EM2abe

Good luck to the both of youse. let me know how it goes. And dont let them shave off too much!!!! Cause then you're effed!! But im sure they know what they're doing. (hopefully)

sttatik

will do. thank you for everyones help.. i'm dropping off the car @ noon.. ill keep u posted.

MarkM01

How did you do the test?

Was it up to operating temp? Did you put a load on the engine? Revved it? Was the fluid okay? Did you check it by breathing into it?

This diagnosed my head/gasket problem. So I swapped the head.

I'd be lenient to pull the head if it passed the test.

sttatik

yep everything you mentioned has passed with flying colors... my buddies shop is going to remove a spark plug/coil and check for any antifreeze... at this point i have been running out of options...

so thats where it stands.

MarkM01

My next step would be to bring each piston to TDC, and ad about 150 psi of shop air to it. Look for bubbles in coolant.

sttatik

ill forward the info to the tech... anything helps i guess. thanks again dude.

sttatik

***UPDATE***

It's official after all the tests and replacements.. it ended up being the head gasket.. when pulling out one of the spark plugs.. there was antifreeze in the piston.

small leak.. go figure.

at least i finally got a concrete answer.

EM2abe

;0)

MarkM01

Or a cracked head, warped head, cracked block...

If antifreeze is in the cylinder, pressurizing the cooling system with the pressurization tool would diagnose this.

sttatik

if thats the case.. so be it.. i'm just happy at least i got an answer.. it was getting frustrating.. i'll know later today.. for the official cause.

thanks

dallison

update?

It Wasn't Me

sttatik

update

picking up the car today.. head came back fine.... no warping... head set all installed.. good to go.. thank u everyone for the help...

i bookmarked this forum!

:D

EM2abe

no problemo.

dallison

lol, i'm a lot slow.

I think mine turned out to be an unbled system after the tb/wp at the dealer. The temp gauge stayed below halfway the entire way home with the ac on, unlike other times.

john222

We should start a class action case for blown head gaskets. All of these civic's are blowing their corks around 100k.

rmdevo

Well how did you make out ?Did you have the head gasket replaced ?
I replaced my radiator cap with the correct OEM cap, and also had the combustion test done - it passed. I refilled the radiator and burped the system. Tonight I pulled all of the coil packs but didn't have the correct socket to remove the plugs. One of the coil packs was coated with a dried brownish colored material . Is it dried coolant ? Tomorrow I'll pull the plugs .

From what I read here his seems to be such a common problem with these cars. Has Honda offered any help to the owners ?Are there any service bulletins on this ? Mine is a Honda certified used car .

sttatik

HA my mileage is at 91k

sttatik

yes i got my head gasket replaced.. look back at the responses you'll see my answers.

sdaidoji

just doing mine too. 98k miles and coolant pushing out the reservoir.
so TB, WP, HG, crower s1 in their way in.
but cleaning the engine is the most painful, not the crank pulley... darn!

rmdevo

My new radiator cap hasn't done anything to relieve the pressure in the system After the car sat for 24 hrs. I decided to check the coolant level in the radiator. As soon as I loosened the cap a half turn the coolant started to spurt out . I quickly tightened the cap and the coolant started to squirt out of the reservoir cap. I pulled the plugs the other day after a short run and they were dry.
I'm about ready to bite the bullet and take it to the dealer ( or a reputable indy Honda garage ) and get the head gasket done. I'd like to keep the car but I'm wondering if there is an inherant design flaw that will cause this thing to blow again. Has anyone had a repeat occurrance ? Has Honda put out any technical bulletins on this problem ?

EM2abe

nope..... annnnddddd nope.

sttatik

i'm 100% sure you're gasket is shot.... i tried EVERY possible route to try and resolve the issue.. at the end of the day it was the head gasket.. there were two spots on the gasket where it was blown.. minor but enough for the engine to continue overheating.. do NOT go to the stealership... you'll get "butt raped"... i am fortunate enough to work in the automotive industry and purchase my parts @ whole sale cost.. i purchased the head gasket set for $65.00 .. brand: Stone (Stone is O.E. for Honda) see if you can find a set online and a shop that will install the parts for you. this'll save you a lot of money in the long run.

all together 565.00 came out of my pocket which included the machine work, labor and parts.

best of luck!

EM2abe

^^^^PRETTY GOOD DEAL UP THERE. Do what he says as I am pretty sure you've got a bad gasket/warped head. This is the outcome about 97% of the time with these cars, when it comes to overheating. Don't get slapped around by anyone. and also, get your timing belt and water pump and all that good stuff too. Might as well change those out while you're take that part of the motor apart..

rmdevo

I still have not eliminated a circulation problem. The only time it has overheated is when driving. I have replaced the thermostat but there could be a restriction in one of the components that causes the pressure to build up. Not sure if there is one test to detect that but I suppose I could flush the system . I still don't understand why the new cap does not allow the pressure to bleed off, unless the pressure has not reached 1.1 bar (1). A broken impeller in the water pump could partially block the flow too. The car is due for a timing belt and water pump job (110 K) .
I've even heard that removal of any ductwork that directs air flow to cool the radiator could cause some vehicles to overheat . I did remove the bellypan in January and haven't replaced it . I don't think that acts to direct air to the radiator though.