Ok looking at buying a 97-01 crv. Anything crv specific I should look out for? Trans issues, rear dif issues anything like that?

 

They are great cars, very rare for them to have any major components fail. Just need to make sure it's had a valve adjustment, or do one as soon as you get it. The exhaust valves get so tight that's the seats recede into the head.

 

the 97 & 98 V's have 125 hp, the 99-01 V's have 145 hp. that extra 20 is nice to have

 

Yea, aim for 99-01. There are no real issues of 1st gen crv's other than the valve thing. You will probably want to do a timing belt right away though unless the seller has proof of doing it recently. Crv's aren't often owned by car enthusiasts and people ignore timing belts a lot

 

Yea I'm looking for the 99-01 ones. And all general maintenance will be done when purchased. I've owned a lot of Hondas but this will be my first crv.

 

The only real thing to loo at when buying one, is check the drive shaft out. The u-joints light to get play in them, and you can't buy aftermarkets ones the work really.

 

I just bought a 97 CRV last week. Someone had taken care of it, for the most part. The valves were all in spec, but the timing belt had cracks. And once I got it apart, the water pump was leaking and the front crank seal had just started weeping oil. 181k on it so not surprised. At least I got it cheap. The driveshaft on mine had been redone at some point in the past.

One thing I have noticed on all the used CRVs I looked at was worn out sway bar end links. Not hard to replace, but common to be worn out.

 

Diff look at the driveshaft but there is replacement u-joint's just did this myself with no problem's using these Rockford Honda u-joint's from drivetrain America you can also find the same one's on ebay that they sell for alil cheaper. Oh and look out for rear quarter rust I was **** about that when I first bought my crv.

http://www.drivetrainamerica.com/p-2...x?cagpspn=pla&