I'm new around here, and would like some opinions. We love our 94 Civic DX Hatchback. It has 284,000 miles on it, and our mechanic told us that the rattle we heard on our trip back from Lexington, KY for Easter was the transmission.

Now, I know there are a plethora of factors. However, I'd like some opinions on how long we might have. At what point is it an act of stupidity to put money into it?

Gracia y paz,

Aaron

 

So you tell us you hear a rattle and want to know how long your transmission is going to last? For all we know, it may not have anything to do with your transmission.

Tell us when you hear the rattle. During accelaration, sitting at idle, during decel, what about when braking?

 

On the return leg of an 850 mile trip while driving 70 miles an hour we started to hear a rattle from the front end of the vehicle. It was most noticeable when we were accelerating, but the car has to have been running for at least 10 minutes. I heard it again today but only while accelerating. To be clear, we don't hear it when "sitting at idle, during decel," or braking.

I believe I should have asked my original question in a different fashion. Namely, when the manual transmission begins to go in a 5th generation Civic how quickly is it likely to go.

Gracia y paz,

Aaron

 

Still can't predict the amount of life remaining. I assume you do not drive the car hard?

Why not find a replacement transmission? If that is not an option, just baby it until you have enough money to pick up something else.

 

It's hard to say what you should do with Rocinante (love the name and reference, BTW), especially since you have such an emotional attachment to it. But you have a few options.

Like Cvcrcr said, the mysterious rattle could be something non-transmission related, and could be much cheaper than a trans (plus professional installation) would cost.

If the car was well maintained for the first 250k miles before you owned it, and you've kept up with that maintenance, it could probably go on indefinitely. However, since you mentioned it's rusting out quickly (and has a dent), I would bet the previous owner(s) didn't give it much love towards maintenance.

Plus, with you both being in grad school, I'll bet money (and time) is probably tight.

Personally, I'd get a second (or third) opinion on the rattle, and see if it's something that's fairly inexpensive and would get you through until you're both done with school.

If it's something serious/expensive, I'd cut your losses on the car, take the $1000 you'd get for it, and find another cheap Civic. '96-'00 Civics are still relatively inexpensive with a lot fewer miles (and rust) and have the creature comforts you're now enjoying with your '94 hatchback.

Hope that helps - good luck!

 

Pat,

Our friends describe us as being 30 going on 80. That is reflected in our driving and how early we go to bed, so we're not driving it hard at all. I'll have to look into replacing the transmission.

Christian,

We're going to get Rocinante in for that 2nd opinion. You're correct, as graduate students funds are at a premium. To cut to the chase, the first two owners took very good care of it, but the stepdaughter of the second owner took it to school and it came back an entirely different vehicle (by entirely, I mean that some of the windows were smashed in, the ignition and locks were all changed, and the key doesn't work in the locks and falls out while the car is running. Makes the name fit even more, doesn't it?) That said, I did locate a 4 door '94 5 speed in mint condition with only 160,000 miles. It is stock through and through. It won't last long, but I hope to get a look at it.

Gracia y paz,

Aaron

 

Well, it wasn't the transmission that went first. The alternator died last night. I might consider getting it rebuilt and then putting it back on myself just to be able to drive it to a yard myself after I switch out the tires (if we get another 5th generation).

Then again, maybe I look into one of those car donation programs I've heard about.

 

Alternators are pretty cheap to buy as a remanufactured unit (you usually have a core charge that gets refunded when you bring your old one). And while I've not done one on a Civic, they're usually pretty to change out.

If you decide to get rid of it, you'll probably do much better selling it rather than donating it. The donation places just auction the cars, then you get to write off whatever it auctioned for. In your case, you're probably looking at $500 or less.