Integra Type R
Discussion
Evening all,
I've got the chance to look at an Integra DC2 Type R local to me. Having spoken to the owner, he paints a good picture but the only niggle with the car is that the engine management light occasionally flicks on and off. He says that if it is going to come on, it comes on above 20mph and goes off again after 50-60mph.
Does this sound like a serious issue? He reckons the car is running okay, still engaging the VTEC and suspects a sensor failure, possibly a lambda sensor. If the lambda sensor is gone I would expect the car to be running a bit rough as a result, no? This is the only issue with the car, based on what he has said is it worth looking at or would I be wasting my time?
I've got the chance to look at an Integra DC2 Type R local to me. Having spoken to the owner, he paints a good picture but the only niggle with the car is that the engine management light occasionally flicks on and off. He says that if it is going to come on, it comes on above 20mph and goes off again after 50-60mph.
Does this sound like a serious issue? He reckons the car is running okay, still engaging the VTEC and suspects a sensor failure, possibly a lambda sensor. If the lambda sensor is gone I would expect the car to be running a bit rough as a result, no? This is the only issue with the car, based on what he has said is it worth looking at or would I be wasting my time?
A quick look at a thread on Type R Owners suggests that O2 sensor failure is common on these cars and does not cause dodgy running, but is obviously not great for the car and should be sorted as soon as possible. A new O2 sensor for JDM car the bloke was having trouble with was £170, so I'd expect at least £200 as a discount to start the negotiations with - and that is if you want to gamble on a car that could potentially have deeper problems.
On the other hand, catastrophic failure in Type Rs is rare, make a thread on Type R Owners asap, they have some fairly sage users who should be able to suggest something.
On the other hand, catastrophic failure in Type Rs is rare, make a thread on Type R Owners asap, they have some fairly sage users who should be able to suggest something.
Yes, thats true enough. I am still waiting to hear back about another Integra that doesn't have these problems though, so we'll wait and see where that goes. As for making an aco
, I made one yesterday but it hasn't been activated yet.
Certainly, I would not be paying the full asking price for a car with a fault, though I doubt it's anything fatal. What is with these cars? They just go and go. We'll see.
, I made one yesterday but it hasn't been activated yet. Certainly, I would not be paying the full asking price for a car with a fault, though I doubt it's anything fatal. What is with these cars? They just go and go. We'll see.
I was billed £80 for an O2 at Performance Autoworks, I tried a £20 ebay special but it's not sensitive enough and just ran rich. All good now. There's no difference between DC2 variants with the o2 sensors, even the EK9 civic one will be fine 
If you're buying one, check the buyers guide on the OC. Smoke in VTEC and rust are the big ones, can get very expensive very quickly. I've just got mine back with a rebuilt engine and I'm 3.5k lighter, worth it though.
If you're buying one, check the buyers guide on the OC. Smoke in VTEC and rust are the big ones, can get very expensive very quickly. I've just got mine back with a rebuilt engine and I'm 3.5k lighter, worth it though.
Having spoken to the owner, he is going to take it to his mechanic on monday and see if they can source the problem and fix it. Should be fairly easy, as simple as plugging it in to a code reader (or tapping the ECU for the codes manually). Hopefully they can get to the bottom of the matter and clear it up. That would be ideal then. A hot Honda has always been on my list of things to own.
Most likely the o2 sensor. Common fault and a relatively easy fix. If this doesn't sort the problem then it could be the dizzy.
I had a similar situation in my Honda in 2009. The engine light would come on occasionally and the engine was a bit lumpy at low revs. Rev meter started going crazy. Changed the dizzy and it ran like new.
Plenty of DC2 breakers around so you can source parts easily. If the car's priced decently I'd go for it, and ask the seller to knock off £200 so you can work out the problem and fix it.
I had a similar situation in my Honda in 2009. The engine light would come on occasionally and the engine was a bit lumpy at low revs. Rev meter started going crazy. Changed the dizzy and it ran like new.
Plenty of DC2 breakers around so you can source parts easily. If the car's priced decently I'd go for it, and ask the seller to knock off £200 so you can work out the problem and fix it.
Probably still leaning towards the Impreza or TT to be honest. As much as I like the Integra, and I was quite ready to pull the trigger on it, it sounds like trouble.
The dealer rang me today and left me a voicemail message saying that he'd taken it to the garage and I should "not worry" as it was "just the cat". He then goes on to say it wasn't the O2 sensor like he thought, and it was just the cat.
He then reiterated that it was nothing to worry about, as the car wouldn't have emissions problems as it was a fault with the cat rather than the sensor, and it could be something as simple as the cat 'failing to warm up properly'. There was no mention of fixing this prior to any sale, so it seems he is happy to sell a car that has a potentially serious fault and probably won't pass an MOT next time around.
Sadly, I think I'll just have to leave this one be.
The dealer rang me today and left me a voicemail message saying that he'd taken it to the garage and I should "not worry" as it was "just the cat". He then goes on to say it wasn't the O2 sensor like he thought, and it was just the cat.
He then reiterated that it was nothing to worry about, as the car wouldn't have emissions problems as it was a fault with the cat rather than the sensor, and it could be something as simple as the cat 'failing to warm up properly'. There was no mention of fixing this prior to any sale, so it seems he is happy to sell a car that has a potentially serious fault and probably won't pass an MOT next time around.
Sadly, I think I'll just have to leave this one be.
Baryonyx said:
Probably still leaning towards the Impreza or TT to be honest. As much as I like the Integra, and I was quite ready to pull the trigger on it, it sounds like trouble.
The dealer rang me today and left me a voicemail message saying that he'd taken it to the garage and I should "not worry" as it was "just the cat". He then goes on to say it wasn't the O2 sensor like he thought, and it was just the cat.
He then reiterated that it was nothing to worry about, as the car wouldn't have emissions problems as it was a fault with the cat rather than the sensor, and it could be something as simple as the cat 'failing to warm up properly'. There was no mention of fixing this prior to any sale, so it seems he is happy to sell a car that has a potentially serious fault and probably won't pass an MOT next time around.
Sadly, I think I'll just have to leave this one be.
id stick with the the DC2 choice, and find a decent example. It's a far more fun car to drive than the other 2, especially a TT.The dealer rang me today and left me a voicemail message saying that he'd taken it to the garage and I should "not worry" as it was "just the cat". He then goes on to say it wasn't the O2 sensor like he thought, and it was just the cat.
He then reiterated that it was nothing to worry about, as the car wouldn't have emissions problems as it was a fault with the cat rather than the sensor, and it could be something as simple as the cat 'failing to warm up properly'. There was no mention of fixing this prior to any sale, so it seems he is happy to sell a car that has a potentially serious fault and probably won't pass an MOT next time around.
Sadly, I think I'll just have to leave this one be.
Shinobi said:
I'd want the problem fixed and a lot on the car or walk away. It's a dealer after all.
Car is still for sale afaik, the dealer seems to be taking a "someone will want it, even with the EML" stance, but it could be anything. Could be trivial, could be terminal! The fact he won't even get the codes read should identify him as a cheap, lying toad anyway.That said, I think OP is done with Type Rs, I saw in another thread he is after a first generation Audi TT now instead.
Mastodon2 said:
Car is still for sale afaik, the dealer seems to be taking a "someone will want it, even with the EML" stance, but it could be anything. Could be trivial, could be terminal! The fact he won't even get the codes read should identify him as a cheap, lying toad anyway.
That said, I think OP is done with Type Rs, I saw in another thread he is after a first generation Audi TT now instead.
Oh dear. That said, I think OP is done with Type Rs, I saw in another thread he is after a first generation Audi TT now instead.
Grovsie26 said:
Oh dear.
While the TT would not be my first car of choice, I do see his logic; he wanted something that can be driven with speed and confidence, rain or shine, and was less demanding than the MR2 Turbo he had, which is obviously the quicker car (than the TT, or the Integra) but takes a lot more commitment and attention, particularly when conditions are poor - a mid-engine, RWD car, even driven slowly on an icey day is not something I'd be joyous about commuting in!While the TT is not the last word in excitement, I think they can look quite aggressive in black with black wheels, and sound good with a sports exhaust. I had a Cupra R 225 with the same 1.8L turbo engine and a Milltek exhaust and that sounded fairly mean! For a quick, comfortable and well-equipped car I think the TT is a good shout - it's not the car I'd want, I like my cars raw, and so loud that that can't hear the radio anyway, but for every PHer there is a perfect car at their budget, lets just hope OP has found his.
Grovsie26 said:
Oh dear.
We'll see how I get on with it. I've always liked them, and I'm after something that I can really wring out, whatever the weather. Looking at Integra Type R's, I was struggling to find a decent one that wasn't miles and miles away. I've been let down travelling to see cars in the past, so I thought I'd pass on that for now. The TT should be a nice place to commute from, and still be plenty of fun when the mood takes me. I also like the EP3 but saying as I have a mate with one I'd like something a little different on my drive. All good cars, what matters is getting something that you're happy with at the end of the day.
RS404 said:
I really wouldn't want to commute in my DC2, they're pretty raw, very low geared too.
Some people like raw. I never mind commuting in my EP3, and that is soon going to have an exhaust that most would consider far too loud for a daily driver, and it's a fairly raw and racey little car to start with. Just depends what you want I suppose. There was a Letter of the Month in Evo a few months ago from an ITR owner talking about how the car was compromised for comfortable, daily use, yet those were the things that endeared him to the car, because it reminded him what it was built for and what it was capable of, even if it was only trundling in traffic. I am much the same, I'd rather have something with a bumpy low speed ride, short gears and minimal noise insulation that can really give you a thrill when you give it some leather, as opposed to a cosseting, heavily insulated comfort car that is absolutely joyless when trying to press on.RS404 said:
I really wouldn't want to commute in my DC2, they're pretty raw, very low geared too.
I used to commute in my MR2 Turbo, so a DC2 would be positively 'safe' as a commuter! In any event, the TT turned out to be a bit troublesome and I bought my dad's Impreza GX off him instead. I'm actually quite enjoying the 'less is more' approach and had a lovely commute this morning, replete with the joys of AWD.
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