itt I list everything wrong with my car and you tell me if I should replace it with a used one or fix it and continue driving it.

I have a 2001 Honda Civic

The list
1) I've been in two rear-end collisions at low speeds and now the front frame is bent and rubbing on radiator? I believe.
2) Front rim is bent
3) Catalytic converter doesn't work
4) SMS light is on
5) Automatic lock rarely works on the passenger side door
6) I think he said the fuel injectors are old? I'm not sure but he said it would cost about $700
7)It leaks oil sometimes
8) Recently it started smelling musky after it rains
9)You have to know a special trick to get the drivers seat-belt buckle to work.
10) Over 150,000 miles
11) Probably needs new tires
12) it is really dirty


Any input is much appreciated. Thanks!

6/16/2011 10:54:57 PM

do what you've gotta do to get the CEL off. if it leaks oil, just top it off every now and then.

run it til it absolutely won't run anymore without major work. don't worry about fixing creature comfort and cosmetic bullshit.

[Edited on June 16, 2011 at 10:59 PM. Reason : 150k ain't shit]

6/16/2011 10:58:08 PM

i will give you $600 for it, tomorrow.

[Edited on June 16, 2011 at 11:09 PM. Reason : ok, maybe $500.]

6/16/2011 11:08:49 PM

Technically, its my moms car so I can't sell it.

6/16/2011 11:18:05 PM

pics of car and pics of the problems? Got a repair estimate you can scan?

6/16/2011 11:20:20 PM

From the outside the car doesn't look all that bad, its behind the front bumper hidden. The mechanic only found out about it because he had to remove it to install new headlights. He said I would probably have to replace the frame and estimated around $1000. You know its bad when the mechanic tells you to buy a new car. I don't have any written estimates, just what he told me. It did pass inspection tho after I got the broken headlights replaced. Yay for bladen county not caring about emissions

6/16/2011 11:28:58 PM

SMS is airbag, right? I thought that was SRS?

At a minimum, I wouldn't even worry about 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 12. Some of the other things, I'd have to see.

Actually, I'd care about 12, but I'd wash it and then not have that problem.

6/17/2011 7:40:24 AM

150k + is nothing to worry about if you've replaced the timing belt when you were supposed to.

1. Come-along and a tree.
2. Junkyard sells them all day for dirt cheap.
3. Who the hell cares if you pass inspection?
4. No airbags? Drive a little more carefully.
5. Who the hell cares? Not necessary to get where you're going.
6. What kind of load of crap is that? Does the engine seem to run good? If so, and there are no fuel leaks, WHY? I've NEVER replaced all the fuel injectors on an engine at once (well, I did on my 280ZX, but different circumstances). Fuel injectors don't just get "old"...they can be cleaned. Or every now and then, one just quits.
7. Keep adding oil.
8. You have a water leak somewhere. Where's the musk coming from?
9. But does it work, and can you get in and out of the car reasonably quickly?
10. See above. That means jack shit to me. I have 195k on an Accord, and I've driven an Integra to 264k, a Sentra to 322k, a Stanza wagon to 280k, and a Maxima to 284k.
11. Tires are cheap, relatively speaking, for your car. We all recommend Gower's on South Saunders St. for alignments and front end work, but they also will hook you up on tires.
12. Elbow grease works wonders in this department.

If you need help with this or want a second opinion, let me know.

6/17/2011 8:39:01 AM

If part of the frame is bent and rubbing on the radiator I'd check the coolant level from time to time. Most Honda radiators are plastic and over time can leak from that rubbing. My Integra is on it's 3rd radiator under my ownership.

6/17/2011 9:14:30 AM

This isn't a good time to be taking on a car payment, unless things are going really well for you financially and you don't have big expenses coming up. It sounds like you could push that car for a while.

6/17/2011 9:18:16 AM

Get your boyfriend to fix it......

ah shit.

My friends and family have been telling me that the rim could be flexed back out by putting it on a frame puller...which supposedly wouldn't cost that much. This radiator fretting corrosion is my only concern with the car right now, really, though I haven't taken any time to look at it myself.

I've been reading up on fuel additives recently for work and found that detergents and lubrciants could be added to help clean out gunk. I feel this could help with any problems with the fuel injectors, although it seems a non-issue. Thoughts?

6/17/2011 9:33:58 AM

What reason did the mechanic give for saying that the fuel injectors are bad? Unless your mileage has gone to shit and there's a noticeable loss of power I don't see how you could say they're not running properly.

The 19 year old injectors on my Acura (Honda) are still chugging along just fine.

6/17/2011 9:56:13 AM

sell it to me........or let your husband learn how to work on cars. SOHC civics are the fisher price of automobiles. Parts are everywhere and the penalty for failure is low.

6/17/2011 10:24:51 AM

Thanks for the advice! Maybe I'll drop $1000 on it and try to get the important shit fixed and in the mean time save up for a new car. Play my cards right and I can pay for it without a loan

Maybe I can find a time to take it to zxappeal to get it looked at. I plan on coming to Raleigh some time in July to clean my apartment one last time, so maybe I can bring it by then? I'll keep you posted.

^ I'll let him start on a lawn mower and go from there.

^^ Maybe it wasn't the fuel injectors. My Mom had them recently cleaned out and she said they were really dirty, so I was surprised when he said I needed new ones. :/ I could be wrong, I don't know?

^^^ Fix the loan mower, please.

6/17/2011 3:51:04 PM

Quote :

"I've been in two rear-end collisions at low speeds and now the front frame is bent and rubbing on radiator"

I was about to say something about bad luck and getting insurance money... then i re-read this....
sounds like you need a chauffeur or bicycle

6/17/2011 3:59:43 PM

^ yeah, I blame exams and lack of sleep. Good news is I didn't do a lot of damage to their car, I paid out of pocket, and police were not involved. Also, I live in a small town now with less traffic now.

6/17/2011 4:18:03 PM

I bet the oil leak is something simple like a valve cover gasket, which isn't expensive. The Catalytic converter can be replaced at an exhaust shop with an aftermarket unit. Auto Tops and Interiors right off Glenwood (West street, near the bars) can find leaks. bent rim can be replaced with a junk yard wheel.

just be glad it isn't A/C related. That gets expensive fast.

6/17/2011 4:30:45 PM

^yeah, I've already dealt with the A/C related issues. A Summer with no A/C makes for a bitchy bmel. But that is all better now. I've also had the timing belt replace at 100,000 miles which cost about $1000

6/17/2011 6:41:42 PM

Jesus, on the outside, a timing belt job on a civic including a water pump, pulley and thermostat/coolant only comes out at the most $400, at least in gso. $500 in ral.

That just seems extremely expensive to me.

[Edited on June 18, 2011 at 12:49 AM. Reason : to]

6/18/2011 12:47:03 AM

No kidding. Talk about taking it in the shitter. Actually, that's about a 600 dolla job.

And I can do it for about 350 with parts. 400 tops. TOPS.

6/18/2011 1:20:51 AM

my first thought in response to

"leaks oil sometimes"

was "oil filter torque"

6/18/2011 1:02:57 PM