Engine

COMMON PROBLEMS: Oil Leaks, Oil Consumption, Rough Idle, Misfires, Timing Issues

That four-cylinder is a tough motor, but oil starts finding its way out as it ages. The valve cover gasket is a usual seep spot, and the first sign is often a burnt smell when oil hits hot metal after you shut off. Watch the dipstick too, since some of these quietly use oil between changes with nothing on the pavement. Worn plugs and coils bring on a rough idle or a stumble. And because these run a timing chain, a rattle when you fire it up cold is worth checking before it grows into something costly.

Cooling System

COMMON PROBLEMS: Water Pump Leaks, Coolant Loss, Overheating, Thermostat Failure, Radiator Leaks

The water pump gives out eventually like it does on anything, and it rarely announces itself loudly at first. A drip here, a sweet smell there once the engine's cooled down. The radiator can start weeping at the seams as it ages, and a thermostat housing can let go too. What makes it matter is how quiet a slow leak stays, right up until the gauge spikes on a hot afternoon. Cook one of these motors and a cheap part becomes a big repair. We pressure test it and pin down where the coolant's heading.

Transmission

COMMON PROBLEMS: Harsh Shifting, Slipping, Delayed Engagement, Fluid Breakdown, Warning Lights

On the automatic cars, shifts can turn rough as the miles stack up, and it's usually worse when the fluid's been left in too long. You might feel a harder shift than you're used to, a slip, or a beat of hesitation before it grabs a gear. More often than not, it's the fluid, broken down and no longer able to hold the pressure the transmission runs on. The manual TSX has its own wear, mostly the clutch and how the shifter feels. Whichever you've got, fluid is where we start.

Brakes

COMMON PROBLEMS: Squealing, Vibration When Braking, Premature Wear, Grinding, Soft Pedal

Brakes count down whether or not you're paying attention. A squeal at low speed is the little wear tab doing exactly what it's built to do, telling you the pads are getting thin. A pulse or shake through the pedal as you slow usually means the rotors have warped, and that only deepens the longer you leave it. Grinding is the bad one. Pads gone, metal on metal, well past due. And a pedal that feels soft or sinks is a separate worry that shouldn't wait for your next visit.

Suspension

COMMON PROBLEMS: Clunking Noise, Worn Bushings, Uneven Tire Wear, Steering Vibration, Rough Ride

A fresh TSX corners flat and tight, then the bushings and control arm pieces age and the noises start. A clunk dropping off a driveway. A knock through a turn. As those parts wear the alignment slips with them, so the tires start scrubbing unevenly and a shimmy shows up in the wheel out on the freeway. The car that used to feel glued down starts feeling loose and a little busy on rough roads. We get it up on the lift, feel for play in the joints, and read what the tires have been telling us.