hi folks! so here is the deal i recently purchased a 94 civic ex, i test drove it bought it drove it home (about 40 miles) when i pulled into the driveway it started smoking and smelled like burning plastic. i popped the hood checkd the radiator and hoses...fine... i looked for a melted wire (the guy i bought it from had a system in it he took out but left the wires) but nothing i get back in try to start it. it turns over but no go. so over the last 2 weeks i have "gone down the checklist" trying to find the problem nothing until i pulled the upper timming cover to check the condition of the timing belt and found the top half of the lower timing cover (get that) melted all over the place before i put all this back together i need some help figuring out how this happended so it does not repeat. oh by the way anyone know a cheap place to find a lower timing cover or if any other covers will fit ive already been to the local junk yards and no cars with my engine. thanks joe[IMG][/IMG]

 

i have pics if it will help i just havent figured out ho to put them up yet

 

 

pic is blurry. and large.
can you tell if it was rubbing against something? like the timing belt maybe.
replace cover but first eliminate the cause of heat.

 

You are talking about the timing belt cover because if that is what your talking about cant you just run with out the cover or is that not safe. idk

 

sorry about the pic that didnt look that bad on my camera. anyway im guessing i was not so clear with my question i plan on rreplacing the cover and belt etc i was trying to see if anyone has had this problem before and if they might have an idea of why it melted in the first place. the question about finding a new cover was more of a part locating issue than a technical issue

 

It melted due to the engine overheating...badly.

Sounds like someone sold you a car that had some overheating issues, and with that melted cover I'd say the engine could even have a blown head gasket. and/or warped head/block deck surface and the engine itself might need to be replaced.

Did you happen to notice the temp guage going to the H on your drive home?

 

no, temp guage stayed in about normal range and i checked the radiator and hoses when i stopped no leaks no fluid pushing into the overflow resi had a taurus (i know) when i first started driving blew a head gasket in that and warped it this was nothing like that no anti freeze smell im not ruling it out just optimistic i guess oh well ill try a flush and fill and new thermostat while im at it hope for the best and if not i guess its time for that engine swap a little sooner than planned

 

Its probably not starting because the timing belt broke or skipped a few teeth. The timing cover is melted because maybe the tensioner or water pump seized up, or maybe the timing belt walked off the pulley into the timing cover. put the engine on tdc and ensure cam timing is correct.