here is the thing, i have a 96 civic ex ..d16y8 and it won't start...to get it started i have to drain the radiator and run with no water or anifreeze,, i have to crank it for like 30 sec to get it started...but when i put anifreeze and water in the radiator it crank but won't start..so bacially it only start if there is no water in the radiator..and have to crank the car like 30 sec... what could it be? oh yea and when i get it started it over heat with or without water in the radiator..cause i got it start once with water in there...please help, thanks

 

hmm... im gonna have to say, water in the combustion chamber. thats gonna be, blown head gasket, cracked head or block, or warped head (causing the head gasket to ****). those are your choices. and dont overheat it anymore, this car is not driveable right now. im guessing the reason the car only starts after 30 seconds of cranking (which btw, is a pretty long time to turn your starter, im sure its pretty hot after that ) is because its burning/evaporating the water in the combustion chamber first.

and how did you come up with the idea to drain the antifreeze to try to get it started?

check your oil, if its milky, you sir, have a blown headgasket.

 

so do i just change the head gasket or just get a new long block?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rabius &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">thats gonna be, blown head gasket, cracked head or block, or warped head (causing the head gasket to ****). those are your choices. and dont overheat it anymore, this car is not driveable right now. im guessing the reason the car only starts after 30 seconds of cranking (which btw, is a pretty long time to turn your starter, im sure its pretty hot after that ) is because its burning/evaporating the water in the combustion chamber first.

and how did you come up with the idea to drain the antifreeze to try to get it started?
check your oil, if its milky, you sir, have a blown headgasket.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm curious as to the part I bold'd as well. But yeah it def sounds like a blown headgasket.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by pavilionmike8 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">so do i just change the head gasket or just get a new long block?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Gasket kit (full kit=everything= $150 tops)
New longblock= 300-700. Your call.

 

oh i just purchased the car..and about the radiator draining..he told me that.....so do you think if i change the whole gasket it will run fine.? cause if it isn't the headgasket i dont' want to waste money..the engine looks good but won't start