Originally Posted by jules
98CoupeV6-thanks for your suggestions. I asked the svc adv last time about new plugs and wires and he said I would not need them until 100,000 miles. I found that hard to believe. Last night my sister was with me and she mentioned the vibration, too, so you can feel it in the passenger seat. I assume the engine is vibrating all the time, it is just more noticible to me when sitting still at a stop. If it were your car, what would you do first? Plugs/wires, idle air control, PCV? When they do that induction service--what is involved? Do they have to disconnect alot of stuff--that maybe was not put back properly? It was doing great before this service...just the gas pedal sticking when the engine was cold. Are Honda's hard to work on in terms of me replacing the parts mentioned above? I will get a new air filter on the way home. I really loved this car--I treated myself to this car after I got a divorce and then 3 months later went home to find my mother dead of a heart attack. I was driving a LeSabre then--great car (I only replaced the battery and changed the oil), but looked like I ought to have Blue Hair--what I call an Old Fart car!! I love this Honda--but am getting very frustrated with not being able to get it fixed. And it was working great til I took it for service. What would you do first? Also, if the computer tells what is wrong with the car...what happens when the computer is the problem? Is the computer able to tell the service people that it (the computer) is the problem? Thanks for your help--jules
Well first off, if you plan on maintaining this car yourself you need to get on top of it better. Buy a service manual (Helms, the 4 cylinder version costs about $60) to help you out with maintenance and know the service intervals. Spark plugs at 100k is fine, your Honda came with platinum tipped plugs. For replacements I'd suggest $2 copper NGK V-Power, as they will provide optimal spark for our type of engine (relatively low compression, normally aspirated) but will have to be changed every 25-30k instead of the 100k on the platinums.
So leave your plugs and wires alone. Change the PCV, I really doubt it'll do anything about it's worth a shot. It only costs like $7. You can check the intake air filter's condition yourself by removing the top of the intake box. As long as it's not black it's fine. It should have been replaced by now, and if not it's definetly due. Check your service records.
I think the
first thing I'd do is drive down to the Honda dealer and bitch up a storm...clearly something they did affected the car and they're not willing to own up to it. Talk to the service manager, and if he doesn't agree to have one of his technicians find out exactly what the problem is demand to talk to a Honda rep. Tell them exactly what you told us, about how much you loved the car and how much this one problem, which started after a routine service, has soured your view of the car and the company. They're generally very generous, especially on a car as new as yours. Vibrating that much is
not normal. So try that.
But no, Hondas aren't difficult to work on. Buying a good service manual is the first step though.