1996 Honda Del sol problems
The Honda CR-X del Sol (marketed in other markets as the Honda Civic del Sol, Honda del Sol and the Honda CRX) is a two-seater targa-top car manufactured by Honda from 1992 until 1998. Despite the body resemblance to a mid-engine car design, the del Sol is based on the front-engined Honda Civic platform and was the successor to the Honda CR-X.
The Spanish name del Sol translates to of the sun, and refers to the car's opening roof. The del Sol featured a removable aluminum hardtop that stowed onto a hinged frame in the trunk and a motorized drop-down rear window. Manual and automatic "TransTop" roofs were available in select markets. It is the first open-air Honda sold in the United States.
Production and sales ended with the 1997 model in North America and 1998 elsewhere.
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Common 1996 Honda Del sol problems
The Honda Del Sol, produced from 1992 to 1997, is known for its two-seater, front-engined, FWD, targa top design, which aimed to deliver fun behind the steering wheel at a relatively affordable price. However, several common problems have been reported by owners of the 1996 Honda Del Sol, which can be categorized into engine, transmission, and interior issues.
- Engine Problems: One of the most common engine problems in the 1996 Honda Del Sol is the development of a rattle from the A pipe in '96-'98 non-VTEC models. This issue is caused by a rusted or cracked heat shield, which can be resolved by replacing the heat shield.
- Transmission Problems: D-Series manual transmissions in the 1996 Honda Del Sol may begin to make a grinding or winding sound due to a bad input shaft bearing. This is considered a design issue, as Honda has not issued a TSB for this problem.
- Interior Problems: The interior of the 1996 Honda Del Sol has been criticized for its low-quality materials and lack of gadgets compared to its time period. Base models from the first three model years were not equipped with power side mirrors, passenger airbags, or power steering, making them feel cheaper than their predecessors.
While these common problems can be concerning, it is important to note that the Honda Del Sol is generally considered to be as reliable as any other Honda Civic when properly maintained.
Does the Del Sol handle well?
Well, it wasn't the worst sports car of all time, that's for sure. In fact, it was a pretty entertaining vehicle with precise handling, despite its standard tiny 13-inch wheels, good braking, and enough power to attack corners on curvy roads.
Are Honda Del Sols rare?
Looking at the facts, it's safe to say the Honda Del Sol is a relatively uncommon car. In its five years of production, Honda managed to sell roughly 75,000 Del Sols. For some perspective, it sold over 1.4 million Civics during that samehalf-decade .
Why did they stop making Honda Del Sol?
There were several reasons why Honda stopped making the Del Sol, such as: Plummeting of Sales: Sales started going down for the Del Sol around the middle of the 1990s when the Mazda Miata and other cars that competed with it became more popular comparatively.
What motor is in 96 Del Sol?
1.6 L 4-cylinder1996 Honda Del Sol / Engine
1996 Honda Del sol complaints
The NHTSA has received 0 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1996 Honda Del sol.
You can leave your car complaint via the special form below.
1996 Honda Del sol recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 5 recalls for different components of the 1996 Honda Del sol.
- Manufacturer: TRADESONIC
- Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Summary: CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
- Consequence: LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
- Remedy: TRADESONIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRADESONIC AT 626-934-8884.
- Manufacturer: AJ MOTORSPORT
- Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Summary: CERTAIN AJ MOTORSPORT COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
- Consequence: LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
- Remedy: AJ MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AJ MOTORSPORT AT 626-618-2026.
- Manufacturer: AAI MOTORSPORTS USA, LLC
- Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Summary: CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
- Consequence: LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH
- Remedy: AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.
- Manufacturer: CK MOTORSPORT, INC.
- Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Summary: CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
- Consequence: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
- Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
- Manufacturer: PRO-A MOTORS, INC.
- Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Summary: CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
- Consequence: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
- Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1996 Honda Del sol problems:
Del Sol Common Issues - Del Sol - HondaForums.com
Oct 29, 2009 ... Trunk water leaks due to the seals on the rear sail panels or tail lights going bad. Pull the trunk liner aside if you can and look for signs of ...
92-00 Civic/Sol Buyers Guide - Common problem areas. - Honda-Tech
Feb 9, 2016 ... 92-95 civic is 5th gen, 96-00 civic is the 6th gen, and I'm not really sure the generation classification of the del sol beyond believing they ...
Honda Del Sol Idle Problem: Q&A for 94 Del Sol Si & Civic Del Sol
Apr 17, 2011 ... The First thing i would do is clean out the throttle body with some throttle plate and intake cleaner and a small brush. Another common cause ...
Common issues with 1996 Civic - Honda-Tech - Honda Forum ...
Feb 10, 2016 ... especially the heater hose under the distributor. The distributor's O-ring is a common place for oil leaks and if there is an oil leak there now ...
How reliable are Del Sol's? : r/DelSol
Mar 27, 2023 ... 5.1K subscribers in the DelSol community. This subreddit is devoted purely to the Honda Del Sol. Post pictures, ask questions, ...
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