You've gotta love those cheap cars! I got a '94 Corolla back in June. I thought it was going to need an engine, because it was only firing on two cylinders and BARELY ran. I was able to drive it around the parking lot, but that was it. The guy wanted $600 and I left. He called back later, saying "bring me $300 and it's yours". I told him I could be there with $250 cash. He sold it to me, and I tinkered with it for a few days. Come to find out, the spark on cylinders 2 and 3 was almost non-existent, and after I put some fresh wires (along with regular tune-up items such as the distributor cap, rotor, and spark plugs), it fired right up and has been running great! Bonus: the A/C works, and I've put 6,000 trouble-free miles on the car so far!
same, I have the same car and it developed a misfire, found that there was a hole in the boot causing the spark to short out, replaced the wires and it was good as new
Hey eric I bought a car too. Its 2005, 16 valve engine and the timing belt was snapped.. I bought the car for just over 100 dollars so I gave it a try. I changed the belt and it started right up! It has been working for over 1000 miles just fine :)
Buddy has a 2009 Sportage still leaking black goo from the door drains. My theory is they had some industrial waste in Korea they needed to get rid of and Kia needed rust proofing.
Awesome deal Eric ! I got a 1994 Accord with 140k, new tires, and no rust for replacing a fuel pump in my friend's Saturn Ion. It's going to be my son's first car. The biggest thing wrong with it was oil leaks. Primarily the cam seal, but I did all of them under the timing cover, and the timing and balance shaft belts also. Needed a distributor o ring also. But it has good bones, and runs awesome ! Thanks for all your videos.
They were like tanks in terms of reliability and everything working, but the body doesn’t hold up over time, especially in snowy winter areas. They rust and dent too easily, and if it’s parked in a driveway instead of a garage, the paint fades and peels over time. Sure this stuff can happen to any car, but EVERY single one of these civics I see, including the one I owned had all those body issues.
@@Rumblefan I have the rust issues on my black 1998 Honda LX but none of the paint has peeled. They must have used a different coating or something to protect it. Someone down the street has a silver one like mine with no peeling and all the other black 1998's I see in town haven't had the peeling either. However, I've seen lots of Civics with peeling paint (or is it the coating?)
Mike It’s the clear coat that fades not the paint. Most of the ones I see have this, but not all. My whole roof, trunk, and some of the sides were faded on mine.
Eric, Congrats on the Civic :) I bought my step sisters 2000 Civic for $500 about 4 years ago... with a bad engine. I did some googling on how to swap the engine out and discovered your channel. I've been a loyal viewer every since. After loving maintenance to my Civic I sold it to a friend for $2500, the car looked new when I sold it. Honestly the best car I ever owned. I enjoy my new car because its a stick shift. But that Honda was one of the best cars I ever owned Thanks for all the knowledge over the years.
Your Mike Brewer impersonation made this video. Loved it! What a deal, I can't believe you got that for $500. I'd be all over that if I had that opportunity too.
Gearmo Auto I got 97 Honda Civic did an engine swap about 5 years ago its has 40000 + on it I just did the wheel bearing and hub replacement on the driver side.. still Runs Grate Not getting rid of my Honda
Attila theHun something that may have been in the car...a jacket...or pillow...or other random chewable object...rats can chew steel pipes if needed...so yeah...
i just got a coupe version of this car for $300 ,very little rust and im in nyc tons of salt here in winter,these are great cars if they were taken care of,mine was bought from an 18 year old who didnt know jack SH@# about cars,but now i have it and that’s probably the best thing that has happend to this car in a long time, thanks ETCG for all your videos,i know when i get hung up on something i always check your channel for tips,advice and just general direction.
Just picked up a 2005 Honda Civic for $200 was overheating mechanic replace thermostat drove vehicle for about a week continue to overheat and they parked it for a year I picked it up brought it home put some Dawn dish soap in the heater core. Freed up the blockage good to go. put 300 miles on it so far no issues. You have inspired me to be cheap and practical and not blow my money and be ridiculous.
I'm actually seriously considering picking up a Civic as a means to learn how to work on cars, I'm finally at a point in my life where I wouldn't have to rely on the car or the work I'm doing on it and I feel Honda's are cheap and easy enough to work on that it would be a good place to start so this is pretty much exactly what I'd be looking to get except with a stick shift, congratulations on yours and wish me the best of luck with mine!
Eric Brewer, mikes american son lol :-D Ed the mechanic knows his stuff. I dont blame you eric, its a brand you trained for, decent engineering too. The power steering leak isnt your fault, its rubbish remanufacturing using crap seals.
Yeah, i don't know what's with Honda dealers (with re-manufacturers in particular) but even in Europe they fuck us over with stuff like that. I cater to a very small pool of cars out of which 5 are Hondas. Guess which of that pool is always in for steering issues and gear box (occasionally, now no more since i send them to a specialized gear box refitter). Last one, a 00s vintage, i just gave up and bought a kit off eBay, i'm hoping i did a good enough job and that i won't see that car any time soon, even to a friend, explaining that the dealers/and their workers are assholes, gets old.
Right on! I have a '98 EX 5 speed, also green. Originally acquired as as an inexpensive "temporary" solution after getting rear ended and going through my first insurance nightmare, I've come to love driving it despite it's quirks and intend on driving it until it no longer goes. Many of the same issues you point out have been addressed. Cheers E!
some people buy cars for that new car smell and worry free maintenance for the next 5 years. there are others that buy cars for the thrill of fixing them.
I have such fond memories of this car. My family had a '99 EX for about 10 years. That little VTEC D16 was actually pretty peppy back in the day. The engine ended up throwing a rod, and then the transmission went out, so it was sold at auction somewhere. I actually checked the VIN recently and it looks like it's still driving! I miss that thing.
I spent the last 8 minutes of the video completely zoned out, and 100% of my attention was diverted to trying to figure out what those blue feathers are from
So now we see what ETCG is like when he gets excited... 😜 I know the feeling. An '03 VW TDI practically fell into my lap a few months ago and I was feeling pretty good. Got it really really cheap because of some issues with the front engine mount (I found out in the course of repair that the engine had been hanging on by a single loose bolt!), frayed TB, and a clogged intake manifold. Fixed it up and now it's my daily driver.
8-10-2020....First time viewer- subbed! Just bought a sight unseen '99 Civic EX 2D, 5-speed two days ago. Get it in a week. 110k, @$2500; no mods/no damage.
Love it when people find deals like these. I paid $1200 for my Prelude, and that was only because it was a very close friend of mine who was pretty strapped for cash due to having surgery right before going off to college. He only wanted $900 for it. Needed a clutch, master cylinder, O2 sensor, and it still needs a crank sensor. But I drive it every day with 260k miles. Love my car.
I think the hassle would be chasing them, but certainly not fixing them. Taken aside as groups (and remember, a good series of videos) each job is relatively easy (except that main seal, that would probably be big, if it's the one weeping, tho there are some quick patches that i've heard about that you can "fix" these issues in a bind with).
Scott Verge all those issues are nothing all easy fixes and can find pretty much anything you need at the junkyard this is probably the most popular car at any junk yard haha cause theres so many and a high demand .great little cars #honda4life
The reason why people like Civic (imo) is because there simple and easy cars to fix. You can swap the engine and trans in about two hours if you kind of know what you're doing. Hell, I'm almost certain in the time he took to make the video he could have fixed the issues twice over lol.
Yeah they aren't exactly hard but you'll spend quite a bit of time. And at the end you'll still have an old 99 Civic. I'd rather spend that kind of time effort and money on something else. Great cars and all but it would just be a beater for me.
Scott Verge I'm thinking he bought it to fix it on RUclips.. but yeah, my DD "beater" is now a '04 Saab 9-5 Arc. Picked it up for $1500 and fixed a bunch of little issues, added Bluetooth to the stock stereo, and I'm good ;) Done driving a "beater" when you can pick up cars like that for that much. FYI, had a 95 Civic 5 speed for about 7+ years and put ~65k miles and just sold it for $350 in excellent mechanical condition.. looked like total sheit ;)
I have 5 vehicles, a Harley, a tractor and a John Deere Gator so I get the "collection" statement. We love pain I guess. You have a great description box, lots of information. You did well Eric. I think it will be a fun project for you.
Be very careful with the head gaskets on those D16Y7s... I bought a 98 Civic LX myself for $550 and I got a blown head gasket only a month later. $600s later I went to a junkyard that gets imported D16s from Japan with less than 60k miles on it and my car runs like a dream.
I have a 2000 civic lx - it came with a valet key as well. The valet key has a rounded top vs a squared off top. If the key won't open the trunk, lower the rear seats (using the lock in the center of the rear speakers) or unlock the trunk lock by the trunk/fuel latch it is the valet key. Looking forward to future videos:)
I totally agree , I wasn't bashing them . I have 256,000 in this car with everything original and still working except for a couple of wheel bearings and normal maintenance things like timing belts and water pumps and tune up stuff.
Another Honda in the fleet! Excellent. Your collection is a broad spectrum indeed, American muscle to Japanese small displacement and beautiful engineering.
Eric I bought the same year,make ,and model for 500.00 and it had 156,000 miles I still have it bought it 2017 . Your are right about the rack I had it changed recently and it also went bad the same day it was changed. Not sure of the maker. Anyway I’m looking to find someone who appreciates it and give it some love. Great video! ❤
I have had 4 civics of this gen, 2 of which were 300 dollar civics that rusted out. I finally ended up with a 2000 civic with 78,000 on it that I bought off of a senior. ill be keeping it forever I hope. You got a good car. Keep it :D
Hey, cheap new tires are better than any tire that's worn and bald. If that were my car and I needed a beater, I'd use them until they need to be replaced.
Attila theHun lmao you think those look shady? I've seen worse. Ever heard of Ling Long Crosswinds? Starfires are decent tires. I believe they're the economy brand for Cooper tires
bmwmsport11 Ling Long? Of course, I've drove them for several years...horrible tires. The car felt in rain like a deathtrap. Nearly no wear though. So it's cheap on the long run too, but deadly.
Hey Eric, just thought I'd drop a suggestion. I always get my windshields replaced at an outfit called Auto Glass Now. I just looked them up, they have a shop on Colrain Ave down there in your area. The one up here in Dayton has always done me right. A real professional job, no leaks, and they even clean up after themselves so you'd never know they were there. Best part is it's never cost me more than $130,. You can't beat the price anywhere I've found so far.
ETCG1 cool beans! Alwayd good to have a friend in the business. Just thought I'd share. The Auto Glass Now up here in Dayton has always been a great experience for me. I've had three windshields replaced in the last couple years. Each time I went there, walked next door to Tim Hortons, and buy the time I was finished gorging on coffee and doughnuts, the car was sitting out front ready to go. The price is always a couple hundred less than what the other nationally known chains quote.
I paid 1500 for a 91 civic with 280,000 miles on it. I threw 1000 into it for parts. I drove that car another 100k Miles before I sold it to a guy who drove it home from Texas to Wisconsin. Still runs today.
Since you started this on that theme, why not (within a budget) pop this car upscale and sell it on for a profit? It's a good car, it's tired, there's no question about it, but, it's a good car, certainly a good base to build a decent daily driver over. Also, please, lacquer the lights once you've polished them with UV lacquer.
It's worth saying that on a lot of modern cars that have internal boot/trunk releases, or remote operation, the external lock on the boot/trunk rarely or never gets used so they can gum up with junk and stick or seize. If you clean the lock barrel out thoroughly and re-lubricate it, preferably with a dry graphite lubricant, you might well find it works fine. I had exactly the same with my Focus when I bought it and after I sorted the barrel it was fine. Of course, it's an old car and it does rather look like someone had a bit of a problem with reversing into things so it could well be that the boot/trunk lid has been replaced with a salvaged item and they didn't change the lock barrel over when they did the job...
nothing wrong with cheap cars just check it and see how much you gonna spend on it, I got an 85 Nissan 720 Sport truck for free and it took about 700$ to get it running well. I also got a 81 Mercedes-Benz 300 D for 300$ lol but it needed a new title and am in process of getting the car fixed at the moment. Im also looking forward to getting a 2000 Honda Civic EX project for possibly 700$ but there is a 50/50 chance Ill get the car
Wow, brings back memories of the 6th gen Civics we've owned. Very easy car to work on. Once put a new clutch in a 97 LX and it was in an accident just a couple months later that totaled the vehicle. Wreck of the old 97, we called it. Replaced it with a 98 DX.
I got a Honda Civic dx 1999, clean title, 160,000 miles on an auction for $700 and spent $25 to get it fix, now is 170,000 miles no problem a lot of new parts..
Nice review Eric. I own a European Accord 2000, pretty much the same, but bigger :) 240000 km, but stil like almost a new one. And the blue stuff. I think those kids "killed" a Smurf in the trunk :O) I wish you a lot of succes with this project.
Hahaha thats funny!!! i just picked up a 1998 civic ex yesterday too! its even the same green! I got it for $400..Nice and clean inside,no rust. All it needed was a battery and distributor. Got both for $50 each._so $500 total. Stuck in a distrubitor,a battery. Fired right up after sitting for 8 months and drove it home with no issue... I love easy craigslist flippers
Thanks!!! My birthday is on the 16th of January! Great find on the civic especially for a 99 :) pretty clean and for the small broken things. You can find a lot parts everywhere. Love your security hood handle!
It's odd how when you get to a point where you can buy cars like these on an impulse you have no time to play with them (well most people) because life gets in the way or you just do not have the room to store them. It would be fun to do a mild restoration and sell it on to at least break even. With just polishing the headlights, putting on a hubcap, and fixing that damage on the right rear corner it would look very presentable. Maybe $50-100 in parts and supplies plus 60-90 minutes of time would do it. Then degrease the engine compartment. I never owned a Civic but just loved the simplicity of them. At a new car show in the early 90s I still remember seeing a base Civic with the hood open and being impressed by how they engineered it to stay cool with such a small radiator.
I have a 1995 civic ex cope with 287k mi on it. It has an electrical problem, I think it's because of the alarm I had put on it. I think the installer connected wrong, it's draining the battery. I have a bunch of other things like Tie rods, cv boots, break master cylinder, struts, timing belt and drivers seat need to be replaced. The car still runs. I'M NOT GETTING RID OF IT KNOW TIME SOON. It still can serve as a daily banger!
Is it just me but this is a much much better quality video, (resolution/fps ) Than most ive seen from Eric recently. Also Eric you should know very well that those cars will take more than two hundred fairly easy when theyre treated right
This is all-too familiar :D I just did a bunch of worth on my girlfriends 99 Civic LX...Trunk lock didn't work, hood latch was broken, bought it for $500, etc. I had to replace the distributor and a bunch of other small work. Just when I was finishing the job, the AC clutch bound up and burnt/broke the AC belt...
been watching for a while now and I got to say ..Your a straight Shooter as my Gramps would say and I have learned a lot ..So much I was able to start making Money About a year ago and your channel and South main auto channel have made my life doing it so much easy so Keep them coming and And Thank You ...by the way I'm starting posting my own soon (Working out the Name still) ..so Keep Shooting Straight an it's Greater Later .((.for those Hard Days))
i had a 1999 civic when i was in japan in 2010 and i LOVED IT!!! never had a problem... but then i bought one when i got back to the states with far less miles (about 105,000) and it had a problem every other week it seemed like.... i ended up putting about $3000 in parts alone into it... and did the labor myself... if id have taken it to a shop it wouldve probably been $7,000 into a car i paid $2500 for...
That's likely because it was serviced with aftermarket parts. I've found they don't often work out on these cars. Sorry to hear about your US Civic experience.
My little brother has a 96 2-door DX with the same mileage and condition. I replaced the hood cable years ago, got sick of getting the pliers out of the glove box every time I had to work on that POS D16Y7. The muffler rotted off for the second time in 10 years yesterday, new one on order...
I love this car!!, my brother has a 99 civic se model! I think these are one of the best body styles till this day! My brother still owns it today, still running awesome! With 210,000 Km,Bought it used back on 2002. We have done a lot to this car for maintenance and cosmetic, and it still beats buying a newer vehicle. Saved a lot of $$$. The only thing I would do is put nice wheels and tint the windows! Owners that take care of this car and every time I see one on the road, it still looks like a new vehicle to me in my eyes. We have freezing temps here in central Canada, even without plugging in the block heater (forgetting sometimes!) it just keeps running and running in minus degree temps. If my brother ever totals this car. I'm convinced that I would buy another 99-00 civic.
Back when we had kids,driving cars like that was considered normal. I loved the Honda's best. Plenty of high miles but drove better than anything out there. I always said if I could get a year out of a $500 car,I got my moneys worth. I was the brake changing king too. Everyone I knew came to me for brake jobs. Miss those days.
I noticed in your test drive video that you are using the original Honda valet key, which explains why it does not open the trunk. Just have a master key cut at the dealership and you're good to go. BTW, I'm a 16 year Honda dealer technician myself and have been enjoying your videos. Keep up the good work!
I think only a mechanic would be really comfortable buying such a car because he has the tools and know how and he can fix any problems with it without worrying too much.
My 96 Accord LX was stolen at one point and was rekeyed for the front 2 door locks and ignition. It just came with the one key when I bought it, but I went to Honda and they cut one for me off the VIN so now I have a key for the trunk, glovebox, folding back seat, and whatever lock is by the gas cap release.
For a car that's almost 20 years old it's still a very common car seen driven around town on a regular basis. As for new vehicles Hyundai Elantra and Sonatas are very popular but as a tow truck driver I'd say Nissan Altimas and Maximas are the most common vehicle I tow, whether it be just a regular tow or car wreck.
im the same as you i bought a 96 honda domani a few months ago for $600 it was parked up in someones back yard put it thru its inspection and got it registered and gave it a new oil and filter and even added a pod filter to it, goes great
The hood cable doesn't need to be replaced, zip tie a tie into the cable and then through that one zip tie another into a loop on that and you can use it is a pull loop.
It's a tad bit better than our 91 Accord, but then it's about 100,000 miles younger. The weather is decent today so I gotta go work on a power steering leak. Every-time I work n the Accord I get to feeling like maybe it's time for it to go, but then I drive it and the love returns. Heck it drives better than some of or stuff with a 1/3 of the mileage and time.
I to just bought a $300 civic. 2002 EX model 172,000. was told it had bad head gasket. found good head gasket and bad radiator. WIN!
You've gotta love those cheap cars! I got a '94 Corolla back in June. I thought it was going to need an engine, because it was only firing on two cylinders and BARELY ran. I was able to drive it around the parking lot, but that was it. The guy wanted $600 and I left. He called back later, saying "bring me $300 and it's yours". I told him I could be there with $250 cash. He sold it to me, and I tinkered with it for a few days. Come to find out, the spark on cylinders 2 and 3 was almost non-existent, and after I put some fresh wires (along with regular tune-up items such as the distributor cap, rotor, and spark plugs), it fired right up and has been running great! Bonus: the A/C works, and I've put 6,000 trouble-free miles on the car so far!
nice one!
Nicely done. :)
In the words of an old Transformers cartoon - ya gotta love those old machines! Crude, but the parts are cheap.
nice find, I scooped a rusty 94 Corolla sedan for 100$ and it saved me from taking the bus during the harsh winter
same, I have the same car and it developed a misfire, found that there was a hole in the boot causing the spark to short out, replaced the wires and it was good as new
@James Marquis so true i have a 2003 CTS.
"This week on Honda Hoarders"...
5 foot 9 and I can fit in a Civic just fine... though the lack of lumbar support is a real downer. Time to track down a seat from an SI... ^_^;
Hey eric I bought a car too. Its 2005, 16 valve engine and the timing belt was snapped.. I bought the car for just over 100 dollars so I gave it a try. I changed the belt and it started right up! It has been working for over 1000 miles just fine :)
What kind of car?
I got the wheeler dealers reference but sounded Australian hahaha good stuff mate!
More like british.
Sounds like a cockney accent
I was thinking Mighty Car Mods till the Ed reference.
Sounded a bit like Crocodile Dundee (Australian).
err.. no
I'm Australian and it sounds Australian, not English. I think you Americans can't tell the difference. :P
Somebody threw grover in the trunk and put two in his head. Sesame street crips.
lineartechbd1600
haha...great one.
Bhahahahaha good one
omg, nooooo
lol im dieing laughing
"I don't know what that blue stuff is." My favorite part of buying used cars is the automotive archaeology :D
Heh. I get that reference. :)
Blue stuff on CSI= smegula.
My favorite part is the free gifts. Mine came with 4 free oil filters and a handgun.
Buddy has a 2009 Sportage still leaking black goo from the door drains. My theory is they had some industrial waste in Korea they needed to get rid of and Kia needed rust proofing.
Wow, all I got with the last one was two bungee cords and a hat.
Awesome deal Eric ! I got a 1994 Accord with 140k, new tires, and no rust for replacing a fuel pump in my friend's Saturn Ion. It's going to be my son's first car. The biggest thing wrong with it was oil leaks. Primarily the cam seal, but I did all of them under the timing cover, and the timing and balance shaft belts also. Needed a distributor o ring also. But it has good bones, and runs awesome ! Thanks for all your videos.
That generation of civics were tanks. They last forever.
They were like tanks in terms of reliability and everything working, but the body doesn’t hold up over time, especially in snowy winter areas. They rust and dent too easily, and if it’s parked in a driveway instead of a garage, the paint fades and peels over time. Sure this stuff can happen to any car, but EVERY single one of these civics I see, including the one I owned had all those body issues.
@@Rumblefan I have the rust issues on my black 1998 Honda LX but none of the paint has peeled. They must have used a different coating or something to protect it. Someone down the street has a silver one like mine with no peeling and all the other black 1998's I see in town haven't had the peeling either. However, I've seen lots of Civics with peeling paint (or is it the coating?)
Mike It’s the clear coat that fades not the paint. Most of the ones I see have this, but not all. My whole roof, trunk, and some of the sides were faded on mine.
Eric, Congrats on the Civic :)
I bought my step sisters 2000 Civic for $500 about 4 years ago... with a bad engine. I did some googling on how to swap the engine out and discovered your channel. I've been a loyal viewer every since. After loving maintenance to my Civic I sold it to a friend for $2500, the car looked new when I sold it. Honestly the best car I ever owned. I enjoy my new car because its a stick shift. But that Honda was one of the best cars I ever owned
Thanks for all the knowledge over the years.
Your Mike Brewer impersonation made this video. Loved it! What a deal, I can't believe you got that for $500. I'd be all over that if I had that opportunity too.
500 wont buy you a brand new pair of 14 inch tires here in Brazil, much less come with a Civic attached to it.
Finally an ETCG1 video on my birthday! Yay!
DanceForMe13 happy birthday day!
Happy Birthday.
Happy birthday!
happy birthday, bud!
DanceForMe13 Happy birthday
I would buy that for 500 and fix it up. They are good cars no doubt.
Gearmo Auto I got 97 Honda Civic did an engine swap about 5 years ago its has 40000 + on it I just did the wheel bearing and hub replacement on the driver side.. still Runs Grate Not getting rid of my Honda
@@Sicc420 Bruh keep driveing ur Honda Civic.
That blue in the trunk is a rodent problem...that's nesting material...
Jessie Ortiz
Why is it blue?
Attila theHun something that may have been in the car...a jacket...or pillow...or other random chewable object...rats can chew steel pipes if needed...so yeah...
I don't think so. I didn't see any droppings.
Could it be Homer Simpson's shredded trousers??
ETCG1 then I guess we have us a true mystery on our hands there guvna...lol
i just got a coupe version of this car for $300 ,very little rust and im in nyc tons of salt here in winter,these are great cars if they were taken care of,mine was bought from an 18 year old who didnt know jack SH@# about cars,but now i have it and that’s probably the best thing that has happend to this car in a long time, thanks ETCG for all your videos,i know when i get hung up on something i always check your channel for tips,advice and just general direction.
"It's ribbed for her pleasure" 8:54
Just picked up a 2005 Honda Civic for $200 was overheating mechanic replace thermostat drove vehicle for about a week continue to overheat and they parked it for a year I picked it up brought it home put some Dawn dish soap in the heater core. Freed up the blockage good to go. put 300 miles on it so far no issues. You have inspired me to be cheap and practical and not blow my money and be ridiculous.
I got my 98 civic for $750. Great car. The idle air control valve will fail lol.
I'm actually seriously considering picking up a Civic as a means to learn how to work on cars, I'm finally at a point in my life where I wouldn't have to rely on the car or the work I'm doing on it and I feel Honda's are cheap and easy enough to work on that it would be a good place to start so this is pretty much exactly what I'd be looking to get except with a stick shift, congratulations on yours and wish me the best of luck with mine!
Eric Brewer, mikes american son lol :-D
Ed the mechanic knows his stuff.
I dont blame you eric, its a brand you trained for, decent engineering too.
The power steering leak isnt your fault, its rubbish remanufacturing using crap seals.
Yeah, i don't know what's with Honda dealers (with re-manufacturers in particular) but even in Europe they fuck us over with stuff like that. I cater to a very small pool of cars out of which 5 are Hondas. Guess which of that pool is always in for steering issues and gear box (occasionally, now no more since i send them to a specialized gear box refitter).
Last one, a 00s vintage, i just gave up and bought a kit off eBay, i'm hoping i did a good enough job and that i won't see that car any time soon, even to a friend, explaining that the dealers/and their workers are assholes, gets old.
Yea, the remanufactured racks for these are not good from what I've found. Perhaps the 4th time will be a charm.
ETCG1 thats ridiculous
power assisted steering is overrated, go powerless.
are you going to do videos about your truck?
Right on! I have a '98 EX 5 speed, also green. Originally acquired as as an inexpensive "temporary" solution after getting rear ended and going through my first insurance nightmare, I've come to love driving it despite it's quirks and intend on driving it until it no longer goes. Many of the same issues you point out have been addressed. Cheers E!
some people buy cars for that new car smell and worry free maintenance for the next 5 years. there are others that buy cars for the thrill of fixing them.
Great video. There are so many of these old hondas on the road. I know people appreciate how you show them how to keep them running.
Looks like someone shaved the Cookie Monster...
That's the most plausible explanation yet.
I have such fond memories of this car. My family had a '99 EX for about 10 years. That little VTEC D16 was actually pretty peppy back in the day. The engine ended up throwing a rod, and then the transmission went out, so it was sold at auction somewhere. I actually checked the VIN recently and it looks like it's still driving! I miss that thing.
I spent the last 8 minutes of the video completely zoned out, and 100% of my attention was diverted to trying to figure out what those blue feathers are from
Cookie monster's bikini line
So now we see what ETCG is like when he gets excited... 😜 I know the feeling. An '03 VW TDI practically fell into my lap a few months ago and I was feeling pretty good. Got it really really cheap because of some issues with the front engine mount (I found out in the course of repair that the engine had been hanging on by a single loose bolt!), frayed TB, and a clogged intake manifold. Fixed it up and now it's my daily driver.
The key doesn't work the trunk because it's the valet key
8-10-2020....First time viewer- subbed! Just bought a sight unseen '99 Civic EX 2D, 5-speed two days ago. Get it in a week. 110k, @$2500; no mods/no damage.
Ed won't be pleased with the amount of work he'll have to do! 😂
Love it when people find deals like these. I paid $1200 for my Prelude, and that was only because it was a very close friend of mine who was pretty strapped for cash due to having surgery right before going off to college. He only wanted $900 for it. Needed a clutch, master cylinder, O2 sensor, and it still needs a crank sensor. But I drive it every day with 260k miles. Love my car.
Sounds like it would take quite a bit to fix all those small issues.
I think I'd just drive it as a beater and only fox what's critical.
I think the hassle would be chasing them, but certainly not fixing them. Taken aside as groups (and remember, a good series of videos) each job is relatively easy (except that main seal, that would probably be big, if it's the one weeping, tho there are some quick patches that i've heard about that you can "fix" these issues in a bind with).
Scott Verge all those issues are nothing all easy fixes and can find pretty much anything you need at the junkyard this is probably the most popular car at any junk yard haha cause theres so many and a high demand .great little cars #honda4life
The reason why people like Civic (imo) is because there simple and easy cars to fix. You can swap the engine and trans in about two hours if you kind of know what you're doing. Hell, I'm almost certain in the time he took to make the video he could have fixed the issues twice over lol.
Yeah they aren't exactly hard but you'll spend quite a bit of time.
And at the end you'll still have an old 99 Civic.
I'd rather spend that kind of time effort and money on something else.
Great cars and all but it would just be a beater for me.
Scott Verge I'm thinking he bought it to fix it on RUclips.. but yeah, my DD "beater" is now a '04 Saab 9-5 Arc. Picked it up for $1500 and fixed a bunch of little issues, added Bluetooth to the stock stereo, and I'm good ;) Done driving a "beater" when you can pick up cars like that for that much.
FYI, had a 95 Civic 5 speed for about 7+ years and put ~65k miles and just sold it for $350 in excellent mechanical condition.. looked like total sheit ;)
I have 5 vehicles, a Harley, a tractor and a John Deere Gator so I get the "collection" statement. We love pain I guess. You have a great description box, lots of information. You did well Eric. I think it will be a fun project for you.
Be very careful with the head gaskets on those D16Y7s... I bought a 98 Civic LX myself for $550 and I got a blown head gasket only a month later. $600s later I went to a junkyard that gets imported D16s from Japan with less than 60k miles on it and my car runs like a dream.
I have a 2000 civic lx - it came with a valet key as well. The valet key has a rounded top vs a squared off top. If the key won't open the trunk, lower the rear seats (using the lock in the center of the rear speakers) or unlock the trunk lock by the trunk/fuel latch it is the valet key. Looking forward to future videos:)
I have a 99 civic ex 2dr. I keep a pair of little vise grips in the console to pull the broken hood release .
..we all do..
chuckwalla you're thinking of newer hondas.. the late 80's to 00's hondas were the most reliable ever made
I totally agree , I wasn't bashing them . I have 256,000 in this car with everything original and still working except for a couple of wheel bearings and normal maintenance things like timing belts and water pumps and tune up stuff.
I've seen that so many times Im starting to believe they come from the factory with those pliers.
John McKamy I have a vise grip on my for life
Another Honda in the fleet! Excellent. Your collection is a broad spectrum indeed, American muscle to Japanese small displacement and beautiful engineering.
u put chevy parts on a honda? no wonder why the racks keep blowing out/
Eric I bought the same year,make ,and model for 500.00 and it had 156,000 miles I still have it bought it 2017 . Your are right about the rack I had it changed recently and it also went bad the same day it was changed. Not sure of the maker. Anyway I’m looking to find someone who appreciates it and give it some love. Great video! ❤
Put a loud exhaust on it and go race some teenagers.
Don't forget the short ram intake and body kit too! That'll easily add 15 more horse power.
I have had 4 civics of this gen,
2 of which were 300 dollar civics that rusted out.
I finally ended up with a 2000 civic with 78,000 on it that I bought off of a senior.
ill be keeping it forever I hope.
You got a good car. Keep it :D
What kind of tires are these...looks kinda shady.
The cheapest you can get.
ETCG1
haha, thought so, but hey...new tires are new tires.
Hey, cheap new tires are better than any tire that's worn and bald.
If that were my car and I needed a beater, I'd use them until they need to be replaced.
Attila theHun lmao you think those look shady? I've seen worse. Ever heard of Ling Long Crosswinds?
Starfires are decent tires. I believe they're the economy brand for Cooper tires
bmwmsport11
Ling Long? Of course, I've drove them for several years...horrible tires. The car felt in rain like a deathtrap. Nearly no wear though. So it's cheap on the long run too, but deadly.
Hey Eric, just thought I'd drop a suggestion. I always get my windshields replaced at an outfit called Auto Glass Now. I just looked them up, they have a shop on Colrain Ave down there in your area. The one up here in Dayton has always done me right. A real professional job, no leaks, and they even clean up after themselves so you'd never know they were there. Best part is it's never cost me more than $130,. You can't beat the price anywhere I've found so far.
I'm good friends with the owner of Kiss Auto Glass. See the description for the video I did with him.
ETCG1 cool beans! Alwayd good to have a friend in the business. Just thought I'd share. The Auto Glass Now up here in Dayton has always been a great experience for me. I've had three windshields replaced in the last couple years. Each time I went there, walked next door to Tim Hortons, and buy the time I was finished gorging on coffee and doughnuts, the car was sitting out front ready to go. The price is always a couple hundred less than what the other nationally known chains quote.
Omg, they killed a muppet in that trunk
Most plausible explanation yet.
ROFL
I paid 1500 for a 91 civic with 280,000 miles on it.
I threw 1000 into it for parts.
I drove that car another 100k Miles before I sold it to a guy who drove it home from Texas to Wisconsin.
Still runs today.
you should use the civic as a loaner when doing fixing it forward.
That's exactly what I'm thinking.
Thanks for your videos, I learn alot from you. Have a good day. I been a member of you channel for years.
Since you started this on that theme, why not (within a budget) pop this car upscale and sell it on for a profit? It's a good car, it's tired, there's no question about it, but, it's a good car, certainly a good base to build a decent daily driver over.
Also, please, lacquer the lights once you've polished them with UV lacquer.
Also x2, can't help it, but, that trunk is fabulous!
That's not what I'm thinking. Check the description.
It's worth saying that on a lot of modern cars that have internal boot/trunk releases, or remote operation, the external lock on the boot/trunk rarely or never gets used so they can gum up with junk and stick or seize. If you clean the lock barrel out thoroughly and re-lubricate it, preferably with a dry graphite lubricant, you might well find it works fine. I had exactly the same with my Focus when I bought it and after I sorted the barrel it was fine. Of course, it's an old car and it does rather look like someone had a bit of a problem with reversing into things so it could well be that the boot/trunk lid has been replaced with a salvaged item and they didn't change the lock barrel over when they did the job...
Eric you're addicted to buying old cars you need help man LOL
MonkeyWith72Magic So am I, it's a great problem to have
Well if people come to me with deals like this it's very hard to say no.
He takes in used cars like stray cats.
nothing wrong with cheap cars just check it and see how much you gonna spend on it, I got an 85 Nissan 720 Sport truck for free and it took about 700$ to get it running well. I also got a 81 Mercedes-Benz 300 D for 300$ lol but it needed a new title and am in process of getting the car fixed at the moment. Im also looking forward to getting a 2000 Honda Civic EX project for possibly 700$ but there is a 50/50 chance Ill get the car
lol
Wow, brings back memories of the 6th gen Civics we've owned. Very easy car to work on. Once put a new clutch in a 97 LX and it was in an accident just a couple months later that totaled the vehicle. Wreck of the old 97, we called it. Replaced it with a 98 DX.
The key you have is a valet key that's why you cannot open the trunk with it.
Yea, that was a bonehead mistake. I forgot Civics came with those.
No one ever valeted a civic, ever.
I got a Honda Civic dx 1999, clean title, 160,000 miles on an auction for $700 and spent $25 to get it fix, now is 170,000 miles no problem a lot of new parts..
ETCG - It is not "Hold out your ARM", It's "Hold out your HAND".
Or "'old out yer 'AAAAAND!"
8:50 ''It's ribbed for her pleasure'' I lost it hahaha
Did you get your silver youtube play button for etcg1 yet?
Not yet. Those take forever. I'll have forgotten about it by the time it shows up.
Nice review Eric. I own a European Accord 2000, pretty much the same, but bigger :) 240000 km, but stil like almost a new one. And the blue stuff. I think those kids "killed" a Smurf in the trunk :O) I wish you a lot of succes with this project.
You sounded like Mike from wheeler dealers!
Hahaha thats funny!!! i just picked up a 1998 civic ex yesterday too! its even the same green! I got it for $400..Nice and clean inside,no rust. All it needed was a battery and distributor. Got both for $50 each._so $500 total. Stuck in a distrubitor,a battery. Fired right up after sitting for 8 months and drove it home with no issue... I love easy craigslist flippers
OK calm down Mike Ed's going to mad about your purchase😂😂😂
8:50 "it's ribbed, for her pleasure".... omfg I lost it it completely there...
That's a good car though, I'd buy that for $500.
Thanks!!! My birthday is on the 16th of January! Great find on the civic especially for a 99 :) pretty clean and for the small broken things. You can find a lot parts everywhere. Love your security hood handle!
Fix it up and sell it on... at a profit! (guitar riff)
That wheeler dealers start alone deserves a like ahah good one Eric!
3 racks, all bad?... ?..... What planet is this filmed on?
Don't buy AC Delco racks.
Really a fascinating video, surprising there are people out there that want to restore these basic old Honda Civics. Great video.
haha can't believe I guessed the impression.
It's odd how when you get to a point where you can buy cars like these on an impulse you have no time to play with them (well most people) because life gets in the way or you just do not have the room to store them. It would be fun to do a mild restoration and sell it on to at least break even. With just polishing the headlights, putting on a hubcap, and fixing that damage on the right rear corner it would look very presentable. Maybe $50-100 in parts and supplies plus 60-90 minutes of time would do it. Then degrease the engine compartment. I never owned a Civic but just loved the simplicity of them. At a new car show in the early 90s I still remember seeing a base Civic with the hood open and being impressed by how they engineered it to stay cool with such a small radiator.
Just the name "Honda"... is worth 500 dollars.
I have a 1995 civic ex cope with 287k mi on it. It has an electrical problem, I think it's because of the alarm I had put on it. I think the installer connected wrong, it's draining the battery. I have a bunch of other things like Tie rods, cv boots, break master cylinder, struts, timing belt and drivers seat need to be replaced. The car still runs. I'M NOT GETTING RID OF IT KNOW TIME SOON. It still can serve as a daily banger!
10:27 - Every time you do an English accent, I laugh so hard.
Is it just me but this is a much much better quality video, (resolution/fps ) Than most ive seen from Eric recently. Also Eric you should know very well that those cars will take more than two hundred fairly easy when theyre treated right
Your accent sounds like an Australian. Brewer is a Brit.
I agree. I need to work on it or never do it again.
This is all-too familiar :D I just did a bunch of worth on my girlfriends 99 Civic LX...Trunk lock didn't work, hood latch was broken, bought it for $500, etc. I had to replace the distributor and a bunch of other small work. Just when I was finishing the job, the AC clutch bound up and burnt/broke the AC belt...
Please stop with the sex jokes, it does not suit you at all.
Chris Scully
You must be fun at parties.
Lighten up dude!
thanks ETCG for motivating me to resurrect and donate my 00 civic, i have done nearly all the repairs you pointed out in this video
You nailed it at the start. I thought I had clicked on the wrong video for a second.
been watching for a while now and I got to say ..Your a straight Shooter as my Gramps would say and I have learned a lot ..So much I was able to start making Money About a year ago and your channel and South main auto channel have made my life doing it so much easy so Keep them coming and And Thank You ...by the way I'm starting posting my own soon (Working out the Name still) ..so Keep Shooting Straight an it's Greater Later .((.for those Hard Days))
Thank you very much for that. Good luck with your business and your channel.
Eric I've waited years to say this, Thank you for wishing me a happy birthday. Finally a video out on my birthday!
Happy birthday!
That impression was great, I love Wheeler Dealers. Mike Brewer has a Car Dealership not far from where I live in Sheffield
Don't know why I laughed out loud when you said the heat shield was ribbed for her pleasure but it was funny, thank you Eric I needed that.
i had a 1999 civic when i was in japan in 2010 and i LOVED IT!!! never had a problem... but then i bought one when i got back to the states with far less miles (about 105,000) and it had a problem every other week it seemed like.... i ended up putting about $3000 in parts alone into it... and did the labor myself... if id have taken it to a shop it wouldve probably been $7,000 into a car i paid $2500 for...
That's likely because it was serviced with aftermarket parts. I've found they don't often work out on these cars. Sorry to hear about your US Civic experience.
Oh man, "a sore peepee can't be beat". I lost it when you said that. Hahaha, I love the energy.
My little brother has a 96 2-door DX with the same mileage and condition. I replaced the hood cable years ago, got sick of getting the pliers out of the glove box every time I had to work on that POS D16Y7. The muffler rotted off for the second time in 10 years yesterday, new one on order...
thumbs up for a vid i have somehow not seen from Eric, and that he's so happy in this vid!
check to see if the key fits in the valet lock in the floor.you may only have a valet key and they were only for the doors and ignition
I love this car!!, my brother has a 99 civic se model! I think these are one of the best body styles till this day! My brother still owns it today, still running awesome! With 210,000 Km,Bought it used back on 2002. We have done a lot to this car for maintenance and cosmetic, and it still beats buying a newer vehicle. Saved a lot of $$$. The only thing I would do is put nice wheels and tint the windows! Owners that take care of this car and every time I see one on the road, it still looks like a new vehicle to me in my eyes. We have freezing temps here in central Canada, even without plugging in the block heater (forgetting sometimes!) it just keeps running and running in minus degree temps. If my brother ever totals this car. I'm convinced that I would buy another 99-00 civic.
Back when we had kids,driving cars like that was considered normal. I loved the Honda's best. Plenty of high miles but drove better than anything out there. I always said if I could get a year out of a $500 car,I got my moneys worth. I was the brake changing king too. Everyone I knew came to me for brake jobs. Miss those days.
"It's ribbed for her pleasure..." Yeah cheers Eric, nearly choked on me coffee there.
I noticed in your test drive video that you are using the original Honda valet key, which explains why it does not open the trunk. Just have a master key cut at the dealership and you're good to go. BTW, I'm a 16 year Honda dealer technician myself and have been enjoying your videos. Keep up the good work!
You are correct. I forgot that Civics came with valet keys. She brought me the master and everything is cool now. Thanks for the comment.
Love the wheeler dealer reference. Its a very appropriate car for that as well; I'd say the value is in the videos you could make.
I think only a mechanic would be really comfortable buying such a car because he has the tools and know how and he can fix any problems with it without worrying too much.
My 96 Accord LX was stolen at one point and was rekeyed for the front 2 door locks and ignition. It just came with the one key when I bought it, but I went to Honda and they cut one for me off the VIN so now I have a key for the trunk, glovebox, folding back seat, and whatever lock is by the gas cap release.
For a car that's almost 20 years old it's still a very common car seen driven around town on a regular basis. As for new vehicles Hyundai Elantra and Sonatas are very popular but as a tow truck driver I'd say Nissan Altimas and Maximas are the most common vehicle I tow, whether it be just a regular tow or car wreck.
im the same as you i bought a 96 honda domani a few months ago for $600 it was parked up in someones back yard put it thru its inspection and got it registered and gave it a new oil and filter and even added a pod filter to it, goes great
The hood cable doesn't need to be replaced, zip tie a tie into the cable and then through that one zip tie another into a loop on that and you can use it is a pull loop.
The giggle factor of this video is crazy, I couldn't stop laughing
It's a tad bit better than our 91 Accord, but then it's about 100,000 miles younger. The weather is decent today so I gotta go work on a power steering leak. Every-time I work n the Accord I get to feeling like maybe it's time for it to go, but then I drive it and the love returns. Heck it drives better than some of or stuff with a 1/3 of the mileage and time.