completely stock.

Car started idling weird (bouncing up and down) once it reaches op temp, then overheats at freeway speed, then dies at idle when I stop. Engine was smoking and looks like fluid sprayed in the bay. Rad hose leading to thermostat housing has no pressure and is cool to the touch.


Thoughts?

 

Without actually being there i'm guessing blown headgasket at this point. But what color is the smoke?

 

it was dark outside and I couldn't tell. Whitish/gray?

 

It was white it would be coolant, meaning either blown headgasket or a cracked head or block.

 

hmm that's no good...how would one go about testing these?

 

Do a compression test and see what kind of numbers you get.

 

180-140-120-125

No. 3 plug was fairly blackened. Bummer.

Aaand I just realized I didn't have the throttle at WOT. Would this make anything better if I retested with WOT?


Modified by PotatoePAPA at 8:51 PM 11/9/2008

 

I'm guessing you blew the head gasket already too. You need to do a chemical block test. You can get the tester and solution at NAPA. If it turns out that you did blow the head gasket, remember you still need to find out the route cause of the overheat or you'll just blow the head gasket again.

 

Your numbers might end up being different, but based on those numbers I'd ay the headgasket is blown, they should all be pretty close together, your aren't even close.

 

Funny you mention that because the previous owner claimed to have had the head gasket replaced, which it likely was but the problem was not diagnosed. Could it be something like a thermostat, or more "serious"?

 

'94 LX right? D15B7? Every one of those engines I ever saw that blew a head gasket just kept on blowing headgaskets after that. Once they've been overheated and blown once the engines pretty much junk.

 

its very important to have the head decked to make it true again. if not it will warp and the problem will keep coming back

 

I'm aware of that, none the less they still continue to blow headgaskets, and or burn oil from a combination of bumping up the compression and from the rings getting soft from being overheated. I've seen a couple of those engines where guys put 5, count 'em 5 headgaskets in before they gave up. I've seen several others blow head gaskets, but only once or twice before the engine got pulled.

 

5 is nuts! lol my hg blew and had the dealer do it and they did a good job and decked the head for mebut now im burning more oil because they didnt ream out my valve guides(i suspect). i know it isnt my rings because my comp is 180 175 180 170 and i have 215,xxx miles on my y8

 

It could be thermostat, radiator, leaking hose, cracked head, warped head, improperly torqued head bolts, shitty head gasket, trapped air, ect. There's lot's of reasons.

You need to diagnose it, guessing will end up costing you more in the long run. A chemical block test is your next step.

 

well. Heres how I look at the whole thing. You can deck the block and head, put in new valve seals, new cam seal, new rings, at which point you might as well replace bearings, new oil pan gasket, etc. Or just buy a low mileage SOHC JDM engine. 1.6L SOHC non vtec ZCs are probably cheaper than rebuilding whats in there now. I realize in your case your kinda screwed for a JDM OBD2 SOHC vtec engine, unless you wanna run a D15B Vtec as OBD1 But for the OP there are quite a few choices.

 

Yah I am seriously considering trying to find a D15b just because I know they used to be dirt cheap. What are those running price-wise these days? I've been out of the "scene" for a couple years.


The car has over 220k on it, btw... :-O

 

I paid $683 for mine a year ago. Complete engine including shipping.

 

little update...

Finally got around to replacing the head gasket. Car runs and no longer overheats. However, I am still getting an irregular idle after warmup. Sometimes it will go up and down, sometimes it will remain at around 500rpm, and sometimes remain upwards of 1100. Also, the car is gutless below 4000rpm.

Could this be iacv or tps? Perhaps some vacuum line? I'm ready to kick this car to the curb, but really can't afford to LOL. TIA

 

 

at least u fixed the head gasket, that was your more important task.

 

LOL - I guess

 

Anybody else have any ideas or kind words of encouragement?

 

TTT...

Car also goes through a weird "rolling struggle" on it's way up to 4k. It's like a chug-a-lug power no power power no power 4k power....

 

I hadn't really though of this till now, but maybe your timing belt is off a tooth. I've that before, car will be absolutely gutless at low RPM, you may also have an issue with the IACV and/or you may need to bleed the cooling system.