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....
- 153k
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 ...
- 1,958
21
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 ...
- 14.4k
18
votes
Accepted
Is it OK practice to start a car while it's on jackstands?
The jack points of a motor vehicle are the design locations to allow one to lift the vehicle without creating undue stress in inappropriate locations. This is done for service lifts for the purposes ...
- 4,455
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 ...
- 28.7k
17
votes
Is it OK practice to start a car while it's on jackstands?
If a vehicle is supported correctly via jack stands, I wouldn't have a problem starting the vehicle. The main thing you need to worry about with the knuckles and front suspension not is place is, ...
- 153k
14
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 ...
- 3,917
13
votes
If there are only two symptoms of a blown head gasket, is it really a head gasket problem?
My rule for blown head gaskets: if you have to ask if it's a blown head gasket, it's a blown head gasket.
There are other ways than the head gasket that combustion gasses could get into the coolant, ...
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 ...
- 3,917
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 ...
- 6,037
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 ...
- 8,443
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 ...
- 1,723
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 ...
- 24.8k
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 ...
- 8,448
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 ...
- 898
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 ...
- 1,958
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 ...
- 14.4k
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 ...
- 16k
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, ...
- 153k
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 ...
- 153k
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.
...
- 6,037
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 ...
- 24.8k
7
votes
If there are only two symptoms of a blown head gasket, is it really a head gasket problem?
Given the symptoms, is it a bad head gasket or what else could it be?
It is not conclusive it's a blown head gasket, but realistically, I'm doubting it's anything else ... let's give it a 99.9% ...
- 153k
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 ...
- 24.8k
6
votes
Radiator Water Issue
You want to make sure you do not put tap water into the cooling system on your vehicle. The cooling system has a leak, which is why you need to refill it periodically.
Look on the ground where you ...
- 641
6
votes
Accepted
Benchmark about quality levels in car parts
As long as the part you are buying is CAPA Certified, you can be guaranteed it will have the same level of fit and finish as an OEM part.
Certified Auto Parts Association (CAPA) is an independent ...
- 153k
6
votes
Noise during hard braking
Other than some excessive wear/tear on your brakes? Most likely not. Brakes are made to take some abuse. More than likely the ABS kicked in and was the noise you heard. They can sometimes seem a ...
- 153k
5
votes
Is there a way to tell if a timing belt has been changed without actually changing it?
Check around your engine bay. There may be a sticker indicating the last timing belt change if mechanic did stick it.
Something similar to this.
- 249
5
votes
How can I change the sound of my tires?
Brake hard on smoother pavement or cement
A smoother roadbed will have a better surface for you tires to slide across and in order to grab and release repeatedly to make the sound you are looking for....
- 33k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible