This was one of those jobs I told myself I would never do again. So naturally, when I wanted to change out the cheap factory speakers, I thought, “Why not?” The packages of sound deadening, available now as an Amazon Basics product, kept taunting at me until I did some rudimentary math (which is, of… Continue reading Sound Deadening, 2022 Edition
Category: 2004 Civic
Mystery Noise Lost and Found Department
I hate mystery noises. Ever since I reassembled Earl Burner’s engine, there has been an odd rotating noise that sounds like a bearing wearing out. Yet I didn’t want to start blindly replacing everything. Stethoscope to the rescue. After probing around with it, I managed to hear the mystery noise while locating the probe on… Continue reading Mystery Noise Lost and Found Department
So far, so good…except for the AC (?)
The Civic has been out for a test run, puttering its way up and down Jefferson Ave. for about an hour on Sunday. No issues to report, although I’m really getting tired of that rattling in the exhaust! That was present since the last time I worked on the engine. I am getting a slight… Continue reading So far, so good…except for the AC (?)
Success? The Civic lives…
Welp… View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Hooptie Garage (@thehooptiegarage)
Tip for valve cover Heli-Coils
In the past, I had to use Heli-Coils since a previous mechanic had gotten overzealous and overtightened the valve cover bolts, which stripped them out. When I installed a couple of Heli-Coils last time, I ended up ruining a couple of the coils since they did not go into the hole easily. This time, however,… Continue reading Tip for valve cover Heli-Coils
The Civic is grounded for the Lemons Rally
Bad Civic did not cooperate, so Civic stays home from the rally. Yep. There it sits, looking forlorn and somewhat disassembled. Wha’happn? One of the holes in the block has stripped threads. I was starting to get all the bolts in place. Got to this last one, and about halfway down it started encountering a… Continue reading The Civic is grounded for the Lemons Rally
Possibly found the oil burning issue…
I finally pulled a piston on the Civic, and found two things that may have been causing all the oil burning. There was a lot of carbon on top of the pistons, as well as the underside of the cylinder head. The first issue? Cross-hatching. Or, lack thereof. Only faint lines remain. The factory specifies… Continue reading Possibly found the oil burning issue…
Hooptie evaluation–which car do I use for the Rust Belt Ramble?
I have 2½ weeks to get a car ready for the Rust Belt Ramble. I am taking a look at the older CR-V, as it is in decrepit enough condition to do a full-on theme and be enough of a hooptie to fit in. The alternator is frozen up, and the steering fluid leaked out,… Continue reading Hooptie evaluation–which car do I use for the Rust Belt Ramble?
Dang it! Can’t we get quality parts anymore??
Quick update this morning–I heard a light clanking from the front of the Civic and earlier this week, I put it on stands to try to track it down. There is still a loud overall clunking, but this was slightly different. Found the culprit. The left lower ball joint is loose. I compared it to… Continue reading Dang it! Can’t we get quality parts anymore??
What car mods do I need for a Lemons Rally?
Approaching mid-March, I’m starting to take stock in what I need for a proper road trip. I already have a list of repairs and maintenance I need to get through before I take the soul-sucking appliance on a 4,000 mile trip halfway across the country. But this is more about the “stuff” I need to… Continue reading What car mods do I need for a Lemons Rally?