heli_ebook

1990 Civic LX, 1.5L, 5-speed, an eyesore but lots of replaced engine items:

So last week, I noticed it running quite rough until warm-up and also after shopping, then coming out and the same rough running for the first 45 seconds. I figured it had been over 2 years since my last tune-up, go to Walmart and buy some plugs.

Everything was going fine with the plug swap UNTIL one plug removal decides to strip out cylinder 2. So I get a local guy to install a Helicoil, albeit WRONG, as he didn't use a jig or alignment device and the threads were loose on that insert. Here are my cylinder readings:

1 = 135 PSI, 2 = 90 PSI (before helicoil install, may have changed), 3 = 160 PSI, 4 = 125 PSI
Prior check was on 2/14/'12 with the same exact numbers, so no degradation.

When the mechanic got done with the job, I tried cranking it over but only ran down the battery. I had just driven the car on 3 cylinders from back of property to front for him to work on, maybe 250 feet. So it was workable just before he played. But now it won't kick, last night immediately after the job.... all plugs were removed to reveal everything was totally saturated with oil/gas, not sure if both. We left the plugs out. He was supposed to return with ether as a drying agent and finish the job. Never returned.... here's why and you'd be pissed too...

Removed plugs, cylinder 2 backs out reluctantly WITH the new Helicoil! DAMN!!!! I sprayed in brake cleaner to each cylinder, let dry .5 hour and repeated. Wait .5 hour, put plugs back in (cylinder 2 is gonna be trouble!) and crank, barely rolls over! I pulled a plug, they're dry now. So I got a jumpstart and the guy showed up with a handheld power unit, turned better but still no kick. I had him hold one plug and wire over the valve cover while cranking also, I got spark! The car RAN on 3 plugs BEFORE mechanic worked on it. Immediately after, we got a few creepy shudders out of it but then it shutdown, due to fluid saturation.

We may have to take Betsy out behind the shed and shoot her, along with the fly-by-night mobile serviceman!

IDEAS, PLEASE?

heli_ebook

Also, avoid mechanics on Craigslist: I've had cheaper experiences with them but ALL were weird and uncomfortable.

Ef4doorwagon

You should have taken the head off and tooken it to a cyl head resurfacing place, they repair stripped threads, costs about 30$, but its done right. They even warn about using heli coils, not always a gurantee itll work.

cappinnapz

This sounds about right dealing with helicoils. They can be a nightmare and really only a bandaid in most cases. Also something you need to keep in perspective is without removing the head from the engine, any and all material shaved from the cylinder head while installing the heli coil would have gone directly into that cylinder, which would ruin your cylinder walls. This doesn't mean your car is hopeless, so what the heads junk, pick a nice afternoon, do some research, and go to a salvage yard and try to find a donor cylinder head, do more research and swap the head, they aren't that difficult to do with minimal toolage. Buy a timing belt kit and a head gasket and call it a day.

4drEF

You can definitely have success installing a thread repair insert with the head still on. Putting grease on the tap to make the new threads catches most all of the shavings so they don't get dropped into the cylinder.
I don't think I have ever heard of anyone using a Helicoil for this. It's other types of inserts that are solid tubes with threads inside and outside rather than a coiled wire like Helicoil. Before installation, you can coat the outside of the insert with a sealant and it holds compression.

heli_ebook

"TOOKEN" ? And you wanna give me advice.

Mechanic bought a kit at O'Reilly's with the metal insert you mentioned, I thought that was a helicoil? This is NO coil though, it's a tube with threads on both the I.D. and O.D. Mechanic I believe did NOT use cutting oil, he claimed to have used it on the device before approaching vehicle, no... that's supposed to be re-oiled as you proceed downwards. Later, I discovered WHY this fiasco didn't go over well:

http://mugshots.com/US-Counties/Flor...n.2154909.html

SONOVA BITCH, I GOT TOOKEN! This was the only clown I could get to work on it, obviously for more crack because you should have seen how that ***** moved around, made me dizzy! Well, he FUKT the car royally in the process and is nowhere to be found. Firestone wanted nothing to do with the thing either, I wound up buying a 107k '01 Toyota Corolla as a replacement, not nearly as easy on the gas! I'll get $220 for this now! I'm looking for the ***** because now he also has a tool that technically belongs to me.

As for aluminum shavings falling down into the head: That's SOFT aluminum, there's no way that stuff could score the inner sleeve I'm sure. Before I was crippled, I did this job myself on a small airplane and aluminum inside a 1300 degree chamber burns off PDQ!

The timing belt has already been changed, so was the tranny, alt, battery, etc. etc. etc. That's why I'm very pissed a crackhead took advantage of a cripple (me). I can't physically catch him but will do 3 months in jail if I can run his *** over! The planet will be just a tad better. I've learned my lesson though: If you hire these swine online, ASSUME he knows not what he's doing and ask for at least TWO references on a similar job. If the phone clicks, you were LUCKY. But again, this was the only Bozo I could get on the job. There isn't much work ethic in Austin Texas, so a head gasket gets rejected by "reputable" shops here.

Cheers

heli_ebook

Tomorrow, we put Betsy to rest for eternity. $250 from the local junker. God watch over her spirit and guide her to the promised land of CHEAP insurance under $165/year from State Farm, regular unleaded under $3/gallon and 36 city. 43 Hwy. MPG. She's far from a ***** wagon but the "head" she gave was easy on the wallet for 5 years! May she trundle along the golden highways of heaven and stop to gimme a lift the day after I keel over. Amen

Freemananana

iTrader: (3)

Dang, could have parted it out for more than that! I'd take those wheels and bumpers...