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Yes, for the day the CD player laser/carousel conks. Till then I just use CDRs, take a few minutes to burn/re-use.

Hello,
Did you ever have to replace the engine mounts which have been reported by many people ? Also did you face any major repiars related to suspension and steering components.I would certainly love to know if you have any particular driving style as i would like to my car last as long with min trouble.I was suprised to read that GTO's Civic had to need a mount replacment in just 30K hence i want to know is there any special way you drive the car.

thanks

None whatsoever!
Maybe I am lucky, but I had none of the problems many have reported here, so far.

I will be finishing 1,05,000 kms by the end of April.

I am planning a long drive to Goa in May (via Bangalore) and will be doing 2,600+ kms within a week. I will be travelling with my family and hope the car will be 100% reliable.

But I do have my worries as to the reliability, as the car gets older. It will be 5 years old in May 2012 (after all even the Space-shuttle had failed killing Kalpana-chawla).

I will reply to this later.

I've never driven the older Civic (except for a couple of short TDs), but the facelift doesn't solve the under-body scraping problems as much as good technique does. At the end of the day, it is about the combination of wheelbase and GC and unscientifically designed humps (geometry). At best, the new suspension probably allows you to carry 2-3 kmph more speed over a hump.

It has happened multiple times to me especially when I'm shifting up in a hurry or at very high revs (usually highway driving). I can't reproduce it at will, though. It just happens every once in a while, randomly. I've seen this behaviour from almost all the non-carb petrols I've driven so I didn't really give it more than a passing thought.

Regards,
spadix

The problem is not really scraping of bumps, but actually the soft suspension running out of play when the boot is loaded & there are 2 or 3 passengers in the backseat. When the suspension squats down, ride quality is slightly better than that of a bullock cart (because the rear tyres have no room to move up and down).

Do you face this problem in the newer Civic?

Exactly. Or, put in another way, that suspension upgrade was never intended to solve *this* problem, but the other one you pointed out.

What I've seen with my car is that when there is a full payload of 4/5 passengers and/or luggage, the rear springs hit their bump-stops more often (as is to be expected), but the overall ride is decent. People are always happy with the ride, and these are people who are used to the rear ride quality of cars like the Amby and Indigo which in my opinion offer amongst the best rides on bad roads. That said, bumps filter through.

However, handling is a completely different story. On 2-lane undivided highways, especially on non-ideal road surfaces where the rear end tends to skip and skate, quick overtaking (move out, accelerate, move back in while still accelerating) makes me feel the rear is completely disconnected, lethargic and having a mind of its own. It's really like the car wants to be split at the B-pillar.

I don't experience this behaviour when it's only me or only two of us in the car, but at this lighter load, the rear (while keeping its line intact generally) wallows like crazy over undulations, and skips and skates over sharp bumps/ruts/ridges anyway.

I don't know if a tyre upgrade alone will alleviate these things. I could, for all I know.

Regards,
spadix

My worry too. One reason why I bought the Honda was for its reliability. And I wanted to keep it for alt least 5 years more when I bought it used when it was aged 3. Last 2 years were fairly uneventful sans an engine mount change but I am starting to look for upgrades/downgrades already. I do not want to let it go, but can't afford two cars too. Am pretty much happy with the car except for the steering at high speeds. Okay on a straight line, but on twisties it feels a tad too light.

Never felt the rear misbehaving in my car, except for some pitching when loaded. I rarely have a passenger or luggage at the rear, maybe that is why I do not get to experience this.

Engine mounts, suspension, steering and belt tensioner were chronic problems for the older Civics. From 2007-08 onwards, they made quite a few improvements all around.

@spadix: I feel your problems may stem from badly aligned tires as generally the car holds the road very well. I have seen huge improvements in all areas (ride quality, GC, braking, grip, etc.) simply by upgrading my tires to 205/65/15.

This exists in new Civic with full load.

Yeah, at low loads all I have experienced is the same pitching/wallowing. Do try when fully loaded.

It is possible like @sandeep108 has said that there's something wrong with the alignment of my car's rear wheels, though.

I'll be the happiest if the issues sort themselves out with just WA/WB + tyre upgrade. I have to get the former done soon now. It's due. The latter won't be due for quite some time as the car has done only 24767 kms to-date on the stock tyres, and its running has come down drastically after shifting here (in March it saw < 400 kms :().

Regards,
spadix

If the alignment if off or done badly, or a shunt has not been repaired (aligned) properly, it can create huge issues in modern cars. I remember when the alignment was badly done on my OHC, the car behaved almost like you describe.

I hear a supercharger-like whistle/hiss whenever I accelerate hard. I haven't observed the revs but I am sure I have heard this even in the 3k to 4.5k rpm range.

This sound is audible only if windows are rolled up, AC blower is operating almost silently, audio is turned off and there is silence everywhere. So I've usually heard this only at night or out on the highway (incidentally, the situations where hard acceleration is possible often).

So if we're talking of the same sound, I think it comes stock. :)

Surprisingly, in the situation I described just above, I can sense a similar kind of smell - of something metallic overheating - especially when ambient temperature is a bit high or if the car's been driven hard for a long while. Mine is an M/T. So it's possible that what you say extends for the M/T fluid too (assuming it's the same smell).

What is surprising to me though is that this started happening when the car was just 4-5 months old. I first experienced this in December 2010 (< 5 months old, odo reading < 9k kms) when going up the Tirumala ghat. I distinctly remember both the driver's side and co-driver's side footwells getting really warm too. There were 6 people and luggage in the car so at the time I simply chalked it up to the stress of uphill driving with such load on what was still an engine that was just about finishing its run-in.

However, I've observed the symptoms multiple times later. The SAs as usual said it's nothing to worry about.

Regards,
spadix

Gave cousin's civic for service on 28th March for 60k service at ring road Honda. The OD had 65k on the clock, 11k since last service. Although, we were to get the service done at 15k kms, due to some AC issues and other service needs, gave the car in early. The service Adviser was Rizwan, Asked for Tarun (who helped at the time of engine mount, nice guy) but he was on leave.

Problems reported:-
1. Compressor tripping frequently in bumper to bumper traffic, and on traffic lights. When the car is on move no issues with the cooling.
The engine temperature was noted to be fine and it wasnt increasing in bumper to bumper traffic. Radiator, condenser fans were working fine. Coolant was also in good nick.

In btw, on 3 previous trips to Ring Road Honda where our driver went to the ASC with the car, the problem was noted to be with leaked cooling coil, kaput compresser and low gas.

Gas was checked in front of me and it was fine, cooling coil cannot be leak as the gas was last filled in november would have leaked by now if there was an issue with cooling coil. Compressor works fine in moving car so it can probably be the clutch (when you hear the tuk tuk noise of compressor switching on and off, thats the clutch) of the compressor but not the entire compressor itself.

Before all this, codes were checked in ECU but no issues were found.

Last but not the least it could be the dirty condenser but then I got it cleaned a day before going to ASC, but it still didnt sort the issue.


2. issue: car pulling left despite tire change, the problem is there since day one but there is no uneven tire wear. Answer from Adviser while he was sitting inside the car making job card.

Adviser: Sir, you have for aftermarket alloys (its stock civic sports, with stock alloys painted white by Honda itself).

Me: whats wrong with the aftermarket alloys?

Adviser: they always have issues and the alignment /balancing is never put right.

me: oh I see, and whats with Honda alloys.

Adviser: they are checked for quality and cannot have issues.

me: thats great then, please come out of the car and check the alloys.

Adviser (comes out of the car and see the alloys): Oh they are stock, but you painted them white.

me: Are you new here

Adviser: no

me: if not then you seriously need some training lessons, I want to meet the person who recruited you to this job. These alloys are completely stock, they came in white from factory itself. Why do you guys always give illogical answers without even checking the problem.

Adviser: Sir, i will get this issue checked, any other issue?

3. Replace wiper blades rubber



Work carried out
1. Engine oil change
2. oil filter change
3. Air filter change
4. transmission oil change
5. brake/clutch oil change
6. front bumper removed and condenser cleaned thoroughly. Electrician took a TD of about 5-7kms in bumper to bumper traffic and big traffic lights. Issue resolved to an extent but the results are still not satisfactory. Will get the car checked again in a week or so.

Work not carried out
1. Wiper blades rubber. Why?

Adviser: these are aftermarket wiper blades, cannot replace the rubber

Me: they are stock blades, its not possible

Adviser: no they are not

Me: compare them with any other civic, they are stock, cant you see

Adviser: no sir, I checked.

Me: ok, forget it (I cannot argue with an idiot like you, they are stock wipers)

Paid About Rs. 6,700 for the work carried out and left.


On 30, my cousin was in M2K market in rohini and the car's ignition lock went kaput, the steering was not centered and was locked. He called me at 6 and I went to the market with the second key but all the efforts to start the car went in vain, the key would just not move. Finally called the Honda helpline and they asked us to call Mondial helpline. Gave explicit instructions to Honda and to Mondial that the car cannot be towed until the lock is broken. So, they need to get a technician who can take care of the lock. Mondial towtruck came 2 and a half hours later at about 8:30 and that too without a technician. Result: car cannot be towed

Called the helpline again and they said that it will take another hour for the technician to come and I said please arrange it for tomorrow morning as it was already 9:30 and the car was parked at safe place. Gave Rs 100 to a vodafone store guard to keep an eye on the car and also gave him my number incase there is an emergency.

Left the place at about 9:30 and a denter called us 5 mins later that he is at the spot. Thanks to a service adviser at Wazirpur Honda who arranged for a denter to get to the spot. Went back and the denter was waiting. We opened the car and the denter took out the cover of the steering rod and broke the locks that doesnt allow the steering to move left right. He also separated the ignition lock with immobilizer from the other lock where the tip of the key goes and starts the car. He used first key to get the immobilizer working and 2nd to start the car. Bingo, the car started and we could go anywhere we want. He charged Rs.650 for the same.

Another reason to keep the second key with you on long trips, if the ignition lock goes kaput you will need the second key despite the fact that the lock is broken. Else, you will need to tow the vehicle.

Gave the car for ignition lock change at Ring Road Honda and had a word with Tarun. He checked for new lock set in store and told me that if its not available it will take about 15 days for the lock to be available as Honda is closed for 12 days for stocking (counting or something). He added that Honda is closed twice a year for 12 days for stocking, once in April and other in october. Luckily the lock set was available in stock and Tarun opened the job card. I asked him to check the wiper blades and replace them if possible. He said it can be done.

Next day got a call from Honda for feedback for service and I told them that the experience was pathetic and that the car is at ASC for lock change.

Lady: Sir, the report says that you refused to change the wiper rubber and I was shocked.

Described the lady the attitude if the adviser and how much I insisted on changing the wiper rubber. She apologised and said she will look into it.

Later Adviser Rizwan called and checked who was handling the car but the shameless fellow didnt even apologise.

Finally, Tarun called to say that the car was ready and I can pick it anytime. Went to the ASC and the new lock set including ignition, driver door and boot lock was changed along with new set of keys. The chip inside the keys were original chips but their code was changed from Honda. The wiper rubber blades were also replaced.

Total cost: Around 7k for lock and 1700 labour. Remaining 1300 for wiper blade change. Total damage was Rs.10,065. I would say its not bad because the lock set of Camry (old model) costs about 14k and that of cedia costs about 18k (no immobilizer).

The experience with Rizwan was pathetic but that with Tarun was v good. So, at the end your service experience completely depends on the adviser.

By kaput what exactly went wrong with key ie was it stuck inside or was not going in the key slot or was not turning.What was the cause of the same happening ?

thanks

The main key with remote was being used. My brother said that the key refused to go in. He pushed it a little (very little force) and it went in but then the key was not turning. When I got there with the second key, it refused to go it and we didnt apply any force, but the main key (worn in 3 years/65k kms) was able to go in with little force.

The denter said that its the gears of the lock that were damaged. It usually happens with rigid use of key while inserting and taking it out. He said one needs to be gentle while inserting and taking out the key. However, this is the first instance in any of our cars. Rest, dust and wear and tear also plays its part. Only thing we can do is be gentle with the keys.

The adviser at Ring Road Honda said that its not a common issue with civic but definitely with the new City.