In this post, we investigate whether oil additives deliver on their big promises. Here is a summary of what we know and think about oil additives.
“My paint and clear coat are peeling from the roof of my 2007 Honda Civic. The car is just out of warranty but it seems crazy that the paint would not last more than 6 years. What should I do?” – Katie S.
When we invest so much in our cars we come to expect them to stand the test of time. Once the clear coat and paint start to chip away, it invites rust to form on the exposed surfaces which causes very rapid deterioration.
The interesting thing about the case with your Honda Civic is that Honda has already issued a recall for faulty paint on the front and rear fenders. They officially titled this recall “Warranty Extension: 2006-2010 Civic Body Panel Clear Coat Cracks”. The problem you describe is on the roof of your car, but with precedent set for a recall on other parts of the car, I think you have a case to ask for a free repair. Call Honda Canada and ask them to look into it for you and they will have your local Campus Honda do an inspection. It doesn’t hurt to ask, especially with a car so new and valued for its long life and dependability.
“My Honda Civic’s SRS light has come on, what does it mean and how do I get it to turn off?” – Jeff Q.
This is a bit of a cryptic warning light and it tends to throw owners for a loop. Most often in Civics, the SRS light comes on due to a faulty switch in the driver’s side seatbelt pretensioner (read: personal rocket launcher). Since the driver’s side is used most often it is a safe bet that the problem is originating there. To save expensive guess work, have the code read by your mechanic. Once the culprit is confirmed, you can give Honda your VIN number and they can order the part. If you feel confident in your abilities, you can remove the seat and take the side apart for the repair and then have the codes cleared. Be warned, it is a job for the mechanically inclined, so you may want to leave it to a professional. This is something that seems innocuous when it is just a little light flickering on the dash, but when it detects an error it shuts the entire airbag system off, so be sure to get it sorted out ASAP.
What is a seatbelt pretensioner? Well, it is basically your own personal rocket launcher! The pretensioner mechanism uses an explosive charge to drive a concealed piston when sensors detect the abrupt deceleration of an accident. The piston, in turn, rapidly drives the spool around which the fabric strap of a seatbelt is wrapped. That incredibly fast retraction of the belt fabric removes the slack from the belt instantly. This extra seatbelt “pre-” tension, moments prior to the full force of impact, pulls the bodies of the driver and front-seat passenger firmly into their seats, and into the safest possible position for airbag deployment. Very cool indeed.
If you have questions about driving or car maintenance, contact the experts from Parkside Motors though Facebook or our contact page.
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