I bought a CRX earlier this year and I had the worst luck ever... The seller must have put a smoke stop oil or something because when my dad and I tested it out, it worked great. No smoke or anything. Then for the next 2 weeks, it started smoking more and more and we finally got it looked at. A blown head gasket.

So, we sold it and I got a 1997 Acura TL. I like it but now I have the opportunity to trade it for a '90 CRX Si, with the original motor.

Is there anything I can check to make sure my 1st experience doesn't happen again?

Here is the engine bay:



Ps. Does anybody know what that red wire (going from the battery) is for? What about those hoses near the exhaust headers?

 

red wire is probably for a stereo system

hoses at front are A/C

that car appears to me to be the HF model and not an Si - it has HF intake manifold and EGR valve - has HF radiator and control box on firewall - it does not have the HF valve cover - does the car have a sunroof? all Si models have sunroof

what does the engine identification stamp say it is? - Si is D16A6 - HF is D15B6 - this is where to find the stamp:

 

Yes, it has a sunroof, and I'll be taking a look at the stamp on Saturday. It should be D16A6 for the Si, correct? And B6 for the HF.

Here is the outside:

 

it doesn't appear to have the factory sunroof, which is a steel panel - also doesn't have a rear window wiper - everything under the hood is HF - 90 Si all had rear disk brakes, it doesn't - i say it is the HF model and someone is trying to sell it as an Si

 

That's probably it. I'll look at the stamp and to make sure.

Any tips to make sure it's not a lemon (HF or Si)?

 

have a mechanic inspect it is about all you can do if you are not capable of making the inspection yourself.

whats with all the red wiring strung all over the engine bay?? as far as the hoses near the exhaust the only things i see are the upper radiator hose, the ac lines and the line going to the overflow tank for the radiator.

 

i would want to do a compression test on the engine at a minimum

even if the block stamp says D16A6, i would check to see if it has the HF 8 valve or Si 16 valve head - you can also tell by looking at the head code - the HF code is just above and to the right of the #4 exhaust port and the code is PM8



you can tell whether it is HF or Si by looking at the VIN number, 4th through 6th digits - HF will be ED8, Si will be ED9

personally, i would be leery of it - if they misrepresent the model of the car, what else might there be?

probably has the HF transmission, which isn't a problem if you want an HF, but HF with HF engine and HF transmission is pretty slow - good on gas mileage but not much for performance

 

Both of you really hit the nail on the head

I'll have a mechanic friend tag along, thanks for the help

 

Even if the engine checks out (seriously doubt it will - EGR is a dead giveaway) Decode the VIN and see what the chassis is (sunroof and drum brakes don't belong).
The pink slip or registration might even tell you what trim the car is.

 

If you ask me it's not an Si...

Even if you don't look at under the hood there are a lot of obvious things wrong with the not very detailed pictures...

1.) The sunroof isn't factory - would have to go out of your way to "upgrade".
2.) The "Si" emblem is one of those cheesy eBay ones.
3.) Not only should the '90 Si be rear disk - it looks to be the HF drums. - Again, a lot of work to go backwards.
4.) From what I can see in the blurry pictures in zoom, it's not the Si interior. - Another crap load of work to go backwards.
5.) Black door handles.

Was the car in an accident? It has the '88-89 turn signals. Also, if you look at the cluster (it could have been changed out) and it has a shift light then there you go... All signs point to HF.

 

LOL Wow you guys killed it!!

An HF doesn't bother me but misrepresenting it really bugs me. If it checks out in person I'll ask for cash on his end.. cause he's asking way too much for an HF

 

One other thing - It looks like, but maybe its just the picture, that the inside of the windshield is all fogged up. If thats true then there is pretty good chance that the car is full of water.

 

It's not a 1990 either.

I skimmed and didn't see this posted yet.

EDIT: Just found it at the bottom of N3va's post.

 

HF airbox is a dead giveaway...looks like a straw. Unless you want the HF, keep looking.

 

This ^^

Plus, the extra plastic box against the firewall...found on HF models, not Si's

The car looks to have newer front and rear tail lights, yet still retain the original 88/89 corner lenes and rear bumper

 

I'd bet HF. I just went through this myself (seller had no idea what model the car was).

 

again, look at the VIN number - 10th position

J=88
K=89
L=90
M=91

 

Update:

You guys were 110% right

I don't remember exactly what it was, but the engine was either a B2 or B6... But that's beside the point. The poor thing was leaking oil from all over the place, not to mention spliced wires all over the place held together by butt splices.

When the guy tried to turn it on, it backfired once, then it turned on and white smoke came out. Upon closer inspection, both front and rear bumpers were screwed onto the body.

The interior was 3-4/10. Someone melted... melted... a cup holder onto the dash, where the cig lighter is supposed to be. They also installed a clock.

We couldn't run fast enough from that one

 

how much was the guy asking for this car?