"TeGGer®" <tegger@istop.c0m> wrote in message
news:Xns95E35B62BD013teggeratistop@207.14.113.17.. .
> "Michael Pardee" <michaeltnull@cybertrails.com> wrote in
> news:dZSdnWFujZrCSXDcRVn-vA@sedona.net:
>
>
>>
>> Does it have the ball joint issue, and do you recommend inspection or
>> preventive replacement of the lower ball joints? I have to replace a
>> drive axle soon, and can inspect one then, but how do I check the
>> other for galling?
>
>
> The easiest way of telling whether one lower joint is seizing is to drive
> the car. Get up to highway speed, then step moderately on the brake. If a
> joint is seizing, the car will immediately dive momentarily to one side,
> then straighten out again. The side the car dives to is the bad side, but
> get BOTH replaced anyway.
>
> http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/misc/...int/index.html
>
> After this occurrence at about 200K miles, I had all six ball joints
> replaced with new OEM (including the two in the steering linkage, which
> were also worn). Cost a pretty penny, but I'll probably never have to
> touch
> them again.
>
> My mechanic tells me it can be hard to tell if the ball joints are worn
> when still installed on the car.
>
>
>
>>
>> Does the engine have the head gasket issue, and if so should I figure
>> on replacement at the next timing belt job?
>
>
>
> With the head gasket, replace the rad cap with a new OEM one now. Toyota
> dealers up here sell the exact same 13lb (0.9 stamped on top) cap for half
> the cost of Honda, about $15 for me. That should eliminate the cap as a
> variable.
>
> http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/misc/top.jpg
> http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/misc/underside.jpg
> Honda is on right, Toyota on left. The only difference is the yellow
> sticker.
>
> Then tell her to keep an eye on two things:
> The temperature gauge in heavy traffic, and
> check the coolant level in the reservoir every week.
>
> If the temperature rises in heavy traffic (with the fans also turning on),
> or the reservoir level suddenly gets two inches higher and does not go
> back
> down again when the engine cools off, the gasket is suspect. As long as
> these two things don't happen, she's fine.
>
> If the car does start to overheat, tell her to rev the engine. If that
> helps, the coolant level's low (possible head gasket). If revving does not
> help, turn the heater on full blast, and if that works, it's probably a
> fan, radiator or thermostat problem.
>
>
> --
> TeGGeR®
>
> The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
> www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

Thanks, TeGGeR! I'll just keep an eye on these those things. We have a
coolant loss problem from a crack in the upper radiator tank - apparently it
is common for them to crack across the middle of the flat spot, and when I
laid a bead of JB Weld across it the bead cracked in the center too, telling
me the area is flexing.

Mike