Car inspection tips

"anothermiatafanboy" (kvnkiley)
09/05/2014 at 10:30 • Filed to: None

I am going to check out this prelude Saturday and am a slight mechanical noob. He is asking $5800 and in his mind the car is perfect. Slight tear in the drivers seat being the only imperfection mentioned. Car has 128,000 miles. I told him I would come check it out but would wanna pay more like 4800 and after a little silent treatment he agreed. Price sound okay for a rust free mint 98 Lude?

Looking for some oppo tips on what to look for. Things to check. I can go online and find a bunch of idiots advice but I feel like the breadth of knowledge within the diverse oppo community is very valuable. Id appreciate any input. Thanks!

DISCUSSION (38)

jariten1781 > anothermiatafanboy
09/05/2014 at 10:35

Take it to a mechanic for a PPI if you don't know what to look for. Note: it's a good idea even if you do know what to look for since a second set of eyes can catch things that you overlook in your excitement.

Camry-Into-Canyon > anothermiatafanboy
09/05/2014 at 10:37

check to see if it idles smoothly. Ask the seller if you can start it cold, to see if there is any smoke. bring a fridge magnet and run it along the sills and rear arches to see if it has been bogged. Since it looks like an SH, check to see if the SH-ATTS system is working (light will cycle with ignition on, make sure it goes off after the car goes into smooth tickover. That's about it.

dogisbadob > anothermiatafanboy
09/05/2014 at 10:40

make sure the VTEC kicks in yo

If you have access to an OBD scanner, you can check to make sure the monitors are ready and the CEL isn't on. Sometimes people reset the CEL if there's a problem, but most of the monitors need to be ready in order to pass inspection (two are allowed to be not ready and still pass).

Some of these engines will use oil like a 2-stroke wankel, and some won't really drink oil at all. See if you can find out this information on the car you're going to see. The reason for the variation is that the FRM liner was made in batches, and the quality control between batches wasn't consistent.

anothermiatafanboy > jariten1781
09/05/2014 at 10:49

Good idea. How much does that usually run?

Steve in Manhattan > jariten1781
09/05/2014 at 10:49

This is exactly Click and Clack's advice - pay a mechanic for an hour of their time and have them go through the car as though their 16-year-old was going to be driving it. If there's an easy way to see whether it'll take and hold an alignment, have them check that too.

anothermiatafanboy > Camry-Into-Canyon
09/05/2014 at 10:50

Thanks. It made no mention of being an SH in the ad, I assumed it was base.

TheCraigy > anothermiatafanboy
09/05/2014 at 10:50

~$100, worth every penny.

If he finds something big, you saved yourself a headache and you can move on.

If he finds something small, you can likely talk the guy off his price by another couple hundred.

anothermiatafanboy > dogisbadob
09/05/2014 at 10:53

When you say see if I can find out how much oil it uses do you mean ask the seller? I wonder if I would get a straight answer. I probably could if I let him know I am aware they use oil and its no big deal to me.

dogisbadob > anothermiatafanboy
09/05/2014 at 10:56

yes, ask the seller. Yeah of course you may or may not get a straight answer, but it's always worth asking.

And of course, if he seems shady or gets pissed at questions like that, that can also be a sign to run.

anothermiatafanboy > TheCraigy
09/05/2014 at 10:56

I will be bringing my father along, but he hasn't been a mechanic since the 80s and as such isn't too familiar with something like a Prelude. But a second set of eyes none the less.

jariten1781 > anothermiatafanboy
09/05/2014 at 10:57

50-200. Usually charged ~1 hour of labor plus some small shop fee. They'll give you a rundown of everything that's wrong as well as, normally, estimated life left in the brake pads/tires/etc. You're looking for big ticket things like evidence of a large collision/bad bearings/etc.

Hint: don't be a dick and try and nickle and dime the guy for stuff like pads with only 30% of their life left...in the end it's a 130k mile car so there's going to be small stuff here and there.

Steve in Manhattan > anothermiatafanboy
09/05/2014 at 11:00

One more thing - does this have 4-wheel steering? I recall problems with some of those, not necessarily with this model, but it's worth a look if it has that option.

anothermiatafanboy > Steve in Manhattan
09/05/2014 at 11:11

No. Not available this generation.

anothermiatafanboy > anothermiatafanboy
09/05/2014 at 11:13

Any thoughts on the mileage? The 130k miles has me really stressed. I had an accord until 190k but the H22 is more complex.

Steve in Manhattan > anothermiatafanboy
09/05/2014 at 11:22

That's a good thing ... in my opinion.

Steve in Manhattan > jariten1781
09/05/2014 at 11:27

CV boots to determine whether they're torn - bearing could be ruined, check front/rear suspension for wear, wheel bearings -the mechanic will know what to do. And have him/her drive it - they can often tell what's wrong by driving half a mile. And don't be reluctant to walk away - I made that mistake and wound up rebuilding the rear end of an old Volvo.

Camry-Into-Canyon > anothermiatafanboy
09/05/2014 at 11:38

It's a bit weird, given that it has the SH spoiler and leather knob, but the base rims and un-painted skirts. if it is a non-SH, check for other mods. If it is an SH, check for dodgy repairs.

Steve in Manhattan > anothermiatafanboy
09/05/2014 at 11:39

This reminds me of another thing - take a look at the book to make sure the guy (and prior owners) has done regular oil changes, changed the timing belt at the proper time, major/minor tuneups. If they haven't done this work, you'll have to decide whether it's worth the chance. My brother-in-law rebuilt the top end of a BMW V8, but he knew he'd have to do that going in and negotiated appropriately.

MonkeePuzzle > anothermiatafanboy
09/05/2014 at 12:03

hmm, dang, I had a checklist I wrote up for the last time I was shopping on behalf of a friend, but cannot find it.

anyway, test drive with windows down listening for weird noises.

sniff the seats, like nose on the material, for cigarette smell

check trunk for signs of accident damage and water

check engine light comes on then goes off.

smoke on start up

etc etc

Steve in Manhattan > MonkeePuzzle
09/05/2014 at 12:16

Also, the clarity of the oil, and make sure it's not foamy - also check the cap for crud underneath.

And let us know what happens!

Steve in Manhattan > anothermiatafanboy
09/05/2014 at 12:33

Here's a Prelude forum discussing differences between base and SH: http://www.preludezone.com/5th-gen-honda-…

Gotta love those fanboys ....

anothermiatafanboy > Steve in Manhattan
09/05/2014 at 13:10

Agreed. Im a fan of simplicity in my cars.

anothermiatafanboy > Camry-Into-Canyon
09/05/2014 at 13:11

I love those wheels. So theres no way the base car came with the spoiler from the factory?

Camry-Into-Canyon > anothermiatafanboy
09/05/2014 at 13:12

Has to be an add-on: only SH models for that year came with the spoiler w/ integrated CHMSL

anothermiatafanboy > Steve in Manhattan
09/05/2014 at 13:12

All I have for maintenance knowledge is a 'tune up' done 2 years ago. He wasn't sure if that included the timing belt or not. That's what I used to get him to 4800 bucks from 5800.

anothermiatafanboy > MonkeePuzzle
09/05/2014 at 13:14

Thanks! Ill feel awful weird with my nose jammed in the seat. Its leather if that changes anything.

anothermiatafanboy > Camry-Into-Canyon
09/05/2014 at 13:20

Some base models came with spoilers. And I have to say to the picture isn't the best but to me that shift knob looks like a base one. Not long enough to be SH...to my eye.

Camry-Into-Canyon > anothermiatafanboy
09/05/2014 at 14:18

No base models came from the factory with a CHMSL spoiler, and none came with the beautiful leather-wrapped knob in the pic.

Steve in Manhattan > anothermiatafanboy
09/05/2014 at 16:00

Ugh - that could mean the engine is full of crud. And I believe - and someone more knowledgeable than me should correct me here if wrong - that this one of the Honda engines where a timing belt breaking means a ruined valve train.

Steve in Manhattan > anothermiatafanboy
09/05/2014 at 16:26

This post makes me face my automotive past - in 1997 I test drove new SHO, SVX (they would not negotiate), Supra (didn't have the money, near 40k I think) RX7 (too much, they wouldn't negotiate, I think I recall whatever hot Acura they had, Mustang GT convertible 5-speed (could not get the seat far enough away from the clutch - I'm tall), but I did NOT test drive a Prelude. Why not? It would have been a great choice. Bought the SHO, but now questioning that choice.

anothermiatafanboy > Camry-Into-Canyon
09/06/2014 at 00:05

I think all the spoilers had CHMSL. Base models with an added spoiler would just have two brake lights. And that picture is way too blurry to know which shift knob it is.

Camry-Into-Canyon > anothermiatafanboy
09/06/2014 at 06:36

If so, then it might not be an SH. However, the knob in the pic has the right sheen to be leather (the urethane ones are duller, even after being armor-alled)

Steve in Manhattan > anothermiatafanboy
09/06/2014 at 18:32

So what happened? Prelude worth the money?

anothermiatafanboy > Steve in Manhattan
09/08/2014 at 00:39

The kid wouldn't let me get a good test drive and tried upping the price. I bailed.

Steve in Manhattan > anothermiatafanboy
09/08/2014 at 00:48

If they won't let you drive it ... RUN! That's ashtonishing behavior for someone who wants to sell a car. Give us Opponauts your criteria, and we will find you something!

anothermiatafanboy > Steve in Manhattan
09/08/2014 at 10:48

Oh I ran. I ran so far away. My criteria is simple. Honda (Accord, Prelude, Civic), or Integra, Manual, mileage around 100k. Price around $5k, give or take $500.

Steve in Manhattan > anothermiatafanboy
09/08/2014 at 12:29

I loved my '91 CRX Si - I wonder if there are any unmolested examples at reasonable prices? My car looked identical to this one:

Kinja'd!!!

anothermiatafanboy > Steve in Manhattan
09/08/2014 at 13:08

Badass little cars, but yes, tough to find.