it a beating really hard everyday and the only thing they changed was OIL like every 4000-6000miles and Front brake pads once, it was like new when i left the job, bigger vehicles seems like can last longer

 

I found a HILLMAN #4 tapered rubber stopper (1" X 25/32" X 1") at Lowes in the Hardware Dept, sliding drawer section, for my 2001 Honda Civic AT dipstick hole. UPC 0 08236 71715 0

 

My 03 civic dipstick is loose too. But fluid does not come out. It can't fall out either. If you lift it up, it falls back in and self seats itself. I imagine after a long time you might get some seepage from the hole. It does seem like a poor design. My wife had a subaru and the differential had a dipstick just like this. My guess it is let air out if the fluid expands; so you won't blow out seals.

I just keep the area clean whenever I check the fluid; that way dirt won't get in there.

 

mine used to be tight then one day it was really loose...i bought a new dipstick for $7 but i haven't installed it yet.

 

Wow, 12 responses and no one knows!

The 01-05 dipstick is defective, anyone with an auto-trans can just needs to look down and they'll see where the Atf fluid has splashed everywhere. For about $15 you can get the revised dipstick that snaps tight around the dipstick hole, install is a simple DIY lol. I'd recommend everyone get one, its a major improvement for little cash.

Part Number: 25610-plx-003

 

i just installed my new oem honda atf dipstick.. it fits snug again...i guess i bought the old design though. mine doesn't snap around the hole.