Honda Civic FN2 2007

[Sillyhatday]

Depends what level you call awkward. I managed to remove the cluster, by popping out the two covers that are really just for bulb access. With a spanner and ratchet combo it is doable. It looked more fuss to remove the whole trim, just to get at them twelve nuts.

The lights mounted to the body are and arse. I didn't remove them, but I've seen it done on another car. I think they are fastened in place and also clip into the body. Your almost guaranteed to break those clips getting them out.

[norush]

Thanks guys, will try doing it without removing the whole tailgate trim!

[Integroo]

You can do it, a little awkwardly, without removing the whole trim. Just don't do what I do and drop a bolt into the trim ... I then had to remove it to get it back out .

[norush]

Integroo said:

You can do it, a little awkwardly, without removing the whole trim. Just don't do what I do and drop a bolt into the trim ... I then had to remove it to get it back out .

That's what bothers me; I'll let you know so you can laugh at me

[Sillyhatday]

Integroo said:

You can do it, a little awkwardly, without removing the whole trim. Just don't do what I do and drop a bolt into the trim ... I then had to remove it to get it back out .

This, don't do it

I dropped one but using a magnet on a stick, I got lucky and fished it out.

[Danith]

norush said:

I seem to remember somebody saying it was a bit of a pig removing the tailgate lights; lots of bolts to undo in awkward places?? Any pointers appreciated!

I tried a couple of weeks ago and it is indeed a pig. The large centre cluster is a pain as it's loctited in around the Honda badge. I didn't take off all the interior trim though so will try again when I get my trim removal tools.

[norush]

Not what I wanted to hear, but thanks Danith; care to post some pictures when you get round to doing it?!

[Danith]

Sure, no probs. Would be a lot easier if this site was on tapatalk tho! I only come on during my lunchbreak at work on the desktop

[SeanEP3]

Nice FN2.

How do you find that oil? I bought it once, and it was so thin, I didn't have any faith in it, and changed it out a few days later.

[Sillyhatday]

SeanEP3 said:

Nice FN2.

How do you find that oil? I bought it once, and it was so thin, I didn't have any faith in it, and changed it out a few days later.

Thanks Sean,

Seems fine. It does use more than any other oil I've used in it before. I know these engines use a bit of oil as is, so it doesn't really concern me. Wondering if to switch to a 0w-40 at next service. The engine behaves and sounds exactly as it has alway done, so I don't really know.

Anyone else's input quite welcome

[SeanEP3]

I use the fuchs pro race 5-40 stuff. its not cheap, but been using it for the last 6 years in my supercharged EP3. Its not cheap, but I'm too scared to change!

[chrismc1977]

Mobil One only in my Integra.

I won’t risk anything but the best for an engine that goes to 8.5k

[Ahbefive]

chrismc1977 said:

Mobil One only in my Integra.

I won’t risk anything but the best for an engine that goes to 8.5k

Mobile one is half the price of the Fuchs stuff. Not sure how you can say "it's the best".

[Alonso92]

Does price always = quality?

[chrismc1977]

Ahbefive said:

Mobile one is half the price of the Fuchs stuff. Not sure how you can say "it's the best".

Given the quality, price point & need for regular swaps then it’s absolutely perfect for the job in a VTEC.

My Honda specialist who also happens to be something of a Honda B/H guru & former VTEC challenge champion also swears by it.

I’d do a tad more research before spending ~£100 on 5L of oil tbh

[Sillyhatday]

No way I'm spending that much on oil. The Gulf was just over £40 when I bought it, which seemed pretty good. I'll have a look at the Mobil next service and possible go up a grade too.

[Ahbefive]

chrismc1977 said:

Ahbefive said:

Mobile one is half the price of the Fuchs stuff. Not sure how you can say "it's the best".

Given the quality, price point & need for regular swaps then it’s absolutely perfect for the job in a VTEC.

My Honda specialist who also happens to be something of a Honda B/H guru & former VTEC challenge champion also swears by it.

I’d do a tad more research before spending ~£100 on 5L of oil tbh

Indeed, do a bit more research. Mobil1 is not "the best" altbough it is perfectly fine for the price.

Also £100 on 5L of oil? Who does that?

[chrismc1977]

Ahbefive said:

Indeed, do a bit more research. Mobil1 is not "the best" altbough it is perfectly fine for the price.

Also £100 on 5L of oil? Who does that?

Not sure I follow? You stated the Fuchs stuff is twice the cost....Mobil 1 is ~£50 for 5L, therefore Fuchs is ~£100 for 5L n’est pa??

As said-as a VTEC owner doing regular changes then you really need not look beyond Mobil 1. End of. Especially pertinent as the VTECs do like a drop if driven as Honda intended.

Leave the pricier lubricants to the supercar owners/those with money to burn IMO

[Ahbefive]

What Mobil 1 are you buying for £50? It was £30 when I last bought it.

[Sillyhatday]

Well I was going to write a different post, but as ever st happens.

Another long week away been and done. The last time the FN got left alone that long was over Christmas and flattened its battery. Dead flat, not a single crank just a heart sinking solenoid click. Well I know it needs a new battery, but after I charged it, its been OK since. A struggle on those colder mornings, non the less, allowed me to be a cheapskate.

This morning I figured I should go and see if it will start. A little labored but fired into life. So after running for a minute, shut it off and went to borrow the battery maintainer off the MR2 sat next to it. Popped the bonnet up and promptly realized the treadmill was stopping me lifting more than 6 inches. Brilliant, I'll just push it back a foot, lift it up and push it back forward. Car won't budge, the brakes are binding after being sat again. No problem I'll push harder. No joy. No problem I'll push harder. Still remarkably stationary. Well now I've started once, there's no way it would again. Really I had no choice and somehow it managed to start again! As soon as I reversed a fraction, I knew what was up, there was no loud 'ping' as the pads came away from the discs. A caliper was stuck. After looking at each wheel for the disc that had rust scrubbed away, it was obviously the one I'd had trouble with before.

So the wheel came off and I stuffed a pry bar onto the pad in front of the piston. Trying not to smash the pad to peaces, I tapped it back gently with a hammer, in hope that a fraction of movement would free the caliper from disc. It worked. Caliper jiggled off with some force. Pads out and I thought this was obviously the problem. As it turns out was just A problem.




Then it started raining...

Well these weren't exactly poor quality pads, not special either. I honestly wasn't wholly sure that it wasn't me who smashed the pad to peaces. If you look closely the peace that broke away had been loosing chunks on the trailing edge. Never the less I nicked dads car - handily another FN2 - and tried to to get to town before all the parts places shut. I wanted to put in some quality pads, but I need the car for work, so don't have time for them to arrive.

On return went to push the piston back in, stuck. Push harder, nope. So I had to find the proper tools for the job. Still wouldn't move. After mashing the brake pedal hard, it worked loose. Great, this caliper is done. I'd just been out for parts as well. I should have gotten that battery while I was there too!

Eventually the piston freed off with some patience. So I can at least order a new one online.

I went onto the other side as I was now changing pads.




Are you actually kidding me. It wasn't me who smashed the other pad up. Both sides had delaminated, but just one each side. The brakes always felt great. How did I not notice? How did the pad material not just go awol?

Got it all wrapped up, put back in the garage, on charge I might add. Then on the way out the garage, wondered why there was a small red puddle under the MR2. Hmm, coolant.