My first civic

[Jimtucket]

Hey guys new to community.. Was trying to find out more information and direction with the car. I've had the car just over a week and so far haven't had any time due to work this week to do much of anything other than driving it..
So let me start with I have a 2013 Honda accord sport I purchased. Love the car love the VTEC. I sadly had gotten into an accident and now it's in the shop for repairs. I was saving money up for a second vehicle to drive and keep some miles off the accord for resale purposes later down the road.. I was trying to save up for this to good to be true prelude I found, but I was short and needed a car soon since I was carless. Was scouting for bout a week found this car and I love it.

So here it is
2002 civic si ep3
210k miles

So far runs like a champ. I'm not super mechanical but better than average maybe.

From my understanding, this is what the previous owner listed as he had done
Hondata kpro v4
Hps cold air intake
Hks exhaist system with hollowed out cat
Max performance summer tires
Skunk 2 coil sleeves
Genuine type r gauge cluster
Genuine type r wing
Only used full synthetic oil and genuine Honda manual transmission fluid
Aftermarket Weighted shift knob

So that's what he's done to it.
Here's what I noticed is wrong/needs a little work/ would love to fix

suspension is super duper stiff. Even for having some extra work done
There's a creaking noise in the wheel when you turn left (maybe rack and pinion, maybe play in the strut?)
Hear a little pop when I dump into second( maybe my driving, been 2 years since I been in manual)
3rd pops out some times when cruising/ it's hard to find when down shifting but not upshifting
SRS light is on
All I can really think of right now other than cosmetics and what not that I'm not real worried about right now.

I'd like to keep this car in long run and by time I have it all said and done with have the drive train rebuilt to brand new standards and then the rest the car to show room quality before it's all said and done with. Not ina hurry. Was worried bout maintenance and mechanics then interior/ music upgrades
Then finish with making it actually pretty

I just don't know where to start and I plan on keeping this as a daily driver, would like a lot more pep in the step but not a racer and then eventually just sit pretty with it.

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[XpL0d3r]

to ClubCivic!

Car looks good! If you have Skunk2 coil sleeves on stock struts, that's an issue. Though, many aftermarket suspension setups will be more stiff than OEM.. that's just how it is.

The creaking noise... it's not clicking, right? Clicking is probably a CV joint problem.
If the transmission is popping out of gear, your syncrhos for that gear might be wearing and starting to go bad.
You can also reset your SRS light and see if it comes back (see link). If it does, you have an issue somewhere. I had the light pop on my RSX, reset it, and over a year later it never came back.
http://forums.clubrsx.com/showthread.php?t=308198

 

[Jimtucket]

to ClubCivic!

Car looks good! If you have Skunk2 coil sleeves on stock struts, that's an issue. Though, many aftermarket suspension setups will be more stiff than OEM.. that's just how it is.

The creaking noise... it's not clicking, right? Clicking is probably a CV joint problem.
If the transmission is popping out of gear, your syncrhos for that gear might be wearing and starting to go bad.
You can also reset your SRS light and see if it comes back (see link). If it does, you have an issue somewhere. I had the light pop on my RSX, reset it, and over a year later it never came back.
http://forums.clubrsx.com/showthread.php?t=308198

I've been thinking bout replacing the struts. It just seems off. I'm not completely new to a stiff suspension, but it feels like there's no dampening in the system at all. Life if I hit a fair bump it jars the whole car, just doesn't seem right.
I def got to check the paper clip out. My radio however just went out and trying to locate that problem now.. Was odd. First stations went and power remained to head unit then power cut. Not sure exactly what it is but I think it may be where the previous owner chopped the harness in the back

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[Jimtucket]

Oh and it definitely a creaking noise rather than a clicking noise. Sounds like metal flexing and unflexing at the turn of the wheel.. Rather annoying

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[Mr.Baker]

Nice little hatch.
You find these cars are one or the other, people either REALLY love them or they REALLY hate them.
They're kind of a one off chassis, kind of oddball. whereas nothing really swaps over from one platform to this one.
I think for the mere fact that these don't have a huge following, makes them that much more attractive to me.
I like these as they are the last of the hatchbacks.

 

[Jimtucket]

Nice little hatch.
You find these cars are one or the other, people either REALLY love them or they REALLY hate them.
They're kind of a one off chassis, kind of oddball. whereas nothing really swaps over from one platform to this one.
I think for the mere fact that these don't have a huge following, makes them that much more attractive to me.
I like these as they are the last of the hatchbacks.

So far I've been loving it and kind of deciding what things I need to work on first. It's a fun little car. But can definitely tell ol girl been through a little punishment and so I probably will work on getting her back to tip top shape

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[Mr.Baker]

But can definitely tell ol girl been through a little punishment and so I probably will work on getting her back to tip top shape

Eh, that's alright.
These K's are stout motors, but the nice thing is Honda uses them in a ton of their cars, so parts availability should not be an issue!

I think down the line, if I was in the market for another car to tinker with, it would be one of these because of the lack of a large following.

 

[Jimtucket]

Eh, that's alright.
These K's are stout motors, but the nice thing is Honda uses them in a ton of their cars, so parts availability should not be an issue!

I think down the line, if I was in the market for another car to tinker with, it would be one of these because of the lack of a large following.

Yeah I've been doing a lot of reading over the past two weeks on these motors and similar too them. I'm pretty sure my next drive train change is going to try and drop a k20a2 and work on some nice bolt on. Try to inspire a nice breathing motor for longevity and the extra power... They seem pretty hard to kill unless you drive it like your 16 all day every day

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