Monday I bought an '89 Honda Accord LX with 215k on the clock from a local dealer for $500. It was advertised on eBay for $500 even though it had a price tag of $3100 at the dealer. As you can see, it was a pretty good deal. Of course, being an older car with high miles there are a few problems and since I don't know as much as I'd like I figured I'd ask you guys before trying to find a good Honda forum because I'm sure there are tons out there.
First and foremost: When the car is started up it idles fine, right around 1000 RPM. After you start driving it it develops a rough idle and barely idles around 200 RPM. It is carbuerated if that matters.
Second, the drivers door does not lock. I pulled the door skin off but I can't really see what is holding it up. I can't lock it with my key, the electronic locks, or the knob on the door. It was too cold out last night to really sit around and fool with it but I looked quickly and I couldn't figure it out. Any ideas?
Next, heat. It has no heat which kinda sucks this time of year. Ideas?
Those are the things that are the most important right now. Thanks for the help.
Well, the locks seem to be frozen? That would be my first guess. Heat.. Probably the heater core is shot.. Maybe a coolant flush would help though. For t he sturtering.. I dunno.. Maybe try some carb cleaner to see if that brings it around some?
Red 2005 Saturn Ion-3 Coupe
wow.......NEVER buy a carbeurated honda those moters are a mess.....good luck with that though
The carb needs adjustment. I'm thinking that the idle is all out of whack. There's a little screw that allows adjustment on the carb somewhere. Turn it until the car idles at 750 rpm. If that doesn't work then it might be that the mechanism that allows the carb's barrels to open when the car idles is worn and weak. It's not an expensive fix, but it's annoying and I don't reccomend doing it yourself unless you like working with little springs that shoot all over the place when you open the carb.
A more pressing problem is your heating though. First thing I'd do is change the thermostat. It's not an expensive fix (Can't imagine it'd more than 8$ or 10$) and it's worth trying just to be on the safe side. If that doesn't work, visually check to make sure the radiator and it's hoses aren't plugged all to hell. If it seems okay, check your fluid for brown chunks that indicate rust and corrosion. If you still don't get anything, have the system flushed, and if THAT doesn't work then you're going to have to get messy and take the dash apart to go look at the heater core. It's probably shot.
The door's probably just cold. Don't worry about it too much. Better a door that won't lock, than one that won't
unlock if you know what I mean right?
Sorry about all those troubles.
honestly i think you paid too much for that car. Those old honda's just arent worth the trouble IMO, sell it and get yourself a lower mileage GM for the same price in much better shape
I suggest you ask this on cb7tuner.com!
when it comes to boobs i need a girl with bad grades cause im tired of all the ones walking around with straight a's
C'mon man. I am from PA I know there are all kinds of better cars than that for $500. You know ones w/ less than 200,000+ on the clock alreay.
05 M6 YJ GTO 1 of 447 12.767@109.93
Just sell it. You are going to dump to much money into that thing to be a beater.
I dont understand why you bought it when you have a decent car already. Winter beater I guess, but... it's a cavalier.
Anyways. The only reason to buy a $500 is because that is all you can afford. If that is the case, drive it till it blows up, and buy another $500 car. Because your just going to create more problems on a car that old by trying to fix the ones you already have.
Tech Tone Blog
Sappy96 wrote:C'mon man. I am from PA I know there are all kinds of better cars than that for $500. You know ones w/ less than 200,000+ on the clock alreay.
Show me one.
Capo di tutti capi wrote:I dont understand why you bought it when you have a decent car already. Winter beater I guess, but... it's a cavalier.
My 'decent' car spun a bearing. KBB value on this car is 3 times what I paid for it. It runs great besides the idle issue, clutch feels great, drives great, door lock works fine I just didn't know how to use it. Turns out it won't lock when the door is open, thats all. I can deal with the idle issue, it would just be nice if it didn't have that problem.
KBB doesn't know what they are talking about.
My dad bought a chevy celebrity w/ the 2/5 and that thing ran pretty good for $500 .
05 M6 YJ GTO 1 of 447 12.767@109.93
