Zaxcom

Hello, My 99 civic misfires Ill give you the story.

First off when I put the car into drive the car would shake foward, I found out the idle was too high (1200 RPM) So I got someone to lower it to 900 RPM and it was fine. Then I was running the AC one day on a REALLY hot day and when I put the car in park I noticed smoke coming from the hood. The car overheated from the radiator. I didn't touch the car till the next day. I noticed a pool of something under the car from the radiator (i fucked up) an didn't pay much attention as the car was running fine. Then on the way to an interview the car overheats again! (no coolant) so when the interview was finished I brought it to the garage and added water, everything was fine till later that day Im going down the road and I hit vtec and as I slowed down I felt a rumble and a rough idle at lower RPM, I could feel the vibration in the car. I just brought it to the gargae today and he checked the spark plugs. 2 of the 4 are bad. I need to buy new ones however I'm worried that might not fix the problem? Any idea what could have caused all this? And before the issue with the gears shifting hard I had no heat and got the thermostat replaced and was fine ALL went at a higher idle.

Thanks in advance. Sorry if this isn't clear enough or correct I know very little about cars.

Former User

Are you planning on doing any work yourself or will a mechanic do it?

If you don't trust your mechanic and can't do the work yourself, then find a new, better one.

Your car has been neglected and now it's making you pay double for it.

Is the overheating problem now solved?

Zaxcom

Mechanic will do the work, hes my neighbor. Car hasn't overheated since putting water in. However I dont understand how I lost coolant theres not a single visible leak. He tested the spark plugs and 2 of the 4 are dead. Hes going to replace them all tomorrow and go from there. I dont think the coolant mixed with the engine so Im hoping its not a broken head gasket.

Former User

Ask your neighbor to pressure test the cooling system. And also drain the water out of the cooling system and replace it with 50:50 coolant.

The engine may certainly need an ignition system tune up, but fixing the overheating problem is currently the number 1 priority.

Zaxcom

Thanks for the quick response. I ask him to pressure test it and see if he'll drain the coolant. I'm not paying him hes doing me a favor so I don't want to abuse it completely. Car hasnt overheated yet, Im afraid the coolant will leak somehow.

Former User

This^ is why you need to pressure test the cooling system.

When the thermostat was replaced, did you bleed the cooling system?
https://honda-tech.com/forums/showpo...85&postcount=3

If your kind neighbor is working gratis, you better be helping him and supplying the beer. And if he has a wife and children, you better be assembling some gifts to stay on their good side.

Zaxcom

I went to a mechanic for that so I assume they did.

Zaxcom

Im still not understanding what caused the leak. The car was fine before overheating, There was no visable leak anywhere I dont understand where the coolant went.

Former User

Do you understand that the pressure test may reveal the location of the leak, if there is one? Google search "pressure testing the cooling system" so that you can guide your neighbor.

Zaxcom

Oh alright, So if we dont find a leak what should i dO?

Former User

Drain all the water out of the cooling system and replace with 50:50 coolant.

Do a full ignition tune up (replace plugs, wires, cap, and rotor)

Check for CEL codes (click Codes link in my signature). Post any codes found.

Drive car and carefully monitor engine for overheating and coolant loss. Never let the engine temp rise above the halfway mark.

Zaxcom

Theres no CEL codes, The light isnt on at all. Ill drain out the water and buy 50:50 coolant.

Former User

Does the CEL work?

Zaxcom

Yes the CEL works. it turns on and then off when I start.

Former User

okeedokee

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

Sounds to me like some irreparable damage had already been done.

Zaxcom

Thanks for the help.

Zaxcom

Ill post tomorrow with results, Thanks for clearing some confusion!

Zaxcom

I take that back the CEL doesnt turn on at all. Gonna have to get that looked at aswell. The sad thing is I bought this car from a good friend...

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

I think you're past help at this point with the issues your car is presenting. Hope for a blown head gasket as the best case scenario. Warped head as the worst.

Former User

A previous owner likely removed the CEL bulb to hide sensor problems.

Remove cluster.
Swap one of the working cluster warning lights into the CEL slot.
Check for CEL codes.

Zaxcom

Will do tomorrow, speaking of cluster, the odermeter doesnt work either. The Speedo works just the odermeter doesn't go up every mile.

Former User

Bad speedometer unit. Somebody was likely tampering with the mileage and broke the odometer.

Zaxcom

When I got the car it was working fine, it just stopped one day.

Former User

Do you mean odometer or tripmeter?