Got Honda, what to do?

LoudCrownVic
5,000+ posts

1/1 of Team Team Team
My family (namely my sister, as it will be her first car) acquired a 91 Honda Accord sedan with a 5 speed. it was a freebie, so don't laugh.

When we went to pick it up, the battery was completely dead, and it had been sitting for three years. it had no gas cap. The air box was full of walnuts that the mice had put there. We cleaned that out and jumped it with one of those battery pack things, and it fired right up on the second turn over. To get it home, we bungee strapped the jump pack to the batter with the clamps still on the terminals and sandwiched it under the hood and tied it down with a rag, so it would be somewhat roadworthy. We started it up again, and tried to get it out of the hole, when it started to choke a little. It backfired hard and a smouldering mouse was launched out of the tail pipe! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wow.gif.23d729408e9177caa2a0ed6a2ba6588e.gif It ran good, but the synchros and the drive-shaft thingamabobs pop and snap when the tires are smoked.

Well, we are calling it the "Mouseburner Project." Is there anyone who has any suggestions on how to turn this utter horror (will post pictures once developed) that smells like death and old beer with a twinge of reefer into an acceptable, even nice car, apart from replacing the obvious? It once belonged to a family friend's mom who passed away, so all out crazy stuff is out. Nice is what we're looking for.

 
Work on the engine and drive line first to catch up on any maintanance it needs, and get it reliable again. If your not sure what to look for, take it to a good Honda shop and let them do a good inspection to see what it needs; tell them it's been in storage for LONG time.

As for clean up, Febre or Lysol and a portable rug cleaner to do the carpet and seats, taking the seats out so you can get to all of the carpet, should take care of the odors.

Cleaned up, fixed, and with a diecent stereo, should be a good car.

 
I've found some interesting extra doodads, such as the trunk has 2 inches of standing water in it, three dead, deccomposed mice in the dashboard... We've been using a shop vac and cheap carpet cleaner with baking soda sprinkled over it.

Is Febre a unique product from Febreze?

And does anyone know a good seat cover for this particular model or should we just get new seats cause the fuzzy stuff is worn off of them?

Last, my sister (after being deafened a time or two with me and my friend's systems), was wondering what a good 12" sub to use for maximum impact and the least spl. She doesn't like loud bass but the kind you can feel in your chest. She wants to do something like "pimp my ride" where they put 3 or 4 across the back of the trunk.

 
Yeah, I'd do all the free labor yourself such as cleaning it.

Then replace oil, fuel, and all other liquids in the car and try it out. Let it run a little while and drive it around the block a few times. Make sure there arn't any leaks.

 
We already drove it for awhile. It runs good but doesn't like the old gas too much.

The only major problem i see with it now the weather seals and the transmission. All the weather seals are really bad and the gears in the tranny grind a little when you shift into them (synchronizer problem?) . It's really funny, my sister is only worried about putting systems and LED's on it and won't help at all cleaning it, and it's her car! I'm going to steal it. Weve run it for hours and the gas guage is unnaffected (and it works).

It has nowhere near the power of my little BMW, but it is so smooth and... Normal that it just drives. Now i see why people love them. No, you cant feel it when you wind it up to 6000 like you can with a V8, and no, you arent going to have spetacular quarter times, but you won't pay out the ass at the pump, and you still have decent power. i hate to say it, but I wish i'd have bought one of these.

Going to develop the pics and put them on soon.

 
I've found some interesting extra doodads, such as the trunk has 2 inches of standing water in it, three dead, deccomposed mice in the dashboard... We've been using a shop vac and cheap carpet cleaner with baking soda sprinkled over it. Is Febre a unique product from Febreze?

And does anyone know a good seat cover for this particular model or should we just get new seats cause the fuzzy stuff is worn off of them?

Actually, I ment "Febreze"; did'nt remember how to spell it. Looks like you got your work cut out for you. As for the seats, my first move would be to scope out the junk yards for ones that are in better condition (Weather seals also). And I know there out there; seen 'em while I was hunting for parts to put my freind's VW Fox back together. Otherwise, find some cheap covers that fit at a parts store. If she wants to spend the money, you should be able to get an interior shop to re-cover them in aftermarket cloth for about $200, then they'll be good as new.

As for the bad gas, you could partially drain the tank, fill it back up with fresh gas, and change the fuel filter--oh, and dump in a couple of bottles of STP heavy duty fuel treatment (Black bottle); you gotta clean the fuel system out. And change the motor oil; it very likely gone to crap! Speaking of oil, the syncro problem might be not enough oil in the gear box; Honda uses motor oil for manual trans oil, and after all this time the oil in the gear box has most likely gone to crap also.

And 3-4 12's in the trunk? I guess it might fit if you don't want/need the trunk anymore. Good SQ without being too strong--hmmm--I think maybe JL W0's or W3's; JL works well in multiples of three, and their lower line stuff does'nt take up much room. Or perhaps one of kicker's lower models. I don't know all of the subwoofer brand lines, so there is possibly other better options. But you should tell her that the more subs it has, the louder it will be. Perhaps one nice Solo-baric 12" L7 would be enough to rattle the car!//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

Have fun; later.

 
This Sunday we are taking all of the carpet out and power washing it and scrubbing the floor with a cleaner that will do anything short of stripping the paint. We found some junkyard seats but they are tan and ours are gray, we might take it over there and see how they look in it.

We bought oil, an air filter, and an oil filter for it last night. Going to see how that makes it run... Where is the drain/fill plug for the tranny???

 
Tranny might just us 80W90 or similar, not sure though.

After you run some fuel system cleaner through it, change your plugs... They probably need it anyways.

And as far as fuel system cleaner, i would recomend Sea Foam, you pour part of it through the brake booster or some other main vaccum line while its running (clears some carbon out of the engine, cleans the valves and such... Then ya pour the rest in the gas tank to clean the fuel system, it smokes like a mother while your pouring it in the intake though.

 
Update: We were running it for twenty minutes to get it warmed up to change the oil, and the battery went dead. The alternator is bad on it, or so it seems to be, so we need a new one. Does anyone know a good way to go about finding a good 140 amp for that car so we can push a system (this seems to be the priority for it's owner at this point.)? or is there a rebuild kit with different guts that will work?

 
Honda alternators are for the most part, throw-away units; gonna have to go aftermarket for a stronger one. http://www.truckperformance.com has "Power master" 110 amp alternators for sale; not cheap though, $400-500 dollars. "Stinger" has probably the most powerful alternators I've found (135-270 amps); but, you have to go to an "Authorized retailer" to fill out an order form. Go to http://www.stingerelectronics.com/web/prods/alternators.asp for more information.

As for the tranny drain plug, it should be right on the underside of the case, possibly on the side of it (hex key plug). The fill plug will be higher up on the side of the case. You might want to consult with a service manual or ask a shop for where the plugs are and exactly what oil to use. As far as I know, all hondas use engine oil for a manual gear box lube; as in 5W-30. I know that might sound too light, but most all manual transmissions in cars and light trucks use a light weight oil. The '97 Honda Del Sol I owned also used 5W-30 for trans oil; I found it a little hard to believe at first, but it's true. Get a manual or ask a shop how much, and what type of oil it uses before tearing into it. I remember how much oil it holds for sure--3 1/2 quarts, I THINK. Don't want to hassle with it? Most good independent shops charge about $35 for a gear box oil change.

While your at the maintenance thing, be sure to check the radiator coolant. If it looks weak, rusty, or has crud floating in it, you need to flush the coolant system and put fresh anti-freeze mix in it. And check the belts and hoses; especially the timing (cam) belt. If the car has not had it done in the last 60-80 thousand miles, it needs to go; if it snaps, it WILL damage the cylinder head.

Keep at it, you'll make a respectable car out of that thing yet. Later. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smash.gif.499e08a4a35ffaf54f4c8194fb8fe8ed.gif

 
Activity
No one is currently typing a reply...
Old Thread: Please note, there have been no replies in this thread for over 3 years!
Content in this thread may no longer be relevant.
Perhaps it would be better to start a new thread instead.

About this thread

LoudCrownVic

5,000+ posts
1/1 of Team Team Team
Thread starter
LoudCrownVic
Joined
Location
Scales Bump, IL
Start date
Participants
Who Replied
Replies
21
Views
1,492
Last reply date
Last reply from
LoudCrownVic
561786595_18427607485102160_7010259965928918509_n.jpg

just call me KeV

    Oct 9, 2025
  • 0
  • 0
561583216_18427455586102160_8141545757991593433_n.jpg

just call me KeV

    Oct 9, 2025
  • 0
  • 0

New threads

Top