2002 Honda Civic sounds like a motorboat

debodun

debodun

SF VIP
Location
way upstate in New York, USA
Probably the exhaust system needs attention since it happens when idling. I've already spent $800 this year on it (side window wouldn't work, cam plug leak). If I take it to the dealership, it's going to cost $150 just for them to look at it (they term that a "diagnostic fee"), then they will say the whole exhaust line needs to be replaced; $1500 please (more than the wholesale value). My other option is to take it to where I get my oil changed. They probably wouldn't charge much to just look and be more honest about the the problem is, but since they specialize in Ford cars and quick repairs, may not be able to fix whatever is wrong, then I'd end up taking it to the dealer garage anyway.

Any advice on what to do (besides getting a new car)?
 

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Well we still have a very few good mechanics that still operate their own garage and gas station here. I've had minor work done by one in the past and it was fast and done right the first time.

Oil change guys? Well you have to stay on top of them just to get the right oil and filter installed. Aside from air in the tires I wouldn't trust them. Not even to do a battery test.

However I've found that my dealer is just as competitive if not better on price lately.

The Honda I'd bought in 2002 was a hybrid, so it almost certainly had a different engine. I never had any leaks. I replaced the traction battery, but that's sort of inevitable after a certain length of time. At least it wasn't a great big really expensive BEV battery!

I didn't have window or exhaust problems, but in 2018 I hit a deer that jumped out one night while driving 55 mph, and insurance "totaled" the car considering its age.

At well over 20 years of age though, this car has given you what it owes. Sadly both used and new car prices are sky high (a combination of the Covid years and the BEV push that forced subsidies into the prices of straight ICE and HEV cars).

So pouring more money in probably makes sense, at least to keep it running another few years.

A dealership probably won't even want to touch it, so they might offer a rather high estimate. I'd look for an independent garage, and I'd look in a nearby small suburban area where Civics are really common. Not way out where they tend to hate Japanese makes, but away from a big city a little way.

If you don't have anyone to drive you back home and then to pick it up... maybe find one closer in on a bus line. That's what I'd do, but I have one in walking distance from me.
 

dilettante said:
Well we still have a very few good mechanics that still operate their own garage and gas station here. I've had minor work done by one in the past and it was fast and done right the first time.

Oil change guys? Well you have to stay on top of them just to get the right oil and filter installed. Aside from air in the tires I wouldn't trust them. Not even to do a battery test.

However I've found that my dealer is just as competitive if not better on price lately.

The Honda I'd bought in 2002 was a hybrid, so it almost certainly had a different engine. I never had any leaks. I replaced the traction battery, but that's sort of inevitable after a certain length of time. At least it wasn't a great big really expensive BEV battery!

I didn't have window or exhaust problems, but in 2018 I hit a deer that jumped out one night while driving 55 mph, and insurance "totaled" the car considering its age.

At well over 20 years of age though, this car has given you what it owes. Sadly both used and new car prices are sky high (a combination of the Covid years and the BEV push that forced subsidies into the prices of straight ICE and HEV cars).

So pouring more money in probably makes sense, at least to keep it running another few years.

A dealership probably won't even want to touch it, so they might offer a rather high estimate. I'd look for an independent garage, and I'd look in a nearby small suburban area where Civics are really common. Not way out where they tend to hate Japanese makes, but away from a big city a little way.

If you don't have anyone to drive you back home and then to pick it up... maybe find one closer in on a bus line. That's what I'd do, but I have one in walking distance from me.
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LOL...you haven't seen this car have you ? :D...it's a heap... sorry deb... but it's time...c'mon... trade it in for the ÂŁ100 you'll get for it.. and buy a newer one...

my-car-jpg.216731
 
You've had a lot of good years out of that and the last few have not been good.. you're now paying good money after bad... time to stop...before this car causes you to be stranded somewhere ..or worse..
 
PeppermintPatty said:
Take it to the dealership garage and pay the price it cost to fix it.
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+1

As long as you can afford it I'd just take it to the dealership. Mufflers don't last forever, so it would be reasonable to have to get one every once in a while.

I'm not sure what a reasonable budget is for maintenance for a car, but it seems logical to expect an older car to need more investment more frequently. Personally if the maintenance costs started averaging out to the equivalent of a new car payment, then I'd give up and buy a new car.
 
If money was a problem, I would say drive it until it won’t pass inspection and sell it for scrap.

If you don’t want to buy another vehicle then go to the dealership or a reputable repair shop and get it fixed.

My old hooptie is about to turn 13 and has little value.

I look at the cost per mile of my transportation and not the value of the vehicle.

Sadly, because I only drive about 1,000 miles per year my cost per mile is approaching $5.00.

IMO there is no way to win the car game unless you drive junk and repair it yourself.
 
You say motor boat. Does it also sound like you have an airplane propeller up front? Is this a noise that increases as you increase in speed? If so, you have bad wheel bearings. A shop can quickly test your car for this at little or no cost.

If it is indeed a wheel bearing, the cost of replacement is around $300.
 
hollydolly said:
LOL...you haven't seen this car have you ? :D...it's a heap... sorry deb... but it's time...c'mon... trade it in for the ÂŁ100 you'll get for it.. and buy a newer one...

my-car-jpg.216731
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Well it may not be washed regularly, or waxed now and then. But it doesn't look bad otherwise. I'd get a buff and seal kit to clean up the faded lamp lenses.

I don't see a lot of rust, nothing falling off, no bumper tears, no cracked windows, no sagging corners, no bad tires, no door seals hanging out, etc.

But if it isn't reliable then perhaps it does need retirement.

However on top of high used and new car prices loan interest rates are climbing. On the other hand I'm not sure any of that will be easing soon.
 
I wouldn't take an old car to a dealership.

I drive a 2006 honda accord. When my catalytic converter was stolen a couple years ago, my independent garage mechanics replaced the exhaust with aftermarket parts.

Insurance paid for the whole thing (around $2000) but my car idles noisy when I start it up cold. It runs just fine so...

An old car is worth far more than a new one at today's prices! So my philosophy is to keep it running so long as the motor is good.

My accord cost me &13,000 in 2012. I paid it off in 2016. So if a repair costs $1000 and keeps the car running, it's still cheaper than a new car.
 
I feel for you, @debodun. My car is a 2006. So far it's been in good shape, and I stay on top of maintenance, but I know it won't last forever. And a monthly payment for a new vehicle is out of the question for me. I dread the day when I am facing an expensive repair.

I hope you're able to get it fixed. I'd recommend taking it to a dealership given that I have had good luck with that myself, and poor luck in the past with previous vehicles, taking them to independent repair shops that don't use brand-specific parts.

Good luck!
 
The age of your car is not an asset, and this is not the first time you've had major repairs on the car. If the car was running reasonably well, I'd say keep it, but every few months it's another repair bill. You need reliable transportation. You don't have to buy a 2025 Mercedes, there are used cars. And, yes, used cars can come with problems, as with all cars, that beats the odds of your 22 year old car, but what do you have now?
 
debodun said:
Did you notice that I mentioned it was idling when making the sound?
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Whoops, I missed that! Not the wheel bearings then.

It sounds like the exhaust. Try to find a shop that will fix the leak without total replacement. We have several shops like that. For example, flex pipes rust out every two years or so and the shop I go to will just replace that part for a little over $100.
 
Michael Z said:
Whoops, I missed that! Not the wheel bearings then.

It sounds like the exhaust. Try to find a shop that will fix the leak without total replacement. We have several shops like that. For example, flex pipes rust out every two years or so and the shop I go to will just replace that part for a little over $100.
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Our exhaust had a hole in it right near the resonator. When my husband asked around for someone who could fix it, he was given the address of a guy who just fixes exhausts. He fixed it for $50. A mechanic would charge about $450 - $600.
 
debodun said:
I have an appt. Wednesday morning with a Honda dealership garage. Anyone want to guess what it's going to cost me?
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I had a recall of my Honda years ago and went to the dealership. It was a free replacement of airbag. They came to me after an hour and said I needed all 4 brake pads replaced and they it would cost me $800.00. So I said no. Then I asked what replacing only the front pads would cost and they said $600.00. So I said just change my oil.

I didn't need brakes for about a year later which I had my mechanic replace on the front for $300.00.
 


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