Forum Replies Created
-
Replies
-
Yep, I saw the location of it when the battery was being replaced. The starter is to the left of the battery tray in front of a couple radiator hoses. Also thank you for answering my question in the discussion this evening. The aftermarket I was considering getting is sold online by a place called FCP import. However, they do have a location about 45 minutes away from me in Milford, CT where I can go pick it up which I may very well do since I get my parents cars serviced up in Milford. The one that they sell is a denso radiator which I guess is practically identical to the oem and it’s about $194. The other one I saw was on rockauto.com for about $152. although the FCP one is a bit more I think I like the fact that I can pick it up at their location and from what I see it seems like a good quality radiator. Will keep you posted!
You were right about the battery needing to be replaced. As I mentioned earlier the dealership did charge it when they replaced the alternator but recently I’ve been having some issues starting the car. Every once in a while it will crank but won’t start the first time, and then on the second attempt it will start right up. Anyways yesterday I went to auto zone to have my battery tested and sure enough it was down to 71%, so I know the battery is just flat wearing out and it’s time for a new one. Which is no surprise being that the battery I have in there is from AAA and they really don’t last all that long IMO.
I do plan to replace the battery hopefully within the next couple weeks. Another question I had was should I go with a duralast battery or an optima battery? I know that optima batteries are more expensive but can last a lot longer and have more cold cranking amps which was why I was considering getting one. what would you recommend?
As for the CAT I did try Scotty Kilmer’s trick of using a gallon of lacquer thinner at half a tank as well as some CAT cleaner that I got at an auto parts store. neither one worked. I suppose I could try the laundry detergent & water method, but I doubt it will work since the other two methods didn’t work. Plus the fasteners are rusted on pretty good and I would most likely have to replace those should I attempt to remove the CAT.
I am also wondering if the starter is going bad since I have heard that is a common problem with Hondas. I tried to access it today and was unsuccessful being that the bolts that mount the battery tray in place were on pretty tight and my hand tools just wouldn’t budge. May need to get an impact on those, which I don’t have at the moment. If I’m not mistaken the starter is located underneath the battery tray in my Pilot and I have to remove it to gain access.
Also my coolant level went down again, so I may have to replace the radiator a little sooner than I thought. Not really happy about it but it is what it is.
You were right about the battery needing to be replaced. As I mentioned earlier the dealership did charge it when they replaced the alternator but recently I’ve been having some issues starting the car. Every once in a while it will crank but won’t start the first time, and then on the second attempt it will start right up. Anyways yesterday I went to auto zone to have my battery tested and sure enough it was down to 71%, so I know the battery is just flat wearing out and it’s time for a new one. Which is no surprise being that the battery I have in there is from AAA and they really don’t last all that long IMO.
I do plan to replace the battery hopefully within the next couple weeks. Another question I had was should I go with a duralast battery or an optima battery? I know that optima batteries are more expensive but can last a lot longer and have more cold cranking amps which was why I was considering getting one. what would you recommend?
As for the CAT I did try Scotty Kilmer’s trick of using a gallon of lacquer thinner at half a tank as well as some CAT cleaner that I got at an auto parts store. neither one worked. I suppose I could try the laundry detergent & water method, but I doubt it will work since the other two methods didn’t work. Plus the fasteners are rusted on pretty good and I would most likely have to replace those should I attempt to remove the CAT.
I am also wondering if the starter is going bad since I have heard that is a common problem with Hondas. I tried to access it today and was unsuccessful being that the bolts that mount the battery tray in place were on pretty tight and my hand tools just wouldn’t budge. May need to get an impact on those, which I don’t have at the moment. If I’m not mistaken the starter is located underneath the battery tray in my Pilot and I have to remove it to gain access.
Also my coolant level went down again, so I may have to replace the radiator a little sooner than I thought. Not really happy about it but it is what it is.
it doesn’t crank slowly, but when it cranks and is ready to turn over it feels like it’s gonna stall out but doesn’t and then it just turns over like nothing ever happened. cables look ok, but I will check on them again as I do plan to head to auto zone probably tomorrow and have my battery tested.
it doesn’t crank slowly, but when it cranks and is ready to turn over it feels like it’s gonna stall out but doesn’t and then it just turns over like nothing ever happened. cables look ok, but I will check on them again as I do plan to head to auto zone probably tomorrow and have my battery tested.
yes I agree with you about the factory oem radiators. really any modern day radiator is prone to leaking because they’re all made of plastic now and if you’ve ever seen any of Scotty Kilmer’s videos on youtube you’ll know that plastic parts, especially radiators often get brittle and crack with age.
As for the leak it is coming from the bottom around there the metal lining on the core meets the plastic on the botton, but not on the outer plastic part of the radiator itself, and to my knowledge it is not leaking from the transmission lines. those look ok.
yes I agree with you about the factory oem radiators. really any modern day radiator is prone to leaking because they’re all made of plastic now and if you’ve ever seen any of Scotty Kilmer’s videos on youtube you’ll know that plastic parts, especially radiators often get brittle and crack with age.
As for the leak it is coming from the bottom around there the metal lining on the core meets the plastic on the botton, but not on the outer plastic part of the radiator itself, and to my knowledge it is not leaking from the transmission lines. those look ok.
Thanks for your advice guys! Eric I do plan to replace the radiator hopefully very soon as I may be moving down to Virginia in the next couple months. Honestly I have looked down to see the leaking coolant and it’s barely anything at all compared to what you recently discovered in your Honda Element. Still though if I am going to be traveling a long distance I do want to address this issue before hand. I should probably also replace the catalytic converter while I’m at it, but right now it’s just an intermittent check engine light and it already passed emissions in the state of CT so I’m not too worried about it at this point. I will check the battery out again and have it tested. I know the terminals should be clean because I cleaned them myself with a wire brush not long ago.
So far the car’s running fine aside from the once in a while slow start up that I mentioned earlier. It never stalls out or anything like that though.
Thanks for your advice guys! Eric I do plan to replace the radiator hopefully very soon as I may be moving down to Virginia in the next couple months. Honestly I have looked down to see the leaking coolant and it’s barely anything at all compared to what you recently discovered in your Honda Element. Still though if I am going to be traveling a long distance I do want to address this issue before hand. I should probably also replace the catalytic converter while I’m at it, but right now it’s just an intermittent check engine light and it already passed emissions in the state of CT so I’m not too worried about it at this point. I will check the battery out again and have it tested. I know the terminals should be clean because I cleaned them myself with a wire brush not long ago.
So far the car’s running fine aside from the once in a while slow start up that I mentioned earlier. It never stalls out or anything like that though.
As a matter of fact I did have the battery checked out and charged a few weeks ago when I got a new alternator at the Honda dealership. At which point the battery was at about 89%. the last time we replaced it was in August 2009. AAA replaced the battery. I know that typically when you replace an alternator you should replace the battery as well, but they said that it had enough juice in it that they could charge it up and it would be OK. So far so good. This had actually been a problem for sometime before the alternator went so I don’t believe it is related to the battery.
As a matter of fact I did have the battery checked out and charged a few weeks ago when I got a new alternator at the Honda dealership. At which point the battery was at about 89%. the last time we replaced it was in August 2009. AAA replaced the battery. I know that typically when you replace an alternator you should replace the battery as well, but they said that it had enough juice in it that they could charge it up and it would be OK. So far so good. This had actually been a problem for sometime before the alternator went so I don’t believe it is related to the battery.
Well I know the catalytic converter is bad and I was also told by the dealership that there is a very small leak at the bottom of the radiator, which I discovered after looking down there with a flashlight. I only had to fill it up twice within the last 6 months and only a very small amount. I may replace the radiator in the summer time if I have to.
Didn’t see the video link posted on this thread but I assume you’re referring to the video in which you bleed out the cooling system on that Honda Civic. I have yet to try this out. Though I’m not sure that there is air in the cooling system, I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to bleed it out.Well I know the catalytic converter is bad and I was also told by the dealership that there is a very small leak at the bottom of the radiator, which I discovered after looking down there with a flashlight. I only had to fill it up twice within the last 6 months and only a very small amount. I may replace the radiator in the summer time if I have to.
Didn’t see the video link posted on this thread but I assume you’re referring to the video in which you bleed out the cooling system on that Honda Civic. I have yet to try this out. Though I’m not sure that there is air in the cooling system, I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to bleed it out.