Hey everyone. Last night I picked up a 2001 Rubicon for $1200 (Canadian) with only about 7500 kms on it. It’s in good shape other than a few motor issues. It’s gonna need some work, it’ll be a summer project. Will need a top end as it does smoke. Has a bit of a tick to it as well but I believe it’s only in the top end I hope. Fella I bought it from said he only had bought it couple weeks ago and was gonna fix it but decided he wants something different and no time to fix it. He told me it seems to slip when running hard under load like in snow. Said he changed the oil in it and it seems to be somewhat better. I drove it around his yard nothing too crazy and it seemed to run and shift good. I bought it and got it home took er for a spin up in the field and I did notice she has a hard time when in some snow were my 350 foot shift has no problem other than the ol spinning of the tires. I’ve read up a lot on these 01-04 hondamatics and understand they are known to fail within those years due to a plastic bearing in it and the oil pump before they updated it. I have not yet checked the oil pressure as I don’t have anything to do so and haven’t taken it anywhere to get it checked but I imagine it’s good as it does drive fine in the yard. I don’t want to drive it too much and risk having to get a whole new hondamatic if I don’t have to already. I know there are quite a few folks on here who have some knowledge and experience with the hondamatic so seeing if anyone could help me out here. I don’t think it is too far gone yet as it still drives but are there anything else I should consider or look into before tearing it apart? I won’t be doing so until the spring or summer but I’d like to have an idea. Could it just be an oil pump or am I likely gonna need a new hondamatic and where in Canada would I find one at a decent price?
Aside from this a few things I did notice was that when I boosted it with my 350 it seemed to act as if the battery was dead or maybe the starter is weak. It would try to crank and sometimes it would crank fine and other times it would act like it had no power to crank as if the battery was dead. When it did crank good with the 350 connected and running, I would pull the choke or touch the throttle and it would stop cranking as if it has no battery power again. Found this kinda odd as that should have nothing to do with the starter even if the starter is weak. When using the pull start it sounds and feels as if the starter is engaged and sometimes pulls the cord right back in and slam my knuckles on the crankcase. The dash also reads a speed when trying to pull start I find that very odd aswell. I plan on taking a look at it all when I go to tear it down and putting a carb kit in it and rebuilding the starter if needed. Just seems to be odd the way it’s all acting.
Anyway I hope someone here will be able to shed some light and help me out with this one. If anything it will be a learning experience.
Aside from this a few things I did notice was that when I boosted it with my 350 it seemed to act as if the battery was dead or maybe the starter is weak. It would try to crank and sometimes it would crank fine and other times it would act like it had no power to crank as if the battery was dead. When it did crank good with the 350 connected and running, I would pull the choke or touch the throttle and it would stop cranking as if it has no battery power again. Found this kinda odd as that should have nothing to do with the starter even if the starter is weak. When using the pull start it sounds and feels as if the starter is engaged and sometimes pulls the cord right back in and slam my knuckles on the crankcase. The dash also reads a speed when trying to pull start I find that very odd aswell. I plan on taking a look at it all when I go to tear it down and putting a carb kit in it and rebuilding the starter if needed. Just seems to be odd the way it’s all acting.
Anyway I hope someone here will be able to shed some light and help me out with this one. If anything it will be a learning experience.
