My new car, CRV (2000)

[Lisamee]

I just love my new car! Its a 2000 CRV EX model, 4 wheel drive. Its looks so new and shinny, plus sounds and rides like a brand new car. Glad i found this forum to show her off and read messages from other CRV owners :D


At the car lot: My first thought was "OOO how pretty!"

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q106/lisamee/car2.jpg


Still at the car lot: My second thought was "I hope its not too big. (i drove a toyato tercell for 20 years).

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q106/lisamee/car3.jpg


After the test drive: Its perfect, didn't feel too big at all, even though it had so much more space inside!

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q106/lisamee/car4.jpg


My car at home. Now i will drive CRV's for the next 20 years!

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q106/lisamee/mycar.jpg



___________________________________________

[2RedV's]

Cool color.

Welcome to the forum.

Many of the normal maintenance items are quite simple for the average person to perform and require few tools.

If you don't know the service history, there are a couple of things you should do in order to help your V live a long life.

1. Valves adjustment - every 30k miles. A dealer near me charges about $100. It is actually pretty easy to do once you have someone show you how. Not adjusting the valves can lead to a $3000 repair bill for a new head.

2. Rear differential fluid change. Really easy, but if it has not had its' first fluid change yet, the drain and fill bolts can be tough to break loose. No need to lift it up in the air either. Just use only Honda Dual-Pump fluid. Buy 3 quarts from the dealer. It takes 1.1 quarts to do a drain and fill. By buying 3, you have enough fluid to do 2 changes without a return trip to the dealer.

3. Transmission fluid change. DO NOT FLUSH it as a flush will clog the internal screen. (You didn't buy a Ford) Honda's method is super simple and may be the easiest do-it-yourself maintenance item. Buy only Honda's ZL-1 auto transmission fluid. You simply drain it (about 3.0 to 3.5 quarts will come out) put new fluid in, drive for 10 minutes and repeat the process 2 more times. Your Honda's auto tranny LOVES clean fluid and you should notice smoother shifting immediately. Do this every 30k miles as well.

Those are the BIG 3. Brake fluid (any DOT 3 or 4 brand) and power steering fluid (Honda only) and coolant (never add tap water to a Honda) are the remaining items. Honda's seem to be real forgiving when you let them go for long periods of time, but when they do break, the parts are pricey. It is simpler to maintain it properly in the first place.

There are many people with 97 -99 V's out there with well over 200,000 miles on them.

[T Mac]

Lisa - welcome to the CR-VOC. We're glad you are here and hope to see you here on the forum frequently! Enjoy your new ride and congrats!

[tayjenn]

I LOVE the color....thanks for sharing!

[2RedV's]

Lisamee - fill out your profile and signature so we know where you are and what you have later on. I will assume for now that you are in the South since your pics of your new V hae greenery around. Where I am, there would be some snow on the ground right now.

[Lisamee]

Cool color.

Welcome to the forum.

Many of the normal maintenance items are quite simple for the average person to perform and require few tools.

Whah? theres maintenance?! I bought my first 2 cars (Toyato Tercels) because it was voted best car for least amount of maintence and breakdowns by Consumers Auto Guide. And that was so true!

The only maintenance i ever had to do for the Tercels: go to jiffy lube once a year, and get a tune up every few years :) The only repairs i had to get were trivial things like a new battery, tires, breaks pads, mufflers, thermastat, and blower fan for heater.

Thanks for the list, i do want to keep my new CRV forever! I will print out your maintenance list and save it for my auto repair shop, but my car is so perfect right now i don't want anyone to mess with it, hehe.

Thanks to everyone for all the warm welcomes! I added another photo to my cars photo shoot which may explain the strange weather we've been having in Maryland. The grass is still green, but theres a dusting of snow on the ground. Its been abnormally warm this winter, so the grass has stayed green so far, and yesterday was our first snow. Some of the trees/bushes in the background are pines and evergreens, so they stay green all year long :) But the grass is usually yellow/brown this time of year.


Our first snow: Not enough snow to test the 4WD, but she sure looks pretty in her fluffy white coat!

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q106/lisamee/mycar2.jpg


http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q106/lisamee/mycar3.jpg




__________________________________________________ ___

[davmac]

Congratulations on your new car. It looks great.
2RedVs advice is right on. I know you think it is perfect now, but a real time 4 wheel drive vehicle requires a bit more maintenance compared to your Tercels. Also with the Tercel if you didn't change the timing belt the worst that happens is the car stops suddenly when the belt breaks and you need a tow to the garage. If you don't change the timing belt on this vehicle major engine damage occurs if it breaks. It is a somewhat similar story concerning adjusting valve clearance on 1st generation CR-Vs. You probably never did that to your Tercel, but with the V there is no warning before major engine damage results from that bit of neglect. Hope I'm not bringing you down because I also like the V and have one that looks very similar to yours.

[Chris_98_LX]

Welcome to the forum Lisamee, I have had a 98 CRV for a little over 3 years now. It is a really nice car. Hope to see you around here alot more as the community grows.

Chris

[Lisamee]

I know you think it is perfect now, but a real time 4 wheel drive vehicle requires a bit more maintenance compared to your Tercels.

How will i know when the timing belt needs changing, or all the other maintenance (since I don't know the service/maintenance history of the car)? Should i only use "Honda" service centers and purchase some kind of maintenance plan?

I won't be doing any of the work myself, since i'm barely comfortable with opening up the hood to fill the windshield washer fluid :eek:


http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q106/lisamee/carsig2.jpg

[2RedV's]

All of the service info is the owners manual or you can find it here:

https://techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/RJAAI001_OMANUAL.asp

As to the timing belt, it's a time or mileage item. Seven years or 105,000 miles. Even though your V has lower miles, you may want to have it done late this year or early next year at the latest.

Have you tried a local Honda dealer (service department) and asked them to look up the service history of your car?

Your other question is tougher to answer. Many of the normal maintenance items on your 2000 V are relatively easy to do one's self with very little in the way of tools and equipment.

Just remember that Honda's like fresh Honda fluids - not generic "equivalents".
(Engine oil can any high quality oil)

[Nsxnext1]

Have fun with it. :)

-Art

[Chris_98_LX]

Lisamee I figured I would check back to see if you are enjoying your CRV as much as all of us other CRV owners enjoy ours. Again welcome to the site and I hope you continue to benefit from all the accumulated experience of all the people here.

Chris

[NY SLC 93]

Great advice. Thanks!

My V ahs 236k and still runnin strong!

PS - Where's the best place to buy these fluids??

Cool color.

Welcome to the forum.

Many of the normal maintenance items are quite simple for the average person to perform and require few tools.

If you don't know the service history, there are a couple of things you should do in order to help your V live a long life.

1. Valves adjustment - every 30k miles. A dealer near me charges about $100. It is actually pretty easy to do once you have someone show you how. Not adjusting the valves can lead to a $3000 repair bill for a new head.

2. Rear differential fluid change. Really easy, but if it has not had its' first fluid change yet, the drain and fill bolts can be tough to break loose. No need to lift it up in the air either. Just use only Honda Dual-Pump fluid. Buy 3 quarts from the dealer. It takes 1.1 quarts to do a drain and fill. By buying 3, you have enough fluid to do 2 changes without a return trip to the dealer.

3. Transmission fluid change. DO NOT FLUSH it as a flush will clog the internal screen. (You didn't buy a Ford) Honda's method is super simple and may be the easiest do-it-yourself maintenance item. Buy only Honda's ZL-1 auto transmission fluid. You simply drain it (about 3.0 to 3.5 quarts will come out) put new fluid in, drive for 10 minutes and repeat the process 2 more times. Your Honda's auto tranny LOVES clean fluid and you should notice smoother shifting immediately. Do this every 30k miles as well.

Those are the BIG 3. Brake fluid (any DOT 3 or 4 brand) and power steering fluid (Honda only) and coolant (never add tap water to a Honda) are the remaining items. Honda's seem to be real forgiving when you let them go for long periods of time, but when they do break, the parts are pricey. It is simpler to maintain it properly in the first place.

There are many people with 97 -99 V's out there with well over 200,000 miles on them.