My 2005 Civic with the generic engine now has 115,000KM after 30 months
of non-stop daily use. I put on about 50,000KM a year. Lot's of highway,
maybe 25% city driving. Looking for maintenance suggestions from people
with experience with the same generation of Civic.

From what I read here and various mechanics have suggested, I will do
the timing belt very soon. The car has already had the horrible stock
15" tires replaced with way better Yokohama AVID TRZ's. I had a
"critical" dash light come on 3 months ago and Honda replaced one of the
Oxygen sensors (at my cost). I do regular oil changes and have had a
couple of litres of the AT fluid (genuine Honda) changed during some of
those oil changes.

Here in Canada it seems there are not a lot after-market parts available
yet (Timing belt and other tensioners and idlers). Could not even find a
DYI manual in the stores last time I looked. I will need to keep this
car for at least three more years when in all likelihood it will have
around 250,000KM when I go to sell it.

Looking for what I need to do to it at this point in it's life to stay
trouble-free. Some questions follow.

- Do I need to change the T/belt tensioner at this stage?

- Should the other Oxygen sensor be changed?

- Keep on changing out some of the AT fluid every couple of oil changes
or get a full change out at a dealer?

- What about the coolant and thermostat? I believe it is supposed to be
some sort of long-life (5 year?) coolant in it from the factory.

- How often should you change out the P.S. fluid?

Lot's of questions for one post, but I don't seem to see much about this
generation of Civic in the discussions here (yet). I had a 1992 Accord 4
cyl. for 300,000KM. It was rock-solid, but seemed like a much simpler
technology compared to this Civic. I feel I will need to be much more on
the ball with the pre-emptive maintenance on this car.

Thanks, Mike

 

why@mts.net wrote:
<snip waffle>

do you have an owners manual?

 

jim beam wrote:

> why@mts.net wrote:
> <snip waffle>
>
> do you have an owners manual?
>
No one is regular oil change. Frequent car wash specially under
carriage. Keep the engine bay clean. Whenever noticing something
unusual(noise, smell, etc.) pay attention right away. Prevention is
better than fixing. My '98 CRV is approaching 300K Km. Still drives like
new. My son drives new Subaru WRX, when he tried my CRV couldn't believe
how well it drives.

 

why@mts.net wrote:

> Here in Canada it seems there are not a lot after-market parts available
> yet (Timing belt and other tensioners and idlers). Could not even find a
> DYI manual in the stores last time I looked.

Are you the guy living the 3rd igloo on the right by the big iceberg?
Have you ever heard of "Canadian Tire"? Those huge autoparts stores
popped up like mushrooms all over canada a long time ago. Ever heard of
Haynes manuals or Chilton? Wander into a Canadian Tire and you'll see it
there. Ever heard of UAP Napa? They're in every canadian city. Ever
heard of Princess Auto? Try looking there and you'll be able to find
anything you need for you Honda.

 

Hi Babbler,
thanks for your suggestions. Have tried most of them. Could you do me a
big favor and check with the store where you buy all your repair parts
and see if they carry the following items I am looking for?

If they have them, could you pass along the Brand and part number. There
are probably several 2005 Civic owners with 1.7L engines who would be
appreciative of your help.

- Timing belt tensioner (kit?)
- Maintenance manual

many thanks for help,
Mike

babbler wrote:
> why@mts.net wrote:
>
>> Here in Canada it seems there are not a lot after-market parts
>> available yet (Timing belt and other tensioners and idlers). Could not
>> even find a DYI manual in the stores last time I looked.
>
> Are you the guy living the 3rd igloo on the right by the big iceberg?
> Have you ever heard of "Canadian Tire"? Those huge autoparts stores
> popped up like mushrooms all over canada a long time ago. Ever heard of
> Haynes manuals or Chilton? Wander into a Canadian Tire and you'll see it
> there. Ever heard of UAP Napa? They're in every canadian city. Ever
> heard of Princess Auto? Try looking there and you'll be able to find
> anything you need for you Honda.

 

Run your own errands, it's all out there.

why@mts.net wrote:
> Hi Babbler,
> thanks for your suggestions. Have tried most of them. Could you do me a
> big favor and check with the store where you buy all your repair parts
> and see if they carry the following items I am looking for?
>
> If they have them, could you pass along the Brand and part number. There
> are probably several 2005 Civic owners with 1.7L engines who would be
> appreciative of your help.
>
> - Timing belt tensioner (kit?)
> - Maintenance manual
>
> many thanks for help,
> Mike
>
> babbler wrote:
>> why@mts.net wrote:
>>
>>> Here in Canada it seems there are not a lot after-market parts
>>> available yet (Timing belt and other tensioners and idlers). Could
>>> not even find a DYI manual in the stores last time I looked.
>>
>> Are you the guy living the 3rd igloo on the right by the big iceberg?
>> Have you ever heard of "Canadian Tire"? Those huge autoparts stores
>> popped up like mushrooms all over canada a long time ago. Ever heard
>> of Haynes manuals or Chilton? Wander into a Canadian Tire and you'll
>> see it there. Ever heard of UAP Napa? They're in every canadian city.
>> Ever heard of Princess Auto? Try looking there and you'll be able to
>> find anything you need for you Honda.

 

It's not. And that was my point.

My post said - "Looking for maintenance suggestions from people with
experience with the same generation of Civic."

Sorry you missed that and wasted both our time.

babbler wrote:
>
> Run your own errands, it's all out there.
>
> why@mts.net wrote:
>> Hi Babbler,
>> thanks for your suggestions. Have tried most of them. Could you do me
>> a big favor and check with the store where you buy all your repair
>> parts and see if they carry the following items I am looking for?
>>
>> If they have them, could you pass along the Brand and part number.
>> There are probably several 2005 Civic owners with 1.7L engines who
>> would be appreciative of your help.
>>
>> - Timing belt tensioner (kit?)
>> - Maintenance manual
>>
>> many thanks for help,
>> Mike
>>
>> babbler wrote:
>>> why@mts.net wrote:
>>>
>>>> Here in Canada it seems there are not a lot after-market parts
>>>> available yet (Timing belt and other tensioners and idlers). Could
>>>> not even find a DYI manual in the stores last time I looked.
>>>
>>> Are you the guy living the 3rd igloo on the right by the big iceberg?
>>> Have you ever heard of "Canadian Tire"? Those huge autoparts stores
>>> popped up like mushrooms all over canada a long time ago. Ever heard
>>> of Haynes manuals or Chilton? Wander into a Canadian Tire and you'll
>>> see it there. Ever heard of UAP Napa? They're in every canadian city.
>>> Ever heard of Princess Auto? Try looking there and you'll be able to
>>> find anything you need for you Honda.

 

why@mts.net wrote:
> Hi Babbler,
> thanks for your suggestions. Have tried most of them. Could you do me a
> big favor and check with the store where you buy all your repair parts
> and see if they carry the following items I am looking for?
>
> If they have them, could you pass along the Brand and part number. There
> are probably several 2005 Civic owners with 1.7L engines who would be
> appreciative of your help.
>
> - Timing belt tensioner (kit?)
> - Maintenance manual
>
> many thanks for help,
> Mike


1. don't top post.

2. read the freakin' owners manual. it'll tell you just how premature
you are in wanting to change the belt now.

3. learning how to google a newsgroup might help too.



>
> babbler wrote:
>> why@mts.net wrote:
>>
>>> Here in Canada it seems there are not a lot after-market parts
>>> available yet (Timing belt and other tensioners and idlers). Could
>>> not even find a DYI manual in the stores last time I looked.
>>
>> Are you the guy living the 3rd igloo on the right by the big iceberg?
>> Have you ever heard of "Canadian Tire"? Those huge autoparts stores
>> popped up like mushrooms all over canada a long time ago. Ever heard
>> of Haynes manuals or Chilton? Wander into a Canadian Tire and you'll
>> see it there. Ever heard of UAP Napa? They're in every canadian city.
>> Ever heard of Princess Auto? Try looking there and you'll be able to
>> find anything you need for you Honda.

 

why@mts.net wrote:
> It's not. And that was my point.
>
> My post said - "Looking for maintenance suggestions from people with
> experience with the same generation of Civic."
>
> Sorry you missed that and wasted both our time.

imagine how this outcome might have been different if you'd bothered to
read the owners manual!



>
> babbler wrote:
>>
>> Run your own errands, it's all out there.
>>
>> why@mts.net wrote:
>>> Hi Babbler,
>>> thanks for your suggestions. Have tried most of them. Could you do me
>>> a big favor and check with the store where you buy all your repair
>>> parts and see if they carry the following items I am looking for?
>>>
>>> If they have them, could you pass along the Brand and part number.
>>> There are probably several 2005 Civic owners with 1.7L engines who
>>> would be appreciative of your help.
>>>
>>> - Timing belt tensioner (kit?)
>>> - Maintenance manual
>>>
>>> many thanks for help,
>>> Mike
>>>
>>> babbler wrote:
>>>> why@mts.net wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Here in Canada it seems there are not a lot after-market parts
>>>>> available yet (Timing belt and other tensioners and idlers). Could
>>>>> not even find a DYI manual in the stores last time I looked.
>>>>
>>>> Are you the guy living the 3rd igloo on the right by the big iceberg?
>>>> Have you ever heard of "Canadian Tire"? Those huge autoparts stores
>>>> popped up like mushrooms all over canada a long time ago. Ever heard
>>>> of Haynes manuals or Chilton? Wander into a Canadian Tire and you'll
>>>> see it there. Ever heard of UAP Napa? They're in every canadian
>>>> city. Ever heard of Princess Auto? Try looking there and you'll be
>>>> able to find anything you need for you Honda.

 

babbler wrote:
> why@mts.net wrote:
>
>> Here in Canada it seems there are not a lot after-market parts
>> available yet (Timing belt and other tensioners and idlers). Could not
>> even find a DYI manual in the stores last time I looked.
>
> Are you the guy living the 3rd igloo on the right by the big iceberg?
> Have you ever heard of "Canadian Tire"?

--------------------

Sure, buy a Chilton's there, but DO NOT ALLOW THEM TO TOUCH YOUR HONDA.
I wouldn't trust them to rotate my tires. They'd probably report I
needed SIX new fuel injectors (on my 4 cyl CR-V).
Your owner's manual can be found here:
https://techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/...01_OMANUAL.asp

'Curly'