So I bought this 98 CRV-EX from my brother for $400. Its for my daughter who will be 16 next year so I figured I got time to go through and fix what needs to be fixed and clean it up a bit.

I hadn't seen the car in a long time and it appears my brother never washed it since he bought it about 7 years ago. It was disgusting. How the hell was his wife driving this disgusting thing around??

Anyway when I looked in the engine bay I really began to worry. It was very dirty and then I thought hmmmmmmmm if hasn't bothered to clean it in 7 years has he bothered to get the oil changed? So I pulled the dipstick and the oil mark was just below the bottom line and black. Niiiiiiiiccccccccceeeeeee. How the hell was this car still running. Honda FTW!

So first things first I changed the oil. Maybe and I mean a BIG maybe......1 quart of oil drained out. Unfrickenbeliveable! Dropped in 4 quarts of high mileage Pennzoil and threw on a new filter.

BTW - Honda really screwed us DIY owners on the placement of that filter. I mean seriously? And of course the filter that was already in there must have been put on by the Hulk himself. I was struggling with that thing for like an hour. many curse words were uttered and I think small children ran from the area with their ears covered. And of course there is no room to get my filter clamp up in there and turn it. I did finally manage to get the clamp on it at some weird angle and it began to budge a little.

Another interesting thing I found out at the Honda dealership is that the filter for a 98 CRV is the same as the one for an 09 Accord. Hmmmmmm.

So oil was changed and I threw in a new air filter.

I pulled each plug and took a look at it and they all looked old but not bad. I will replace these soon too.

I'm thinking to run some Seafoam through it this weekend and change the tranny fluid (I assume this should be done right?) What fluid do you all use?

Anything else I should take a look at or replace?

I have some strange clunking sound coming from the front suspension when going over large bumps or driveways. Any thoughts on what that might be?

My brother had only 1 key and didn't have the remote to open and lock the doors. How much are these?

Oh and of course the AC doesn't work.

I'm thinking of taking it to a mechanic and asking them to do an inspection and give me a list of what needs attention.

Oh BTW I dropped the car off at a detailer yesterday and they are doing the whole car inside and out so I'm hoping it will look 100% better today.

Here are some quick pics I took of how dirty the car was. There were also some long scratches on the driver side front quarter panel and passenger side rear quarter panel. We will see if the detailer got those out. There is my happy daughter who can't even drive yet but she will be learning in it soon.

 

Has potential my friend

 

Whoa, that's a used car for sure.
My fav color though!

 

Use Honda fluid ONLY in the transmission and should probably change the rear diff fluid also with Honda specific fluid just to be safe. How many miles are on this thing?

 

166,000 miles

She shined up nice

 

DAMN. OEM Carpet and has the table still.
Much cleaner now!

 

Ha Ha....the table yeah. I had heard that CRVs came with a built in table in the back so when I got it home I checked and yep there it was and looked liek none of the previous owners even knew it was there. It was absolutely clean.

So I called my brother and asked him if he knew about the table in the back and sent him a pic of it. He was shocked.....he said he never knew it was back there.

 

Looks good. Nice grab. Yeah having the table is nice. I have 2 lol

 

Mine was much dirtier when I got it. Cleaned up to almost new though with 230k on it. A little love and hardly any money, mine drives like a new car. Yours should too. I am convinced the crv is the best car Honda ever built and I have had multiple crx's, 91 hatchbacks, coupes, even an 07 si sedan. The crv is by far my favorite and I love it more each day.

 

looks like 2 completely different vehicles. good work

 

looks great after getting it detailed!

I read that you needed some alarm remotes. If the car has the OEM Keyless Entry/Alarm installed, you can pick remotes up for that off eBay, or even Autozone (they carry aftermarket replacement remotes that look OEM). You'll just need the FCC ID for the remotes, some browsing through eBay should be able to net you one.

 

That looks amazing
really impressive

 

Cool. Thanks. How do I get the FCC ID?

I thought all EX models had the keyless entry? How can I tell?

 

That thing cleaned up super nice! Whoa!
Love those carpets too! Want!!

I keep checking at pull-apart for the tables, but it seems like those are the first to go when the cars come in. :/

 

i would guess call the dealership with your vin. if all EX's came with remote's i need to call and get one for mine also lol. or just save up and buy a viper system

 

It's funny you mention the Viper system because I noticed a Viper alarm horn in the engine bay and I asked my brother about it. He says it was there when he got it but the previous owner didn't give him a remote for it.

BTW - Anyone know if I have to go to the dealer to get another key? I only have 1 key at the moment.

 

Are the OEM mats hard to come by now? Can't buy at the dealer? I guess I got lucky on the table thing. Like I said I dont think anyone had used it before and my brother didnt even know it was there.

 

I've never seen those before so didn't even look.
Now I'll be on a lookout for sure.
Mine are so much smaller and the driver's one slides around like a ****. :/

 

just go to a Honda dealership with the key. they can cut it by your vin. and ya, the table's are usually either taken out before they get to a salvage yard or people snag them right away.

 

i just took my all weather camo ones outta my Dakota when i got rid of it lol. they look kind of odd in a Honda but work well. had to trim them up a lot to make them fit

 

So i have this clunking sound coming from the front of the car when going over bumps and into driveways. I took a look under the car and all I could see is the pics below. Could that be the cause of the clunking sound? It sounded more like something loose in the suspension.

BTW - What is the problem in the picture below and is there a DIY on how to fix it?

 

I'm no professional, just a novice kid who learned this all along the way so please take my advice just as a grain of salt, if any other members chime in that'd be great!

Some of your bushings look shot.

After doing a little googling, it seems the front sway bar links are common.
I suggest you try removing the front sway bar and taking it for a drive. If the clunking goes away, then it's the bushings.

This bothers me that's why:


If that doesn't work, Lift the vehicle and do a 12-6 and a 3-9 (think of a clockface) shake
If there's play in the vertical test, you have a bad wheel bearing.
If there's play in the horizontal test, you have a bad tie rod.

If the clunking isn't from your bearing, it could be from that driveshaft (halfshaft) / CV axle


P.S, i just noticed you have an NSX.

 

It's all good. I'll take any suggestions. All the bushings look pretty bad thats why I took a few pics of those.

I raised the car and did the wheel check and there is no play.

Anyone know if that's the CV joint that is leaking oil? Any possibility that is where the clunk noise is coming from?

I will pull out the sway bar and see if that is the culprit.

Yes the NSX is pretty sweet

 

That's definitely an unusual amount of grease / oil around the axle. But dunno how to check what is actually leaking. Maybe the manual has something?

 

bad seal around the axel boot