Hey everyone!

I just purchased my CRX 10/19/2013. The motor is the original with 189k miles on it. It runs mostly fine but needs some minor body work, including a paint job.

Things to fix:
engine shake when accelerating fast
minor scratches and dents throughout exterior
paint chipping off in places (showing previous red paint)
body kit needs to be removed
spoiler needs to be removed
cracks in the taillights
I'll add more as they come up
broken stereo
heater doesn't work (dashboard control is broken)
seats are not original and car thinks my seatbelt isn't on
moonroof shuts when you hit large bumps
slight exhaust smell in cabin
smells as if it's burning richly
slight rust around wheel wells
parking break doesn't work great on hills
remove old tint

Things already fixed:
replaced spark plugs
replaced fuel filter
hatch lift support fixed
new battery
piece on pedal that turns break lights off

Below are images from the day I bought the car:








Shortly after buying it I replaced/fixed some parts.

Immediately I noticed the break lights weren't turning off. I found out off a forum (I believe on honda-tech) about how this little plastic piece breaks off the break pedal. All I did was superglue two pennies together and stick them to the pedal and that successfully hit the break light button.

I also replaced the hatch lift support which I snapped a picture of:

Yay, it stays open without a block of wood now!

I also replaced the fuel filter, after a suggestion from a friend about why the car shakes when you accelerates hard. The car had sat for about a year when I bought it so it's a safe assumption that the fuel went bad. I replaced the filter and that did help the car run better and not idle at 2k anymore. Unfortunately it didn't completely fix the issue. Would anyone have suggestions on why this is happening? I think I'll upload a video of the car so you can hear and see what happens when you accelerate hard. When idling ever so often you do hear a sputter or possibly a misfire every once and awhile.

Overall I really like this car, I just have tons of work to do to it. I want to do a quick fix to make it presentable (un rice), doesn't have to be perfect for now. I would like to eventually fix it up all the way but for right now I need a car I can drive everyday and I'm driving it to my parents house to work on it in their garage since I live in an apartment.

 

I don't think the body kit looks bad. I know the front bumper is gone, but it was fairly tame. The spoiler didn't look bad from what I saw either. Reminds me of the Intergra Type-R wing.

You need a tune up, from what you've said. New distributor cap, rotor, wires, plugs, fuel filter, oil, radiator fluid, transmission fluid, ect. The basic things that go bad. You never know when the last guy changed anything. Don't be scared of it at all either, it's all easy to do.

As far as being presentable, it is! It's a REX. You could have a cardboard body kit and duck tape and I'd still like it.

You're engine shaking could be motor mounts or axles most likely.

Just throwing this out there, but that engine bay looks poorly done I hate that you can see the red in there! But! I am glad someone on this forum has bought a riced out civic like I did! Mine looked a little more rough, but at least I'm not the only one with a body kit right now.

 

80s body kits just havent held their aesthetic appeal, I remember as a kid I loved the wings west one that every crx had...now...eww

I just found my new crx so I know how it feels, I feel even luckier seeing your car though. what color you gonna paint it?

 

Off to a good start! In for more progress!

Also, if you're planning to get new wheels, let me know. I would love to buy those hubcaps from you

 

I agree that the body kit isn't obnoxious. The problem I have with it mostly is it was put in poorly, you can see the screws holding it in. Also I think the spoiler is only glued on as I don't see bolts or screws and it's wobbly when you grab it.

Yeah I've been working on that. I replaced the spark plugs, new fuel filter, and oil. I'm mostly not scared to do anything on a car there are more than enough tutorials online and as long as I don't blow it up it should all work out. Ha.

Ha thanks

Thanks, I'll have to look at that and see if those are bad, I'm sure the mounts are bad since the car is so old.

 

Yeah, I mostly think stock looks fine.

I like the humble brag that your CRX is better I'm not sure what color. My wife wants me to keep it a blue, but I think maybe a silver color. I have time to figure that out though.

 

Thanks. Ultimately I think I'd get new wheels, but those are very low priority since the current wheels work just fine.

 

The current rims definitely work just fine! I upgraded my rims when I went to buy new tires and the tire store wanted like $80 a piece. Screw that! Online I went!

As far as the color, Silver looks nice. The blue isn't bad. But the engine bay isn't painted and I have this feeling like the door jams are probably still red.

Style trends change, people get tired of something and move on. Do whatever you feel like, just get it running good first. There are tons of tutorials online. Definitely get use to google. This website and a couple others usually have good write ups floating around. Also, don't be afraid to use a tutorial written for a different model civic. A lot of the information carries over.

BY THE WAY! Spread this around too, I paint cars for free. You have to be in Florida though. I have a spray gun and compressor. You buy the paint, we can both do body work and I'll spray it for free. Or you can spray with my equipment. I hate seeing multi-color cars on the road because people can't afford a $1000 paint job or even worse they do the $189 in and out in a day paint job and after a year it is falling apart.