Piston Slap: In Praise of the 2005 Honda CR-V

Chris writing :

Dear Sajeev,

In 2005 I bought a new Honda CR-V. It has recently driven over 200,000 miles. It has never given me any trouble or needed anything other than regularly scheduled maintenance and normal wear items (tyres, brakes, battery). Survived New England winters without rust. Above all, it pays off.

Is there anything proactive I need to do to keep it on track, maybe even for another 100,000? I don’t mind investing now if it will save me major repairs later. As trouble free as it has been, I don’t see how to replace it (and can’t at this time), but given the mileage, I feel like I should wait for this other shoe grave!

Sajeev answers:

Wow… withdrawing from Monday’s Piston Slap sounds like a pretty good idea now. The CR-V pokes fun at our Rust Belt Woes!

Probably the best thing you can do (other than regular maintenance) is to keep your ride as nice to drive (wax/detail to a minimum) and as fun to drive (new shocks/springs) as possible.

The first is obvious: you want a vehicle with decent curb appeal; otherwise you’ll be driving a simple winter thresher all year long. Even if you don’t care, why let the situation escalate when it doesn’t have to? pride in your conduct…Son!

The latter can keep the suspension in its ideal geometry, preventing excessive wear and tear as your bones age. And the new shock absorbers ensure those old bones don’t go up or down unnecessarily, in theory. Plus, it will ride and handle like new again. What is the classic definition of an “additional benefit”. What else is there that you won’t notice until it’s too late?

• Replace all rubber hoses at your next coolant change. (even the radiator ones!)
• Replace engine serpentine belt.
• Inspect all vacuum lines for cracks, brittleness, or binding.
• Upgrade your speakers (with the cheaper aftermarket side) so you can hear what you missed or will miss.
• Replace your headlight bulbs, it’s a safe bet the filaments are far from their original efficiency.
• Lubricate weatherstripping with silicone based spray lubricant, smooth door hinges/latches with something factory recommended.
• Shampoo mat.

I’ve probably left a lot of things on the table for the best and brightest… so here we go!

Send your questions to [email protected]com. Don’t skimp on the details and ask for a quick fix if you’re in a hurry… but be realistic and use your make/model specific forums instead of TTAC for more timely advice.