Hey, Im gonna go check out a car, and im not gonna have much help. So can anyone give me any tips on what to look for when inspecting a 92 Civic SI Hatch? Any tips...any thoughts! Peace.

 

Do a full examination on the engine, check underneath the body for any rust or damage, check the body for scratches, dents, rust, damages, make sure you check the axles, the suspension, the allignment and all that, and finally check all the components on the inside to see if everything is in working order. I suggest before you buy a used car to take it for a hard boot around the city, and get a mechanic you trust, that you have known for years, who wont screw you over to check it out, because they know everything to look for. Good luck.

 

Do the obvious cosmetic checks.

Also, look for repainted or misaligned pannels that might indicate past accident repairs. Look for any damage to the undercairrage, particularly looking for welded in areas that would also indicate past repairs. It's not as unusual as you might think to find cars that have been welded together from two wreaks and sold as "like new" They arn't and you should'nt even considder one. look for oil or excessive dirt on the oil pan, bottom of the block and transmission housing. Check the CV bools for damage. Check the brake rotors for surface scoring. Check the tires for uneven wear. check the steering rack for leaks and check the tie rod boots at the ends of the rack for damage. check the PS pump for leaks. Check the radiator for leaks. Check the AC compressor and system

Also, the most important thing is to do a test drive. Start the car and check the idle (should be rock steady at 700 RPM). look for smoke from the tailpipe, particularly when you rev the engine. Check for any unusual noises. Check the clutch engagement and the transmission gears.

(of course if you are planning to dump the engine anyway it's condition is less important but it does indicate how well the previous owner took care of the car. It takes a lot of abuse to kill a Honda engine)

On the road, check the handeling characteristics. Does it shake? does the car pull, at cruise, under acceleration or under braking (bear in mind there will be a little torque steer under hard acceleration, this is normal). Are there any wierd squeeks or rattles? a good test is to drive by a jersey barrier or a long wall with the window down and the radio off. The wall will reflect sounds back at you. Oh and check the sunroof. They often start to stick after a while. Mine did until i lubed the **** out of it.

Thats all i can think of. The 5th gen SI hatchback is Hondas best car ever at that price range and a great car to work on. I love mine (although very little of it is stock at this point ;-)

Choose wisely my son

Mike

 

The most important inspection is going to be the frame. Find an auto body shop with certified technicians to do this work. It’s worth the cost. These men and women have the most experience in fixing frame problems. They’re going to know the true condition of the used car’s frame.
used car inspection

 

well, here in the Phils the usual problem of eg hatches are rust on roof and on the chassis near the quarter glass.

since this is an old model rust will be common in some areas

make sure to check as well windshield rubbers (if sealed by wrong silicon material) costs rust too

 

Bushings. Mounts. Cut/Spliced wires. Leaks. Rust. Ask for maintenance records if they have any.