08/09 Honda Civic 2.2L D

djsim101

Hi All, I'm looking at 2 cars over the weekend, one 08, other 09. Both say "well looked after" but don't come with a full service history. My local mechanic says forget these cars if they don't have a full history. If the incorrect oil is used , even once, the timing chain can be damaged, which could turn into a very expensive 3k job.
A 2009 VM Passet would be choice for in and around the same price.
I know from pervious posts and threads here that the civics are great cars, but I'm a little worried now about them.
Any opinions / advice on the above?
Thanks guys.

Toyotafanboi

A lot of regulars here drive those Civics but I think they are all the 1.8 petrol engine which is painfully reliable.

I probably wouldn't entertain a diesel one for its complexity and difficulty of access to the engine really. Maybe one with a FSH. I think they are prone to exhaust manifolds cracking and flywheel failure and stuff. I'd probably not go for one.

That said, an 09 Passat will be a disaster of a yoke reliability wise. They're desperate.

bazz26

Bit of an odd shortlist as a Passat and Civic are totally different cars aimed at different markets. The diesel Civics of that era are more prone to failing clutch/flywheel problems to my knowledge. Any judder in the clutch pedal could mean it needs a new flywheel. I think they can suffer from faulty DPF sensors too.

colm_mcm

bazz26 wrote: »

Bit of an odd shortlist as a Passat and Civic are totally different cars aimed at different markets. The diesel Civics of that era are more prone to failing clutch/flywheel problems to my knowledge. Any judder in the clutch pedal could mean it needs a new flywheel. I think they can suffer from faulty DPF sensors too.

They don’t have a DPF bazz, couldn’t even add them later on in the years due to the way the exhaust is routed under the drivers side sill.

bazz26

Could have swore I read somewhere that they suffered from the same DPF sensor related problems that the Accord did with the same engine but I wouldn't be as knowledgeable on them as you Colm.

djsim101

Thanks for the Info, would have sore the diesel civics would be as reliable as the petrol. Went to see the Civic and it was rough enough so walked away. The Passat was gone. The reason why i went with does choices as they as from the same garage and with my modest 4k budget I thought I was doing well :-) Plus I need a car ASAP.
Might look at a monedo tomorrow, 2l diesel, 10. Anything I should look out for on these ?
Thanks

christy02

Honda didn't introduce dpf's until 2011 when it was mandatory. Also the manifold cracking issue was sorted in 2006.
Chain can give trouble if it's not serviced on time. I always use 5w30 on my accord (same engine) and never an issue.
Fuel filter needs to be oem

Mine has 335000 km and still on original clutch, flywheel, turbo and chain. Nothing really gone wrong apart from alternator went but I got it rewound and has lasted another 50000km so far.

Normal service items are reasonably priced.

bazz26

While the Accord might not the Civics fitted with that engine definitely had problems with the clutch/flywheel.

Technique

Just to counterbalance some of the posts here, my 08 diesel civic has 320k km and has never gave a minute's trouble. Original clutch etc.

colm_mcm

bazz26 wrote: »

While the Accord might not the Civics fitted with that engine definitely had problems with the clutch/flywheel.

They’d have slipping clutches if the driver was giving it the beans a lot.

CiniO

As far as I'm aware, early model indeed had problems with slipping clutches.
Since honda introduced clutch model 325 for that civic, that was not the case anymore.
Unfortunately, it's nearly impossible to say which clutch model was fitted, as even some 08 and 09 still had older 315 or 305 models. (not 100% sure now, as it's only what I remember from reading civinfo forum and it was a while back).
But if faulty clutch was fitted to 08 or 09, it's very likely gone and already changed.

I never heard about problems with flywheel. Obviously it will die at some stage as they always do, but no premature wear on them were heard of.

Also it's funny to read posters saying about DPF trouble, considering car never had DPF (except in some LHD models).

Mine is 2009 facelift model (from September) with 258k km now. Still on original clutch, DMF, turbo, injectors, etc...

Only two problems my civic had so far, were one of the wheel bearings went (around 150k km afair) and air condition compressor mini-clutch had issues with engaging with led to air-con not working.
Both issues were sorted cheaply, especially air-con compressor clutch, as it was as simple as taking few screws off and changing a shim for thinner one (all well described on civinfo).

Beside those faults, I must say there was absolutely nothing else. It's pretty good for nearly 9 year old car with 258k km on the clock IMO.
All what I was doing was changing oil, filters, brake pads and discs. And enjoy driving


BTW - I could possibly consider selling mine if OP is interested, but 4k won't be enough.

alan partridge aha

Hoping to buy brother's 08 2.2 Civic. It has 305k km on it and won't give any more than €2000 for it.