well here's the deal: I drive a 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX MR. I also own a 2000 Honda Accord EX sedan...well my girlfriend was involved in an accident a week or so ago, and the Accord is going to be put to sleep finally after all these years of faithful service.

I'm looking to replace it with something cheap and reliable for now, as we plan to buy a new car for my gf sometime early next year. I found a used 2004 TSX automatic with 122k miles for around $9900. the car seems to be in excellent shape other than a spot on the front bumper where the paint has been chipped, but the dealership is willing to fix that before we buy it.

my question to all of you TSX guys is, is this a good deal, and would you buy a TSX with that many miles? Is it safe? The carfax on the car is clean, and they've got the service records on it.

what kind of services can i expect the car to need at 122k? is there anything in particular i should be looking for? are there any reported problems with these cars?

also, is it possible to use the accord euro-R front grille with an Acura emblem?

thanks in advance for the help

later

 

The '04 had a few pretty well known issues here. There seems to have been a mid year revision that fixed most of them though. There's a few threads in the Problems and Fixes section about the a/c and console lighting. At 122k miles they wouldn't be warranty fixes anymore. And the a/c issue can get pretty costly if it goes.

I believe you can tell the difference between the earlier and later models by the ring around the ignition. If its green, its an earlier model. If its blue, its the later (revised) model.

Other than that, it should be a solid car and give you that year of service. I'd check maintenance records and make sure that the plugs, air cleaner, cabin air filter, etc have been recently replaced. And have the brakes checked. There's a bunch of threads about brake rotors warping in all model years (including my '08.)

At what mileage should the timing chain be replaced?

 

i was hoping you could tell me about the chain. the acura service shop told me the chain doesn't need to be replaced or serviced. i've never heard of a timing chain needing to be replaced. that's kind of the point of the chain haha

thanks for all the information. definately gives me some things to think about now.

anyone else?

 

I've always replaced the timing chain around 100,000 to 150,000 miles. True, they're chains and are don't crack and rot like the belts do, but they still stretch and deform and need to be changed to keep things running properly. They're metal, so they expand and contract as your engine heats and cools. I'd much rather change a timing chain every 100,000 than an engine at 175,000.

 

well by that thinking, you would need to change the whole engine when you change the chain because the whole thing is metal and expands as it heats, and contracts as it cools. the chain doesn't need to be changed.

 

anybody?

 

No, otherwise many people would have gone that route. Some people go with the mugen grille and stick an Acura emblem on that one.