The Honda Civic is an economical compact car. It is available in two forms; a 4-door sedan and a 2-door coupe. It is known for smooth handling and a sporty, toned ride. There are three trims of Honda Civic in the market, the base DX, mid-level LX, and top-of-the-line EX trim levels.
Honda offers two transmission options to Civic buyers, a 5-speed manual and a 4-speed automatic. The EX is equipped with anti-lock brakes (ABS) as standard. Honda Civics has a reputation for reliability. But finding one in good condition with no mechanical issues at this age takes time.
Though one can tackle mechanical issues with repairs or Honda used engine replacements but keeping your Honda Civic healthy goes beyond that.
Engine Specifications
The Civic DX and LX are equipped with a 1.7-liter 16-valve SOHC engine with 115 horsepower. The EX is equipped with a 127-horsepower 1.7-liter SOHC VTEC (variable valve timing lift electronic control).
Both are simple and easy to work with on the engine. Both engines have timing belts that should be replaced at recommended intervals.
Timing Belt
According to the 2005 Honda Civic maintenance schedule, the timing belt should be replaced at 110,000 miles or 176,000 km. However, if the car is driven in hot or very cold conditions, it should be replaced every 60,000 miles or 100,000 km.
The 1.7-liter engine in the 2001-2005 Civic is an interference engine. In other words, if the timing belt breaks, the engine can be damaged. Replacing the timing belt in a workshop requires 2.5-3.0 hours of work and spare parts.
Pros and Cons of Buying a Honda Civic
If you can find one in good mechanical condition and without the problems mentioned above, a 7th generation Civic could work well enough as a cheap commuter car. Among similar cars, the Toyota Corolla is one of his popular choices for budget commuters.
Pros: Fuel economy, value retention, interior comfort, fun to drive, low maintenance costs, trunk, easy machining, easy parts availability.
Cons: Noisy ride, minor paint scratches, automatic transmission, and head gasket issues, timing belt needs to be replaced.
Maintaining a Honda Civic
- Regular oil changes are important to keep your engine in good condition. The timing belt should be replaced every 110,000 km. You may want to replace the water pump at the same time you replace the timing belt.
- If your Civic has a high mileage engine, get a used engine with a warranty for replacement.
- Change the transmission oil more often to keep the transmission's interior clean. Use genuine Honda gear oil.
- Top up the coolant level considering that overheating the engine can cause more problems. If the engine temperature rises above normal, check the cooling system.
Conclusion
Keeping a Honda Civic healthy is easy as long as you track the signs of trouble. Often buyers take the easy-going approach with their cars. They don’t find out about the undergoing issues till it’s too late. In such cases used Honda engines prove to be saviors and give the Civic a new lease on life.
