Random Problems

Tiny
FULLBLOWNCHAOS88
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 HONDA CIVIC
  • 1.7L
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 220,500 MILES
My car has always been maintained by factory recommendations, babied more or less. Replaced the air conditioner drive belt less than a year ago, alternator drive belt less than six months ago (along with a new battery), and a few days ago replaced the radiator, thermostat and shaft seal. It does not overheat like it did, but when I go uphill it still runs hotter than normal (no leaking). When I turn my air conditioner on it seems to cool it, and squeals like crazy until I turn the air conditioner off. The fuel mileage has gotten significantly worse and it is shifting hard it seems and randomly loses a little power. Before replacing the radiator etc. It overheated faster and lost a lot of power in heavy rain and if I drove through any water would stall and battery light would come on briefly (have not driven in heavy rain since it has been repaired). Randomly has a violent shake that sounds and feels like a rumble strip (extremely hard to steer when it does this). It will do it everyday for a week and quit for a month or more. There is a "card in spokes" sound coming from front drivers side that speeds up when I accelerate. Passenger headlight works sometimes, airbag lights randomly come on, one occasion my gas gauge went down to empty then after a couple seconds back to normal and my CD player started randomly stopping and I have to eject it and put it back in (never drive long enough for that to get hot) and also seems to be louder when driving. None of my fluids are low or abnormal looking. I have found a few things that I think could be responsible for it all, but it is not throwing codes according to an Autozone diagnostic. No engine knocks, smoke, fluids on the driveway. What could be causing the madness?
Wednesday, July 27th, 2016 AT 9:11 AM

6 Replies

Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
If you change your belts and has an automatic tensioner that should be replaced as same time as belt. scan for codes and check fuel pressure then have a mechanic check the front end including wheel bearings and axles. this should tell you a lot. also check for a vacuum leak.
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-fuel-system-pressure-and-regulator
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Wednesday, July 27th, 2016 AT 9:31 AM
Tiny
FULLBLOWNCHAOS88
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
The last place that rotated the tires did not balance them. I did let it sit for a few months in the winter. I am not sure how finicky Honda's are with that. I checked all the fluids before I drove it. How common is off ignition timing?
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Wednesday, July 27th, 2016 AT 9:50 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
It cannot be adjusted as the computer does that on your car. Tires should be balanced, not necessarily when rotated as they normally stay in balance unless a weight falls off. You should have your battery checked including load test as some of these may be due to a weak battery. Most places do for free.
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Wednesday, July 27th, 2016 AT 12:02 PM
Tiny
RENEE L
  • ADMIN
  • 1,260 POSTS
Hi FULLBLOWNCHAOS88,

If you decide to check the condition of your battery yourself here is a link to an article form this site that features written instructions, pictures and a video explaining how to load test your battery yourself.

If you need further assistance please come back to 2CarPros.com. We are always happy to help.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-battery

Thank you for visiting 2CarPros.

Kindest regards,

Renee
Admin
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Wednesday, July 27th, 2016 AT 2:15 PM
Tiny
FULLBLOWNCHAOS88
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
The battery is only a few months old.
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Wednesday, July 27th, 2016 AT 2:22 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
It still can be bad especially if you got it from Sears or a Die Hard battery, they can go bad within ninety days.
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Wednesday, July 27th, 2016 AT 3:57 PM

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