My 1997 Honda Civic EX has 270,000 miles on the OD. I have just
replaced the timing belt, water pump, and belts. The mechanic says
there's a rip in the CV boot cover, the rear suspension bushings are
worn. The motor mount is broken. Should I have have the suspension
system worked on - or get rid of it? The car still rides pretty good.
I've kept up with the periodic fluid changes. I am hoping that it
will at least make it to 300,000 before I look for another car.

 

Yik Yak wrote:
>
> My 1997 Honda Civic EX has 270,000 miles on the OD. I have just
> replaced the timing belt, water pump, and belts. The mechanic says
> there's a rip in the CV boot cover, the rear suspension bushings are
> worn. The motor mount is broken. Should I have have the suspension
> system worked on - or get rid of it? The car still rides pretty good.
> I've kept up with the periodic fluid changes. I am hoping that it
> will at least make it to 300,000 before I look for another car.

I would say that all three items (CV boot, bushings, engine mount) are
normal wear items, and in no way indicative of the car being ready for
the junk yard. I'd fix it and keep driving.]


--
================================================== =====
A very modest collection of Honda tech info can be found at:
http://www.geocities.com/ng_randolph

 

> I would say that all three items (CV boot, bushings, engine mount) are
> normal wear items, and in no way indicative of the car being ready for
> the junk yard. I'd fix it and keep driving.]

Totally agree! Fixing it is still a lot cheaper than a car payment. It is
still reliable, right?
If you take care of that little car, it can last a long time.

Remco

 

In article <bbs561180j33a5c99dlh5abtvkc22s34fu@4ax.com>,
Yik Yak <jim553@hotmail.com> wrote:

> My 1997 Honda Civic EX has 270,000 miles on the OD. I have just
> replaced the timing belt, water pump, and belts. The mechanic says
> there's a rip in the CV boot cover, the rear suspension bushings are
> worn. The motor mount is broken. Should I have have the suspension
> system worked on - or get rid of it? The car still rides pretty good.
> I've kept up with the periodic fluid changes. I am hoping that it
> will at least make it to 300,000 before I look for another car.
>
>

FIX IT.

That baby will take care of you for a long, long time.

 

"Yik Yak" <jim553@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:bbs561180j33a5c99dlh5abtvkc22s34fu@4ax.com...
>
> My 1997 Honda Civic EX has 270,000 miles on the OD. I have just
> replaced the timing belt, water pump, and belts. The mechanic says
> there's a rip in the CV boot cover, the rear suspension bushings are
> worn. The motor mount is broken. Should I have have the suspension
> system worked on - or get rid of it? The car still rides pretty good.
> I've kept up with the periodic fluid changes. I am hoping that it
> will at least make it to 300,000 before I look for another car.
>

If you're planning on keeping the car and the body/chassis has not been
compromised/bent. You might want to replace the springs and shocks (assuming
they are still original). A tighter suspension will help to keep the tires
healthy (Also return better braking response and handling).

An option for the future, is to replace the engine and tranny (if they ever
fail on you...which may never happen). Here in Toronto, there's several
shops that specialize in replacement for Honda engines.

I wonder if the RSX's seat (or equivalent) will bolt into the 97 Civic? If
so, it'd be huge incentive to keep the car on the road instead of trading
down for a newer version.

Pars
98 Civic Hatch

 

Yik,

I'd be interested in your personal description of the rear suspension
bushings.

My 1991 Civic's rear suspension bushings for the most part look awful: All
chewed up, no doubt due to about a decade of driving in northern U.S.
winters, with plenty of road salt. But I'm pretty sure I'm not going to
replace them until I hear some kind of nasty klunk in the back. I'm aiming
to keep the car for maybe six more years. It has 164k miles on it.

I have an acquaintance who is a courier and routinely puts over 300,000
miles on his cars over say four or five years. So I'd bet you'll make it to
300k miles.

You might be able to forego the rear suspension bushings. (Plus, maybe
they're nothing like my own in design.) Maybe get a second opinion on them
from an independent shop.

"Yik Yak" <jim553@hotmail.com> wrote
> My 1997 Honda Civic EX has 270,000 miles on the OD. I have just
> replaced the timing belt, water pump, and belts. The mechanic says
> there's a rip in the CV boot cover, the rear suspension bushings are
> worn. The motor mount is broken. Should I have have the suspension
> system worked on - or get rid of it? The car still rides pretty good.
> I've kept up with the periodic fluid changes. I am hoping that it
> will at least make it to 300,000 before I look for another car.

 

When replacing your belts and water pump, how many times did you do it
before 270K?

 

On Tue, 19 Apr 2005 12:46:24 -0400, "warlock162" <bray@dwsd.org>
wrote:

>When replacing your belts and water pump, how many times did you do it
>before 270K?

I must have at least did it once before. This definitely wouldn't have
been the first time.