Picked up a 2000 Acura Integra LS (1.8L I4 & 5 speed manual trans) w/ 140K miles on it from a co-worker to have for wife's local commutes and errand running. Nothing mechanically wrong with the car that I can tell other than just some 20 y/o parts needing to be replaced and usual wear/tear tasks needing to be performed.
Anyway, I am starting blind with these cars and their engines/transmissions. I normally love to do the research to get intimate with my vehicles, but I need to get personal with this one in a hurry to make sure it stays running and I don't bite off more than I can chew with any planned maintenance tasks. So I am asking for your hard-learned, super-valuable, not-well-known facts, tips, tricks, and just general trivia knowledge on these cars and their drivetrains.
What do I need to know before I even change the oil or rotate the tires (metaphorically speaking of course).
Are there any items/tasks with the vehicle which is best left to the pros? (I'll try to fix or replace just about anything except rebuilding an automatic transmission; I will always punt when that becomes an option with an autoaatic trans!)
Why do these cars seem to be so scarce? I tried to do a quick price comparison when the co-worker told me he had one for sale, just to get a ball-park figure idea of what to offer, but I could not hardly find any for sale within several states. What gives?
many thanks for any knowledge shared
nuke
Anyway, I am starting blind with these cars and their engines/transmissions. I normally love to do the research to get intimate with my vehicles, but I need to get personal with this one in a hurry to make sure it stays running and I don't bite off more than I can chew with any planned maintenance tasks. So I am asking for your hard-learned, super-valuable, not-well-known facts, tips, tricks, and just general trivia knowledge on these cars and their drivetrains.
What do I need to know before I even change the oil or rotate the tires (metaphorically speaking of course).
Are there any items/tasks with the vehicle which is best left to the pros? (I'll try to fix or replace just about anything except rebuilding an automatic transmission; I will always punt when that becomes an option with an autoaatic trans!)
Why do these cars seem to be so scarce? I tried to do a quick price comparison when the co-worker told me he had one for sale, just to get a ball-park figure idea of what to offer, but I could not hardly find any for sale within several states. What gives?
many thanks for any knowledge shared
nuke