Hi all, I just got a 94 accord EX with 150k miles. Previous owner maintained it well but I just want to make sure everything is good for this car. So, should I bring it to Honda to check? or just normal car service shop? and how much does it usually cost?

Also, when I test drive and press gas, when the transmission shifts, it is a little bit rough, like I can feel the changing. Is it normal? Or the transmission may have problem?

And it has many very small dents on the hood. Is it cheap to fix them? can I do it myself? Something like this:
http://superiorautoinstitute.com/blo...hail_dents.jpg

 

Go to dealer for piece of mind. Probably $100 +/-.

 

Ask for a "buyers" inspection, see what they quote.

Trans "feeling"....did the PO have the trans fluid changed with Honda fluid? Check for broken mounts, be sure the throttle control cable is adjusted and moving correctly....to try to make you feel better, the auto trans in the 5th gens are strong...372K on mine

 

Are you sure the previous owner performed timing belt maintenance? If not, that is a significant mainteance that should not be deferred. It will cost $500-$700.

good luck

 

Thanks! I will what the PO what fluid he used, in case he did not use honda, should I flush out current fluid and put new one, or just put the new one in?

Not sure, I will ask him, but is it that expensive? I google and the timing belt costs only $100+. Does the price you gave include the labor cost?

 

Also, I plan to do some 3,4-hours trip with this car. Is it safe? If I change timing belt, tires, oils, fluids.

 

heck yes you could drive cross country easy, these cars don't break easily.
my '93 had 182000 when I bought it and now 225,000.

suggest don't get in a sweat about the timing belt until the prior guy tells you he didn't do the TB. ask him. If he maintained car well like you said, he'd have done the TB.

 

Timing belt is a long job - labor costs a lot more $$ than the parts.

Don't panic, but DO find out if he did it. It should be done about every 100k miles (or 7 years), so it's way overdue. Or else you'll have to remember to do it again at about 190k or so.

If it breaks, your pistons can hit the valves. That never has a happy ending.

 

He is not sure since he got it only for a year. But I will look up the maintenance records from the owner before him. I don't mind invest about 1k for this one as long as I can do road trips with it. But, is there any other way that we know we should change timing belt?

Also, it doesn't come with remote lock/unlock (have to use the key). Could I add that so it's more convenient? Also the passenger door, I have to unlock from inside from that door and can't use the driver's unlock button. Is it easy to fix this?

Thanks guys!

 

Does the pass door lock using the switch?

EDIT: Didn't answer your question about the trans fluid. If Honda fluid was not used, I'd add that to the list of things to "get to" as soon as you can. It might be over kill but to give you peace of mind, I'd do three drain and fills, drive a bit between them....one each weekend or something like that. Then you can set the normal change cycle.