I was in Phoenix last week. All week. Every single 104 degree day. And while I was there, the Hondamatic was at the doctor getting its 500 new mile check-up. I dropped it off the Friday morning before I left the week prior and picker it up last Friday night when I got back into town (so, two nights ago).
Everything is looking good! Here is what Cory at Automotive Inc. told me (paraphrased by me):
1. Honda did a terrible job putting the distributor on right, or checking it at all. It was all flopping around in there. That might be why I was having power issues??? And how were they supposed to tell that the vacuum advance thingy was torn if they didn't dig around in there to find it? Well, Cory fixed it right.
2. He R&R'd the oil pan and resealed it so the leak doesn't happen anymore. Yay! No more embarrassing oil drip spots all over the city wherever the Hondamatic may go! Since he was in there, he replaced the oil filter and oil with the new stuff I bought.
3. Retorqued the cylinder head and adjusted the valves. He said there were only a few to adjust and everything looked good and to spec.
4. The sparkplugs were all fouled up (again) and he replaced those and the vacuum hoses.
Uh-oh. The sparkplugs were new and had just been replaced this last January, you say? Good memory. Yes, Collin did that, and he used good, expensive ones too.
5. Cory discovered that the choke thermostat was broken and no good. He dialed it back and basically unplugged the sucker so I need a new one now. What was happening was that the engine was getting FLOODED with fuel because the choke was not working causing the sparkplugs to get overwhelmed and gunked up. THIS WAS ALSO CAUSING MY 0-20MPH ANNOYANCE OFF THE LINE. The Hondamatic was asking for fuel while sitting, since it just wasn't getting enough (rough idle, coughing, gasping, choking) and when I gave it gas then it was too much and it was drowning causing a sludgy start. Aha!! So now the choke is disconnected and I actually have POWER! Now I have a hard time keeping the engine started when it's cold out and I have to rev the engine periodically for a few minutes to warm up but after that I am good to go.
6. I will have Acme Electric recharge the A/C since it's likely out of freon (R12). Maybe they can diagnose my dome light failure since I have a new bulb in it.
7. I'll still have The Carb Connection check out my carburetor to see what needs to be done with it. Cory agrees that it's just really old and beat up. I hope they can help me find a choke thermostat so Cory can put it in.
Thanks Cory!!
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