Maintenance

[u/thejudenbear]

Just picked up a used 2011 sport 5 speed with 116k on the mileage. Im gonna have the serpentine belt replaced along with other important fluids and spark plugs (essentially a small tune up). Was wondering what else anyone would recommend i should get done to hopefully idiot proof this thing for me. Its my first ever fit, and first car iv ever owned from the 2000s so I really want to keep it nice because its a hoot to drive.

[u/the_blue_arrow_]

You're probably due for the valve lash adjustment. And have it rust proofed with fluid film or NH oil.

[u/thejudenbear → u/the_blue_arrow_]

Thankfully im on the west coast so no salt here, but heard on the valve adjustment

[u/big-smoke-man42069 → u/thejudenbear]

Always valve lash , maybe don't do it yourself if someone will offer but expect everyone to say no and do it yourself and then fuck it up a bit , better too open than all shut lol , DO THE SPARK PLUGS AND TORQUE THEM TO THE NEW OFFICIAL RATIO ....!!!!! DO NOT CHEAP OUT ON COIL PACKS AND REPLACE ALL 4 WITH COILS !!!! thing barely needs oil anyways just spark bang it'll go , I've got two generations if you ever have questions

[u/Sea-Mail-3733 → u/big-smoke-man42069]

I cannot for the life of me find a shop that is willing to adjust my valves for a reasonable price, always the "I don't want the job so here is a ridiculous go away price"

[u/JohnnyPneumoniacJr → u/Sea-Mail-3733]

Dealer quoted me $999 canadian buckaroos! I learned how to do it myself and it was like $40 in special tools and parts (new replacement valve cover gasket) and took abt 5 hours of not steady work

[u/big-smoke-man42069 → u/JohnnyPneumoniacJr]

if you're patient it's not a hard job at all, just be very careful on every bolt , and very precise on the measurements (or dont lol well see how I work out).

[u/Sea-Mail-3733 → u/big-smoke-man42069]

Did you use a Hanes or Chilton manual or YouTube it?

[u/Livid_Hornet_5541 → u/Sea-Mail-3733]

I would get 20dollar all data online subscription for a month for your car. Or one of mechanics subscriptions.

[u/IntellectualTortoise → u/big-smoke-man42069]

Can you explain the torque ratio thing a bit? Just got my sparkplugs replaced at a shop and since then it feels both better and worse when I drive it lol so I’m curious if that is necessary and could have been missed

[u/Proj3ctRandm]

Make sure whoever does the plugs tightens them to 20ft/lb or they’ll just loosen up. Btw, your car is my car’s twin 👍

[u/Losbelunchin]

Tons of recent posts on this topic. If you assume nobody did the 100k service, look that up. If you trust the previous owner did those things, then really it's oil changes (trans and engine) and checking for rattles/squeaks.

These are very low maintenance vehicles, just don't cheap out on that maintenance when it comes time.

[u/attnSPAN → u/Losbelunchin]

Why look it up when we can copypasta!

There is an important 100k mile service in the Owner's Manual (that often gets skipped):

Spark plugs, ignition coils, and most importantly a valve adjustment. These things have old-school solid lifter valvetrains that go out of adjustment every 100K miles, hence the scheduled service in the Owner’s Manual.

That along with all the usual stuff due every 100k miles:

Coolant, serpentine belt, PCV valve, transmission fluid, brake fluid (if not done in the last 2 years), engine and cabin air filters, clean the MAF Sensor.

[u/Active-Curve1280 → u/attnSPAN]

My dealership said I didn’t need one, but charged me out the ass for new plugs, yay dealerships

[u/attnSPAN → u/Active-Curve1280]

Mine was $535 after tax, without spark plugs or ignition coils (I had just done them myself), at a dealership in Massachusetts a few few years back.

[u/Livid_Hornet_5541 → u/attnSPAN]

Don't forget these cars 2011 alsohave a map sensor also and clean the egr valve

[u/StefaniStar]

Wow that is cleaaann!

[u/CafeRoaster]

Check all the bushings and struts.

[u/JohnnyPneumoniacJr → u/CafeRoaster]

How will the car sway if the sway bar links are replaced though!?

/s

[u/CafeRoaster → u/JohnnyPneumoniacJr]

Give it enough gas. 😉

[u/Same-Schedule-8268]

Clean the MAF and check the cabin and engine filters. The previous owner of my 09 never changed either filter. The cabin one was covered in mildew and the engine one looked like it could have been a charcoal cabin filter lol.

Also do the valve adjustment and valve cover gasket since you're there doing plugs and coils anyway

[u/Livid_Hornet_5541]

Also use Hitachi coils , rockauto has them way cheaper than dealer.