I have a conundrum
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I have a conundrum
i have a 97 accord ex-l v6 that I have had in the family since new. Always had routine maintenance and has always been well cared for. I have the entire service history. But alas, at 275,000 miles a few problems have come up. I have a misfire indicative of engine failure alongside a significant oil leak and recently, trouble starting. This, coupled with the extreme coolant loss has me thinking about fixing her up. I love the car. Truly has been reliable (dare I say fun?) to drive. I’ve had minimal out of the ordinary problems but have no transmission problems (yes, it’s a c27a4 setup) or major engine issues (until the end of this year). But I can have a remanufactured engine, professionally rebuilt transmission (with 80,000 mile warranty) all belts and hoses, major abs service and replacement of modules, sensors, etc. water pump, tires, shocks/struts, new interior speakers, replacement drivers seat, and several minor interior pieces of trim, the heater core and a basic tuneup including plugs wires cap rotor alternator starter and motor mounts fuel injectors and srs unit replaced. (Run on sentence alert^^^). I can do all of this for 10,000 including $2000 in probable incidental costs. My dad is an ex-Honda mechanic of 30 years so he has worked extensively on these cars. He’s agreed to do the work for free, provided I help and pay his old coworker $300 to help. It’s kind of a nostalgic project for them and they expect it to be fun. My question? Should I do this or just buy something newer for $10,000 cash? I REFUSE to finance or lease. I want my car to be my car and I do not see the need to go into debt over such things. But, I really do love my little hondillac. 
She’s been this reliable for this long, who is to say I can’t get a minimum of 150,000 relatively problem free miles, knowing most of the major components have been replaced?
She’s been this reliable for this long, who is to say I can’t get a minimum of 150,000 relatively problem free miles, knowing most of the major components have been replaced? 
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 144
Likes: 11
From: NC
Re: I have a conundrum
My two cents here...
Your comment "a misfire indicative of engine failure" made me chuckle. (I'm unfamiliar that particular misfire, but it sure sounds bad.) The fact that your mind turns contemplatively toward engine replacement and that this somehow garners "conundrum" status smacks of naiveté. Perhaps you might t'shoot the list of symptoms with the possibility of divining from them a much more mundane cause?
The stalwart 5th generation engines will suffer the occasional mechanical malaise which may prompt some serious genuflection, a fact that does not regard age, milage, and diligent maintenance. Honestly, effective t'shooting requires two (maybe three) particular automotive diagnostic pieces of equipment--and the knowledge to both operate them and interpret the results. Those pricey doodads tend to be outside the tool budget of most cost-sensitive shadetree mechanics (I include myself in this group); and I'm presuming from certain clues in your post that you're less of a wrench-type person.
My point here is, I suspect you're completely comfortable delivering your car into the hands of a tech--and there ain't nothing wrong with that. So in that spirit maybe you take yer beloved Accord back to your local(ish), trusted, and independent Honda-centric shop and pay for their assessment. Decide from that datum what your next and most appropriate course of action is--vastly more prudent than dipping your toe into the nebulous realm of internet forums in order to workshop the viability your weirdish speculation. And hey, maybe you'll get lucky and learn that your aged F-series just needs some serious de-carbonization, a new IACV and EGR, and bunch of seals/gaskets. Maybe you'll get less lucky and learn that one or both head gaskets, or your rear main seal need replaced. None of these parts require swapping the engine, btw.
It'll be exponentially more efficient and commensurately less expensive to learn empirically the source(s) of your vexation from an experienced tech than solicit the sans serif opinions of anonymized strangers. Welcome to the forum, btw.
That said...
What codes you gettin..? <smirk>
Your comment "a misfire indicative of engine failure" made me chuckle. (I'm unfamiliar that particular misfire, but it sure sounds bad.) The fact that your mind turns contemplatively toward engine replacement and that this somehow garners "conundrum" status smacks of naiveté. Perhaps you might t'shoot the list of symptoms with the possibility of divining from them a much more mundane cause?
The stalwart 5th generation engines will suffer the occasional mechanical malaise which may prompt some serious genuflection, a fact that does not regard age, milage, and diligent maintenance. Honestly, effective t'shooting requires two (maybe three) particular automotive diagnostic pieces of equipment--and the knowledge to both operate them and interpret the results. Those pricey doodads tend to be outside the tool budget of most cost-sensitive shadetree mechanics (I include myself in this group); and I'm presuming from certain clues in your post that you're less of a wrench-type person.
My point here is, I suspect you're completely comfortable delivering your car into the hands of a tech--and there ain't nothing wrong with that. So in that spirit maybe you take yer beloved Accord back to your local(ish), trusted, and independent Honda-centric shop and pay for their assessment. Decide from that datum what your next and most appropriate course of action is--vastly more prudent than dipping your toe into the nebulous realm of internet forums in order to workshop the viability your weirdish speculation. And hey, maybe you'll get lucky and learn that your aged F-series just needs some serious de-carbonization, a new IACV and EGR, and bunch of seals/gaskets. Maybe you'll get less lucky and learn that one or both head gaskets, or your rear main seal need replaced. None of these parts require swapping the engine, btw.
It'll be exponentially more efficient and commensurately less expensive to learn empirically the source(s) of your vexation from an experienced tech than solicit the sans serif opinions of anonymized strangers. Welcome to the forum, btw.
That said...
What codes you gettin..? <smirk>
Last edited by lothian; Nov 30, 2018 at 06:16 AM.
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 577
Likes: 11
From: Southern New Hampshire
Re: I have a conundrum
Here is my $0.02...
If you want to spend $10,000, I would opt for something like a Gen 3 Acura TL (2004-2008); spend say $6,000 on a clean and relatively low mile model and then put the remaining $4,000 in a bank to be used to refresh stuff like the hoses, belts, tires, brakes, and whatever other incidentals the car may need.
Said another way, no matter how nostalgic, there is no way I would ever recommend someone spend $10,000 on refreshing a 1997 Accord. If you really want to keep driving a 1997 V6 Accord, I would look for a clean used one; you can probably find one for less than $2,000.
If you want to spend $10,000, I would opt for something like a Gen 3 Acura TL (2004-2008); spend say $6,000 on a clean and relatively low mile model and then put the remaining $4,000 in a bank to be used to refresh stuff like the hoses, belts, tires, brakes, and whatever other incidentals the car may need.
Said another way, no matter how nostalgic, there is no way I would ever recommend someone spend $10,000 on refreshing a 1997 Accord. If you really want to keep driving a 1997 V6 Accord, I would look for a clean used one; you can probably find one for less than $2,000.
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 4,818
Likes: 37
From: Looking for SloMofo....
Re: I have a conundrum
The electronics in the vehicle will begin to fail,and there is very few, if any, replacements for some of them. (ICU which controls many convenience functions, reliable aftermarket distributor, reliable rebuilt ECUs) Not to mention the various switches and sensors in the vehicle.
Ive watched the stock of these items slowly disappear over the years and whats left will not provide a trouble free future for your vehicle.
Id call it a wrap and move on.
***My 2 cents as a 21 year Master Mechanic***
Ive watched the stock of these items slowly disappear over the years and whats left will not provide a trouble free future for your vehicle.
Id call it a wrap and move on.
***My 2 cents as a 21 year Master Mechanic***
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 4,818
Likes: 37
From: Looking for SloMofo....
Re: I have a conundrum
My two cents here...
Your comment "a misfire indicative of engine failure" made me chuckle. (I'm unfamiliar that particular misfire, but it sure sounds bad.) The fact that your mind turns contemplatively toward engine replacement and that this somehow garners "conundrum" status smacks of naiveté. Perhaps you might t'shoot the list of symptoms with the possibility of divining from them a much more mundane cause?
The stalwart 5th generation engines will suffer the occasional mechanical malaise which may prompt some serious genuflection, a fact that does not regard age, milage, and diligent maintenance. Honestly, effective t'shooting requires two (maybe three) particular automotive diagnostic pieces of equipment--and the knowledge to both operate them and interpret the results. Those pricey doodads tend to be outside the tool budget of most cost-sensitive shadetree mechanics (I include myself in this group); and I'm presuming from certain clues in your post that you're less of a wrench-type person.
My point here is, I suspect you're completely comfortable delivering your car into the hands of a tech--and there ain't nothing wrong with that. So in that spirit maybe you take yer beloved Accord back to your local(ish), trusted, and independent Honda-centric shop and pay for their assessment. Decide from that datum what your next and most appropriate course of action is--vastly more prudent than dipping your toe into the nebulous realm of internet forums in order to workshop the viability your weirdish speculation. And hey, maybe you'll get lucky and learn that your aged F-series just needs some serious de-carbonization, a new IACV and EGR, and bunch of seals/gaskets. Maybe you'll get less lucky and learn that one or both head gaskets, or your rear main seal need replaced. None of these parts require swapping the engine, btw.
It'll be exponentially more efficient and commensurately less expensive to learn empirically the source(s) of your vexation from an experienced tech than solicit the sans serif opinions of anonymized strangers. Welcome to the forum, btw.
That said...
What codes you gettin..? <smirk>
Your comment "a misfire indicative of engine failure" made me chuckle. (I'm unfamiliar that particular misfire, but it sure sounds bad.) The fact that your mind turns contemplatively toward engine replacement and that this somehow garners "conundrum" status smacks of naiveté. Perhaps you might t'shoot the list of symptoms with the possibility of divining from them a much more mundane cause?
The stalwart 5th generation engines will suffer the occasional mechanical malaise which may prompt some serious genuflection, a fact that does not regard age, milage, and diligent maintenance. Honestly, effective t'shooting requires two (maybe three) particular automotive diagnostic pieces of equipment--and the knowledge to both operate them and interpret the results. Those pricey doodads tend to be outside the tool budget of most cost-sensitive shadetree mechanics (I include myself in this group); and I'm presuming from certain clues in your post that you're less of a wrench-type person.
My point here is, I suspect you're completely comfortable delivering your car into the hands of a tech--and there ain't nothing wrong with that. So in that spirit maybe you take yer beloved Accord back to your local(ish), trusted, and independent Honda-centric shop and pay for their assessment. Decide from that datum what your next and most appropriate course of action is--vastly more prudent than dipping your toe into the nebulous realm of internet forums in order to workshop the viability your weirdish speculation. And hey, maybe you'll get lucky and learn that your aged F-series just needs some serious de-carbonization, a new IACV and EGR, and bunch of seals/gaskets. Maybe you'll get less lucky and learn that one or both head gaskets, or your rear main seal need replaced. None of these parts require swapping the engine, btw.
It'll be exponentially more efficient and commensurately less expensive to learn empirically the source(s) of your vexation from an experienced tech than solicit the sans serif opinions of anonymized strangers. Welcome to the forum, btw.
That said...
What codes you gettin..? <smirk>
Articulate,judicious and accurate!!
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 290
Likes: 2
From: Beavercreek, OH
Re: I have a conundrum
I feel your pain. I have my 02 Accord sitting at the bottom of the drive, waiting for my time and money to get fixed. Realistically I should just junk it and buy a new car ( I also had my sights on the Gen 3 TL). However, I feel compelled to fix it, for nostalgia purposes. So, unfortunately I am in on position to tell you to get rid of it, but, as others have said, take it some where, figure out what is wrong with it and determine from there to fix or move on.
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 577
Likes: 11
From: Southern New Hampshire
Re: I have a conundrum
I feel your pain. I have my 02 Accord sitting at the bottom of the drive, waiting for my time and money to get fixed. Realistically I should just junk it and buy a new car ( I also had my sights on the Gen 3 TL). However, I feel compelled to fix it, for nostalgia purposes. So, unfortunately I am in on position to tell you to get rid of it, but, as others have said, take it some where, figure out what is wrong with it and determine from there to fix or move on.
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Calean007
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Jun 2, 2005 03:23 AM