95 Integra LS, ~140000 miles.

Problem started on a trip to Big Bear, up in the mountains, during the winter. Car overheated really badly, ended up with white junk coming out of the split top of the radiator. Replaced the radiator, drive it home to Ventura, CA. Drove it around for a while with no problems. Now it's having problems again. long story short, it keeps overheating and blowing up the radiator. I am now living out of state and left it back with a friend to keep until I could move it with me. I have a mechanic saying that it's a blown head gasket, and that it would be $1200 to fix. This includes pulling it, machining the head, and reinstalling. Does this sound reasonable? I have a feeling I could tow it home and fix it myself locally for WAY less than that.

 

headgaskets are like 80 bucks, i think they just charge a crap load for labor...if your willing save the money and do it yourself.

 

I've gotten a $600 quote from a Honda master tech, which his pretty expensive compared to the $400 I got from a local reputable speed shop (that included getting the head decked).

$1200 is a lot. Might as well buy a used head.

 

Dude! $1200?!?! That is ******* insane! There is no way in hell I would ever pay that much for a head gasket repair.

-Head Gasket $30-75
-Exh. Man. Gasket $12-20
-Int. Man. Gasket $10-20
-Renting a Torque Wrench $20-100(Refundable)
-Repair Manual $15-25
-Head macnined $30-60
-Timing Belt $30-75

Spending a free day fixing your ride for free... Priceless...

For everything else... You're getting screwed... $1200!?!?!?