Part Three on my 'new Accord.

[John M.]

Well, I collected the car last Saturday week after it's service and have since done close on 800 miles (mixed driving with some rapid motorway blasts), it's driving very well too and I'm happy with the mpg, averaging 35. As you can see from my original post on the car I wasn't happy with the suspension or the steering but as there was no faults found while the service was being done and no faults recorded at it's NCT test (MoT) 2,000 miles prior, I've put these 'issues' down to characteristics of these Accords compared to the likes of the Mazda & Merc I was driving but, I still don't recall my 6th Gen back in 2001 being the same, possibly age has taken it's toll on this cars suspension in general. Overall the car does feel better since originally driving it, I reckon the two new tyres it got on the front made a worthwhile difference.

Anyway here's an updated detailed account of the work carried out for those interested.

Service: Eng. Oil & Filter, Air Filter, Pollen Filter, Plugs, BFC, Wiper Blades, Timing Belt, Balancer Belt, Tensioner & Pulleys, Crank Oil seal. Checked for OBD codes and a general inspection including a road test. Plus: 2 x Tyres & a n/s Mirror Glass.

I've attended to: Front side light bulb, Hazard Warning Light switch bulb, Remote battery and Injection cleaner (will be using it initially for the next 1,200 miles or so).

Next, the to do list. Some are very important (see items 1-3 ) including a full valet along with claying & polising the paint!

1. Fit Leather St.Wheel - ordered from eBay.
2. Fit Leather Gear Lever gaiter - eBay.
3. Fit plain black alloy JDM Gear Knob - eBay.
4. Cut & Code original new Honda Key - eBay.
5. Fit 'new' Remote case - eBay.
6. Change Fuel Filter.
7. Gearbox oil change.
8. Engine coolant change.
9. Clutch fluid change.
10. PAS fluid change.
11. Set Tappets. Rocker Cover gasket kit - eBay.
12. Strip & clean: ERG valve & Plate, Throttle Body & Air Valve. Fit new Injector seals - Honda for the gaskets and seals from an Fuel Injection specialist.

And them! :

Fit Oil pressure & temperature gauges & look into getting better stereo speakers.

That's it so far!!! :lol:

I've done close on 4,000 miles (now nearing on 89k) since purchasing the car in early Oct and overall the car is going well. I've now attended to:

1. Gearbox oil change.
2. Checked tappets (perfect, no adjustment required on any) and fitted a new Rocker Cover gasket.
3. Fully charged the battery.
4. Changed the engine oil & filter (only 2,000 miles since last change), won't do it again for 5-6,000 miles.
5. Fitted duel tone horns, as the original single tone was very poor.
6. New genuine key cut but not programmed yet & new remote case.
7. Fitted a set of upgraded h/lamp bulbs & sanded/polished both lamps.
8. Fitted leather st.wheel, leather g/lever gaiter, JDM black metal g/knob (too cold!) & leather h/brake cover.
9. Fitted oil temperature & pressure gauges - especially delighted in having a temp gauge.
10.Replaced cigarette lighter bulb.

Still a few bits to do but not having a garage where the car is parked up really doesn't help this time of year.

I have noticed a few problems that have arisen since buying the car. There's now a slight flat spot when taking off in 1st (dodgy lambda sensor?), applying the brakes initially feel poor and I suspect I might have an n/s/f drop link on it way out. I'm still not happy with suspension (too much front end float for my liking) so I'm hoping to fit the new shocks that I have, soon. Also, an engine noise has developed at 1500-2000rpm (sounds like a dry bearing), suspect it's coming from the alternator or pas pump, just hope it's nothing got to do with the cam belt kit that was recently replaced.

That's it for now folks!

 

[Asim]

Hi mate where did you het your horn as mines is sh it lol
And what gearbox oil does it take hahaha

 

[jjmartin349571]

Have you got a photo of the leather gear gaitor fitted mate? I really want one on my Accord but wasn't sure how to fit it

 

[93 accord]

Sweet keep up the good work, sounds like you have resurrected the Accord back to prime condition!

 

[John M.]

Hi mate where did you het your horn as mines is sh it lol
And what gearbox oil does it take hahaha

Duel tone horns from eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/170913790426?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649 , very cheap but work fine and easy to fit but had to makeup a new mounting. You'd be better off getting an original set from the scrapyard, I suspect most of the 2.0lt cars have them.

As for the g/box oil see my post & the comments a couple of months ago!

 

[John M.]

Have you got a photo of the leather gear gaitor fitted mate? I really want one on my Accord but wasn't sure how to fit it

Sorry, I haven't got a photo but it's a nice upgrade. It's very similar to this eBay one http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/250532847474?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649 , and easy to fit.

Remove g/knob and pull up gaiter along with plastic surround panel, remove four screws and then you are left with the gaiter attached to a plastic frame. remove the heavy duty staples that hold the gaiter to the frame and that's it. Fitting the new leather gaiter is just the reverse.

 

[John M.]

Sweet keep up the good work, sounds like you have resurrected the Accord back to prime condition!

No, far from prime condition I'm afraid, just getting it sort of right as I don't want to go overboard as it will defeat the point of it being a cheap car (and I've another costly project waiting to **** my wallet). Still, I'm happy to spend the purchase price again on it but no more. Having said that, the Accord is generally such great value for money if I do end up spending a little too much, I sure won't be upset.

 

[luvmyaccord]

Loving the effort you're putting into your car! How long are you planning on keeping it for?

 

[John M.]

Loving the effort you're putting into your car! How long are you planning on keeping it for?

Thanks Simon. As for how long I keep it for I don't really know. The car it replaced I used it just for driving in Ireland and I kept that for just over 2 years & 50k miles, so hopefully the same.

 

[Stevearcade]

Can we get some pictures to accompany this build please?

 

[John M.]

Sure, I'll get a few photos together but, I wouldn't call it a build. More fix up job with a bit of preventive maintenance along with cheap leather h/brake gaiter cover fitted!

 

[John M.]

Can we get some pictures to accompany this build please?

Photo's of the leather gear lever gaiter & JDM alloy knob with red shift pattern, leather handbrake lever cover, Sport leather steering wheel with red stitching & oil gauges.


http://s1292.beta.photobucket.com/user/JohnAccord00/library/

 

[Roylewaa]

Looking good

Same gearknob as mine B) nice but very cold this time of year :lol:

 

[John M.]

Looking good

Same gearknob as mine B) nice but very cold this time of year :lol:

There's cold & cold but, that knob feels freezing in the mornings! I wanted a black leather but couldn't find a nice after market job and wouldn't pay the silly money Honda want. So, cold hand it is!

 

[luvmyaccord]

I like the gauges. Especially the position of them.

 

[John M.]

I like the gauges. Especially the position of them.

Cheers.


There was other places to mount them like below the stereo or on the A pillar using pods (which I hate with a passion). I wanted them to be mounted reasonably discreet but easily visible, thus their location.

 

[shab_the_man]

Yes second the gauges, very nice indeed. What do they show?

 

[vile]

Looking good John and well done with these mods.

 

[luvmyaccord]

I'm guessing oil pressure and oil temp?

 

[John M.]

I'm guessing oil pressure and oil temp?

100% correct, Simon. For me the temp is the most important as I really dislike going above 3000rpm @ less than 80C. I have an old Merc with 196,000 on it (and had a few older cars than that too) and I never had a problem with a really worn short motor or anything due to wear from lack of good lubrication, all cars too were used as intended, the Merc for example hits or goes very close to the 7250 rev limiter fairly often!

 

[John M.]

Looking good John and well done with these mods.

Cheers Brett, even if I think you are being a bit generous with your comments. Now, if I'd fitted the planned a/r/b's & steering rack from an ATR along with decent springs & shocks and some poly bushes your comments would be more inline

 

[marv_ek4]

Gauges looks sweet! Are they elecric or capilary ones? Where do you have the senders fitted?

 

[Asim]

Looks really good mate! How did you do the red stitching on the steering? Yourself or by someone

The Gauges are a good idea too

 

[John M.]

The gauges are electric & the steering wheel is from a Sport model, which come standard with red stitching I understand.

 

[Asim]

That's cool!

 

[TIPEX9]

Gauges look really good, are they hard to fit? How do you do it?

 

[John M.]

Gauges look really good, are they hard to fit? How do you do it?

They are an easy fit, about 2.5hrs work and less if fitting them again. All that's required is an oil filter sandwich plate which take both sensors for the gauges, fit the s/plate and then the o/filter. Using the supplied wiring looms take power from the battery for the gauges and power from the fuse box for the gauges illumination. Job done.

 

[TIPEX9]

Cheers John, this maybe a future mod for me.

 

[John M.]

Cheers John, this maybe a future mod for me.

You're more than welcome.

 

[John M.]

Hello Guys, long time no speak ( lucky you lot :lol: ), hope everybody is doing well or doing someone well! I can't believe my last update on this thread wast January but not surprising really as I've been up to other things.

Well, the Accord is motoring on but it was unused (not good) for three months as I purchased another Merc in April, a C-Class 230 Kompressor. I'm sure you know the score, I was on Ebay having a look around and starting bidding, outbid on several cars including several Preludes, a MK5 and a '91 2.2 Accord, other Merc's and then 'won' the C230K which originally I'd no intention of buying, as they say the rest is history! The Merc wasn't expensive but getting it to a reasonable standard was where the money went along with adjustable shocks & an increase in boost pressure etc. And it's still a work in progress.

Anyway, as for the Accord, it's been back in full time action for the last month, now with 95k miles on it, 11k miles since buying it last Sept. I put the car in early for it's NCT (MOT) in March allowing me to a get a 15 month ticket & it passed with flying colours. I treated it to two front shocks, cheap KYB gas jobbies http://www.mister-auto.co.uk/en/shock-absorber-front/kyb-341255_g900001_a085341255.html , there's a big difference in the handling, originals were fcuked even if there were balanced and that was about it. Oh, yeah had to burn the brakes off it as lying idle for three months induced brake judder due to rust on the discs but o.k. now. The lazy pick that I was, I didn't bother to just strip & clean up the brakes. Also, the I gave up replacing the super duper Ring h/lamp bulbs and reverted to standard bulbs, the light was much improved but the lifetime of the Ring bulbs was poor, three months only (with h/lights always on).

I ordered an OBD 5 pin to 16 pin cable http://cgi.ebay.ie/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130845253607 so I could hook up my OBD2 reader as I have one or two minor flat spots, especially from cold (oxygen sensor?). Nothing else to report, so good news alround, bar the front tyres (Hankook Eco's yokes) which look like I have to replace them again soon, done 11k hard miles so o.k. I suppose - I'll try Bridgestone's this time if the money is right.

Cheers for now.