Honda Civic : Maintenance, Service Costs and Must dos

R2D2 · 20th July 2010, 12:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by lalitk25

Hmmm I said this (removing battery stuff) becasue in old times it was a normal practice in mahindra jeeps, running jeeps without battery (I myself have done this) may be in modern cars too much complex electricals are involved and a sudden increase in alt power can definitely blow anything.....

Yes you could get away with disconnecting the batt in older generation cars with no electronics in them. But that doesnt hold true any more.

Quote:

Originally Posted by laluks

Now with that premise, coming back to the topic of Civic's OEM SF's mostly reported dying around 2.5 years to 3 years, can it be some of the following topics??

1) All similar rated batteries on Civic live only 2.5 to 3 years on normal stock cars in Indian environment and normal usage?
2) Is the vehicle loading the battery and is in strain all the while, resulting in premature death?
3) Will a higher AH rated battery live long in this scenario?
4) and other similar thoughts.

I think its important to remember that OEM batts are built to a price which is why the mfr offers a 6-12 month warranty on them. These batteries are notoriously flaky. Some go on for 3-7 years and some die in 6 - 24 months. And this is what I have noted from personal experience and friends' experience as well.

Modern alts are pretty reliable and efficient and I dont believe that you are straining the battery unless you drive short distances at low speeds, have tons of aftermarket electronic accessories in the car and generally dont maintain the battery. All things being equal, a higher capacity battery should in theory last longer. But then we get into other aspects like size and related fitting problems etc.

Cheers!

ImmortalZ · 20th July 2010, 19:51

I would also check out Battery University as recommended reading.

The reason you do not want to unplug your battery while your car is running is that disconnecting the battery terminals will create an unbalanced circuit that'll send current the wrong way all around and fry a lot of delicate things.

@m4 : The mount issue should've cropped up while in warranty. It's a known issue that goes away after the first replacement.

sgiitk · 20th July 2010, 22:12

What we are driving at is that the battery also serves another additional purpose. It acts as a filter to smooth out the variations, spikes, noise, etc. in the alternator output. Yes, this could be important with modern ECUs. When I was having the problem with the Alternator output (see my Alabaster Silver Civic V AT thread) I saw the bottom of the dash opened up. The wiring to and from the central connection block was far more complex that I could have ever imagined - myriad wires in multiple connectors, thankfully polarized by the pinouts to prevent wrong connections.

ImmortalZ · 21st July 2010, 06:29

And consequently, the wiring looms are seriously more expensive. You get the complete wiring of the car from Honda in three or four major packages. Main engine, auxiliaries, internal and another which I forget. Each of them costs nearly $250. The CAN bus system interconnecting a number of ECUs control everything in the car. The main ECU controls everything from the engine to the air conditioning.

sgiitk · 21st July 2010, 09:44

Yes, Immortalz. I can quite understand. Also, tells me that one day we may fiber optic cable (yes, fibre is spelt this was here) as a data bus in the car, as in aircraft (first civil plane to be FBW was the Airbus 320). Speed if of no consequence, since even the F17 samples the data only 17 times a second, so only weight is! May reduce a hundred kg in weight! CANBUS is the industry standard automotive bus.

shuvc · 23rd July 2010, 14:11

Does anyone know of the paint codes?

I would like to have a small can of Tafeta White handy to touch up very minor nicks/scratches. These do show up quite a bit in a white car.

ImmortalZ · 23rd July 2010, 18:49

Taffeta White is NH-578.

shuvc · 23rd July 2010, 19:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImmortalZ

Taffeta White is NH-578.

Wonderful. Is this of any particular brand?

Where can I buy some, in India.

Found this site Honda Insight*Taffeta White

ImmortalZ · 23rd July 2010, 22:07

There is a shop in Cochin where all the dealers in Kerala source their paints from. Misty Violet Pearl, the paint on my car, is discontinued and this shop got them a new formula that matches almost perfectly. I'll call up the service advisor and see if I can get you contact details.

lalitk25 · 25th July 2010, 23:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by manim

Did more than 500 kms and the blower problem did not come again.

I am on my way back from chd to noida and sitting at sukhdev... Just faced the same problem as mentioned of no air but blower sound as normal..... Seems ice formation is the case but my q is.... Does it means faulty thermostat? If yes then will it be covered in warranty as i am nto comfortable with this issue as it might come again......

lalitk25 · 26th July 2010, 12:16

Update... After having my dinner I used the solution provided in the same thread and used blower only with outside air intake option and after 10-15 min. drive ac started working perfectly fine till Noida and in morning also it was perfect....

Let’s see if this problem occurs again otherwise I think I can forget this as one of problem which occurs rarely.

sgiitk · 26th July 2010, 14:03

@lalitk25: You just proved that it was an iced up evaporator. Reasons can be lint (sometimes leaves) in the evaporator. , I suggest you give the evaporator a really good blast with a portable air blower (or a vacuum on blow). This problem will occur only in the rainy season. Another cause (more common in room splits) is the blower fins getting badly gummed up with lint. Some disassembly may be required to get to the rear side of the evaporator.

lalitk25 · 26th July 2010, 14:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgiitk

I suggest you give the evaporator a really good blast with a portable air blower (or a vacuum on blow). This problem will occur only in the rainy season.

I think you explained it right.
Now my q. is how to clean evaporator from portable air blower.
I do have a portable vaccume cleaner with blower on its rear end can you please explain me how to do this?

rr_zen · 26th July 2010, 14:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by shuvc

Does anyone know of the paint codes?

I would like to have a small can of Tafeta White handy to touch up very minor nicks/scratches. These do show up quite a bit in a white car.

I need help with the paint code for 'Polished Metal Metallic' for my Civic. Have two small scratches to be touched up. Also, from where do we source these? Thanks

vasoo · 26th July 2010, 15:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by rr_zen

I need help with the paint code for 'Polished Metal Metallic' for my Civic. Have two small scratches to be touched up. Also, from where do we source these? Thanks

Most of the paint codes can be googled out. See the link below

2010 Honda Civic Touch Up Paint Colors

Polished Metal Metallic is NH737M

20th July 2010, 19:51	#872
ImmortalZ Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Trivandrum Posts: 2,179 Thanked: 488 Times View My Garage	I would also check out Battery University as recommended reading. The reason you do not want to unplug your battery while your car is running is that disconnecting the battery terminals will create an unbalanced circuit that'll send current the wrong way all around and fry a lot of delicate things. @m4 : The mount issue should've cropped up while in warranty. It's a known issue that goes away after the first replacement.
	() Thanks

20th July 2010, 22:12	#873
sgiitk BANNED Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Gurugram Posts: 7,969 Thanked: 4,788 Times	What we are driving at is that the battery also serves another additional purpose. It acts as a filter to smooth out the variations, spikes, noise, etc. in the alternator output. Yes, this could be important with modern ECUs. When I was having the problem with the Alternator output (see my Alabaster Silver Civic V AT thread) I saw the bottom of the dash opened up. The wiring to and from the central connection block was far more complex that I could have ever imagined - myriad wires in multiple connectors, thankfully polarized by the pinouts to prevent wrong connections.
	() Thanks

21st July 2010, 06:29	#874
ImmortalZ Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Trivandrum Posts: 2,179 Thanked: 488 Times View My Garage	And consequently, the wiring looms are seriously more expensive. You get the complete wiring of the car from Honda in three or four major packages. Main engine, auxiliaries, internal and another which I forget. Each of them costs nearly $250. The CAN bus system interconnecting a number of ECUs control everything in the car. The main ECU controls everything from the engine to the air conditioning.
	() Thanks

21st July 2010, 09:44	#875
sgiitk BANNED Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Gurugram Posts: 7,969 Thanked: 4,788 Times	Yes, Immortalz. I can quite understand. Also, tells me that one day we may fiber optic cable (yes, fibre is spelt this was here) as a data bus in the car, as in aircraft (first civil plane to be FBW was the Airbus 320). Speed if of no consequence, since even the F17 samples the data only 17 times a second, so only weight is! May reduce a hundred kg in weight! CANBUS is the industry standard automotive bus.
	() Thanks

23rd July 2010, 14:11	#876
shuvc Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2005 Location: Kolkata Posts: 2,913 Thanked: 352 Times View My Garage	Does anyone know of the paint codes? I would like to have a small can of Tafeta White handy to touch up very minor nicks/scratches. These do show up quite a bit in a white car.
	() Thanks

23rd July 2010, 18:49	#877
ImmortalZ Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Trivandrum Posts: 2,179 Thanked: 488 Times View My Garage	Taffeta White is NH-578. Last edited by ImmortalZ : 23rd July 2010 at 18:50.
	() Thanks

23rd July 2010, 22:07	#879
ImmortalZ Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Trivandrum Posts: 2,179 Thanked: 488 Times View My Garage	There is a shop in Cochin where all the dealers in Kerala source their paints from. Misty Violet Pearl, the paint on my car, is discontinued and this shop got them a new formula that matches almost perfectly. I'll call up the service advisor and see if I can get you contact details.
	() Thanks

26th July 2010, 12:16	#881
lalitk25 BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria Germany Posts: 190 Thanked: 8 Times	Update... After having my dinner I used the solution provided in the same thread and used blower only with outside air intake option and after 10-15 min. drive ac started working perfectly fine till Noida and in morning also it was perfect.... Let’s see if this problem occurs again otherwise I think I can forget this as one of problem which occurs rarely.
	() Thanks

26th July 2010, 14:03	#882
sgiitk BANNED Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Gurugram Posts: 7,969 Thanked: 4,788 Times	@lalitk25: You just proved that it was an iced up evaporator. Reasons can be lint (sometimes leaves) in the evaporator. , I suggest you give the evaporator a really good blast with a portable air blower (or a vacuum on blow). This problem will occur only in the rainy season. Another cause (more common in room splits) is the blower fins getting badly gummed up with lint. Some disassembly may be required to get to the rear side of the evaporator.
	() Thanks