28
votes
Why are these wires sticking out of battery terminal?
The main reason those would be sticking out of your battery post/terminal is because the terminal clamp has become too stretched. Someone put the copper wire in there to take up the slack of the clamp....
- 139k
21
votes
Accepted
2003 Honda Civic steering problem after collision
Based on the pictures that you provided, there are three things that are clearly damaged right off the bat.
Your lower control arm is broken. This is the mechanism that houses your lower ball joint ...
- 1,948
20
votes
Accepted
Discovered disconnected part when removing wheels
I agree with @resident_heretic that these are the link arms for your stabilizer bars. The bar acts as a torsion spring that tends to keep the car level during cornering.
With the links broken on the ...
- 14.2k
18
votes
Accepted
What does Honda's 'Econ' button do? Does it truly improve fuel efficiency?
The ECON button is not a placebo, though the wording from that specific web page is a bit vague.
The key is that the ECON button and the Eco-Assist system are two separate things.
According to ...
- 1,536
18
votes
I accidentally fueled my car with E10 (10% ethanol). What should I do next?
I would suggest that the original problem was not the use of E10 (the vast majority of all gas sold in the US is E10 fuel due to federal mandate), but rather you received a ration of bad gas which ...
- 139k
17
votes
2003 Honda Civic steering problem after collision
I agree with resident_heretic - DO NOT drive the car again until it has been properly repaired. It sounds like you have multiple bent or broken suspension parts, and if the crash was bad enough to ...
- 28.6k
13
votes
Discovered disconnected part when removing wheels
Looks like a stabilizer bar link. They come in pairs one on the left and one on the right side. They attach to the stabilizer bar. Stabilizer bars are part of a car's suspension system. They are ...
- 3,812
12
votes
2003 Honda Civic steering problem after collision
Based on what I could understand of your description. I am surprised that that the vehicle would move let alone be driveable. Despite what your stepfather said I would strongly advise against driving ...
- 3,812
12
votes
2003 Honda Civic steering problem after collision
Everyone else has said it already, but to reiterate:
DO NOT DRIVE THIS CAR ON PUBLIC ROADS!
This car is a danger to yourself, and everyone who shares the road with you. Continuing to drive this ...
- 6,017
11
votes
How can I change the sound of my tires?
Tyres screech when they skid on a dry road surface. Your car will have ABS and probably some stability control too, which stop tyres from skidding by modulating the braking force around the tyres that ...
- 311
11
votes
Accepted
Mysterious "5th" Gear on a 4-Speed Automatic?
The transmission has a lock up torque converter.
The torque converter sits between the engine and transmission. It is kind of like a clutch on a manual transmission car. When the engine is idle, it ...
- 8,393
10
votes
Accepted
Bump on the floor in the back of sedans
The hump provides longitudinal rigidity in the unibody. The fact that it also provides a place to route the exhaust is a bonus.
Notice that modern CAD-designed vehicles have much less of an obvious ...
- 1,713
10
votes
Accepted
Can I use a 15lbs torque wrench for 13lbs spark plug job
While it most likely will be OK, it is not worth the risk. If you do over torque the spark plugs and strip the threads you will regret it because it will be a big job to get it fixed.
Most mechanics ...
- 19.9k
10
votes
Can I use a 15lbs torque wrench for 13lbs spark plug job
The lower and upper ranges of the torque wrenches are generally unreliable.
With a bit of bad luck the deviation of the torque wrench is too large for the threads.
I'd consider getting a smaller ...
- 7,798
9
votes
I accidentally fueled my car with E10 (10% ethanol). What should I do next?
This is unrelated to the use of E10. Almost all, if not all modern vehicles can use E10. Concentrations above 10% Ethanol, E15 for example can cause problems in cars not designed for it.
What you are ...
8
votes
Accepted
The car makes clicking noise when i try to turn on the engine. What could be the problem?
As discussed in the comments already, the clicking you hear is probably the starter solenoid. You have ruled out a weak battery being the probable cause by attempting to the jump-start the engine. ...
- 331
8
votes
Accepted
Does recirculated cabin air pass through the air filter?
Cabin air filters will usually filter the air on either setting if located on the cabin side of the firewall. But even in recirculation mode, outside air will make its way in. Just be sure to ...
- 888
8
votes
Bump on the floor in the back of sedans
Anyone can feel free to disagree with me since I'm not 100% on this, but I believe those bumps are placed into the design in order to give the exhaust system a little more breathing room.
Note the ...
- 1,948
8
votes
Bump on the floor in the back of sedans
I don't think the hump is there just for the exhaust, although as was pointed out in the comment it adds ground clearance which is a nice thing. The "transmission hump" (in honor of rear wheel drive ...
- 14.2k
7
votes
car over heating and white smoke coming out of the hood
You have a leak.
If the white smoke is coming from the engine compartment, then you are leaking coolant from radiator, hose or gasket. If the smoke is coming from your tailpipe, then you're leaking ...
- 91
7
votes
Mounting front license plate?
The front licence plate bracket on a Civic consists of 3 parts. The first is the part your dealing with. Inside the bumper there should be plates with nuts welded to it. Number 4 in the picture, 2 ...
- 15.9k
7
votes
1995 Honda Civic lx overheating
At a guess? From your description I'd bet it has a blown head gasket. The only way to tell if this is so is to do a sniffer test (search for "block tester") at the radiator. There are testers which, ...
- 139k
7
votes
Accepted
How to remove the clips of the Honda Emblem. Safely
With a flat thin small screwdriver, you should be able to wiggle under it and pry up a little bit, then move to the opposite side of the same fastener and do the same thing. Working back and forth ...
- 139k
7
votes
Accepted
Grille cover for '95 civic EG without AC for cold weather protection of engine
From what I remember from my Civic driving days, the radiator in that car only extends half way across the grill of the car, and the other half is blocked off by a plastic cover as you mentioned.
...
- 6,017
7
votes
Weird headlight issue!
Each bulb usually has 2 filaments in it, one for low beam and one for high beam. One possibility is that your driver's side bulb has a broken high beam filament and the passenger side has a broken ...
- 19.9k
6
votes
Accepted
What is causing this terrible grinding/groaning noise when I come to a slow stop sometimes? (but not always!)
Well, the new rotors and pads were the answer. I'm surprised that the EBC OEM replacements gave me so much trouble, but the new EBC Red Stuff (ceramic) pads and slotted rotors have been wonderful. ...
- 381
6
votes
Should I get a battery tender for a car not used for long periods of time?
This is absolutely the right way to go! I'm not sure about the model, I'm just talking about a battery tender in general. A lot of people who own performance vehicles or recreational vehicles (RV's) ...
- 139k
6
votes
Accepted
Battery dash light comes on when starting car then disappears while driving
I would think the alternator is the culprit, You can take your car down to an Advance Auto Parts, O'Reilly, Autozone (or the like) where they will test it for free. They can also check your battery, ...
- 139k
6
votes
Will vtec engage without a factory released VTEC ECU when swapping to VTEC engine?
VTEC - Variable Timing and Lift Electronic Control
VTEC requires the ability to understand the state of the environment and motor in order to change the valve timing.
Various sensors from oxygen, ...
- 32.7k
6
votes
Late 90 Honda Civic cooling system hose broke off ,is it safe to drive?
The rubbing sound is likely a seized brake caliper. It is highly likely that the cheapest option will be to have the caliper replaced.
If the car decelerates quickly, like you say, then it is not ...
- 19.9k
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