16th Jul 2012, 21:48
Just a continuation, should you be considering an older CRV. As I was driving the CRV today in the blistering heat, the radiator went. It split on the top cap, right at the cap. I added some water and drove it on home. It didn't overheat. I smelled antifreeze and pulled over to check it. I stopped by NAPA and picked up a new radiator and a gallon of antifreeze. The repair took about an hour and cost a total of $127.00 dollars.
The CRV is the easiest radiator to replace that I have done. Remove the top bolts, disconnect the top hose(s), remove the fans, disconnect the bottom hose and transmission lines, pull the radiator straight up. Installation is the opposite. Add 50/50 antifreeze and water and keep driving.
My wife wants to trade her Volvo, which is newer than the CRV. That's fine. I'm keeping my car.
20th Oct 2015, 15:11
10/20/2015, yet another update. The CR-V is still running awesome. I drove it on a road trip recently and it never missed a beat. I did have a problem recently where it would get warm and shut down while driving. I made the logical assumption that it was probably the igniter or the coil. I bought a remanufactured distributor from NAPA and it fixed the issue. I have also replaced the anti-sway bar end links to fix a rattle when going over bumps.
I am stocking up on the parts to do a major service in a week or so: Valve adjustment, timing belt, accessory belts, water pump, tensioner, valve cover gaskets, etc.. The car is right at 180,000 and I fully intend to go 230,000 before even looking for another car. This CR-V is officially the best car I have ever owned.
14th Apr 2016, 20:53
Thanks for the updates on your CRV; typical Honda, just goes on forever. After driving french cars for a few years, I am now looking for a Japanese 4x4, X-Trail, RAV4 or CRV, & I think your reviews have decided me on a CRV, cheers.
25th Apr 2016, 14:54
Another update: I now have 182,000 miles on my old CRV. It's a daily driver and gets me back and forth to Tennessee about once a week, a ten hour round trip. I plan to do my major maintenance before I get to 200,000 miles and have already purchased all the parts, water pump, timing and all belts, valve adjustments, and will probably go ahead and switch out the alternator since it's down in between the engine and the firewall.
I do a drain fill of the transmission and the rear transfer case once a year using Honda only fluids. It's quick and easy and keeps everything working. I do oil changes about every 3-4000 miles. I don't use expensive oils. I use the cheap oil from Walmart and a FRAM filter. I figure that as often as I change the oil it won't hurt anything. I have been doing that for the last 72,000 miles and there's no crud in the engine. I replaced the radiator and fans a while back. The radiator cracked across the top and the A/C wasn't cooling right (superheating). Now it runs cool and the A/C blows cold. I replaced the distributor with a rebuilt from NAPA a few months ago. It would get hot and the car would stall. Quick and easy fix. My plan is to drive this car till it hits 230,000. Then I will decide to keep it or trade it. The 4x4 works good in the snow and I have this car set up to tow behind my camper.
The 99 Honda CRV is a great car. In 6000 more miles it will officially be the best car I have ever owned. It's bloody easy to work on. Great designed car. I love the spare tire being mounted to the rear gate. The later models got all civilized, but practically speaking the rear gate position works better.
12th Feb 2012, 20:47
Just a little more update. I still have the 99 CRV. I had to repair the windshield wiper transmission. I welded it together, so the repair cost me nothing.
I used this car on a construction site all summer, and till the end of Jan 2012. I basically lived out of the car. It was filthy when I was done. I have cleaned it up now, and she runs and looks great. I have 160,000 on it now. Still very dependable. I also tow it behind my motor home. I pull it all day, and it starts right up and takes me where I need to go with cold AC and hot heat.
I have used it in the snow some over the years. The real time 4x4 works great. No complaints whatsoever. In fact, when it snows we head out to find something to do. The CRV goes well, and since it's light, it stops as good as anything else on the road. I told my wife that I'm gonna just keep this CRV for another 50,000 miles.