Brand new Wagon owner! (my first car) PICS ADDED!!
MOD_MAN_EXTREME
Wagonist
So, I finally bought my first ever car. It's an '88 DX Wago with absolutely nothing going on inside of it. Manual locks, manual windows, not even a dashboard clock for the time or a light in the glovebox. In fact everything's manual aside from the transmission (damn Automatics, only thing in my area).
I bought it as I really dig late 80's era Hondas and liked the look of the Civic hatchbacks. But, finding a plain or stock/near stock hatch in my area that wasn't completely destroyed by a 15 year old with a body kit and and complete ghetto rig job on all the other parts is impossible.
So, I've owned it for a week and thanks to NC's retarded laws and such I'm waiting on all my insurance to come through and my license test to come up soon (18 going on 19, never got a license as 90% of my time is spent being broke), so I need a good way to busy my time with maintenance. I took it to the mechanic for an inspection and everything checks out, but there are some things that bug me:
The taillights and headlights are all have leaky gaskets
I have a cracked and chipped right side taillight and front left headlight
I need new gaskets for all the windows (not leaking yet but disintegrating FAST)
I HATE HATE HATE my interior's sun faded blue color (want it black, but I suck with spray cans and extremely so with vinyl dye (bad computer case job a while back))
I likewise also loathe my white exterior (hoping to paint it graphite)
The previous owner had the seats reupholstered in an ugly as hell light blue pleather
The floor liner is practically threadbare and needs to be replaced
Everything is coated in some sort of slick substance (almost like armor-all, but it won't come off unless I scrub like a madman and douse with the hose, tips to get it off?)
My driver's side window is insanely hard to roll down or up and is missing the water liner on the inside
I have no idea how to get the damn jack mounted back in the sub-trunk where it's supposed to me as I don't have the manual for the car
My tailgate door shocks are completely shot and need to be replaced
My interior lights all need replacing (going to get nice and bright white LED's (not the super bright blueish-purple ones))
I want to replace all my head and taillights when I change out the gaskets with modern brighter LED equivalents (again, not the super bright blueish purple jerkoff kind)
The list goes on and on. Tell it to me straight guys, did I buy a lemon? It sure feels like I did.
EDIT!: Pictures now added!
Click here to download all the pics of it I've taken so far (about 30) in one shot:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=IDN6CQGT
Outside view:
I bought it as I really dig late 80's era Hondas and liked the look of the Civic hatchbacks. But, finding a plain or stock/near stock hatch in my area that wasn't completely destroyed by a 15 year old with a body kit and and complete ghetto rig job on all the other parts is impossible.
So, I've owned it for a week and thanks to NC's retarded laws and such I'm waiting on all my insurance to come through and my license test to come up soon (18 going on 19, never got a license as 90% of my time is spent being broke), so I need a good way to busy my time with maintenance. I took it to the mechanic for an inspection and everything checks out, but there are some things that bug me:
The taillights and headlights are all have leaky gaskets
I have a cracked and chipped right side taillight and front left headlight
I need new gaskets for all the windows (not leaking yet but disintegrating FAST)
I HATE HATE HATE my interior's sun faded blue color (want it black, but I suck with spray cans and extremely so with vinyl dye (bad computer case job a while back))
I likewise also loathe my white exterior (hoping to paint it graphite)
The previous owner had the seats reupholstered in an ugly as hell light blue pleather
The floor liner is practically threadbare and needs to be replaced
Everything is coated in some sort of slick substance (almost like armor-all, but it won't come off unless I scrub like a madman and douse with the hose, tips to get it off?)
My driver's side window is insanely hard to roll down or up and is missing the water liner on the inside
I have no idea how to get the damn jack mounted back in the sub-trunk where it's supposed to me as I don't have the manual for the car
My tailgate door shocks are completely shot and need to be replaced
My interior lights all need replacing (going to get nice and bright white LED's (not the super bright blueish-purple ones))
I want to replace all my head and taillights when I change out the gaskets with modern brighter LED equivalents (again, not the super bright blueish purple jerkoff kind)
The list goes on and on. Tell it to me straight guys, did I buy a lemon? It sure feels like I did.
EDIT!: Pictures now added!
Click here to download all the pics of it I've taken so far (about 30) in one shot:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=IDN6CQGT
Outside view:
Comments
Other than that, welcome to the site and congrats on your purchase.
Congrats !!!
! man I'm Jealeous...
for the 1st time in my life
Welcome to the site and good luck with your car. You have found the most valuable resource in the world. It's all here. Just search it out. Where you at in NC? If your close by, I'll be glad to help you out.
I'm right nearby in Statesville!
Thanks to the Repair Manual I've deduced that my model is a "5DR DX" according to Honda, and repairs are looking a lot easier in practice now that I actually have some sort of a guideline for them. Mechanically the car seems to run like a champ and passed the state inspection with flying colors. The only things it seems to need are a new timing belt (The old one is fine and never broke, but I have no maintenance records for it so I'm not taking any chances), fix my dying suspension (shocks feel like solid steel pipes at this point and need to be replaced), repair my rear right bearing (starting to go), change all my dried out and dying rubber seals (windows, doors, lights etc...), and last but not least fix all my lights both inside and out (one has a teeny hole crack in it and the rest seem fine, but have spiderwebbing cracks in them, front left headlight is sunken in slightly on it's mount. Interior dome lights all need new bulbs, thinking of changing the them,the dash lights and all other bulbs with modern LED equivalents).
I've also found that it seems the red Wago's came with Black, Gray or two tone black/gray combo interiors so if anyone wants to trade door panels, interior trim, etc with me or has any leads on a black interior I can swap let's talk! I'll do just about anything to keep myself from looking at this blue anymore, it's most definitely not my color.
There's also a screw stuck in one of the front license plate screw wells I can't get out no matter what I try, tips? I need it gone like last week's trash, the thing just sitting there in my front bumper is driving me nuts.
Here are some pics of both the exterior and interior uploaded to megaupload (there are about 28):
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=IDN6CQGT
Pics have been added to the first post!
I'm 18 (going on 19 in under a month) and I am 100% broke. Average paycheck is $60-$90 at my shitty dead end job, neither I or anybody I know has any knowledge of vehicle maintenance and upkeep, and parts are expensive and from what it seems non-existent for this vehicle, so I'm starting to panic. For example if I had a car of choice it would be a CRX. It was originally the vehicle I was going for, but got swayed towards the Wagovan thanks to it's price, and considering it was completely stock vs. the average destroyed CRX. Whereas the CRX has tons of affordable replacement and aftermarket parts, looks great and is easy to work on from a newbie perspective the Wagovan is a complete mystery to everyone I've asked about it and it's as if it never existed to just about any parts store.
I spent about three hours today going around to every major auto parts store in the area trying to find parts for the thing and either none of them had any in their system or the few they did cost a fortune. I've never owned a vehicle before and the family has been pretty vocal about how they are NOT going to be giving me any help with it so I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. My main problems are that I never noticed the screwy lights until is rained outside one night last week. I walked out in the morning to grab the mail and I just see water leaking out of my lights and this black flaky residue coming out from under all my window and door seals.
From my perspective I am currently freaking out as I have absolutely no idea what to do. I'm not meaning to sound completely frazzled, I'm just a bit worried as I was not prepared for the stuff that happened to it.
We have no tools beyond a few screwdrivers, a hammer, a single wrench that's not adjustable, a clamp and a vice grip. I don't own a tire iron, any ratchets, a jack, drill, etc... etc... I don't exactly have any experience either so think about it from the mindset when you bought your first car. I'm flying completely blind and
I could be it's me going through buyer's remorse, but I'm also just kinda panicking as I can't seem to find any way to make it cost effective for me personally even in regards to just the parts, let alone all the tools and other things I'd need to get.
I need some serious beginner's car help. Should I cut my losses and let it go to someone who can appreciate it or actually try to work on it myself?
To be honest, a source of income is everything when it comes to game. You gotta pay to play. Don't get me wrong though, I am in no way trying to steer you away from keeping this car. I think you have a great start, after all, you can't expect much from a car this old.
What you should do is set your goal, then possibly find a way to fund your goals. I just got my wagon myself. Fortunately for me, I already have a donor car that will bring my wagon to my goal. If the wagon is not your "poison" then I guess sell it, but I doubt you will be able to find a CRX as clean as that wagon for cheaper, let alone the same price.
And to me personally, I have more respect for guys that restore these wagons. They are just a diamond in the rough, shine it up a bit and you'll have yourself a one-of-a-kind monster
When you need to replace something, just google it, Google is your BEST FRIEND. There are so many people out there who actually take the time to do write ups with pics. Some are great and are step by step.
Number 1 in my book when getting into this is buy a nice set of tools that you can probably find at a pawn shop. I am still working off of a $100 Craftsmen 118 piece tool set and it works great, but you can piece a tool set together and save a lil.
The Majority of what I use are as listed:
Strong 3/8's ratchet *snap-on, mac, craftsmen, and such* - shallow and deep socket 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 14mm, 17mm, 19mm.
Stronog 1/2 ratchet - 17mm, 19mm, and 32mm.
Good hammer to pop out ball joints.. Few flat heads and phillips screw drivers, and a box of gloves never hurt.
For old cars, I always keep a good bottle of PB blaster in the garage, never know with these old cars..
ALSO! Get a Haynes/Chilton available at any auto parts store or Amazon.com. It will be your bible and guide you thru everything to where you can later diagnose the vehicles problems yourself.
Hope this helps bud.
The parts I currently have no idea where to get are the headlights, taillights and window seals which I'm gonna need soon as mine are all disintegrating fast.
thats the only way to get to know your car. usually you'll find a lot solutions dropped into your lap as you go by.
not havin' tools or experience using tools, thats your real challenge, not the car or its parts.
now bye
Don't give up on it!!! It runs good - rock it! Even if it looks like a bag of shit right now. There is no rush, just work on it a little along.
I'm here to help!!
It was garage kept for nearly 21 years by this little old lady who gave it to her granddaughter for a 16th birthday present in late November 2009 (according to the title transfer and previous owner's insurance). Her granddaughter put a good bit of mileage on it and never cleaned the interior at all or washed it, but otherwise the car is almost completely mint (dent, scratch and ding free), has a clean title, and has never been in a single accident.
It even still has the factory jack, complete with 2-part tire-iron and holding baggie along with the donut spare in the sub-trunk.
It was originally going for $1800 but I managed to get them down to $1200 after about an hour of negotiating and inspecting it followed by the issues they felt necessary to mention.
Basically it needs a new rear right wheel bearing as the old one is starting to go and a timing belt (just to be sure as the second owner tossed the maintenance records). A new engine gasket kit would be nice as I have no idea when it was last checked or replaced and I don't want to take any chances. The suspension could use an overhaul as it's starting to feel like solid steel poles on each end, but is otherwise bearable.
Honda does have recalls open on 88-91 Civics of all models for a few parts that are prone to failure, so I'm thinking of going and seeing what I can get fixed or upgraded for free. I'll also shoot for a free seatbelt change as Honda's policy is free replacements on seatbelts for the usable lifetime of a vehicle, so I'll see about getting a fresh set of belts in black.
All of that having been said it's basically a car that was taken care of quite well before it was given to someone who didn't give a rats ass about it and started mucking it up. But hey, at least I got it before they slapped a fart can on it and grafted a wal-mart body kit on.
Not to mention that seatbelts wear out after about 5-10 years, and afterwords begin becoming a safety risk where tearing, split seams and stretching render them useless.
There's another one nearby me if you feel like driving to Charlotte, NC:
http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/2187122470.html
There are also a lot in Atlanta as well, including a bunch of RT4WD's!:
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/wat/cto/2191189412.html
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/2143083468.html
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/2126018174.html
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/2127538958.html
In other news, I have no idea how to get my door panels back on in the event I want to get the thing out of the garage. It's been sitting parked for two weeks so I'm getting worried as I don't want it to sit a lot. I still need to paint them black though, but at the same time I have no experience with spray dyes and have only destroyed things I've worked on in the past so I'm nervous about painting anything myself.
Yea the red one I have been talking to the guy.He sent me more pics but it needs a lot of work...Im going to go look at it this weekend to look at the body.If the body is good I will offer him a 900.Its goin to need a rebuilt motor soon so I dont wanna pay a whole lot for that one