don'tknowwhatim

Hello,
I am a college student with a limited budget and zero knowledge of cars. I hope you guys can help me.

I have a 98 Civic LX, and recently it has been over heating.

1. Coolant hose ripped and I managed to stop the car before it stalled, the thermometer got almost all the way up to hot. I replaced the hoses.
2. Another hose ruptured and I replaced it, and the radiator, a new temp sensor.

3. About 8 months later to now, I noticed that the coolant kept getting low. I would replace it and no one could see where it was coming from. I thought it might be coming from the bottom of it so a friend tightened a screw on the bottom or something.

4. 3 days ago I left my car running parked with the AC on full power and about 15 minutes after I saw the temperature gauge had risen to 3/4. The coolant had leaked out. but I couldn't see where it was coming from. I replaced the coolant thermometer, the radiator cap, and filled it with coolant.

5. Today, I was driving with no AC and saw smoke/vapor coming from the hood, I pulled over immediately and turned the car off. When it had cooled a bit I opened the radiator cap and poured some coolant and the coolant was coming out of the top of the radiator. It was just spilling out of there, the part where the plastic meets the metal.

So, I am going to replace the radiator, but I'm really scared I messed up the car. My friend says that there might be something wrong with the head gasket because this has happened a lot. I'm trying to be optimistic but I really don't know. My first goal is to replace the radiator and then drive the 30 miles to a mechanic I know. Unfortunately I can't take it to anywhere near me because it's pretty expensive, and this mechanic charges me pretty reasonably. He has his own garage and has been in business for like 40 years.

Help me please! I read I should have the pressure tested on the head gasket but I'm still confused as to how to do this. Also, before these recent 2 coolant issues I went to get my inspection and the codes I got were P0117 and P0118. Don't those two conflict?

Please help!

lazlong

With the P0117 and P0118 codes you could have a short but, with it overheating and not leaking I'm thinking headgasket too. Have the mechanic test for exhaust gases in the coolant.

don'tknowwhatim

Can the mechanic test for gas exhaust on the radiator if the radiatoris broken on the top?

furious94ls

Pretty sure you blew the head gasket. It's a labor intensive job.

dueyx99

if the coolant just blew out the rad, put a new rad in, they are cheap enough, if your concerned about the head, easiest way to check is to pull the plugs out and have someone look at them who knows a thing or two about how to read plugs, or post some pictures up here for people to see

jbpnoman

Eh, or he can just read them himself. It isn't too hard. Also, OP, if your car is overheating, do NOT turn on the air con. Air conditioning is GREAT for cooling down inside the cabin, but it creates MORE heat under the hood, and puts MORE stress on the engine. The best thing to do when overheating is to roll down the windows, and turn the heat on full blast.

don'tknowwhatim

Thanks for the responses. I'm getting the radiator replaced and a mechanic to take a look at it, I will have him look at the spark plugs. If it's the radiator only is there a reason for the missing coolant? Pretty much all the hoses are new and with o rings, the thermometer and etc. too. I'm sorry for asking dumb questions but I and painfully learning as I go.

dueyx99

if your radiator was leaking, or blowing steam, that means loss of coolant if that's what your asking

94EG8

Blown headgasket. When you're blowing coolant hoses, and having radiators blow apart like that, especially repeatedly you've got a blown headgasket. Exhaust gases are pushing the coolant back through the cooling system.