First thing you do after buying a wagon?

Michael-crxsiMichael-crxsi New Wagonist
in General Civic Wagon Discussion
I just bought a 91 rt4wd wagon and was wondering what you guys check and do right after you get them.
I was thing oil change for sure but should I mess with the tranny or rear dif?
I do get a weird vibrating noise from under the car when driving and some times at idle. The guy said it was a loose heat shield but could it be something else? I can't find anything loose.
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Comments

  • bigluelokbigluelok Wagonist
    change oil, coolant, check trans fluid.
    check valve lash. check hoses for leaks
    thats all i can think of right now.
  • absolutetintingabsolutetinting Wagonist
    all that and check or change your timing belt and water pump, thermostat, air filter.

    i used techron twice in the beginning one for every fillup, then once a month.

    your best bet is to seafoam your system.

    my 2cents.

    the noise could be the heat shield along the exhaust between the cat and the rear axel.
  • Michael-crxsiMichael-crxsi New Wagonist
    What's a valve lash?

    Sea foam? Does it help much?
  • absolutetintingabsolutetinting Wagonist
    Seafoam works wonders. Just follow directions.
  • bigluelokbigluelok Wagonist
    valve lash-http://www.ehow.com/about_5102025_valve-lash.html
    valve lash adjustment video- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqMYMskOQQQ
  • absolutetintingabsolutetinting Wagonist
    nice vid.. while the valve cover is off, you can see if there a new timing belt. if it looks new most likely the water pump has been changed, but not guaranteed.
  • Michael-crxsiMichael-crxsi New Wagonist
    I've changed my trans oil on my crx before but it was on a lift. How would I do that at home with a Jack and jack stands?
  • Michael-crxsiMichael-crxsi New Wagonist
    http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/general-m ... r-car.html

    Is that what you guys do also for seafoaming the car
  • The_HeadThe_Head familEE
    I've never seafoamed anything. I just give it a good cleaning and change fluids, airfilter, plugs/wires.
  • absolutetintingabsolutetinting Wagonist
    seafoam get rid of carbon build up.
  • Michael-crxsiMichael-crxsi New Wagonist
    Is that the steps you use when sea foaming? ^^.
    I've never heard of all 3 of those steps I've just heard of the hose one
  • absolutetintingabsolutetinting Wagonist
    1part gas tank, 1part throttle body, 1part vacuum line from brake booster to intake manifold. i don't know exact name of engine parts. an old ase mechanic showed me how to do it from cush honda san diego. i always do this with a friend and have him on the gas pedal, the engine wants to die while spraying(throttle body) and pouring(small amounts to vacuum line) this makes it easier. you'll see white smoke come out of the exhaust.

    the mechanic also used gas and water combination to clean like the old days. he said a bucket of water w25% gas.
    the gas contains paraffin which acts like a wax, but better. his cvcc was clean and engine was strong. so believed him.

    i haven't tried the gas water mix to clean the car.
  • The_HeadThe_Head familEE
    absolutetinting wrote:
    seafoam get rid of carbon build up.

    Yeah, I know. I'm not against it. I just have never tried it.
  • grey mattagrey matta Band Wagon
    I know guys that swears by seafoam he says its genius uses it in all his cars and lawn equip
  • asoaso Band Wagon
    ive personally never used seafoam but ive heard it works amazingly!!!!!

    first thing i do when i buy a car
    Clean it
    inspect it see whats good, what needs to be replaced,
    then tune up- cap, rotor, plugs, fluids
  • heart of sugarheart of sugar Banned
    all very good things to do. Valve adjust might be in order and yes a carbon clean would be good (sea-foam as mentions earlier) gratz on the new wagovan!!!!
  • tophertopher Band Wagon
    i heard seafoam hurts more then it helps
  • ApocalypsoxApocalypsox New Wagonist
    Just got my wagon running and dumped a can in the gas tank. The white smoke makes everyone think its a beater pos, but it runs amazing now that its cleaned out a bit.
  • deckarddeckard Band Wagon
    give it a wash
    take everything out and vacuum it all out
    throw on a spare set of wheels kicking around the garage
    top off fluids
    fill with gas and see far you can go on a single tank
  • jkwanusjkwanus New Wagonist
    Recommend seafoam! I used it whenever I bought used car.
  • SparklesSparkles Wagonist
    1.Go buy a huge container of simple green.
    Remove entire interior
    Wash like hell
    clean years of ooozzz off the floor while carpet is out
    let dry overnight
    reinstall and enjoy your fresh smelling interior

    2. Change engine/tranny oil/fluid
    3. Paint trim/bumpers black
  • GeNXGeNX Wagonist
    Sparkles wrote:
    1.Go buy a huge container of simple green.
    Remove entire interior
    Wash like hell
    clean years of ooozzz off the floor while carpet is out
    let dry overnight
    reinstall and enjoy your fresh smelling interior

    2. Change engine/tranny oil/fluid
    3. Paint trim/bumpers black


    I just bought our wagon a few days ago and I noticed the black trim seems to have faded.
  • saveacivicsaveacivic New Wagonist
    slam it...
  • DarinDarin Wagonist
    rust repair.hahahaha.
  • sethwalterssethwalters Wagonist
    saveacivic wrote:
    slam it...

    Agreed. Slam it on it's nuts. Probably one of the best things to make your wagon look better.
  • 88 wago88 wago Wagonist
    put the bitch on the ground
  • HaydzHaydz Moderator
    Christen the back seat.
  • debrisdebris Wagonist
    saveacivic wrote:
    slam it...

    Agreed.
    And then take 50 pics of it (all at strange angles) and post up here.
  • RiskEverythingRiskEverything Wagonist
    Haydz has the best answer by far.

    I got a notebook and wrote down all the information I could about the car, then labeled four separate pages as: Exterior, Interior, Mechanical, & Electrical where I listed all the problems with the car. Another page I labeled Modifications where I wrote down significant changes, not just repairs, that I'd like to make.

    Then I got to work!
  • drag4life723drag4life723 Band Wagon
    My last 88 Rt got a 100shot of n2o and a intake lol.
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