First dabble in the Honda scene and it is JACKED UP

[spec-v5150]

Okay here is the scoop.

I bought a S13 in April 03 and it ble wup in May. So I got a swap and it gave me ftis. I wrecked the first clutch on ym own admission , but the second one wasnt my fauklt. The same time the 2nd clutch went, so did my turbo. I needed reliable transportation fro me and my daughter (my wife works a littel bit diff hours, so we drive two cars to the same place). So I sold it and got approved for a loan through my bank. I go to by an SUV and I am eyeing the prelude I ALWAYS wanted. My wife gets cheap used SUV so we have money left. She is liek he wants that Prelude. So they cut us a deal on the two cars.....This is Monday

I test drive it and everything is good. I am stalling like a mofo...I chalked it up to a different clutch. It wasnt slipping or anything...maybe I was just rusty...moreon this later

So I am test driving and I never take it above 4000 rpm/. Everyhting sounds good. So anyway I am gettign insurance on it on the phone and they run the VIN...it is a prelude S...base model for you non honda types. Well there is a DOHC VTEC sticker on the back, VTEC floor mats and a DOHC VTEC valve cover...so maybe I was wrong in assuming it was the base model. It even has a V-AFC (I know I know) so I buy it. Take it home and BAAAAAAAAAAAAM a 5500 fuel cut hits me like a brick wall. WTF......I thought Hondas revved out the ***. MY KA revved higher than this.....LOL. Well I re-read the carfax and it says Prelude S...I got edmunds.comn and a prelude S is non vtec...etc. So I do some searching look on the block and see H23A1....>WTF...the USDM H23 is NON VTEC. What the hell is this VTEC valve cover.

Long story short...some guy did an H23/VTEC hybrid and traded the car in basically becaus ehe wanted an RX8 and couldnt figure out the fuel cut problem. So I have a clean *** prelude with basically a new motor and NO VTEC and a 5500 rev limit. So I call the dealership and they are being extremely cool about it. I was liek I was not informed that was a hybrid (I talked to the guy and he TOLD them it was) so I am no responsible, but I am paying good money, so this needs to be fixed....So they are going to look at it for free and see what needs to be done....I would assume it needs at least a VTEC solenoid and the guy who used to own it, said it needs an OEM intake manifold gasket. I am not paying for any of that...if the repairs are too much, they are going to take the car back and I can get something else. Problem is the only thing they have that I liek is a 2000 Civic HX. I could work with that..not liek I am a looking to street race or anything...I sold my 204 because I was gettign away from that......so no more swaps. I will live with the SOHC VTEC and maybe turbo it next year.......just wanted to share my jacked drama for a car story

[SmithSR]

This could not be a badged "Certified pre-owned" Honda then. Foolish (risky) to get any used Honda any place other than a Honda dealership that properly inspects and certifies it's select clean Honda cars. I had a good buddy tech in charge of the used fleet at the local Honda dealer. He walked me through the inspection and testing that he performs, in order for a car to gain the title of "certified pre-owned" honda. With this badge, the dealer takes liability for most all repairs for a period of time. A selling tool, but also good insurance for you against getting a crap car.

Official Honda Certified pre-owned cars come with an extensive warranty, little extra cost. Well worth it. I didn't see you mention any of this, so good luck.

[spec-v5150]

NOPE...it is a 96 so it wouldnt be certified anyway.....I declined the extended warranty too because this is MY car so to speak so if it goes down , I still have a running vehicle. The V-AFC and air/fuel gauge should have been the sign and I kick myself for buying it. But it is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO clean. Talking to the owner...the H22 head has liek 3000 miles on it and the H23 block has liek 15000 miles on it. It is so clean inside outside and in the engine bay. NOw that I think back...ised to always see this exact prelude (with JDMlights and a bodykit and a CF hood) on jackstands all the time, but ti didnt dawn on me that it was the same car. The last owner was mad cool and offered help and the dealership is being great. They arent tryin gto pass the buck. I told them I sold my swapped 240 for THIS reason and I NEVER want a hybrid/swapped car again. They are really understanding of that and are willing to foot the bill or take the car back and get me into that civic or something (not much else I would buy)...it is hard to come by a decent import up here where I live

[Mr1der]

that's pretty screwy...

[AZhitman]

Make them take the car back.

Nop matter HOW clean it is, you have no clue what else has been done to it or is wrong with it.

A good rule of thumb is to buy a car that's NEVER had any mods, then do them yourself.

[spec-v5150]

Yeah well if they fix the VTEC and the fuel cut I want to keep it. Its not liek I cant go about a rocks throw away and speak with the old owner. He was helpful and has no stake in it other than to see his old car be taken care of. It has LOADS of bottom end though. But it will most likely be taken back. My wife is gettign on me pretty bad about it

[AZhitman]

It would be foolish to keep it.

Use your head, not your heart. You deserve better - There's a REASON people have cars on jackstands in their front yard, and 9 times out of 10, it's not a good one.

[spec-v5150]

It would be foolish to keep it.

Use your head, not your heart. You deserve better - There's a REASON people have cars on jackstands in their front yard, and 9 times out of 10, it's not a good one.

LOL good one. Yeah if nothing else my wife would hold out until i gave it back anyway so I am screwed either way. I originally wanted the red civic anyway but my wife insisted on the lude because i was eyeing that ***** for like a month. I almost bought it on my birthday but decided against it....Yeah I am taking it in/back tomorrow morning

[krazy skwerel]

That sucks man. Prelude is a good looking car no matter what year. Yeah I even like the first gen.

[Nathan]

There's a REASON people have cars on jackstands in their front yard, and 9 times out of 10, it's not a good one.

What about on jackstands in the garage? that's a bit classier

[sultan]

What about on jackstands in the garage? that's a bit classier

the boys at hybridz.org have something for you:

[PROJECTRB240SX]

SOME OF THE FASTEST HONDAS ARE ON JACK STANDS....

ISN'T THAT EVERYONES EXCUSE? WELL MY CARS NOT READY YET. HELL EVEN I USE IT..... BUT MINE IS UP ON JACKSTANDS WITH NO WHEELS AND AN ENGINE THAT NEEDS TO BE BROKEN BACK IN.

[spec-v5150]

It went off to the dealer today. I told the labor to fix it will be in teh thousands at least. I read a write up and have a clue why the VTEC isnt engagign and why the redline is off. Just to get the VTEC engaged will require removal of the head and somethign being pulled out of the block, so I know to pull a head is a grip. Then they will probably replace the gasket...I would....all in all looks like the rec civic coupe will be mine =(

[PROJECTRB240SX]

BUT ITS AN HX..... NO GOOD :nono

[MasterMan]

dude u could always ether A) find a wrecked lude' and swap the engine into your car.. or B) get a JDM motor and put it in.. it might be cheaper then doing all the reapirs and that way u could have an engine that is fast or at the vary least u know what has been done to it... but good luck with it ludes' are good looking cars.. (i like the ones with the recktangle tail lights, not the ugly triangle ones)

[Altiman94]

or forget the whole prelude thing all together. Wait for a nicer one to come along. S Vtec ludes are out there, you just need to search a little harder for one. Find an unmodded/unmolested one and start from there. If you want to get out of street racing, a vtec prelude is definitely not the car to buy. The HX would be much better, you would just laugh at yourself everytime you gave it a little throttle.

[spec-v5150]

dude u could always ether A) find a wrecked lude' and swap the engine into your car.. or B) get a JDM motor and put it in.. it might be cheaper then doing all the reapirs and that way u could have an engine that is fast or at the vary least u know what has been done to it... but good luck with it ludes' are good looking cars.. (i like the ones with the recktangle tail lights, not the ugly triangle ones)

Cant do it man. That is the EXACT reason I sold my 240. Damn swaps....I dont like em and I dont wanna deal with them. My goal for my next car was no swaps and no hybrids (if I got a Honda). What is worse...I had the car towed today because I am lazy. I calle the salesman that sold it to me and siad HEY, the car is ON THE WAY!! This is at 1100. I ****ign call at 430, to get an update, the guy is liek oh that is your prelude. I am liek yeah, what is wrong. He is liek what am I supposed to be doign with it....LOL WTF. HE was liek yeah it got towed and thats it. I had no clue what I am supposed to be doing. SO I explain the whole thing to him. He starts cursing about teh sales guy and was like Ill go wring his neck. I hate the run around. So I guess Ill ****ign have to talk to another sales manager and the owner next........

[MasterMan]

dude that sucks, talk to the manager and see what he says, tell him that u need the car to go to work and such and this is starting to become a real inconvence (sp??) and that you should get somthing out of all of this... maby they will fix it faster for u and throw some free floor matts in or somthing or a VTEK controler dawwwwwg!! lol

[nlzmo400r]

i understand your not wanting a swap in your new car, but why not in a used one? i mean u seem VERY ANTI SWAP and such, why exactly is this?

[Nathan]

Because they are frequently a source of MANY headaches

[spec-v5150]

Because they are frequently a source of MANY headaches

Yes SIR!!!!!!:oface

Even with my 240...I only swapped out because no one would ship me a used KA on the baords (any not just this one). I was like I got the engine plus shipping plus something for your time ya know...nadda. So I got a swap and it was a big headache. So I sold to get a reliable car that had potential so I could maybe do somethign later.........they only had two cars in this whole state I would buy. One was the Lude. I think I know what is wrong but that would involve me removing the head.....PASS too cold for that here

[nlzmo400r]

yea, i see your point, but u couldnt find a KA block anywhere? i mean around here they go for like $1oo-$5oo or so, and arent TAHT hard to come by.

[spec-v5150]

NOPE....I tried. I could have gone to Minnesota but what a hassle. Calling junkyards there and whatnot.

[spec-v5150]

LOL.....I went and got the Civic Coupe and everyhtign went swell. The dealers were AWESOME about it. They even waved the sales tax and what not. The lady was liek ****, you bought two cars in one day, somethign was wrong with one, why should we get you on sales tax and other fees. So it was awesome. I also experienced my first death in teh civic...my friends 240 absolutely RAPED me from a stop from a roll from a wherver which way. LOL I can see why this is the economical model (like all civics arent). It is kidna cool though. Both our cars are red, both are 2 doors, both are SOHC, and both will be boosted by next summer...NO SWAPS...LOL

[nlzmo400r]

well its good u like the civic, but im assuming you've gotten rid of the spec V?

[spec-v5150]

I never had a Spec-V...=( I walways wanted one thus the name but wifey wasnt hearing the car payment thing then....

[nlzmo400r]

o, didnt know, i didnt remember u mentioning that u had a spec V, htanks for the clearup