₦airaland Forum

I will soon drop my own thread on what to watch out for while buying a bulldozer especially the D6 to D8 series popular in Nigeria.

metalgear11:
Any opinions about the Infiniti/Pathfinder? No one seems to have mentioned those.

Those model years were fitted with CVT. People just avoided them altogether. Even some owners in Nigeria had issues with the 4wd and just converted them to front wheel drive when wahala too much.

People fear what they do not understand

atrix4g:
Hello house,
Good day, considering the level of hunger in the land, I decided to bring back my toyota carina2. However, it smokes from its exhaust. What do you advise I do to keep it back in good shape.
Do I have to buy a new engine or just ring it.
Other suggestions too are welcomed.
Thanks everyone. Anticipating

If it has been sitting idle for a while you need to change the oil, then try and notice the color of the smoke to tell you whether it is rings issue (blue smoke), over dumping of petrol (black smoke), gasket issue (white smoke).

Then find a mechanic to access the vehicle and point you on what you need to keep vehicle in top shape

Aspireahead:
Good day everyone,

I’m having a serious overheating issue with my 2009 Honda Civic and I need advice.

This is what happened:

I went on a long drive one day and noticed the car overheated. When I checked, the reservoir was boiling and all the coolant had poured out. I later discovered the radiator fan had stopped working at that time.

I’ve since fixed the fan and it’s now working fine.

After that, I topped it up with water (not coolant), and the car seemed okay for a while. But the overheating happened again.

Now this is the confusing part:

Even when I don’t drive the car, the water level keeps dropping.

For example, this morning I didn’t even drive. I just opened the bonnet, topped up the water, closed it, and came back a few hours later — the water level had gone down again.

What I’ve checked so far:
• No visible leak under the car
• Engine oil is normal (not milky)
• No white smoke from exhaust
• Fan is now working

My questions:
• What could cause water to reduce even when the car is not running?
• Could it be a bad radiator cap or pressure issue?
• Is it still possible to be a gasket or internal problem even without white smoke?
• What exactly should I check next?

I’ve been using just water for now, not coolant.

Abeg, I really need guidance before I cause more damage.

Thanks 🙏

Their is a reason why we use coolant. Coolant is a colored liquid, if their is external leak, it will make it very feasible to see. Using water will make it hard to see external leakage.

Water reducing while vehicle is driven\cranked at all points at external leakage. Normally your engine oil dip stick should have been milky but if the seepage is small sometimes, the oil may not be milky yet but you will notice fast droplets of very light oil when you remove the oil gauge to check

Make I go register as distributor make I cash out sharp sharp.

Money dey naija you just need to look am well

haykay2005:
Please, I really need help before I give up on this car.
I have a 2006/2007 Honda Civic and the fuel consumption is extremely bad , it’s behaving like a V8 engine. This is far beyond normal, and I don’t believe simple sensor errors alone should cause this level of consumption.

Here’s my situation:
• I’ve replaced parts that were throwing codes (02 sensors, MAF sensors, Purge valve, Egr Valve, ect2 sensors, no hose leak anywhere, air filter changedl, plugs changed,thermostat)
• Fixed the cooling fan (now working at factory settings)
• Reset ECU multiple times
• At every refill, I reset my trip meter
Real example:
• 16 liters → only 40 miles (~64 km) . That's around 10 MPG
This is draining me financially.
I’ve spent close to ₦800,000 on diagnostics, repairs, and parts — moving from one mechanic/rewire to another with no real solution. Even tried a well-recommended workshop in Oyingbo — still trial and error.
Another example:
• ₦20,000 fuel finished just from Abule Egba → Airport → back
This is not sustainable.

Current observations:
• Spark plugs are brown (no oil, no black soot)
• Engine runs relatively smooth , with a little vibration(I just realized my mount is bad and that could be he reason for the vibration)
• LTFT around -21%
• No major current fault codes
• Mechanics here don’t seem familiar with proper fuel pressure testing , so I haven’t done that
I’m honestly exhausted and frustrated. I don’t have access to highly experienced professionals, and I keep wasting money without solving the problem.
Please:
What could cause this level of fuel consumption on a 1.8L engine?
What should I check next that others might be missing?
Any serious, experience-based advice would be greatly appreciated. I honestly don’t know what to do. Pple just dey refer me to their pple on man know man. At the end na rubbish

I will appreciate someone on the mainland, I have met with pple with advanced scanners. some only have tools, they cant solve problem

Start from the easiest to hardest.
1.check for leakage physically from your tank to the charcoal canister to the fuel lines.

2. When you changed the parts, do you still have those codes available? O2 sensor and MAF are very important for fuel economy.

3. Your tires are they stock or the vehicle has been lift modified with bigger tires and rims.

4. You still need a qualified tech to check the hard stuffs like injector leakage, bad plugs too much air getting into the system.

Originalsly:
I don't own a Sienna .... but a Camry. My advice is don't make fuel consumption a priority....there is not that much difference in fuel consumption between the two engine types . If you're going to be making long trips ...carrying loads ... driving a lot on routes with a lot of uphills .... get the one with the bigger engine ...the 3.5 ...you will need the power. If you would be travelling on relatively flat roads ...not hauling lots of heavy loads ...then I suggest you go for the smaller capacity engine. As one said above ...consider the Nigerian factor ...it is consistently hot ... another said the engine is cast iron and .... has timing belt instead of timing chain. The cast iron is good at absorbing heat ...better than aluminum of the other engine. If the timing belt gets cut ...your engine is safe ..just belt replacement. If the timing chain in the newer engine cuts....there will be serious damage to the engine. Then what? ...just sharing my reasoning.

In your years of experience you don hear say timing chain cut?

If timing belt cut your 3.3L 3MZ go suffer catastrophic internal damage.

Stubborn82:
Who has experience both new and tokunbo o2 sensor, which one is better please, I went to where they are selling new one, the seller told me new o2 sensor is better, meanwhile before I went to him I have met someone selling tokunbo used o2 sensor, he told me that the new one are fake and it doesn't work.

Please guru, which is better

New is better, all those Tokunbo aren't working sef except maybe you carry scanner follow body.

New is better but stick to the part number and ensure it is of quality. Especially if the vehicle is Honda

Conner44:
3MZ is 3.0L

2GR is 3.5L

3MZ isn't a 3.0L but 3.3L engine

Don't worry the chief commander of the Armed forces is aware and on top of the matter

RETRO CONSOLES.
Brand new
M20 Pro
7" Screen
64GB SD | 2 Pads + Dock + 2 LightGuns
20+ Emulators | 25,000+ Games
#160,000 only

Do you have these gadget? Can i know the Brandname (manufacturer) also can you drop a pix of the unit you have if still available.

Kuminga:
Good morning nairalanders, I'm at a cross road on what to purchase..... I need a good laptop to up skill myself... On the other hand, I also need a new phone as the Huawei phone I'm currently using has been giving me issues with the screen. The problem is I don't have the budget to purchase this two gadgets at the same time....

What do you I should buy first.... A foreign Used Laptop or a new phone

Ps: my budget is ₦200k

Will I get a laptop with a spec of | Intel core i5 | 256gb SSD | 8gb RAM|for that amount?

Depends on what the laptop is for. Like basic tasks and browsing you should get a core i5 4th gen for like 100 to 120k with probably 8gig, 256gig HDD maybe win 10 with short battery life. Use the balance buy a UK used Samsung like S8 or S9 which can still last for 2 years.

When money comes, you can begin to upgrade the laptop by additional RAM, change to SSD, buy new battery or outright sell and buy something higher

gsparks01:
thank you boss. Luvinghubby last seen in 2024, do you have a direct contact?
As for Honda josh, please is it the honda osh on jiji?

https://www.nairaland.com/hondajosh

https://www.nairaland.com/luvinhubby

Check their profiles for their numbers, they aren't active much on NL like b4 but they are still active on other platforms

gsparks01:
@ nurey

I buy my car parts and fluid from Oyingbo in Lagos. I have used two vendors their for purchases which has never given me issues

1. Honda josh
2. Luvinghubby

They also help waybill to my location if needed. So contact any of the two they are reliable when available

This your post is funny, i saw what you did there, you purposely omitted the make and model of the vehicles you raced, could be a Hyundai i20 xcent or even a 2019 Nissan Micra. Because i am certain if nah normal cars like Accord and Camry, your 406 engine would burn trying to even see their brake light a km away if you intend to race them.

tfrancis:
I want to sell my Honda Civic 2003/2004. Let me tell you the truth about this car.

The engine is perfect and superb. You don't need to worry about the engine.

Gear is working perfectly. Everything is OK. What you need to work on or change is these;

- Repaint the body
- Work on AC pipe in the engine. The AC is working fine
- Buy Seat Covers

That is all!

Price: #3m
Price is negotiable.

Chat with me on WhatsApp +2347060624802. Reason am selling the car is because I need money to do something asap. That is why if not I don't want to sell it because of the price of cat nowadays.

Please and please don't call or chat me if you want to waste my time and not ready to buy. Abeg you. Just ignore me.

Forget people wey dey insult you jare, even Iron condemn wont buy the car less than 1m. But your 3m asking price is very steep for the vehicle including the fixes needed to be done. Check jiji for average price of these vehicles and you go see say your price is a bit on the high side.

Also people who buy such cars are on a tight budget, 3m is not a tight budget though.

Happy sales.

Me sef go resist any attempt to ...

Conner44:
The 3.5L 2gr engine in a Toyota Sienna 2004 - 2008 isn't as fuel economical as its 3.3L 3mz counterpart.

It's only in Nigeria that the 3MZ has a better fuel economy than @2GR, while in reality the 2GR is either better or on par for the sienna

minista94:
I think is after market, because I have updated it many times from App store

Check the model number to confirm no be Chinese unit. Cause maps is suppose to use GPS for navigation after the initial startup with Internet

Soon South west will be over crowded and dysfunctional as the population growth cannot be sustained by the facilities available.

As these migrants no too get job, crime and other social vices to rise.

minista94:
It's Google map, but it doesn't navigate whenever i wanna use it, like it's use to navigate on phone

After market or OEM?

minista94:
Explain more boss, I'm having same issue in my corolla, it can with binize android car play, the map isn't navigating,

How do i fix it please?

OEM car map will not work if there is no Nigerian map on it. You have to change to android screen type, you can then use Google maps or sygic for navigation

3.3L is timing belt while 3.5L is timing chain. If belt snaps interference engine you go hear am, but timing chain will last the lifetime of the vehicle as long as your maintenance is top notch.

3.3L is cast iron with aluminum top while 3.5L is all aluminum. If both engines overheat, the 3.5L will most definitely have more internal damage.

3.5L engine is more fuel economical than the 3.3L engine.

I will pick the 3.5L because of the timing chain and it's fuel economy over the 3.3L.provided both vehicles are in same condition.

It doesn't spoil laptop batteries I can guarantee you that.

The only issue with those gen are they cause surges most times which is bad for your laptop power pack and worst case your laptop board can take a hit also (burnt power supply Accessories, burnt IC, mosphet etc).

If you are going to use such gen, invest in a surge extension like APC surge protectors so those can take the hit for you instead of the power pack.

willian10:
what's a third party map? is it changing the stereo to the one that supports carplay?

Yes, all these android screen or Garmin products

Jerrfrac:
Finally did a scan, the codes are;

p0741— torque converter clutch circuit performance or stuck off

P2757– torque converter clutch pressure control solenoid control circuit performance or stuck off.

Both are showing pending

From online resources P2757 causes P0741, meaning if you can fix the P2757 you may not see P0741 again.

So in a nutshell just be saving for replacement transmission while you manage the current one.

1. Start by checking the wiring of the transmission if well fixed
2. Check the solenoids they can cause the issues you are facing.

If this two don't fix your issues then the Torque converter clutch and the valve body are next things to check.

Jerrfrac:
Everything was drained even from the converter too. The technician said it takes 8-10 litters

Then it is time to find a technician with high quality scan tool to pull codes from the transmission. That will give a diagnosis of what to work with

Jerrfrac:
The next day I was directed to a gear technician that said the car needs a reset or calibration . He did it successfully by tapping two wires around the battery area and also drained the complete ibeto oil and put in 8 litters Ws oil.. .

Who adviced you to put in 8L of ATF the standard for ATF change is to measure what you removed and refill with same quantity. Since you are doing drain and refill, your replacement litres shouldn't have exceeded 4L nah. How you came about pouring 8L for drain and refill beats my imagination.

macuwon:
Good day house. Please I need the input of Honda gurus and experts in the house before mechanics start using my car for trial and error.

The Car:

2011 Honda Civic Sedan (1.8L R18 Engine, Auto)

True mileage is over 230k miles (US auction car, had a front-end collision before it was imported late last year).

The Main Problem:
The car runs fine in the morning and at night with or without AC. But during the hot afternoon after continuous driving like 30 minutes or high revs with AC on, the temperature gauge starts rising dangerously high. If I turn off the AC, the temp drops back to normal.

What Has Already Been Done (The Diagnostics):

Cooling System Alterations: Mechanics have already removed the thermostat and wired the cooling fans directly. I have also had the radiator flushed. It is still overheating despite all of this.

Pressure Test: We did a cooling system pressure test, and it passed. Mechanics are now blindly suspecting a weak water pump or a warped head gasket, but there is absolutely zero evidence to back that up (no milky oil, no bubbling coolant).

Next i want to inspect the condenser for bent fins or blockage, but who knows who can patiently diagnose the entire cooling system to find the exact fault in lagos, not trial and error. These mechanics lack patience, they just guess the problem and ask you to buy a new part that wont solve the problem.

The funny thing is that your issue could actually stem from a faulty radiator cover that just cost only 2k sef.

But make dem dey diagnose dey go sha eventually they will hit "Eureka"

Saao:
ok thanks alot. My major fear is the transmission, I saw something online someone said its prone to transmission issue so I just want to be sure before acquiring it

Users said the 4speed is more reliable than the 6 speed transmission. But buy a unit without transmission problems and take good care of it

2008 to 2012 Ford escape were prone to rust issues especially near the wheel arcs. Above all it is above average in reliability of you buy a well maintained unit

Yes ooo, bought land belonging to military, 🪖 what I faced is story for another day. 😰