Totaled 1989 prelude with a parts car 500$? - Honda Prelude Forum

Dachdu 92 · 08-19-2010, 08:14 PM

Hey guys, im seriously thinking about buying a 1989 Honda Prelude 2.0SI that was sideswiped and called totaled, it has all the options a newer rebuilt engine and from what i can tell all it needs is a new drivers door and front fender and windsheild, which bodywork doesnt scare me, it comes with a parts car that has a perfect body for 500 for the both of them. Is it a good deal? I really want the car but i dont know if it would be a good idea to buy it. what do you think? i would need to get it inspected by the Washington State Patrol to get a new title also.

Colfax · 08-20-2010, 11:12 AM

Hey man, welcome to the forum. There's not a lot of traffic here, so sometimes it takes a while to get answers.

First of all, what part of Washington are you from? The 89 Si sounds like a good deal since it comes with a clean parts car shell. Does the parts car come with a title? It will be more difficult to get rid of it when you are finished with it if you don't have a title.

Do you have any pics you could post of the damage to the car? A side-swipe can do a lot more than cosmetic damage to a 3rd gen. As long as the damage isn't structural you'll be good to go. But you'll always have a salvage title, which would make the car practically worthless if you ever wanted to sell it. The other option would be to remove the necessary parts and use them on the parts car shell.

I would say to buy them as long as they both have the necessary paperwork. You don't want to get one of them fixed up, only to discover that you can't register it because of a problem with the paperwork. I learned this the hard way.

Anyway, good luck with it and post some pics.

Dachdu 92 · 08-20-2010, 05:16 PM

I live in Spokane, and i dont think the parts car has a title but im going to talk to her tomorrow and try to start the car, and make sure she has all the paperwork, but it looks like almost all the damage is to the door and a little below but now much.. It is also lowered, has an Intake and an Exhaust on it

https://www.t-mobilepictures.com/myalbum/photos/photo30/9f/fd/a2459ee3b3fe__1282318380000.jpeg

Colfax · 08-21-2010, 01:57 AM

Spokane? I'm only an hour South of you.

That damage may look like it's limited to the door, but it also looks like the rocker panel took some damage as well. And maybe the part that the door hinges bolt to. The fender took some damage as well, but fenders are pretty easy to replace as long as the part of the rocker panel it mounts to is intact. I've done quite a bit of work on 3rd gens, including body work. In fact, my 89 was totaled when I bought it. If you do buy these two ludes, let me know if you would like any help with it. I wouldn't mind making a trip up to Spokane before the weather starts to turn later in the fall.

Dachdu 92 · 08-21-2010, 04:55 PM

So i met with the lady, she has the title. And then we went to start the car and being a Honda the clutch has to be engaged to do so and there was no pressure and it went to the floor and didnt come back up. Does anyone know what this means?

Colfax · 08-22-2010, 12:37 AM

Check the clutch fluid. If there is air in the line the clutch won't work. Shift the car to neutral, then push the pedal in. You should be able to start the car, but you won't be able to shift into first if there is air in the clutch line.

You will need to bleed the clutch line before the clutch will work correctly. You will then need to figure out where the leak is. Most likely causes are the clutch master or slave cylinders, or the soft line from the passenger fender to the slave cylinder.

Dachdu 92 · 08-22-2010, 04:15 PM

where is the clutch fluid reservoir ?

Colfax · 08-22-2010, 10:50 PM

The clutch fluid reservoir is the small reservoir mounted to the firewall on the driver's side right next to the brake fluid reservoir. I would post a pic but my internet server is running too slow right now to upload a pic. But you should be able to find it easily.

Dachdu 92 · 08-23-2010, 06:28 PM

I'm buying the car tomorrow after work, ill post some pics as i start working on it