Lew's 89 sedan

[LewZur]

So, I had been looking for another 3rd gen for awhile and really needed a 4 door. I finally gave up my search and settled for this 1992 Accord LX.


And just how life always seems to work this way, no sooner do I get it home and source a motor for it, I got a call about a 1989 Honda Accord Lx-i. It was everything I'd been looking for, a 4 door 5 speed fuel injected 3gee. The car was about 250 miles from my house so I asked the guy to send pics. We haggled over the phone about the price for some time. Apparently he gave $1400 for it a year ago and since that time he put a stereo in it, so he wanted $1200 I finally talked him down to $800 and prepared to make the journey, when he called me and said the battery wouldn't hold a charge so he would take $700. I thought perfect, so we hopped in the car, drove to OKC, visited the science museum, and then went to look at the car. I was thrilled when I pulled up and it had a sunroof, but not so thrilled at the bright ass orange center caps someone painted with house paint. I jump started the car and was amazed that all the windows and the sunroof were in working order. I test drove it. It has a weak clutch and almost no brakes, but nevertheless it ran okay, smoked when I started it up and I was told it had a minor oil leak. The suspension felt good and I was happy with the $700, so I drove back to the guys house and something told me to let it get to temp for the fan to kick on as it was a fairly mild day and it didn't get to temp just by driving it. I waited and waited, the temp gauge rose, but the fan never kicked on. I was very disappointed and was not going to risk a tow bill driving back 250+ miles, so I told the guy my concern, thanked him for his time and drove off. We stopped to have dinner and during our meal he sent me a text asking me what I would be comfortable giving for the car. I thought for a bit and figured, worse case scenario a $300 tow bill, I was going to pay $700 anyway, so I offered $400. He said he really couldn't go lower than $500 and I said deal. 250+ miles, a half a tank of gas, and [B]4 quarts of oil[B] later I pulled my 3rd gen into my driveway. This will be a little by little project, I'm expecting it to take at least a year to have the car exactly as I want it. Here she is in the condition I bought her 03/27/14.

[LewZur]

I found the headlight trim at a local salvage yard and put it on. Idk if you can tell by the pics, but the driver's side headlight is all cockeyed. This I found is due to the shims missing and this really weird nut/bolt thing someone put in the front location. Luckily, there is a place in town that sells nothing but nuts, bolts, washers and screws. I'll remove the correct bolt and go have them match up the size and buy a handful of washers to use as shims. Maybe I can get it back to the correct mounting position. I also removed the grill and sanded it with really fine sandpaper for about 3 hours trying to get the paint off and bring it back to original. It's not perfect, but it will work until I can find a better one. I also took the paint off the center caps and I think the reason they were painted with house paint is due to them being all gouged to hell, but I'm not keeping them so I sprayed them black to make them look somewhat more pleasing.

[LewZur]

I'm wanting to remove all the trim and paint it back to the original black, then I will be done with appearance until I can get it painted. I've never removed the trim for a 3rd gen, but I assume there are clips behind the door panels and on the inside of the fenders. But I can't figure out how to take this trim piece off.


I felt in the wheel-well and can feel were the piece sits, but I can't feel any clips. Any suggestions? Of course I want to remove the trim without damaging it or the paint on the car.

[LewZur]

Well I said goodbye to the 92 last night as I watched it being towed away. Now I have some Prelude rims to try to sell. I found a motor from a running 146k Accord that I will be using the funds from the 92 on, as soon as they do a compression test. Still hoping to get some input on you guys as to how that rear fender well trim comes off.

[TNTumbler]

That piece of trim is a bugger to get off without destroying it! It has two prongs and each prong has 2 tabs each. I got lucky with a trim removal tool and about 15 minutes of fighting it (each side kept clicking back I place. I masking taped where I wanted the paint protected. Mine was off the car and in the back seat. I'll look and see if I can locate the old one and take a picture of the backside of it. After 22-25 yrs old they do become brittle. Here is a pic of the two holes that the prongs go into.

[LewZur]

I'll look and see if I can locate the old one and take a picture of the backside of it.

That would be awesome. I appreciate the pic for reference!

[derolph]

That piece of trim is a bugger to get off without destroying it! It has two prongs and each prong has 2 tabs each. I got lucky with a trim removal tool and about 15 minutes of fighting it (each side kept clicking back I place. I masking taped where I wanted the paint protected. Mine was off the car and in the back seat. I'll look and see if I can locate the old one and take a picture of the backside of it. After 22-25 yrs old they do become brittle. Here is a pic of the two holes that the prongs go into.

So, did you get the trim molding off with the prongs intact or did the prongs break?

[TNTumbler]

Both Prongs are intact, one prong unfortunately has one of two tabs missing. After fighting with it for 15 minutes I got impatient. But some very hot tap water and gentle massaging I got them out enough to hold the piece in place with no problem or loose fit. I'm still searching the car. I know I have the old one because I kept it around as a Just In Case scenario. Still looking.

[derolph]

If you need to replace some "prongs", 20 X Nylon Fastener Rivet Retainer Clips Door Lock Honda Accord 1986~ (10 x 10.5) will work.

[TNTumbler]

If you need to replace some "prongs", 20 X Nylon Fastener Rivet Retainer Clips Door Lock Honda Accord 1986~ (10 x 10.5) will work.

Hate to say it but the prongs and tabs are made into the piece and are not replaceable like that.

[derolph]

Hate to say it but the prongs and tabs are made into the piece and are not replaceable like that.

Really? So, that changed from '88 to '89? The moldings look the same on your car as on my '88
LX-i so I am surprised to hear they are not the same on the hidden/back side.

[LewZur]

I have yet to try to take the moldings off. I did the front brakes because they were bad when I bought the car but when I pulled them off only the passenger side was bad. I noticed that the passenger side rotor needs replaced, which I will do in the next few weeks. Here are a few pics of the pads I pulled off.
Passenger side:

Driver side:

While I had the car off the ground I swapped rims. I think these look a hundred times better, though I'm still not happy with the look.

I drove the car last night over to a buddy's house to check the brakes and see how she was gonna ride with the over-sized tires. It drove great, but when I went to leave the car wouldn't start. Idk what the deal is it won't even turn over. I tapped the starter a few times to see if maybe it was sticking, but I had no luck with that. The only other thing I can think of is maybe the neutral safety switch isn't engaging??? Idk any suggestions would be awesome. I'm about to head over there in an hour or so to try to get it home.

[TNTumbler]

Automatic? If so push the gear shift handle forward or backward without pushing the button in while turning the key. If that works then it is your safety neutral switch. If not I'm not sure. 5 speed? Could be the clutch neutral safety switch. Not sure where it is located, but if you find it. Try holding the "punch lever" down and see if it starts.

[LewZur]

Automatic? If so push the gear shift handle forward or backward without pushing the button in while turning the key. If that works then it is your safety neutral switch. If not I'm not sure. 5 speed? Could be the clutch neutral safety switch. Not sure where it is located, but if you find it. Try holding the "punch lever" down and see if it starts.

It is a 5 speed. I'm headed out there now. I'll put power to the starter first to see if it's engaging. I guess afterwards, my next option is to find that switch.

[HLW]

The clutch interlock switch is at the top of the clutch pedal bracket. It uses a 17MM lock-nut to hold it in place. It is easier to access it if you remove the mounting nuts for the fuse box and drop the fuse box down. There is a plastic cap on the top of the clutch pedal that engages the interlock switch. If it is missing, your switch is probably good. The plastic cap is the same one used on the bottom of the clutch pedal for the cruise control and on the brake pedal for the brake switch. It is still available from the dealer.

[TNTumbler]

Here is what the back of the trim looks like. This is the one between the door and wheel arch.

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk

[TNTumbler]

I said I'd get it and I did. LoL

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[kompressor]

Nice colour

Both Prongs are intact, one prong unfortunately has one of two tabs missing. After fighting with it for 15 minutes I got impatient. But some very hot tap water and gentle massaging I got them out enough to hold the piece in place with no problem or loose fit. I'm still searching the car. I know I have the old one because I kept it around as a Just In Case scenario. Still looking.