Honda Car Forum

I've been reading that a modern tune up is pretty easy to do. I have
novice experience but I have changed distributor caps and plugs in the
past - 15 years ago. Is there anything that would be too difficult on
a modern vehicle for me?

On Jun 10, 6:43 pm, Joe <joe5...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I've been reading that a modern tune up is pretty easy to do. I have
> novice experience but I have changed distributor caps and plugs in the
> past - 15 years ago. Is there anything that would be too difficult on
> a modern vehicle for me?

You dont say how old your car is ?

If it is a fairly modern vehicle and not too many miles ? just throw
a new set of plugs into it .(thats what the shops call a tuneup today
and charge you an arm and a leg for)If it has a lot of miles ? it MAY
need a valve adjustment.

Change the air filter if necessary and the cabin filter as well on the
newer ones.

As well as an oil and filter change if needed

On Jun 11, 7:20 am, mred <m...@295.ca> wrote:
> On Jun 10, 6:43 pm, Joe <joe5...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > I've been reading that a modern tune up is pretty easy to do. I have
> > novice experience but I have changed distributor caps and plugs in the
> > past - 15 years ago. Is there anything that would be too difficult on
> > a modern vehicle for me?
>
> You dont say how old your car is ?
>
> If it is a fairly modern vehicle and not too many miles ? just throw
> a new set of plugs into it .(thats what the shops call a tuneup today
> and charge you an arm and a leg for)If it has a lot of miles ? it MAY
> need a valve adjustment.
>
> Change the air filter if necessary and the cabin filter as well on the
> newer ones.
>
> As well as an oil and filter change if needed


it has 90k miles on it. I bought it at 48k and haven't had a tune up
yet. Should I change the distributor cap and rotor as well and what
about the PCV filter I've been reading about?

"Joe" <joe5345@gmail.com> wrote
> I've been reading that a modern tune up is pretty easy to
> do.

Yes, it is. For example, your 2000 Civic has electronic
ignition. Timing rarely needs to be adjusted as a result.
Checking it seems a good idea, though. With my much older
1991 Civic (also electronic ignition), the only time I find
any significant variation from the required timing is after
having the distributor housing off. It is the angular
position of the housing that sets the timing.

Do you have an owner's manual? It has what's called a
"maintenance schedule" printed in it telling how often plugs
etc. should be changed. If you do not have an owner's
manual, then to get one, try some of the resources at
http://home.earthlink.net/~honda.lioness/id9.html .

> I have
> novice experience but I have changed distributor caps and
> plugs in the
> past - 15 years ago. Is there anything that would be too
> difficult on
> a modern vehicle for me?

No, not with this background. At an age of 7.5 years, I
would change the plugs, air filter, distributor cap and
rotor, and check the resistance of the ignition wires. Oil
changes etc. should be done per the maintenance schedule
(ignore the advice of dealers re oil changes).

Joe wrote:

> On Jun 11, 7:20 am, mred <m...@295.ca> wrote:
>> On Jun 10, 6:43 pm, Joe <joe5...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> > I've been reading that a modern tune up is pretty easy to do. I have
>> > novice experience but I have changed distributor caps and plugs in the
>> > past - 15 years ago. Is there anything that would be too difficult on
>> > a modern vehicle for me?
>>
>> You dont say how old your car is ?
>>
>> If it is a fairly modern vehicle and not too many miles ? just throw
>> a new set of plugs into it .(thats what the shops call a tuneup today
>> and charge you an arm and a leg for)If it has a lot of miles ? it MAY
>> need a valve adjustment.
>>
>> Change the air filter if necessary and the cabin filter as well on the
>> newer ones.
>>
>> As well as an oil and filter change if needed
>
>
> it has 90k miles on it. I bought it at 48k and haven't had a tune up
> yet. Should I change the distributor cap and rotor as well and what
> about the PCV filter I've been reading about?

What about the timing belt? Check your manual, as it will either be
recommended at 90k or 105k (IIRC).

The PCV valve should be checked each time you do an oil change.

On Jun 11, 12:11 pm, Joe LaVigne <jlavi...@hits-buffalo.com> wrote:
> Joe wrote:
> > On Jun 11, 7:20 am, mred <m...@295.ca> wrote:
> >> On Jun 10, 6:43 pm, Joe <joe5...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >> > I've been reading that a modern tune up is pretty easy to do. I have
> >> > novice experience but I have changed distributor caps and plugs in the
> >> > past - 15 years ago. Is there anything that would be too difficult on
> >> > a modern vehicle for me?
>
> >> You dont say how old your car is ?
>
> >> If it is a fairly modern vehicle and not too many miles ? just throw
> >> a new set of plugs into it .(thats what the shops call a tuneup today
> >> and charge you an arm and a leg for)If it has a lot of miles ? it MAY
> >> need a valve adjustment.
>
> >> Change the air filter if necessary and the cabin filter as well on the
> >> newer ones.
>
> >> As well as an oil and filter change if needed
>
> > it has 90k miles on it. I bought it at 48k and haven't had a tune up
> > yet. Should I change the distributor cap and rotor as well and what
> > about the PCV filter I've been reading about?
>
> What about the timing belt? Check your manual, as it will either be
> recommended at 90k or 105k (IIRC).
>
> The PCV valve should be checked each time you do an oil change.



It says 105k for timing belt, does that mean I take it in AT 105k or
that it needs to be done before, and if it's before how long before?
1000 or 5000 miles?

Joe wrote:

>> What about the timing belt? Check your manual, as it will either be
>> recommended at 90k or 105k (IIRC).
>
> It says 105k for timing belt, does that mean I take it in AT 105k or
> that it needs to be done before, and if it's before how long before?
> 1000 or 5000 miles?

AT 105k will be fine.

On Jun 11, 7:50 am, Joe <joe5...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Jun 11, 7:20 am, mred <m...@295.ca> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Jun 10, 6:43 pm, Joe <joe5...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > I've been reading that a modern tune up is pretty easy to do. I have
> > > novice experience but I have changed distributor caps and plugs in the
> > > past - 15 years ago. Is there anything that would be too difficult on
> > > a modern vehicle for me?
>
> > You dont say how old your car is ?
>
> > If it is a fairly modern vehicle and not too many miles ? just throw
> > a new set of plugs into it .(thats what the shops call a tuneup today
> > and charge you an arm and a leg for)If it has a lot of miles ? it MAY
> > need a valve adjustment.
>
> > Change the air filter if necessary and the cabin filter as well on the
> > newer ones.
>
> > As well as an oil and filter change if needed
>
> it has 90k miles on it. I bought it at 48k and haven't had a tune up
> yet. Should I change the distributor cap and rotor as well and what
> about the PCV filter I've been reading about?- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

I WOULDNT TOUCH THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP UNLESS ITS GIVING YOU A
PROBLEM(cracked , hard to start etc.) Theres an old maxim , "if it
aint broke dont fix it".

If its 7.5 years old it wouldnt hurt to change the ignition wires with
OEM or better

Check your owners manual for timing belt change . Its also wise to get
the water pump changed at the same time , the pump is in proximity to
the belt(at least it was on my`86 Accord )the labour is the same , you
dont want to change the belt ,and then a year or so down the road have
to change the pump, with the resulting same labor charge.

All otherposters on here have given you GOOD advice .

On Jun 12, 7:39 am, mred <m...@295.ca> wrote:
> On Jun 11, 7:50 am, Joe <joe5...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Jun 11, 7:20 am, mred <m...@295.ca> wrote:
>
> > > On Jun 10, 6:43 pm, Joe <joe5...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > > I've been reading that a modern tune up is pretty easy to do. I have
> > > > novice experience but I have changed distributor caps and plugs in the
> > > > past - 15 years ago. Is there anything that would be too difficult on
> > > > a modern vehicle for me?
>
> > > You dont say how old your car is ?
>
> > > If it is a fairly modern vehicle and not too many miles ? just throw
> > > a new set of plugs into it .(thats what the shops call a tuneup today
> > > and charge you an arm and a leg for)If it has a lot of miles ? it MAY
> > > need a valve adjustment.
>
> > > Change the air filter if necessary and the cabin filter as well on the
> > > newer ones.
>
> > > As well as an oil and filter change if needed
>
> > it has 90k miles on it. I bought it at 48k and haven't had a tune up
> > yet. Should I change the distributor cap and rotor as well and what
> > about the PCV filter I've been reading about?- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> I WOULDNT TOUCH THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP UNLESS ITS GIVING YOU A
> PROBLEM(cracked , hard to start etc.) Theres an old maxim , "if it
> aint broke dont fix it".
>
> If its 7.5 years old it wouldnt hurt to change the ignition wires with
> OEM or better
>
> Check your owners manual for timing belt change . Its also wise to get
> the water pump changed at the same time , the pump is in proximity to
> the belt(at least it was on my`86 Accord )the labour is the same , you
> dont want to change the belt ,and then a year or so down the road have
> to change the pump, with the resulting same labor charge.
>
> All otherposters on here have given you GOOD advice .


Yeah I was thinking about changing the water pump at the same time but
I also read on other boards about people who had to change their new
water pump after another 25k after replacing a perfectly good water
pump when they changed their timing belt. I've had a checkered past
with water pumps. Almost every car I've had needed one changed every
other year. Don't know if it's something I was doing wrong or what but
I'm really wary about changing a water pump that's working fine -
though it does make sense to change it with the timing belt.

On Jun 12, 5:47 pm, Joe <joe5...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Jun 12, 7:39 am, mred <m...@295.ca> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Jun 11, 7:50 am, Joe <joe5...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > On Jun 11, 7:20 am, mred <m...@295.ca> wrote:
>
> > > > On Jun 10, 6:43 pm, Joe <joe5...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > > > I've been reading that a modern tune up is pretty easy to do. I have
> > > > > novice experience but I have changed distributor caps and plugs in the
> > > > > past - 15 years ago. Is there anything that would be too difficult on
> > > > > a modern vehicle for me?
>
> > > > You dont say how old your car is ?
>
> > > > If it is a fairly modern vehicle and not too many miles ? just throw
> > > > a new set of plugs into it .(thats what the shops call a tuneup today
> > > > and charge you an arm and a leg for)If it has a lot of miles ? it MAY
> > > > need a valve adjustment.
>
> > > > Change the air filter if necessary and the cabin filter as well on the
> > > > newer ones.
>
> > > > As well as an oil and filter change if needed
>
> > > it has 90k miles on it. I bought it at 48k and haven't had a tune up
> > > yet. Should I change the distributor cap and rotor as well and what
> > > about the PCV filter I've been reading about?- Hide quoted text -
>
> > > - Show quoted text -
>
> > I WOULDNT TOUCH THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP UNLESS ITS GIVING YOU A
> > PROBLEM(cracked , hard to start etc.) Theres an old maxim , "if it
> > aint broke dont fix it".
>
> > If its 7.5 years old it wouldnt hurt to change the ignition wires with
> > OEM or better
>
> > Check your owners manual for timing belt change . Its also wise to get
> > the water pump changed at the same time , the pump is in proximity to
> > the belt(at least it was on my`86 Accord )the labour is the same , you
> > dont want to change the belt ,and then a year or so down the road have
> > to change the pump, with the resulting same labor charge.
>
> > All otherposters on here have given you GOOD advice .
>
> Yeah I was thinking about changing the water pump at the same time but
> I also read on other boards about people who had to change their new
> water pump after another 25k after replacing a perfectly good water
> pump when they changed their timing belt. I've had a checkered past
> with water pumps. Almost every car I've had needed one changed every
> other year. Don't know if it's something I was doing wrong or what but
> I'm really wary about changing a water pump that's working fine -
> though it does make sense to change it with the timing belt.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Seesm strange ? I have changed my water pumps when I did the timing
belts and never had a problem

I used OEM pumps and the recomended type of anti-freeze(silicon-free)
silicon type anti-freeze will eat the impellers and seals on some ,
including OEM water-pumps.