I don't want to post this because I am sure the info can be found, but my searches come up with pages upon pages.

I narrowed an issue down to my head gasket. I'm broke, much like everyone.

I have done head gaskets before, a lot actually but all in S30 and S130's. 4 banger FWD... this is a first.

All I am changing is the gasket. I have no money for the kit, I already have the gasket on the way along with the timing belt IF I can get to it with minimal extra work. (looking like a no ATM, but I will hold onto the belt for the future)

If all I am changing is the gasket is there ANYTHING I can skip unbolting? I have already been out of the car too long, and have always considered myself a car guy so I though I had this. Honda is just a different monster to me.

If I had time and money I would either rebuild or take it to a shop. Changing this gasket myself is my only option. Any help would be appreciated.

So far:

Valve cover off
All "spark plug wires" moved
Power steering pump unbolted (lines left attached)
Exhaust header almost off (stripped the nut behind the power steering pump, soon to fix)
Intake pipe removed
... Coolant block, not sure what it is, left side of head almost removed

Thank you for any help, I will update with my progress.

 

You might as well do the timing belt and replace the water pump... but one thing is for sure FOR SURE!!!! you need to resurface the head. if you don't then you are very very likely to run in to the problem again.

 

Resurfacing was budgeted in. Unfortunetly even that put me on the ropes for funds.

 

honda is not a different monster. hondas and toyotas are the easiest cars to work on. if u can do it on a nissan u can defitnatly do it on the honda.

you dont always have to resurface the head. u can check it with a straight edge and feeler gauges. If you live in southern california i will come to your house and teach you how to do it all for 20 bucks... u do the work and ill watch and cheer u on. and make sure it gets done right.

it isnt a lot of work.. a few hours but if u calculate how much a mechanic charges you and how many hours of regular work it will take to pay a mechanic its well worth the few hours.... by yourself the first time it will probably take around 4-6 hours. with me by your side it will take 2-4 hours tops. only cause your new at it. in reality it shouldnt take more then an 1-2 hours to do it. but first time always takes the longest and everytime after that youll get faster and faster.

also just our of curiosity.. how do you know its the head gasket?

 

Exhaust in coolant and over heating.

Man, that sucks, I'm in Phoenix. I have been trying to find someone to help, lol. I could come up with a few bucks for gas if you wanna make a trip. Just someone with the know how is what I need.

I know it looks easy, but keep in mind I'm used to 30 mins and the head is off. (ya, when I said I have done a lot of Datsun head gaskets, I mean A LOT!)(not mine, quit looking at me like that)

Right now I am at almost a week, but that is because I work on it for an hour, glance at my Datsun, cry then goto sleep.

 

you're right... you dont always have to resurface it. but it'd be smart to.

with the 7 gen civic, it is pretty likely that the head could have gotten warped. even if it isnt warped, i would still advise a resurfacing, because once you do this, it is 99.8% sure that you wont run into the problem again. (dont quote me on that. its just a figure of speech.)

again, though.... 2001-2005 civics(non Si) head generally tend to get warped when it overheats... get it done the first time through, and you'll be good in the later years.
you wont have to do it again.

 

That was my thoughts. I was very carefully though, the day I saw it start to run warm I would burp and refill. BUT I do need this car tip top, so better safe then sorry. It may have a 4.5k trip at the end of September.

 

Ok:

Head Bolts removed
Water block removed
Exhaust disconnected from flange instead
Timing belt cover removed (top portion)

This is what I got done yesterday, so 2 questions.
1. Does the intake need to come off or is it just connected to the head?
2. Is there a way to take the head off without completely removing the timing belt?

In my MX6 you could just take the cam gear off so the belt was no longer connected to the head, is that possible in the civic? I really dont want to have to take apart that half of the engine just to mess with the belt.

My gasket came in yesterday so I put in a push to get as much done as possible and pulled a muscle in my arm, forgot to use my breaker bar on the head bolts. Also, the head seems to move even though the intake is still attached, which is why I wonder if I need to take it off. I ask this because I am trying to get by with bare minimum.

Keep in mind that the work I am doing now is just to get the can back on the road until taxes, when that time comes I am dropping it off at a shop and having every gasket changed along with belts... and pretty much everything but a full rebuild. So, while it looks like I am being lazy, I am just trying to get this back on the road for 6 months or so.

Thank you.

 

i know in the older hondas you were able to remove the head and intake all in one shot, but to have the head resurfaced, usually they need the intake off.

and for the timing, you can mark the timing belt and the cam gear with white out so that you wont have to retime, as long as the belt doesnt fall off the rest of the circuits and the cam gear doesnt move.

 

There are a couple of bolts you need to undo from the bottom side of the intake manifold if you want to take it off with the head. You should be okay to slide the belt off the cam gear but you might want to undo the lower cover bolts to give the belt some more room to move. Make sure to confirm the timing is lined up when everything is back together so you don't bend valves and what not.

 

YAY! It is all back together!

BOOO! No Spark!

 

bummer. goodluck meyn!!

 

Ok, I am positive it is not timing, belt and cam came off together (zip tied to not allow for movement) and didnt go anywhere near the crank, so it didn't move.

While looking (using google) I found that there are two connectors that can be accidentally swapped and cause this, but can not find what two connectors.

Also, strong smell of gas. I am going to pull a plug today and check spark but I am dead set that it is it. I also think I am throwing a code, can you rent code readers somewhere?

 

Autozone. But you're better off buying one. It's a good investment.

 

when i replace the headgasket. shall i used new headstuds? i saw the d15b7,d16z6 and d17a9 have all the same headstuds.

how much can i resurface the head from a d17a9? only to have no problem in the future

sry 4 my bad english.