1990 Honda Accord 2.2L F22A4 293,000kmi 4spd automatic.

My girlfriend got this car about 3 days ago. The guy she bought it from said the timing belt had broke, and bent valves. He said he got a used head and put it on, along with a timing belt and water pump.

I cleaned up the motor, changed the oil & filter, air filter, cleaned the throttle body, flushed the cooling system, installed new spark plugs, wires, and cleaned the distributor cap and inspected for cracks, inspected rotor, replaced upper radiator hose, installed new front torque strut, and checked all fluid levels.

I went to check and set the ignition timing, and noticed it was no where near the timing marks. I could not even get it near the TDC mark let alone the (If I remember correctly) 15* it should be set at. I then proceeded to check the cam timing. Sure enough, it was off one tooth. I corrected the cam timing and set the ignition timing.

Now we can get to the over heating. It overheats under two conditions. Either idling, or when accelerating. The heat works fine. it doesn't overheat when idling with the heat on.

Here is what I know. The radiator flows fine. I bled the cooling system. I took out the thermostat & tested it, it's fine. The water pump is new, as I saw when setting the cam timing correctly. The cam timing is definitely spot on, as with the ignition timing. The upper radiator hose is hot, and the lower is warm. DTCs 1 & 43. Both cooling fans operate correctly. The temp gauge will read halfway normally, and approx. two needle's widths under the red mark when "overheating."

I am thinking *maybe* he installed the head gasket wrong. I know on a lot of engines, if the "front" of the head gasket is not at the front of the motor, it will block off cooling passages.

I think this is about all I can say.

Suggestions?

Thanks!

 

i would say put a new headgasket on that thing man. im actually having a similar problem with my 93 accord and i believe it is the headgasket. good luck

 

i would change you're thermostat and then if it contunies to to that then check you're oil dipstick if it looks like chocolate milk then yes you're head gasket is in need of changing

 

Does the fan come on? I would try thermosat like stated above.

 

Problem turned out to be the head gasket was leaking because someone had stripped the threads for the center head bolt ( the long one ). It was just sitting in the hole.