I thought I'd share a couple more pictures of the ol girl...
Type-R radio delete for added weight savings
Seriously though, this part really sucks. Whenever I get into some traffic my first reaction is to flick onto the traffic reports and find out whats going on. IT dawns on me again (and again) that I don't have a radio.
In-dash screen: nothing but bum droppings to watch as usual.
The car was certified as "fit" back in June. Those slips are only valid for 36 days, so if you don't sell the car within that time frame, you or the new owner has to have it re-certified. Mine lapsed so I had to take it to a shop to be inspected. Keep in mind, I was driving the car illegally (it wasn't registered to me because of the certification). If a cop had of run the plate, it would have come up as a black 99 prelude. They would have taken the plates, and impounded the car. That being said, I went to the nearest shop, which is in one of those big chain hardware stores. Big mistake. By taking it there, I basically handed them a blank cheque. The only thing i was aware of and told them about was three marker light bulbs were burnt out. They come back to me with:
1) Rear brakes "totally drokked". $1100
2) Seatbelt frayed. $560
3) battery tie down missing.
4) Hole in quarter panel. (body shop required)
5) Front right upper control arm is missing a nut.
They never found the light bulbs...
Eleven-hundred bucks for rear brakes! Honda quoted me that much for all four on my 99! They tried telling me they were way beyond the minimums. I played dumb and asked:
Me: "oh my.. how would that problem manifest itself?"
Them: "Well uh.. you'd get a lot of grinding, screeching, and increased pedal travel."
He didn't know what to say when I told him I checked the brakes before buying the car, and they were absolutely fine.
Them: "we have our in-house minimum standards and your brakes don't meet those."
Me: "I too have "in-house" standards for cars, and some brand new cars today wouldn't meet those, but what I think is irrelevant, as are your in-house standards. The ministry of transportation has minimum standards and that is what I am paying for!"
I told them to stick it, and went down the road to a small "mom and pop" shop. Their inspection was $30 cheaper and took less time.
1) Front right marker light, both rear bumper lights out.
2) Battery tie down.
3) Upper control arm nut.
4) Quarter panel hole.
- I replaced the bulbs myself. Even the front corner one, which was a bugger to get out.
- Battery tie down I took off the 99.
- The control arm nut wasn't listed in any drawings (probably comes as a unit). 1.25 seems to be an odd pitch here so I had them put one on for me. To my surprise, they did it on the house. How many shops would do that?
Last but not least, the hole in the quarter panel. "How do I fix that?" "Foam! FIll'er up with some expanding foam and you're good to go!"
Bodyman-in-a-can:
Now she is certified and in the clear. I changed the oil last night and gave her some sea foam. Chirps into 3rd now
I am picking up a new valve cover gasket in a few minutes because the gromet on the number 2 spark plug tube is leaking, badly. I checked the plugs, and in the few seconds I had that one out, enough oil dripped into the cylinder to create a huge plume of blue smoke when I started it again.
Next weekend, weather permitting: VC gasket install, and valve adjustment.
Seriously lovin' this car.
Welcome to the 4th gen club. Hope you enjoy the car.
totally the wrong angle!!! The duct taped spoiler brake light is interesting, too! 
Might be different in canda though 
