A recent repair assessment has left me breathless !

...........HONDA ACCORD 4cyl EX - 1999 120,000 miles ..................

Any advice on getting these repairs performed at a reasonable price will be GREATLY appreciated. I cannot afford a new car for at least another
three years.

Can I purchase used parts?
Should I purchase the parts from a supply store myself?

1) Brakes - Rear Calipers are frozen ...... Rear Calipers
Rear Rotors

2) Struts - Front & Rear

3) VTECH Solonoid - I put in too much oil ???
The car stalls at stop lights etc.

4) Oil pan rotted.

THANK YOU ... in advance !

 

The only ones I would suggest used parts for are the vtec solenoid and oil pan.

I would definitely not get used brakes or used struts. Advanced autoparts is offering 25% off all their brake parts on their website for a little while longer. Which means you can get the parts for real cheap, but I'm not sure if you are talking about doing the work yourself or not.

There are a lot of cheap strut options out there, a place like monro could replace them for cheap.

VTEC solenoid you could check local junkyards or ebay and probably get one for cheap. In all honesty it probably just needs the screen cleaned though.

Oil pan you could probably find for cheap on ebay.

 

No, I will find an honest mechanic who is willing to use my purchased parts.

Are there brands of parts that I should avoid?

THANK YOU ......... THANK YOU

 

Remove the rear wheel and see if the slide pin for the caliper is frozen. You may be able to work it loose, then use some silicone paste on the pin to free it up.

Now if it is the piston that is stuck, you may or may not be able to free it up.

Is your oil pan dripping oil?

 

It sounds to me that you are just trying to get the car to survive until you can afford a new one, so I guess I would just go with whatever is cheapest.

Basically anything advanced auto sells is good. I personally try to stay away from autozone because all they sell is their own brand "duralast" that I don't think its as good quality, but it would probably work in your situation.

As far as struts, I think the $50 a piece monroes should be fine for your application. Would I run them on a performance car that I care the world about? No. But for a daily driver that just needs to make it a few more years I think they will be fine.

Obviously as far as the VTEC solenoid used Honda is really the only choice.

A quick search on ebay shows a few aftermarket companies that make an oil pan for your application, all around $40 shipped. I would think any of these would be just fine as a brand new replacement Honda pan is $80 or so.


The code to get 25% off brake parts at advanced auto is brkx I forget the exact date it ends but I know it was sometime in early April so you will want to hurry if you plan on using it. Also they only give you a maximum of $50 off, so if you reach that limit just do two separate orders. I used it to get all new brakes for all 3 of my cars and saved $150.

 

Just saw an ad at the top of this page that advertises 25% off shocks springs and struts from advanced auto with code SHOX2. Seems like they are just giving stuff away these days.

 

Another issue.

After having the tires rotated, the car - front end? vibrates between 60 & 70 mph. I use highway daily, & at 80 - 90 the vibration seems to disappear. Below 60 mph, the engine sounds solid.

The tires were removed to check for frame damage & all appears OK.
Aside from having bad struts ... and knowing that my car has NEVER been
in an accident or had rough handling - I am at a loss.

I am reaching out to everyone as mechanics do not have patience with women ! However, I am not stupid and have no choice but to move on when I get brushed off. I was told to turn the radio on to muffle the vibration and then to just buy a new car. I think you get the picture.
Poor Monro - is going to replace my newly installed Catalytic Converter at
no charge to eliminate this as being the cause. ?????

Thank you - everyone.

It will take a week or so to figure out who will work with the parts I purchase and I will take the intermediate steps (ie. checking to clean the
calipers...cleaning the vtch solonoid screen...)

I WILL SHARE MY FINDINGS FOR EVERYONE'S BENEFIT.

 

where do you live?
Must be in a heavily salted area.
Never heard of an oil pan rusting out on a Honda.

Fix the brakes Asap
Fix the oil pan Asap
the struts - meh - not that big of deal esp if you are not planning on keeping the car for a long time.

 

Yes, my oil pan is rotted. I live in MA.
Question: When I had the catalytic converter replaced, they told me it
had California Emission - Required Parts.

Was my Honda manufactured for the West Coast?
I wanted a white Accord with leather & it took a couple
of weeks to fine one . ???
Please know that my car is very nice looking and I am still proud to drive it. It is a well cared for auto - I trusted mechanics...

 

It is possible you have a california emissions car. If you do the engine will say ULEV on it like this one does.