Nando613

Wow, to think it was just my car having issues. I'm starting to think these cars for some reason came out faulty? here's my story. My 2003 Honda Civic had been working just fine. Just two days ago it began to overheat as well. It started off low. Today i am at a point where the needle will now reach to the top near the "H" I took it to a shop and apparently the guy said the head gaskets are bad and needed to be replaced. He showed me that when the radiotr cap is not put on and he starts the car the collant splashes outwards. When the car is running slight white/Grayish smoke can be seen coming out from the radiator top. He claims this is being caused due to the bad head gaskets. So i then asked for an estimate as to repair it. He slaps me right in the face with a whopping $1,100!!! Holy Molly!! I turned to this forums hoping to see some answers and boy have i have a few more things to try before i decided to repair the supposedly issue. Perhaps look around for pricing too. Can anyone shine some info whether what he told me is true? Just like everyone pretty much state. The car seems to be okay when going at fast speeds. Of course due to more air flow. When stopping at a red light or slow heavy traffic the needle rises. My fans don't seem to come on so frequent either. My tank reservoir seems to overfill as well when the car is runned for quite some time. I'd appreciate any feed back and would love to hear from anyone who has ever actually replaced the head gaskets and actually have the over heating issue resolved. I'd like to know if that actually helped, don't seem to see many happy ending with this.

prodjay10

It's probably just steam coming out of the radiator when the radiator cap is off. They should do a coolant system pressure test, leak down test on all 4 cylinders before coming to that conclusion. Ask if they did this and what the results were.

This was happening to me. First thing I did was go to my mechanic and ask him to diagnose. He said Bad head gasket without even doing any tests.

Before fixing the head gasket I went to Autozone and rented the block tester. It checks for exhaust gases in the coolant. 3 different times I found nothing. So I figure he was wrong.

I replaced radiator cap, thermostat and burp the coolant. Works fine for a while and then starts to get hot on me again.


I had someone replace radiator and both radiator hoses because on a long trip I hear coolant bubbling out of top of radiator. It's been working fine for about a year now. There is a trouble shooting guide somewhere in the stickies. I would recommend starting with cheapest and work your way up.

It cost me about $75 worth of parts and $100 labor. Granted it took me about two months to diagnose because I didn't have the right tools, but I always made sure to check fluids and top off the radiator because I knew it was leaking somewhere. I figured it was the reservoir because it kept over flowing. It turns out it was the radiator.

My guess is the mechanic will also tell you to replace radiator just in case. Or the $1100 will include a new radiator.

Nando613

That's exactly what I thought when he pointed out the smoke.

He did some sort of test which I forgot much. I'm not so much of an expert with engines and all. He showed me a blue colored bottle, said they add that liquid(somewhere) and if it turns(4got the color) that meant the gases within the head where bad. Sounded something like that sorry I can't quite remember what he said.

To burp the coolant, how exactly do I do that? Is that when you squeeze the top and bottom hose?

You know what I too am starting to think it is the radiator or somewhere around there.

Here's what I noticed last night. After I got off work my car was cold so I added coolant to the radiator top. My tank reservoir was overfilled. I then Squeezed the top hose and continued to add coolant. I drove home and the needle stayed just below halfway. Once I arrived home(8mile drive) I could hear a whistle coming from the radiator cap. I supposed the radiator was now empty but I don't understand why my reservoir is still full.

This morning before I left to work I removed my reservoir tank and using the tube from it I added that coolant back into the radiator(which was almost completely empty) Once again squeezing the top hose here and there. When the coolant from the tank reservoir went back down to the MAX level I stopped and screwed it back on. I added a bit more coolant from the gallon into the top of the radiator. Drove to work and the car did not over heat along the way only barely started once I was almost to work. I bet the coolant had ran low again. If any one is reading this PLEASE HELP ME!!

prodjay10

I would recommend you do the block test yourself.

This is the video I watched. Only thing I did differently is hovered the tester just above the radiator neck. If you try can to stick the tester in the neck, it creates a seal and you start sucking up coolant which will throw your test off. If you do suck up coolant you'll notice the level in the tester start to rise above the mark.

Blue is good, green is bad.

Christian2002

I have 2001 honda civic ex there's a problem with the coolant coming out of the overflow. Also my bottom radiator hose is cold and the top is hot with a lot of pressure. I changed the thermostat with the same result.
Also my cooling fan was not turning on so I uncooked the fan sensor on the thermostat housing and bridge it. Before I did all this the car wouldn't over heat at least that what temperature gauge is showing. It stayed a little under half way but the top radiator hose is getting hot with a lot of pressure and the bottom hose is cold. So I took thermostat out and the bottom hose is getting warm not but I still building up pressure just not as much. Also the heat would work after I drove it just not super hot and my temperature gauge would be by the cold mark. I'm beginning to think theirs a block some where in the system or bad water pump. Can anyone please help...

prodjay10

I am no professional on the subject but it sounds like there is a restriction. I would guess radiator.

Getting the fans to turn on by themselves is difficult. I had to drive around town and on one of my stops, leave the car running and when I came back out check to see if the fans were on. They spun on so I kept diagnosing.

Turns out my radiator was clogged and cracked.

Nando613

I will review the video when i go home. I'm currently at the Firestone Service Center. Incredibly and unbelievably the car did not overheat while they diagnosed it! I was told they did every test possible and even had the car running for more then an hour. Idk what to think of it. I don't understand what's going on. They are now doing a coolant flush and i am now waiting. I hope after today i don't have to worry about overheating problems. I will keep you posted, thank you so much for taking the time to help others. Although as you mentioned in another post "You're no expert" but your suggestions and theories seem to be just right. Thanks again.

prodjay10

I hate seeing all these posts where people say their car is overheating and right away someone reply's "bad head gasket".

When I was doing research for my car's issues, that's what everyone kept telling me (three mechanics, a couple gear head friends, and someone I used to work for). Had I gone and done the HG, I would have been out $1100+ and the thing would have continued overheating. These cars are now 10 to 14 years old. How many people have actually changed the coolant or flushed the radiator in that time. The cores in the radiator are smaller than you'd think.

In my particular situation, once I topped off the coolant the car would not get too hot for about a week. I could drive everywhere, even out of town. When it'd lose enough coolant the temp gauge would start to creep up. It also had a lingering smell of coolant the whole time. As soon I had the radiator replaced, the smell and problem went away.

What may happen as a result of the overheating is a bad head gasket. Thats why you have to be careful until you get this figured out and not let it hit the red mark.

toyomatt84

iTrader: (1)

Because the system doesn't really give you a blaring warning, only that a gauge is reading higher... it tends to be "too late" when the owner finds out their car is overheating (due to the minor flaws within the cooling system, and the need to monitor the temperature gauge like a hawk).

Simply.Smooth

having problem with my 04 civic as coolant overfills in the reservoir. Car overheated once but since then I bleed the coolant and hasn't overheated again but still overfills. When I have the heat on bottom rad hose doesn't get hot , but if I turn the heat off in the car the bottom hose gets hot which I assume the thermostat is good. Fans only turn on when ac is on as well. Oil is not milky , changed rad cap any help will be appreciated , thank you
Also rad cap is always pressurized when I turn the cap when car is cold. I assume I have a small leak not enough to overheat I guess any help please

Former User

Rent a block tester kit from AutoZone.

Nando613

I too have a similar problem like @Simply.Smooth, my car no longer overheats. It did at first but after replacing radiator cap, thermostat and raditior itslef the overheating stopped. Not my problem is, that my tank reservoir overfills and the coolant doesn't make it back into the radiator. At times causing my to have to gill up the radiator. I usually do this by removing the reservoir and letting the excessive coolant out inot the radiator. Anyone know what may be causing this problem? A friend of mine believes there may be air bubbles trapped. But i have performed a flush and burped the system. Yet this continues to happen. Any help would be appreciated, i haven't gotten around the block test either. But i hope to that this coming weekend.

rich.hilow

So my 2003 civic LX was running fine had heat for the first 20 minutes of my trip. All of a sudden the heat went cold the temp went to way hot for about 20 seconds then temp went down and warm air started to blow. It did this 3 times in 5 minutes. Then ran fine (heat and normal running temp) for 10-15 minutes then started again. Oil is fine no foam like a blown head gasket. Changed the thermostat, no change. Help!

05exadk

I've been referring to this forum for quite some time and thought I'd share my experience. I've had my 05 civic ex since 2008 and 29k. Currently at 180k. My car was trouble free until it had it's first timing belt and water pump replacement from my local Honda dealer. About a month later the temp gauge began to fluctuate wildly and very rapidly, rising much faster than the temp of a liquid could. I surmised that there must be pockets of very hot air that passed by the temp sensor, particularly when on an incline. Burped the system thoroughly and the problem went away for a week or two. As it continued to return periodically I replaced the thermostat, had the system flushed, checked the radiator, etc.
After a lot of reading on this site and others I figured the head gasket was probably bad. However it seemed that having it changed and the head machined was not a guarantee. Found out about a product called Steel Seal that is supposed to be a head gasket fix. Got it, followed all the directions and problem solved. Really... no more issues. I did that at about 130k. I've literally had no probs, haven't had to add a drop of coolant. No more back pressure. Car's been great.
But, last week at 180k my thermostat started leaking. I didn't drive it except to a local shop. Had it replaced along with timing belt. Now guess what, I haven't put more than 50 miles on it and the same old problem is back.
At this point I'll probably flush the system, replace thermostat and possibly radiator (original) and engine temp sensor. I'm certainly not going to dump $900 plus on a head gasket repair. I'll try the Steel Seal again once repairs are complete and see what happens. Will update when done.
For having spent it's entire life in the northeast my car's in remarkable condition and I could probably get another 100k out of it if not for possible hg problem.
Any thoughts on my situation?

orestruss

Guys, I need your help..I have Civic 2004 coupe. A while ago my engine started overheating.. Things like changing thermostat (3 times), temperature sensor, dumping coolant, changing radiator solved the problem short term. I especially had a pleasure of driving my car worry free for 2 months after changing the sensor. Problems keep coming back, it now takes less and less time for the temperature to go up. Before dumping coolant solved the problem for 2-3 weeks, now it's getting worse..Is this a blown head gusket or there is something else I can check before giving up and proceeding with engine swap?

Former User

Rent a block tester kit from AutoZone, and pressure test the cooling system for leaks.

Also compression test the cylinders.

Nando613

I was just asbout to post the same thing! Except I have an '03 Honda Civic Coupe. My car began overheating about two months ago or so. I started by replacing the radiator cap, Thermostat and then the radiator(Denso). After replacing the radiator it stopped overheating for about 3 days. The problem then came back, I took it to a mechanic to do a pressure test, no leaks were found. Just yesterday i rented an Engine Block tester from Auto Zone. Thinking the blue liquid would tunr yellow. To my surprise, it didn't! I've been told if it's a blown head gasket, i may have mily oil on the cap. Nope no milky oil on the cap, also no smoke coming out from the exhaust at all. No Grey, White or Black smoke. IDK what else to do from here. I've been thinking i might as well take it to Honda Dealer. If someone has any other options i can do before i go and spend lots of money at the dealer i would appreciate it.

sytntyt

Do both fans operate?

Nando613

If the question was for me, Yes both fans do operate.

-DJD-

So I have read through this thread and at a bit of a crossroad. My car was Dxed with a bad HG, so I did the whole 9. HG, deck the head, and rebuilt it while it was out by a head shop. After wards I also did a radiator cap, and T-stat. I still looses coolant. It fills up the overflow tank, then it seeps out the overflow tank. No white smoke, no milky oil. I have bleed the system 3 times. Any advice?? this is all within the last year. My car also has cracked cyl 1 &3 spark plugs twice within that year. For reasons unknown. Plugs all look similar besides them cracking. WHAT GIVES!

nhvfd71

Hi, I recently bought a 2005 civic 2 door 5 speed With a 1.7 non vtec. I drove it for 3 days and ran great then overheated. I got it home and diagnosed it with a block tester that it had a blown head gasket ( fluid turned from blue to greeny yellow) I took it apart and could tell the #1 cylinder was leaking by the yellow white valves burning antifreeze. Took the head to a respectable machine shop that build race engines and they checked it for cracks and resurfaced the head and said everything checked out. So last Saturday I put it all back together with all new Honda oem waterpump thermostat rad cap and new belts with timing belt. Started it up ran good and within about 10 minutes at idle the temperature gauge started climbing. I had the radiator cap off with the heat blowing and never got any heat in the cabin and noticed the fans never kicked on, but the fans only kick on if the defroster is on, swapped the fan relay with the horn relay and still didn't kick on. Now the upper rad hose is very hot and lower is still cold. And with the rad cap off it looks like the coolant goes up and down up and down like big bubbles are coming out. Does that mean something is still leaking through like exhaust gasses? I'm at a loss with it. Please help!!

sytntyt

did you replace the thermostat? as for your fans not working, there is a fan switch connector located to the left of the oxygen sensor. 2 wires black and green. if you unplug it and jump it with a paperclip or jumper wire (harness side) and the fans come on, everything else in the circuit is good and you have a bad fan switch.

kirrax

Pardon me if this has been posted before (i'm sure it has).

Where to start?

The car began overheating about 2 years ago after going at high speeds for a long distance. But never severely enough to have to pull over. It cooled itself off while driving at high speeds or with the defroster on. Also, the heater only blows hot sometimes and not always for very long.

more recently, it wouldn't cool itself back down so i changed the thermostat, temperature sending unit, and the fan temperature switch/sensor whatever it is. It helped a bit for a while. it still got hot, but cooled itself down like before.

this last friday the car was driven for 4.5 hours and the temperature shot up, steam started coming from under the hood and white steam/smoke came from the tailpipe.

so i pulled off the side of the freeway and let the car cool down enough to open the radiator cap and put coolant into the radiator. (the radiator cap is melted by the way...) once i filled it with coolant, i started my car to finish my drive and noticed white steam/smoke coming from the tailpipe once again. i had to stop for gas. no steam/smoke happened after i started the car and hasn't happened since.

i parked the car over the weekend and haven't turned it on since. i noticed today as soon as i turn the key (before i even turn the car on) the temp is still stuck at the top. so i'm assuming that's just my temp sending unit/coolant temperature sensor that needs to be grounded. Today i did a radiator flush because i was going to dump some Blue Devil into it to seal a possibly blown head gasket or cracked head.

I'm not sure what i'm exactly asking. Just hoping that maybe this isn't a blown head gasket or worse, a cracked/warped head.

any ideas would be greatly appreciated!!

-DJD-

Its likely you at least blew the head gasket, and at worst, head issues. GL, I am still battling my heater/coolant disappearing issues.

kirrax

Have you replaced your head gasket?