Automotive

Pre-winter maintenance what am i missing?

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  • Jan 5th, 2012 12:13 am
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Banned
Jan 19, 2009
2300 posts
99 upvotes

Pre-winter maintenance what am i missing?

205km on a 1999 civic ex[winter beater]

timing belt+water pump done at 180k
brakes done at 177k

things to do

1.oil+filter+air filter+cabin filter
2.change transmission fluid[dont think its ever been done]
3.fuel filter, spark plug, sparkplug wires distributor cap
4.krown rust-proof
5.4 wheel alignment[last time done was 2010 jan]


somebody mentioned value adjustment? is this a scam?

what am i missing?
18 replies
Banned
Sep 22, 2008
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Dina_E wrote: 205km on a 1999 civic ex[winter beater]

timing belt+water pump done at 180k
brakes done at 177k

things to do

1.oil+filter+air filter+cabin filter
2.change transmission fluid[dont think its ever been done]
3.fuel filter, spark plug, sparkplug wires distributor cap
4.krown rust-proof
5.4 wheel alignment[last time done was 2010 jan]


somebody mentioned value adjustment? is this a scam?

what am i missing?


would you consider them to tick loudly in the morning but less when warm?

hondas tick and i adjusted mines as it bothered me.

check your wiper blades too.

i have the same beater as you but in a 2 door trim unless yours is from the usa.
Banned
Jan 19, 2009
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99 upvotes
packardbell wrote: would you consider them to tick loudly in the morning but less when warm?

hondas tick and i adjusted mines as it bothered me.

check your wiper blades too.

i have the same beater as you but in a 2 door trim unless yours is from the usa.

doesnt really tick but i hear a belt squeek like ticking.
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Dec 20, 2005
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I see you're doing the distributor cap, might as well do the rotor as well.
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May 8, 2005
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Battery: Have it professionally tested, it may be old and on it's last legs. Any idea how old it is ?

Coolant: Have it tested. When ( months ago ) was your last coolant flush ?

Thermostat: You may want to have it tested as well - or even replaced if it's really old ( although, it may have been replaced with the timing belt+water pump service or at your last coolant change )

Wipers: Check them....a new set of ' all season ' ( bracketless ) wipers may not be a bad idea.

Heater / Defroster : Make sure both are working properly.

Brakes: An quick inspection ( service if needed ) may not be a bad idea

Tires: What condition ( tread depth / age ) are they in ? Winters or All-Seasons ?

Well, if you're going to do fuel filter, spark plug, spark plug wires distributor cap.....maybe replace the PCV valve... and have a throttle body service done as well.
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Banned
Sep 22, 2008
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poedua wrote: Battery: Have it professionally tested, it may be old and on it's last legs. Any idea how old it is ?

Coolant: Have it tested. When ( months ago ) was your last coolant flush ?

Thermostat: You may want to have it tested as well - or even replaced if it's really old ( although, it may have been replaced with the timing belt+water pump service or at your last coolant change )

Wipers: Check them....a new set of ' all season ' ( bracketless ) wipers may not be a bad idea.

Heater / Defroster : Make sure both are working properly.

Brakes: An quick inspection ( service if needed ) may not be a bad idea

Tires: What condition ( tread depth / age ) are they in ? Winters or All-Seasons ?

Well, if you're going to do fuel filter, spark plug, spark plug wires distributor cap.....maybe replace the PCV valve... and have a throttle body service done as well.
i don't think they reused the coolant when he did the timing belt at 180K
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packardbell wrote: i don't think they reused the coolant when he did the timing belt at 180K

Perhaps, which is why it's important to know when the timing belt ( and possible coolant change ) was done - which is also why I asked " When ( months ago ) was your last coolant flush ".

Required coolant changes ( due to deterioration of fluid specs ) are more a function of time intervals than km intervals.
" The placebo effect is the most powerful supplement of all "
" The pain of discipline weighs ounces, the pain of neglect weighs tons "
" The best training in the world can't overcome a lousy diet "
TRAIN HARD !!!!
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Dec 23, 2008
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Milton
5pecial_K78 wrote: change your summer washer fluid to winter :)
+1 i remember 2 winters ago where my sentra took awhile to defrost the new layer of ice from the summer washer fluid lol
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spena wrote: +1 i remember 2 winters ago where my sentra took awhile to defrost the new layer of ice from the summer washer fluid lol

Forgot about that one. :)
" The placebo effect is the most powerful supplement of all "
" The pain of discipline weighs ounces, the pain of neglect weighs tons "
" The best training in the world can't overcome a lousy diet "
TRAIN HARD !!!!
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Sep 22, 2008
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poedua wrote: Forgot about that one. :)

that is why i run winter fluid all year round, not need to worry.
Sr. Member
May 17, 2006
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Wow...really? All of this seems a little overboard for a winter beater. Just make sure that the tires are decent, check the wipers, change/check fluids, point it at the first snow covered street and then give 'er!
Jr. Member
Jan 14, 2010
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Toronto
lol...agree with above...is a winter beater, it if moves, you're good.
point of winter beater is to basiclly get you from point a to point b during winter months...

althought its not a bad idea to do preventive maintenace...but thats a bit too much in my own opinion.
you have a 99' civic with 170k, you use it for the winter....is going to rust being a 13 year old car, no point of doing rust proofing.
save those money and spend it on decent repairs/replacement for the winter

good set of snow tires, brake service if requires, winter wiper blades, and a snow brush is all you really need for the beater....
some people will disagree with me because you're skipping service...but in my opinion, a beater is a beater, dont fix until is broken....
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Apr 8, 2008
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vdub07 wrote: Wow...really? All of this seems a little overboard for a winter beater. Just make sure that the tires are decent, check the wipers, change/check fluids, point it at the first snow covered street and then give 'er!

So if buddy can't stop or you can't see him in the snow storm cause his lights are burnt out...your fine with that? It's not just for his safety but everyone else he shares the road with. Prep is key!
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If you park outside, silicone spray on all the door and window seals to prevent frozen door/ window syndrome
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May 17, 2006
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pnyknights wrote: So if buddy can't stop or you can't see him in the snow storm cause his lights are burnt out...your fine with that? It's not just for his safety but everyone else he shares the road with. Prep is key!
Obviously if something is broken it needs to be fixed... that isn't maintenance. But a yearly alignment on a beater? :rolleyes:
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Sep 22, 2008
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vdub07 wrote: Obviously if something is broken it needs to be fixed... that isn't maintenance. But a yearly alignment on a beater? :rolleyes:
my winter beater is in better condition that most people's daily drivers. I do not want to get stranded when it is -20 on the highway or something.
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Oct 9, 2003
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Dina_E wrote: 205km on a 1999 civic ex[winter beater]

timing belt+water pump done at 180k
brakes done at 177k

things to do

1.oil+filter+air filter+cabin filter
2.change transmission fluid[dont think its ever been done]
3.fuel filter, spark plug, sparkplug wires distributor cap
4.krown rust-proof
5.4 wheel alignment[last time done was 2010 jan]


somebody mentioned value adjustment? is this a scam?

what am i missing?

Bumping this back up. I have a 98 Civic SI with 180 000 km. It's time for an oil change and it's frigging coolllld in ottawa. :cry:

Did you end up getting a regular oil change? Wondering if I should get a synthetic oil change just for the winter...
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May 6, 2011
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Scarborough
doing your brake and especially gas line fluids wouldn't be a bad idea especially since it is winter.
Dina_E wrote: 205km on a 1999 civic ex[winter beater]

timing belt+water pump done at 180k
brakes done at 177k

things to do

1.oil+filter+air filter+cabin filter
2.change transmission fluid[dont think its ever been done]
3.fuel filter, spark plug, sparkplug wires distributor cap
4.krown rust-proof
5.4 wheel alignment[last time done was 2010 jan]


somebody mentioned value adjustment? is this a scam?

what am i missing?

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