I just received a super rare civic over the weekend. Old man traded his 2000 Honda Civic CX hatchback, in super one of a kind mint condition. Only 24,000 original miles, its like a brand new car. Obviously, with such low miles, nothing really needs to be done but I'm going to do a small tune up and want to change the transmission fluid. The fluid is very clean but I'm sure its the original Z-1. I have both Z-1 and the new DW-1. This is where I'm stuck. I'm not sure which to use. I heard DW-1 is better but since the car has such low miles, should I stick with what's already in the transmission?? I just don't want to mess anything up. All suggestions and help would be GREAT! Thank you.

 

If it still drives fine, don't bother. It's hardly broken in.

 

I would like to put new fluid in there as I know its a must to take care of these honda transmissions. Fluid changes every 30K at least. Just wondering which fluid to use or which route to go? Drain once, 3x3?

 

royal purple tranny fluid

 

Just a heads up....miles and condition are two things that are far apart. Just because it has 24k----its still a 13 year old car---

Personally I'd change every belt (including timing belt) as it isn't over mileage wise, however time wise its over due. Then do oils....all of em. Engine, trans, ps, brake, etc.
(Id opt for the DW1, or if you got deep pockets...royal purple)

That goes for alot of parts....particularly anything made out of rubber, Id throughly inspect....tires/gaskets/belts, etc. Think about tires, maybe they got a ton of tread, but maybe they are 9 years old. Tires are all stamped with DOT numbers, that will say date of manufacture. It'll be in a 4 digit format, 0101 = jan 01 0309 = march 09...etc.

Ive said it over and over on here. Low miles doesn't mean great condition. It also depends if it was driven for 1 mile a day for 12 years...or was it drive 18k miles and then parked for 6 years? That makes a huge difference, also was it in a garage, etc etc etc.

 

Took it to the Honda Dealership. All the belts look brand new. It was taken care of to the extreme. Flawless, paint looks brand new. Car looks like it just rolled of the show room floor. Belts have no cracks or wear and we had the timing belt looked at, and it looks new as well. I understand the car is 12 years old, but everything is almost flawless. I will probably changed the belts down the line but right now I'm just going to do spark plugs, wires, and tranny fluid. Carfax show all other maintenance is up to date. This is absolutely one of a kind car, its crazy that I even have it lol.

 

If you don't have any record of the timing belt being changed change it, like yesterday. Btw you really can't tell what kind of shape they're in looking at them on the engine most of the time. I've seen them break and still look fine other than where the belt broke.

I wouldn't bother with plug wires unless you're going to put OEM wires on it, even then I wouldn't bother, those OEM wires almost never go bad.

Btw, my mother had one of these super low mileage civics a few years back. '96 CX hatch, she got it when it was 9 years old with 45,000kms on it (27,962 miles) It belonged to her cousin who bought it new so I know it wasn't rolled back or anything, also in immaculate shape. I ended up having to replace way more stuff over the 6 year or so she owned it than I ever did on the '94 civic that she had for 8 years before that that had close to 200,000kms on it when she bought it. Extremely low mileage cars seem great but they're often lemons. I'm not trying to **** in your cheerios or anything, just trying to give you a heads up.

Edit. I had all service records for the one mom had too, and there were a ton of them. I still have them actually. they're in a folder that's about an inch thick. I even have the original '96 Civic sales brochure.

 

^^ good points. OP, just check and replace everything you need to. Unless you know the previous owner, it is really hard to know why the car has such low miles.
12 yrs old.....2000 miles a year average, less than 6 miles a day. When it comes to low, low mileage cars, I'm really skeptical because only the previous owner knows the history behind them. Good luck and hope all goes well with the car. It's either a gem....or a lemon.

 

Post some pictures of this thing! Your making it out to be so flawless. I'm curious to see it!

 

The original owner kept up with everything! All fluids are new, belts look new, even carfax shows maintenance history, just no timing belt. This is truly a GEM! Ill take pictures right now.

 

I had a 98 civic EX with 175K with all original belts from 98, nothing ever went wrong and those belts looked decent. I cant see a GEM with 24,000 having any major problems with belts, but to be on the safe side, ill change them

 

As I said I would seriously suggest you replace it even if it looks good.

 

Did the PO keep up with everything according to time? or according to mileage?

Its like did they change the oil at 4k miles? or was it every 2 years? mileage is a way of estimating when to do things...if the car is sitting around---and miles aren't rolling, it doesn't mean the parts dont have to be changed. Like coolant for example...coolant that has 24k on it...no problem. Coolant that has 12k years on it...big problem. Just stuff like that,

Timing belts are 60 bucks, and thats about 1500 cheaper then putting a new top end of the motor on.

Either way congrats on the purchase.....just keep an eye out.

 

 

What transmission fluid should I use? Z-1 or DW-1? 3x3 or just one drain and refill?

 

ook damn

 

I ran DW1 in mom's when I replaced the transmission. I couldn't get Z1 anymore so I didn't have much choice. It shifted nice but I have no idea what it was like long term. I just put the transmission in and she sold it a couple of months later (and it really wasn't driven in that two months other than people taking it for test drives.

Very clean car btw.

 

I don't know if anyone else noticed....but what's up with the aftermarket battery and directional tires? Sorry....just pointing it out.

 

ummm it's 12 to 13 years old

 

Yeah the battery is aftermarket and the tires are falken. Pictures don't do this car justice. Interior is so flawless it should have factory wrap on it lol. Drives like a dream, I live this car!!!!

 

Btw, a couple of years ago there was a '93 DX coupe on ebay with 1800 miles on it. It sat in a garage for 16 years. Was super mint as well. NOFX might remember it as well.

 

Ought damn this car is real clean

 

looks good

 

like preludes better but congrats

 

when i think of a 13 year old car with only 24k, i think of how long that car sat, and how long that car sat with all those fluids in hoses.... i would definitely drain the coolant, and possibly replace those hoses.... i bought a mazda with low miles, and i ended up blowing a head gasket because the coolant sat in the hoses so long it started to derteriorated the rubber...