spudgun's 2005 Civic Type R
Discussion
Around the early part of August, my wife's best friend was on the hunt for a new Mini and her current car,a 2005 Civic type R, had to go. Her original plan was to sell if off directly to trade as the Mini dealership wasn't keen to have it as a part-ex and they didn't want the hassle of lots of tyre kickers coming around and mucking them about.
I had admired the Civic for sometime and her level of care for the car was bordering on OCD.
She always parked at the far end of the car park as far away as she could from anyone else, full dealer service history. It even had rubber car mats on top of the geniune Honda ones, which I found amusing.
The bottom line is, apart from a few stone chips, its a beauty.
As you can see, its premier edition as well, which is good. Too be honest when I started equiring about it, I didn't have a clue what a premier edition was. You soon learn though. Also another strong reason for having this one was the mileage.
When I picked it up it was on 39,200 miles. Not bad for a nine year old car.
However, it wasn't all good news. The MOT only had 4 weeks to run and it was overdue a service.
A quick look over didn't reveal any issues and it went through the MOT no problem.
Now I was a bit stuck though. I have always serviced my own cars in the past but this has full Honda history and I didn't really want to let that lapse.
I ended up getting Honda to the basic service, which as far as I can tell is just an inspection, an oil and filter change and a rub around with a rag. £165. Can't say I see the value in that. Nevermind.
The rest I did myself and, generally speaking, its not a bad car to work on at all.
The jobs I undertook were.
Cabin filters
Air Filter
Spark plugs
Valve clearances- I can't believe they use the old school nut and screw for adjustment on a engine that revs like this
Gearbox oil
Coolant
Auxilary drive belt- The worst job by a mile. I ended up having to make up tooling to hold the sprung loaded tension in place while slipped the new belt on.
Rear Brake pads
Brake fluid
It think that's about it.
One thing I did try and do was the fuel filter. It lives in the fuel tank and it all came out easily enough but there is a problem that might help others. The blueprint part that is being sold as a fuel filter on ebay by many suppliers is infact the EVAP canister. Shame on you blueprint, that was a wasted morning.
The engine bay was a bit dissapointing and looked a bit of mess in all honesty but after a quick blow over with a pressure washer, it was transformed. It was mostly dust and cobwebs.
I went out for my first decent run at the weekend up to Avebury and back and it's fanatastic on the twisty A and B roads. I have read complaints about a lack of torque, but maybe because I'm getting on a bit, its plenty fast enough for me even off vtec. I do understand the critism aimed at the numb steering though. It's miles away from the mk1 MR2 that I had before this on the communication front.
The recaro's are very supportive. I like them a lot.
There are a few jobs to do though.
First off with be the front tyres. They were nearly bald when I first looked at the car and too be fair to to the wife's mate, they put new ones on for me before I picked it up which was really good of them, however, I think what is on there maybe at the bottom end of the market.
Rovelo, anyone?
Also the front wheels themselves aren't perfect and I could see all four getting a trip up to Platinium wheel services at Swindon during the winter to bring them back to their best.
Other than that my plan is to keep it as standard as possible, to the point I may even fork out for a set of Bridgestones for it. I would need to be feeling flush for that though, maybe.
Cheers for stopping by and having a look.
I had admired the Civic for sometime and her level of care for the car was bordering on OCD.
She always parked at the far end of the car park as far away as she could from anyone else, full dealer service history. It even had rubber car mats on top of the geniune Honda ones, which I found amusing.
The bottom line is, apart from a few stone chips, its a beauty.
As you can see, its premier edition as well, which is good. Too be honest when I started equiring about it, I didn't have a clue what a premier edition was. You soon learn though. Also another strong reason for having this one was the mileage.
When I picked it up it was on 39,200 miles. Not bad for a nine year old car.
However, it wasn't all good news. The MOT only had 4 weeks to run and it was overdue a service.
A quick look over didn't reveal any issues and it went through the MOT no problem.
Now I was a bit stuck though. I have always serviced my own cars in the past but this has full Honda history and I didn't really want to let that lapse.
I ended up getting Honda to the basic service, which as far as I can tell is just an inspection, an oil and filter change and a rub around with a rag. £165. Can't say I see the value in that. Nevermind.
The rest I did myself and, generally speaking, its not a bad car to work on at all.
The jobs I undertook were.
Cabin filters
Air Filter
Spark plugs
Valve clearances- I can't believe they use the old school nut and screw for adjustment on a engine that revs like this
Gearbox oil
Coolant
Auxilary drive belt- The worst job by a mile. I ended up having to make up tooling to hold the sprung loaded tension in place while slipped the new belt on.
Rear Brake pads
Brake fluid
It think that's about it.
One thing I did try and do was the fuel filter. It lives in the fuel tank and it all came out easily enough but there is a problem that might help others. The blueprint part that is being sold as a fuel filter on ebay by many suppliers is infact the EVAP canister. Shame on you blueprint, that was a wasted morning.
The engine bay was a bit dissapointing and looked a bit of mess in all honesty but after a quick blow over with a pressure washer, it was transformed. It was mostly dust and cobwebs.
I went out for my first decent run at the weekend up to Avebury and back and it's fanatastic on the twisty A and B roads. I have read complaints about a lack of torque, but maybe because I'm getting on a bit, its plenty fast enough for me even off vtec. I do understand the critism aimed at the numb steering though. It's miles away from the mk1 MR2 that I had before this on the communication front.
The recaro's are very supportive. I like them a lot.
There are a few jobs to do though.
First off with be the front tyres. They were nearly bald when I first looked at the car and too be fair to to the wife's mate, they put new ones on for me before I picked it up which was really good of them, however, I think what is on there maybe at the bottom end of the market.
Rovelo, anyone?
Also the front wheels themselves aren't perfect and I could see all four getting a trip up to Platinium wheel services at Swindon during the winter to bring them back to their best.
Other than that my plan is to keep it as standard as possible, to the point I may even fork out for a set of Bridgestones for it. I would need to be feeling flush for that though, maybe.
Cheers for stopping by and having a look.
Thanks Guys, your positive comments are most welcome.
I have been outside this afternoon doing a few little things.
One of the regular problem cited at the ep3 is the heat shields on the drive shaft and the exhaust manifold.
At 3000-4000rpm they can cause a bit of mettalic rattle/buzz. The usual method is to take them off. Not a brilliant fix that, too be honest.
I took them off and welded the inserts to the main heat sheild itself. I can see what Honda were trying to do but nearly every heat sheild that I have come across that uses inserts in a steel guard end up doing this sooner or later.
On a plus note, the bit of resonance I had has now gone. Happy days.
I have been outside this afternoon doing a few little things.
One of the regular problem cited at the ep3 is the heat shields on the drive shaft and the exhaust manifold.
At 3000-4000rpm they can cause a bit of mettalic rattle/buzz. The usual method is to take them off. Not a brilliant fix that, too be honest.
I took them off and welded the inserts to the main heat sheild itself. I can see what Honda were trying to do but nearly every heat sheild that I have come across that uses inserts in a steel guard end up doing this sooner or later.
On a plus note, the bit of resonance I had has now gone. Happy days.
I must admit Martin, I didn't get the head wet. My pressure washer has a very focused spray so you can work close to an area but not get it wet, so to speak. Silicon spray is good for getting the plastics and rubber hoses looking nice and black.
Stick a pic up when your done, I would be interested to have a look.
Stick a pic up when your done, I would be interested to have a look.
Knowing my luck i would knacker up my bullet proof car by being heavy handed or doing something wrong 
I did a quick wipe round last night, it does look better but where do you stop? I could quite easily go around with special engine cleaner with rags and wipes for an hour but truth is i cant really be arsed! It does look a lot better though now! Plus its just had a little service at Honda so they have give it a full valet ( usually the only time the inside gets cleaned properly
)
I did a quick wipe round last night, it does look better but where do you stop? I could quite easily go around with special engine cleaner with rags and wipes for an hour but truth is i cant really be arsed! It does look a lot better though now! Plus its just had a little service at Honda so they have give it a full valet ( usually the only time the inside gets cleaned properly
)Martin_Hx said:
Knowing my luck i would knacker up my bullet proof car by being heavy handed or doing something wrong
I did a quick wipe round last night, it does look better but where do you stop? I could quite easily go around with special engine cleaner with rags and wipes for an hour but truth is i cant really be arsed! It does look a lot better though now! Plus its just had a little service at Honda so they have give it a full valet ( usually the only time the inside gets cleaned properly )
I know what you mean, I have done stuff in the past where the thought goes through your head "aaarrgghh, why the f$%k didn't I just leave it alone!"I did a quick wipe round last night, it does look better but where do you stop? I could quite easily go around with special engine cleaner with rags and wipes for an hour but truth is i cant really be arsed! It does look a lot better though now! Plus its just had a little service at Honda so they have give it a full valet ( usually the only time the inside gets cleaned properly
)I think you hit the nail on the head though and chose the time to stop perfectly, when you had enough. I admire you for giving it a go, its the thought that counts at the end of the day.
GregK2 said:
Looks very nice, congrats. Love that the woman who owned it previously was OCD enough to put Rubber mats over the OE one's but doesn't get it serviced on time. 
And oh dear Rovelo's!? What was on it before them?
Cheers Chaps, both of you. And oh dear Rovelo's!? What was on it before them? I know what you mean about the servicing but it was going to trade not a punter like me. I almost had to twist there arm to sell it to me. Mentally they had moved onto the new mini, so I guess, at Honda prices they would let that slip. I get it, I must admit.
Tyres I think were a bald pair of Avons, which are the same as the good ones on the back. I'm guessing the Rovelos would maybe had a chinese/asian accent if they could talk. Never heard of them before.
Edited by spudgun GB on Friday 10th October 17:21
Now winter has finally cleared off I have had chance to get the Civic out the garage and spend a bit of time on it.
I have done the fuel filter since my last post. A bit of a pig of a job. Not particularly difficult but time consuming and fiddly. How they thought putting in top of the fuel tank was a good idea, god knows.
This last couple of weeks have involved cosmetic attention.
First off, clay bar. I had never used it until this and wow is that stuff good! Of all the work I carried out this made the biggest single difference.
Next up, stone chip filling with touch up paint, worked my way around the car then left it a week to dry in the garage.
Following weekend wet sanding the paint blobs with 2500 grit and polishing back up using Clearkote Vanilla Moose Wax Hand Glaze.
Moving on, application all over the car with Poorboys Black hole glaze. Never used it before but seems good stuff. No complaints on ease of use and complimented the car's colour well.
Finally, finished off with Poorboys blue natty paste wax. A new product to me but seems great.
The interior hard plastics needed a lift so I tried something out that I would highly recommend. I don't know if this is a known trick but I wiped the inside down with a solution of CIF hard floor cleaner and water. The plan was to clean the muck of with that and then apply something afterwards. No need, the finish on the hard plastics afterwards made them look like new. A bottle of that will be finding its way into the car cleaning kit for sure. I then spent half a hour shaving the bobbles off the seat fabric.
Now it's done I took some pictures this afternoon in a slightly more pleasent back drop than the last lot. I'm not sure they add much over the last batch, the colour doesn't seem very photogenic, but I have worked hard on it so I'm posting em
I still have the cheapo tyres on it but a pair of Avons are winging there way to me and should be here early next week.
After our break away to Switzerland at the end of the month it will be wheel refurb time and then that will be about it.
Thanks for stopping by.
I have done the fuel filter since my last post. A bit of a pig of a job. Not particularly difficult but time consuming and fiddly. How they thought putting in top of the fuel tank was a good idea, god knows.
This last couple of weeks have involved cosmetic attention.
First off, clay bar. I had never used it until this and wow is that stuff good! Of all the work I carried out this made the biggest single difference.
Next up, stone chip filling with touch up paint, worked my way around the car then left it a week to dry in the garage.
Following weekend wet sanding the paint blobs with 2500 grit and polishing back up using Clearkote Vanilla Moose Wax Hand Glaze.
Moving on, application all over the car with Poorboys Black hole glaze. Never used it before but seems good stuff. No complaints on ease of use and complimented the car's colour well.
Finally, finished off with Poorboys blue natty paste wax. A new product to me but seems great.
The interior hard plastics needed a lift so I tried something out that I would highly recommend. I don't know if this is a known trick but I wiped the inside down with a solution of CIF hard floor cleaner and water. The plan was to clean the muck of with that and then apply something afterwards. No need, the finish on the hard plastics afterwards made them look like new. A bottle of that will be finding its way into the car cleaning kit for sure. I then spent half a hour shaving the bobbles off the seat fabric.
Now it's done I took some pictures this afternoon in a slightly more pleasent back drop than the last lot. I'm not sure they add much over the last batch, the colour doesn't seem very photogenic, but I have worked hard on it so I'm posting em
I still have the cheapo tyres on it but a pair of Avons are winging there way to me and should be here early next week.
After our break away to Switzerland at the end of the month it will be wheel refurb time and then that will be about it.
Thanks for stopping by.
spudgun GB said:
I'll have a look at them later, good spot. The wifes off out so I will use her toothbrush while she's not about.
Edited by spudgun GB on Monday 6th April 11:11
I had some Mugen (Replica 
) pedals when i had my ep3, and i have to say thought they looked much better than standard. They're not for everyone though, and looks like your trying to keep everything very OEM.
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