VERY irritated with Honda Dealer need advice
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 28,282
Likes: 0
From: michigan
Even if the shocks are leaking a bit of fluid, it doesn't need to be replaced until the ride starts to suffer. If you notice the car riding a little more bouncy (like you drive over a bump and the car goes up and down a few times before settling out), then it's time to replace the shocks... until then, I wouldn't worry about it.
The bushings are a matter of preference. You can drive on toasted bushings. The handling will suffer, but if it isn't a big deal to you, it can be a "fix it when I get around to it" sorta thing. I drove on mulched bushings for a couple years... it caused one spinout when I was driving like a jackass, but if you drive like a normal human being, I don't think it's anything to worry about. Eventually they will get to a point where they need to be replaced, but at 70k, I doubt they're there yet.
As for interior rattles... it's a 8 year old economy car. That's just par for the course.
:edit: NEVER go to the dealership for service. They will pound you in the behind.
The bushings are a matter of preference. You can drive on toasted bushings. The handling will suffer, but if it isn't a big deal to you, it can be a "fix it when I get around to it" sorta thing. I drove on mulched bushings for a couple years... it caused one spinout when I was driving like a jackass, but if you drive like a normal human being, I don't think it's anything to worry about. Eventually they will get to a point where they need to be replaced, but at 70k, I doubt they're there yet.
As for interior rattles... it's a 8 year old economy car. That's just par for the course.
:edit: NEVER go to the dealership for service. They will pound you in the behind.
h:
Driving a Turbo 2L Terror
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 4,212
Likes: 0
From: Stafford, VA
Those civics are notrious for bad strut and bad front control arm bushings. Our labor times for those are 3.0 hrs for the bushings and 3.0 for the struts. Here in VA the about 140 each for the struts and 25 each for the bushings. Another thing to look for is the front mounts break alot also, and the driver seats rock because of bad plastic bushing. Also look at the rear shocks, they like go bad also. All in All everything seems about right. Used cars dont carry much of a warrenty. just caulk it up as a lesson learned. BTW im a honda tech