My wife was driving down the road and it seems that the radiator sprung a leak on the bottom seal. So of course, it ran hot. I put in some coolant in it and at first I seen no leak.
So I tried to crank it but it would not start, so we left it on the side of the road for a little while to cool off. Came back to it after it had some time to cool off. Still it wouldn't crank. We called a relative to put it on a trailor to get it off the side of the road, so currently it is sitting at their house, in which he is a mechanic. When I went to their house, he said that they got it to crank, that it didn't want to but it did.

So before I took off the radiator, I tried putting some water in the radiator, even though it leaks. I turned the key and it turned over but it took a slight moment to start. Before it ran hot it was easy to start, but now it is kind of hesitant to crank.

Before she turned it off I asked questions of what it was doing before she turned it off. She said she heard a sound as if she had something under the tire. Her sister said it was making a diff sound from where she was, but unsure how to describe it.

Her aunt said before she turned the car off, she noticed white smoke coming out of the exhaust.

 

I have before seen that white smoke can mean blown head gasket or bad head. I have looked up white smoke can also mean that it could mean low coolant. I dunno

 

Sounds like at least a blown head gasket, hence lack of compression= no start. To be sure do a compression test and search how and what results should be like here on H-T.
And if such is the case I would have the head refreshed and resurfaced before installing a new head gasket.

 

Thanks for the reply. When I posted on facebook when this first happened. When I mentioned one of my FB friends said head gasket as well. I was afraid of hearing that. I watched a video on how to replace one, and the hardest thing kinda looks like taking off the intake stuff.

Do you, or somebody else have a diagram of what has to be disconnected around the intake to take the head off? I have a Haynes manual but it doesn't show that much in detail.

 

Thanks for the reply. When I posted on facebook when this first happened. When I mentioned one of my FB friends said head gasket as well. I was afraid of hearing that. I watched a video on how to replace one, and the hardest thing kinda looks like taking off the intake stuff.

Do you, or somebody else have a diagram of what has to be disconnected around the intake to take the head off? I have a Haynes manual but it doesn't show that much in detail.

 

I would take the intake and head off as one unit. You will have to remove the timing belt (now's a good time to replace if unknown mileage on it or if it looks worn) then valve cover then head bolts-(use disassemble sequence on headbolts as well as assemble sequence when installing) (you can search H-T) If headbolts are cherry i.e never been removed before I would go ahead and reuse them. Disconnect wiring harness sensor connectors on Intake and mark them so you don't get them mixed up (saves u a headache) coolant hoses that go to the intake.
I would invest on a helms, haynes is very lacking. Install the head and intake as two separate tasks (at least that's what I would do)

 

I have learned that having the head resurfaced at least will save you a headache and re-doing a lot of work, cause if its a good machine shop they will check for warpage if it overheated bad enough it could be warped.

 

I will have to look into the Helms book. I am not a car person at all. If I decide to do this myself, instead of letting somebody that knows cars to do it, it will be my first time on working on something as technical as this.

It went all the way to 'H' and to assume, it was probably getting close to cutting off. I know I asked her if it seemed to lose pep and she said yes. Her uncle thinks the thermostat could have gotten stuck too, so I will probably replace that as well just as a precautionary.

 

I will have to look into the Helms book. I am not a car person at all. If I decide to do this myself, instead of letting somebody that knows cars to do it, it will be my first time on working on something as technical as this.

It went all the way to 'H' and to assume, it was probably getting close to cutting off. I know I asked her if it seemed to lose pep and she said yes. Her uncle thinks the thermostat could have gotten stuck too, so I will probably replace that as well just as a precautionary.

 

Yeah it can be a very rewarding and frustrating experience for you and well worth it. Also there is a bracket that supports the Intake manifold to the engine block that you will have to unbolt from the intake. Also bolts/nuts being torqued to specs is a biggie. So you will need a torque wrench. It is a task that you can accomplish if you ask or look for the information needed especially here on H-T.
I have and am learning alot from the guys and gals here on H-T, a great place

 

Seems like it, I have been posting questions(different issue) on other civic forums and this one seems to reply faster then the others. This one will probably become my choice of a Civic forum. I know I will have to torque the head bolts. No other bolts require being torqued, when doing a head job) right?

 

I replaced the radiator and thermostat today. I started the car and smoke came out of the radiator, whiched smelled like exhaust fumes. Also white smoke came out of the exhaust pipe, but calmed down after it warmed up a little. Sounds to me to be the head gasket. Opinions?

 

Also it doesn't seem to idle as good as it use to, though probably because loss of compression.

 

Warped head.

 

The hardest part should be taking off the intake, after that the head shouldn't be too much trouble.

 

those are easy to do dont separate the intake from the head in the car. take them off as one piece. make shure you set your timimg belt right or u can bend a valve then you will be removing that head again

 

and if your already doing all this work you might as well replace your waterpump too.

 

I am letting somebody else do this , that has more experience with working on cars. Air the post that it is a warped head, there is a chance it is just the gasket. Plan to take the head to a machine shop after the had is taken off to see if it us warped and even if it isn't, resurface it a small bit.


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Doubtful it's just a head gasket at this point. Re-read your first post. A head gasket would not cause this.

 

I called a machine shop and they will look at it for free to check it, and 30 dollars to shave it.


Posted from Honda-tech.com App for Android

 

did you check your sparkplugs to see if they are wet? fix your coolant leak first then pressurize the system to see if you lose pressure.

 

No I haven't. He should be taking the head off now. After I will see how it runs and take a look at the plugs.


Posted from Honda-tech.com App for Android

 

When engines get that hot the internals turn into a deep frier. Oil turns to sludge and hard carbon deposits. Things stop getting lubricated properly and friction builds all over the engine. If I were you I'd replace the engine at this point. The D16Y7 is a dime a dozen

 

Idk. I would hope after the head gasket is replaced and had resurfaced, it will be fine. I hear if it losses compression it won't run as good. I am thinking of sea foaming the engine too and maybe it will get rid of some of the junk in it.


Posted from Honda-tech.com App for Android

 

You're past seafoam at this point.