Hello, 1st time CT owner

447 Views 8 Replies 3 Participants Last post by Ang, 13 d ago

Cantflysolo

Discussion Starter · 25 d ago

Just purchased my first CT in early April. '14 EXL 4wd. I love it. I had the timing belt full kit done about 2 weeks ago using Honda parts, at 127000 miles. Couldnt find any record of it having been done, and you could hear noise from under the belt cover. All better now, and i felt like better safe than sorry.
I get roughly 29mpg to and from work. Yesterday i got 31mpg on a bit longer trip. Ive noticed zero oil consumption, but wanted to check with you all regarding the VCM bypass. Im assuming with the bypass mpg suffers, but was wondering if there are any methods that may help as prevention? Like if you run Seafoam regularly? Possibly some other means? Im trying to do as much research as i can before deciding, and i know there are alot of posts regarding a controller, etc. I just thought i would check im regard to preventing. I had a toyota that pulled a code for the vvt solenoid needing replace. It was like sludge all over it, but after running a cleaner recommended by a local shop, it removed almost all of the sludge, only cost me 3 oil changes in about a 2 week period . Thanks for all info, not trying to beat a dead horse, i create maintenance schedules for prevention in my daily life so maybe its that part of me. Thank you

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Ang

· #2 · 25 d ago

Do your basic maintenance, repair the occasional small part failure like a VVT solenoid gasket, and the car will run well past 300,000 miles. For vcm, you want a VCM tuner II. It will protect your engine from fouled spark plugs, oil consumption, piston ring damage, and cat failure caused by oil burning and then clogging them. It's well worth the $120, and once installed it will likely last the life of the car, as it uses automotive grade parts unlike products such as the SVCM, which is known to fail within a year. I find that I get 20mpg in basic town driving, 15-17mpg in constant stop and go town driving, and 30mpg at 85mph on the highway the one time I've taken mine out so far (bought it in November, but once the temp plate expired I didn't get new ones until just 2 weeks ago). I'd be curious to know if yours has navigation and the price, as I monitor the crosstour market and the prices on them are still fairly high. Also, how do you like those Michelin Crossclimate 2 tires? They are expensive, pretty nice to come free on the crosstour. I've been wanting them as I need new tires, but are they quiet and have good handling? I haven't seen anyone else put them on a Crosstour yet, so I have to ask.

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Cantflysolo

Discussion Starter · #3 · 25 d ago

Yes i do have navigation. Paid just over 10k, although full disclosure it hada front end accident where they replaced bumper, radiator and radiator support. Pretty minor but reflects price. The CrossClimates have been outstanding for me so far. Drove in some snow mid april and they performed really well. Also drove them in a heavy downpour with about an inch of standing water or better on the freeway yesterday and i never felt any hydroplaning or concern. Ive read some dont like them for rain but that has not been my experience so far. I notice almost zero road noise in the cabin. I would buy them again based on experience so far. Thanks for the vcm advice, i know from the forum others agree with the tuner advice. That will be my next purchase.

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Ang

· #4 · 25 d ago

Cantflysolo said:
Yes i do have navigation. Paid just over 10k, although full disclosure it hada front end accident where they replaced bumper, radiator and radiator support. Pretty minor but reflects price. The CrossClimates have been outstanding for me so far. Drove in some snow mid april and they performed really well. Also drove them in a heavy downpour with about an inch of standing water or better on the freeway yesterday and i never felt any hydroplaning or concern. Ive read some dont like them for rain but that has not been my experience so far. I notice almost zero road noise in the cabin. I would buy them again based on experience so far. Thanks for the vcm advice, i know from the forum others agree with the tuner advice. That will be my next purchase.

$10,000 for a 2014 EX-LN V6 I assume 4WD? With 125k miles is an absolutely amazing deal. I paid $18,000 in November for my 2015 EX-LN V6 4WD In black 101k miles. If I had the money and I saw it, I would have bought it to have a second Crosstour and maybe sold my accord. It came with an OEM hard trunk mat and that price included insurance for 2 key replacements, one to be used immediately to get me a second key, and that price was supposed to reflect the fact that the roof has minor hail marks, and the micro scratches all over. The prices are down a little, but you got super lucky.
Mine does have a Carfax report for "minor rear damage" but that damage includes a small crack in the edge of the bumper, and a weird thing with the trunk where it's both slightly shifted to the left by 4mm, and has this weird wrinkle at the top of the glass. And I needed a timing belt too of course. Every once and a while one like that pops up where they don't know what they have and think it's some ugly junk crossover and they sell it cheap.

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Cantflysolo

Discussion Starter · #5 · 25 d ago

Yep EX-L with 4wd. It had all the stock rubber Crosstour mats i swapped out for Weathertechs, except for the full trunk mat that Im leaving in. I do feel like i landed a great deal, i see the few CTs out there in the same ballpark for more. Just got lucky this time.

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Ang

· #6 · 24 d ago

Cantflysolo said:
Yep EX-L with 4wd. It had all the stock rubber Crosstour mats i swapped out for Weathertechs, except for the full trunk mat that Im leaving in. I do feel like i landed a great deal, i see the few CTs out there in the same ballpark for more. Just got lucky this time.

Yeah WeatherTech is the best, though their OEM trunk floor mat is better because it doesn't cover the rear tie down straps. And weirdly, it's actually high quality like WeatherTech. When I tried to buy a Honda OEM one first for my accord, it was flimsy junk and got returned. Unless it was fake, but I doubt it. The first Crosstour I looked at had the rubber, they were quality but they didn't come all the way up the sides.
And yeah your model is extremely rare like mine, a black EX-LN V6 4WD is basically impossible. I had to go with the one I got regardless of the scratches or hail marks because the interior was super clean, it didn't have any damaging rust even though it lived in NJ before I went there to buy it, just surface stuff and engine block corrosion, and it wasn't broken like the CarMax one and had a way lower price than the other same optioned ones. Either way you got a very good deal. I would expect that price to get you that vehicle with 200,000 miles + maybe the front accident.

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PNGS

· #7 · 13 d ago

Ang said:
Do your basic maintenance, repair the occasional small part failure like a VVT solenoid gasket, and the car will run well past 300,000 miles. For vcm, you want a VCM tuner II. It will protect your engine from fouled spark plugs, oil consumption, piston ring damage, and cat failure caused by oil burning and then clogging them. It's well worth the $120, and once installed it will likely last the life of the car, as it uses automotive grade parts unlike products such as the SVCM, which is known to fail within a year. I find that I get 20mpg in basic town driving, 15-17mpg in constant stop and go town driving, and 30mpg at 85mph on the highway the one time I've taken mine out so far (bought it in November, but once the temp plate expired I didn't get new ones until just 2 weeks ago). I'd be curious to know if yours has navigation and the price, as I monitor the crosstour market and the prices on them are still fairly high. Also, how do you like those Michelin Crossclimate 2 tires? They are expensive, pretty nice to come free on the crosstour. I've been wanting them as I need new tires, but are they quiet and have good handling? I haven't seen anyone else put them on a Crosstour yet, so I have to ask.

I have also been looking online to buy the VCM tuner II since last year. No luck on the website availability. It's been unavailable for some time.

VCMTUNER II - Advanced - 2007+ for Honda Acura 3.5L I-VTEC Disable VCM / ECO mode

Backordered. See below on how to order. Read Reviews | Vehicle Fitment List Update: 5/14/2023. Ordering opens at 9am PST on 5/15/2023. These orders will be shipped the week of 5/15/2023 through 5/20/2023. Next date for product ordering is scheduled for 5/22/2023 at 9am PST based on...

www.vcmtuner.com

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Cantflysolo

Discussion Starter · #8 · 13 d ago

PNGS said:
I have also been looking online to buy the VCM tuner II since last year. No luck on the website availability. It's been unavailable for some time.

VCMTUNER II - Advanced - 2007+ for Honda Acura 3.5L I-VTEC Disable VCM / ECO mode

Backordered. See below on how to order. Read Reviews | Vehicle Fitment List Update: 5/14/2023. Ordering opens at 9am PST on 5/15/2023. These orders will be shipped the week of 5/15/2023 through 5/20/2023. Next date for product ordering is scheduled for 5/22/2023 at 9am PST based on...

www.vcmtuner.com

You have to be at the reasy on May 22 and go on the website again right at the time they open up buying again. I got mine last week, i just waited for 11am on monday the 8th and it went to "add to cart". Get it in your cart and checkout. Mine arrived on Saturday of this past weekend. Just waiting for a chance to install now.

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Ang

· #9 · 13 d ago

PNGS said:
I have also been looking online to buy the VCM tuner II since last year. No luck on the website availability. It's been unavailable for some time.

VCMTUNER II - Advanced - 2007+ for Honda Acura 3.5L I-VTEC Disable VCM / ECO mode

Backordered. See below on how to order. Read Reviews | Vehicle Fitment List Update: 5/14/2023. Ordering opens at 9am PST on 5/15/2023. These orders will be shipped the week of 5/15/2023 through 5/20/2023. Next date for product ordering is scheduled for 5/22/2023 at 9am PST based on...

www.vcmtuner.com

You need to read the website, it's available every Monday morning for purchase.

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