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Thread: possibilities of failure in our engines?

  1. #1
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    possibilities of failure in our engines?

    im just curious what possibilities there are that can put our A20A motors in the junkyard for good. ive seen plenty of 3G accords at the local junkyard, most which still have unrusted bodies even for the alberta weather. im just curious at what can send them to there.


    im just compiling a list of what can possibly go wrong in a motor so i know what i could expect from a motor with 320000km on it.



  2. #2
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    Re: possibilities of failure in our engines?

    A well maintained A20A should last forever. A 3G ended up in a J-yard, engine failure may not be the sole cause of it. An owner may have abandoned the car because the car needed an expensive repair, such as:
    Transmission failure
    Needs suspension overhaul
    Timing belt broke
    1989 Honda Accord DX Coupe
    A20A1 engine, 165K miles

  3. #3
    LX User Cant Stop's Avatar
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    Re: possibilities of failure in our engines?

    ya 320,000k not that bad for a motor that is like 150,000m oil leaks are also common usually from main bearing and valve covers
    pic's of project at my homepage: home.earthlink.net/~andyk65

  4. #4
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    Re: possibilities of failure in our engines?

    320,000 km. = roughly 198,000 miles, which is about the same as mine.
    The A20A1 & A20A3 are pretty solid lower ends with the iron block. Some issues I've seen over the years on this board are;

    Broken timing belts, with some damage done to the head, some without.
    Overheating
    Transmission problems
    Head & gasket issues
    Oil leaks
    Carburetor problems
    Vacuum leaks
    Steering rack & suspension
    Passing emission laws
    Manual tranny going out
    Wheel cylinders leaking
    Wiring issues

    It depends on how you drive & your maintenance to which problems that could or not occur.

    Anyhow, this car is like any other car. If you don't get it towed cause it breaks down & you can't fix it on the spot. The junk yard will part it out if you don't come & get it.
    Also, if the towing & cost of getting it fixed is worth more than you paid for the car, Hello junkyard!
    Last edited by 88Accord-DX; 01-03-2006 at 06:00 PM.
    .

  5. #5

    Hash_man_Se_i's Avatar
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    Re: possibilities of failure in our engines?

    My mechanic has an 87 Lude with an A20a3, and he put well over 400,000km on it before he had to rebuild the motor. I believe it was burning oil pretty badly at that point but otherwise nothing was wrong.

  6. #6
    3Geez Veteran AccordEpicenter's Avatar
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    Re: possibilities of failure in our engines?

    check for overheating/blown headgasket. That and running the car low or out of oil. Compression tests can help identify both
    429whp 362wtq A20 TURBO. A20T>*

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    3Geez Veteran lostforawhile's Avatar
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    Re: possibilities of failure in our engines?

    most people junk them because they just don't care about them anymore, they don't want to put the time and money onto one like most people on this board do. they are really a great car,but people just don't care. most ones i've seen at the junkyard have had obvious terrible maintinence,oil leaks bald tires,dents,trashed interiors. people buy them cheap and when they quit running they junk them. i took the oil plug out of one i saw and black mollasses came out. it was disgusting,if they had just changed the oil it might still be running. that one had a thrown rod, probably because the oil pump couldn't pump that crap anymore.

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    LX User Soundy's Avatar
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    Re: possibilities of failure in our engines?

    3G engines never die. The rest of the car might rust away around it though

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    Re: possibilities of failure in our engines?

    Rod or Crank Bearring

    Keep an eye on your fluid levels and filters and such.
    - llia


  10. #10
    DX User bigbrat41's Avatar
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    Cool Re: possibilities of failure in our engines?

    I have an '88 DX setting around because of the high price ($1200.00 ) of a transmission rebuild. The rest of the car is pretty solid. I plan on cannibalizing it for anything I might use on my '89 Lxi. Headlight motors, wiper motor, fuse boxes, etc. I'm even going to cut the door panels for sheet metal when I do my shaved door conversion.

  11. #11
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    Re: possibilities of failure in our engines?

    i blew the head gasket once. it sucked.
    3geez for life.

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    3Geez Veteran lostforawhile's Avatar
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    Re: possibilities of failure in our engines?

    Quote Originally Posted by bigbrat41
    I have an '88 DX setting around because of the high price ($1200.00 ) of a transmission rebuild. The rest of the car is pretty solid. I plan on cannibalizing it for anything I might use on my '89 Lxi. Headlight motors, wiper motor, fuse boxes, etc. I'm even going to cut the door panels for sheet metal when I do my shaved door conversion.
    are those doors with manual window cranks? cripes don't cut them up i'll buy them from you. if you need some steel for the shaved door handles give me the dimentions and i'll send you the pieces. is it a hatch?

  13. #13
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    Re: possibilities of failure in our engines?

    right now im just wondering what eletrical things could go wrong with the 3G. i wouldnt be surprised if it lasted forever, but the eletrical system seems iffy on these cars...

  14. #14
    LX User Cant Stop's Avatar
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    Re: possibilities of failure in our engines?

    seems to me typical honda problems brake lights blow out for no reason.
    pic's of project at my homepage: home.earthlink.net/~andyk65

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    3Geez Veteran lostforawhile's Avatar
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    Re: possibilities of failure in our engines?

    usually the combination switch,the key switch(the electrical part),the main relay in fuel injected cars(can sometimes be repaired),the ignition module. i really haven't had many electrical problems,I suspect a lot of the problems are corrosion in the circuits,probably caused by the same things that cause them to rust. haven't really had any rust problems eithier.

  16. #16
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    Re: possibilities of failure in our engines?

    i have an 89 lxi and my windows wont roll down or up unless i take out the relay fuse and connect 2 holes with a wire.

  17. #17
    3Geez Veteran lostforawhile's Avatar
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    Re: possibilities of failure in our engines?

    the fuse or the relay itself?

  18. #18
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    Re: possibilities of failure in our engines?

    i recently had a problem with the driver side window not going up and down all the time. It turned out to be some of the solder connections in the little black box inside the door. patched those and it works perfectly now.

  19. #19
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    Re: possibilities of failure in our engines?

    My hazards sometimes won't come on, you have to wiggle the switch to get them to work. Also, my headlights go out for a second when i turn on the left blinker, but i think thats because some assholes who tried to steal my car broke apart the steering column and some wire is loose.

  20. #20
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    Re: possibilities of failure in our engines?

    Quote Originally Posted by Ludi Mali
    i recently had a problem with the driver side window not going up and down all the time. It turned out to be some of the solder connections in the little black box inside the door. patched those and it works perfectly now.

    mine wont go up or down all the time, im gonna take my door apart and try that. its annoying when all the other doors work perfectly and i gotta wait for the damn buttom to work

  21. #21
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    Re: possibilities of failure in our engines?

    i put a peice of wire where the relay fuse is supposed to be in order to use my windows... fuckin ghetto but it works, but then my car wont shut off sometimes, i can take the keys out and it will keep running till i take the wire out.

  22. #22
    3Geez Veteran AccordEpicenter's Avatar
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    Re: possibilities of failure in our engines?

    lol that is really ghetto... Nice name too! DEEEEEZ NUUUUTZ
    429whp 362wtq A20 TURBO. A20T>*

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