Acura EL

As the 97-00 EL is basically a 96-00 Honda Civic EX with a facelift, almost all parts for the Civic will fit. The Civic itself is compatible with a wide range of other models and years of Hondas and Acuras, so a great many parts will fit the EL. A list of parts that will fit 96-00 Civics is available at HondaTech.com.

Engine: 

The 1.6EL was only available with one engine, and as you might have guessed from the name, its a 1.6L. A D16Y8, to be exact. That’s a single overhead cam (SOHC) four cylinder with 4 valves per cylinder and Honda’s VTEC variable valve timing system.

When buying parts for the EL in the United States, anything for the engine, transmission, or exhaust, order for a 97-00 Civic EX.

 

Brakes:

The EL has the same front brakes as an EX or Si. These models used a larger 262mm brake disk, whereas the other models (DX, HX, LX) used smaller 240mm disks. The smaller disks don’t fit. Make sure brake disks you buy are made for an EX or Si. Front brake pads are the same for all 96-00 Civics trim levels, and will all fit the EL.

All ELs came with drum brakes in the rear. These are the same as the rear brakes on DX and LX model Civics.

 

 

Exterior:

Here is where the main differences between the EL and the Civic lie. The front and rear ends of the car are totally different.

Front end:  The EL has lower, squarer headlights than the Civic, more closely resembling fifth-generation Honda Accords (94-97). The headlights are different, and so is every panel that touches them: the hood, the fenders, the grill, and the bumper. Civic front end parts fit on an EL (and vice versa), but you have to replace ALL of them, you can’t mix and match. A Civic hood won’t work with EL headlights, and Civic headlights won’t work with EL fenders, etc.

Rear end:  Same rules apply for the rear end as for the front: if you replace one, you gotta replace them all. Possible exceptions to this might include the bumper and taillights. There were two different styles of taillights on the 97-00 EL (and I’m still trying to figure out when the changeover occurred). One style closely resembles the style on the 96-00 Civic sedan, but they aren’t the same.

There is some question about the trunk keyhole as well. I have heard it said that no EL had a trunk keyhole, but mine does.

 

[ Interior Pic Here]

Interior:

-color

-center console/worthless cupholders

-HVAC panel