1992 ACURA VIGOR

Typical onset: 120,000-180,000 mi

Symptoms: knocking or ticking from lower engine block especially when cold, metallic rattling on startup that may disappear when warm, sudden oil pressure drop, complete engine seizure in worst cases

Fix: The G25A engine has a known weakness with main and rod bearing clearances that widen with age. Oil starvation leads to spun bearings. Requires complete engine rebuild with new main bearings, rod bearings, crank polishing or replacement if scored. Many owners opt for short block replacement or used engine swap. 18-25 labor hours for rebuild, 12-16 hours for swap.

Estimated cost: $3,500-6,500

Typical onset: 100,000-150,000 mi

Symptoms: white smoke from exhaust, overheating without external leaks, milky oil on dipstick or cap, coolant loss with no visible leaks, rough idle and misfires

Fix: The inline-5 head gasket fails between cylinders or into coolant passages. Requires head removal, resurfacing, new gasket set, timing belt replacement while you're in there. Often discovered during diagnosis of overheating. 12-16 labor hours.

Estimated cost: $2,200-3,800

Typical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi

Symptoms: transmission fluid puddles under engine bay, pink or red fluid dripping, transmission slipping or harsh shifts after fluid loss, overheating transmission, burnt fluid smell

Fix: The cooler lines running to the radiator corrode and rupture, causing rapid ATF loss. If not caught immediately, leads to transmission damage from running dry. Replace both cooler lines and external cooler assembly, flush system, refill. Catch it early and it's 2-3 hours; if transmission is damaged from fluid loss, you're looking at rebuild or replacement adding $2,000-3,500.

Estimated cost: $400-800

Typical onset: 140,000-200,000 mi

Symptoms: blue smoke on startup or acceleration, burning through 1+ quart of oil every 500-1,000 miles, fouled spark plugs, loss of compression, carbon buildup on valves

Fix: Ring lands crack or rings lose tension, especially on neglected oil changes. Requires full teardown, honing cylinders, new rings, often new pistons if ring lands are damaged. Usually discovered after trying cheaper fixes like PCV valve replacement. 20-28 labor hours if keeping original block.

Estimated cost: $3,000-5,500

Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi

Symptoms: clunking when shifting from park to drive or reverse, excessive vibration at idle in gear, visible engine/trans movement when revving, harsh shift feel

Fix: The longitudinal drivetrain layout puts stress on the rear transmission mount which cracks and separates. Replace mount, usually done with upper engine mount at same time. 2-3 labor hours for both.

Estimated cost: $350-600

Symptoms: stalling under load or highway speeds, difficulty starting when hot, sputtering and hesitation during acceleration, intermittent power loss

Fix: Often overlooked maintenance item that should be replaced every 30,000-40,000 miles but rarely is. Located under vehicle near fuel tank. When clogged, causes lean conditions and potential fuel pump damage. 1 hour labor.

Estimated cost: $120-200