Giving my car a mechanical overhaul...kind of.... - Honda Prelude Forum

evan93si · 06-12-2005, 12:20 PM

So i'm looking to just give my car a big mechanical overhaul and get it running and feeling really nice again. I'm getting new rotors, brake pads, oil changed, A/C recharged and fixed, CV joints done, but other than that, as long as i'm getting all this done I just want to completely give my car a "once over". what all else should I get done as a routine matinence type deal?

prelude2005 · 06-12-2005, 12:55 PM

Clean EGR valve, change cap, rotor, plugs, plug wires, etc.

red92s · 06-12-2005, 01:38 PM

Bleed brakes, bleed clutch, replace coolant, replace fuel filter . . .

evan93si · 06-12-2005, 02:29 PM

ok, so a little list:

Oil change
CV joints
New rotors
New brake pads
Clean EGR valve
change cap, rotor,
plugs, plug wires,
Bleed brakes,
bleed clutch,
replace coolant,
replace fuel filter

anything else? i got a good amount of money saved up, and just want to get my car running as nicely as possible.

red92s · 06-12-2005, 04:00 PM

Just so you know, a lot of this stuff is simple stuff you could do in an afternoon and avoid paying a mechanic, mostly replacing old bits with new.

evan93si · 06-12-2005, 04:58 PM

yea, i plan on doing as much of it myself as i can, which is why i want a pretty substantial list. and just knock it out over a weekend or so.

96LudeSR · 06-12-2005, 05:55 PM

I just want to add something since you will be doing the work yourself. I had a hard time with my fuel filter since one of the bolts would not come loose. I had used a big pair of vice grip pliers and it finally turned.

So if you're stuck with the fuel filter give the vice grips a try, they worked for me.

evan93si · 06-12-2005, 10:12 PM

cool, thanks man, yea i'll use all the help i can get. I just want my car to be running in the best condition it can!

TruNinja619 · 06-12-2005, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 96LudeSR

I just want to add something since you will be doing the work yourself. I had a hard time with my fuel filter since one of the bolts would not come loose. I had used a big pair of vice grip pliers and it finally turned.

So if you're stuck with the fuel filter give the vice grips a try, they worked for me.

you try using a flare wrench?

another thing to add to the list..

replace transmission fluid...

red92s · 06-12-2005, 10:43 PM

I'd sugest aquiring a helms manual, it's the best $60 you can spend on maintaining your car. It will have step by step instructions for all of these jobs. Thought of a few more:
- Thermostat
- brake master cylinder
- clutch master cylinder

The brake/clutch cylinders are VERY prone to failure on 4g's . . . especially as they get into the 100,000+ mile range. You may be able to avoid replacing them for the time being, but I'd go ahead and just get yourself into the mindset that you likely WILL be replacing them sometime down the road.

Rudaluda · 06-13-2005, 09:46 AM

how about ball joints, i know next weekend my project is replacing all upper and lower ball joints and passenger side cv shaft. i cant wait.

evan93si · 06-13-2005, 11:17 AM

Oil change
CV joints
New rotors
New brake pads
Clean EGR valve
change cap, rotor,
plugs, plug wires,
Bleed brakes,
bleed clutch,
replace coolant,
replace fuel filter
transmission fluid
thermostat

(red92: i've replaced the master cylinders pretty recently, i think maybe about 1.5 years ago, so they shouldnt need any work, but definetly the thermostat needs replacing....)

This is a nice little list going, keep it coming guys! thanks

96LudeSR · 06-13-2005, 04:14 PM

I'm not familiar with what a feeler wrench is. Can you post a pic of one?

red92s · 06-13-2005, 06:49 PM

I think he ment a flare wrench

96LudeSR · 06-13-2005, 06:52 PM

Oh a flare nut wrench, yeah I did try that actually and it didn't do me any good, that bolt wouldn't budge until I took out Mr.Vice Grip.

TruNinja619 · 06-13-2005, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red92s

I think he ment a flare wrench

oh yea.. thats what i ment.. lol.. thanks for correcting that..

TruNinja619 · 06-13-2005, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 96LudeSR

Oh a flare nut wrench, yeah I did try that actually and it didn't do me any good, that bolt wouldn't budge until I took out Mr.Vice Grip.

damn.. that hard huh...

PreludeChick89 · 06-13-2005, 08:59 PM

that fuel filter is the bain of existance on all preludes except the 3rd gen

i'd say you have a very good list going on... another addition could be steel brake lines.. easy to replace.. look prettier.. not too much money.. might as well since you're doing a bunch of stuff with the brakes!

SlowSi · 06-18-2005, 02:56 PM

^^lol look prettier? You can't really see them unless your wheel/tire is off. Unless of course you stick your face 5 inches from the rim and try to peek through the spokes.

Preyluder · 06-18-2005, 06:44 PM

I'm also going to be doing the following within the next 3 months:

-New Clutch (ACT stg. 1 street/strip; sitting under my bed)
-New upper/lower balljoints
-New tierod ends
-New sway bar bushings (I might do the entire ES polyurethane bushing kit)
-New tires
-Alignment
-ALL new exhaust (header,hi-flow cat,cat-back)
-New rotors and pads front and back (SHOULD I JUST GET FACTORY HONDA???)
-Thermostat
-EGR Valve cleaning
-Whatever else that I'm gonna do that I can't think of right now

I just crossed over 170,000 miles a few weeks ago. Needless to say, she's starting to show her age more and more every day, but it's okay, cuz my baby will be better than ever here pretty soon.