When I first got into the 'JDM CR-X Scene' I realized that it was hard to find reliable and accurate information. There were only a handful of sites out there with quality information and pictures, and it was shortly after one of them went offline (I can't remember which) I decided I should start saving this information for reference. I started off by printing web pages and saving JPGs of CRXs and parts. Soon after I began to saving the individual pages to disk and eventually I started saving the pages as .PDF documents.
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| Screenshot of Asuka's website where I bought my CRX rear seat that I'm still using today. |
When I started working for a local Honda dealer here I realized just how important information is. You needed to have a 'Bulletin Book' since the catalog wasn't updated with new/updated listings for superseded parts etc... So I ended up collecting even more information. Then, as Honda Canada moved to an online portal called eBiz where they stored all their bulletins and Shop Talk articles I began to collect this information as well. You never know when a list of blind hole plugs and their sizes will come in handy... lol
I began preparing for my impending departure from the auto industry by combing thru the eBiz database and saving as many PDF files as I could. Shop Talk technical tips, the shop manual for the SiR and delSol VTEC models, anything and everything I thought would be useful in the future.
Also, in preparation for my departure (and because I had accrued some extra vacation time they would pay out on my final paycheck), I was able to order and pre-pay for a new SiR hood, hood release cable and other items. I also got the CR-X out for a timing belt repair (even though it snowed while driving her home) so I could take advantage of Service Dept discounts. Came out to a little under $1500 for the parts and labor for everything including the hood etc...
I dropped my CR-X off at the dealership to have the timing belt and water pump replaced. I spent about 15mins with the Assistant Service Manager saying things like: Make sure that all of the parts I supplied get used; even if it doesn't need the tensioner spring, I'd still like the new one to be used etc...
I knew that they wouldn't take the care I would take to do this job but I simply did NOT have the time to do the work myself and it's been 5 years since this car's been in North America, it has 102,553KMs on it, and I don't know when the belt was last replaced in Japan...
And as I'd hoped, everything worked out fine. She had to spend the night at the Honda dealership, but I made sure that the Assistant Service Manager knew that she wasn't to be left outside. I decided that if it wasn't in the shop by 5pm when I left, I would come back at 6pm when the Service Dept closed and pull it in myself (one of the many benefits to having a Master key and an alarm code to the building.
I decided to leave a little early and as I walked thru the parking lot I noticed that my CR-X wasn't there anymore so I went back to the shop just in time to see it being driven into the service bay. I spoke to the mechanic as he pulled my car into the shop. He didn't know it was my car at first, and he was pissed off, complaining that he had no info on the car/engine and the engine bay was such a tight fit, etc... He realized it was my car once I pulled out a USB stick and said: "I have the OEM service manuals for this car... You want that in Japanese or English?" Then seemed more relieved. (No, I don't keep JDM & EDM repair manuals in my pocket - I loaded them in anticipation of this... LOL)
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| Spending the night at the Honda dealership. |
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| It was an odd feeling leaving my CR-X at the Honda dealership overnight. |
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| It was an even odder feeling not seeing my CR-X in my garage in her spot. |
I stopped in shortly after 7am to speak to the technician and let him know to contact me directly to ensure he received the correct parts and support for this car since no one in the Parts Department had the ability to look up JDM parts. I stopped in every hour or so to check in on his progress and I could tell he took great care with her. He noted I'd got the timing belt done just in time because it was loose and had begun to slip, chewing into the plastic guard next to the engine block. He had to file down some frayed plastic prior to putting the new belt on. Despite one small hiccup, everything went smoothly. We needed to get some additional valve cover tube seals since one of the ones I'd installed when I changed to the red valve cover was seeping slightly.
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| The highlighted cylinder was the one that had the seeping oil from an improperly installed valve cover tube seal. |
I can tell you, I was sure glad to get her home. It was the first time in over five years that she wasn't under my supervision and it was an uneasy feeling walking into my garage and not seeing her parked in her usual spot.
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| Home sweet home. |
Remember, this blog was written in chronological order so, you will need to click OLDER POSTS to move forward in time, and click NEWER POSTS to go backwards.
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