Hi all, just joined up although been lurking for sometime getting all sorts of help from everyone on keeping the honda's in my family running..

I am currently at a loss.. I have a few idea's and I would like some opinions on what direction to head before I go down the wrong road..

96 2.2 F22B2... Daughters car.. went through the ringer recently.. All new sensors, new radiator, thermo, plugs, wires.. Then it was brought to my attention that she was having an over heating issue..

I initially opened the radiator.. smelled ehaust.. checked the oil to quickly confirm head gasket.. I pulled the head had it tanks and milled 11, installed head gasket.. Few days everything was A OK! then all of the suddent she noticed small antifreeze leak drivers side.. I laughed at myself saying.. I should have done water pump and belt when it was all open..

I then of course put a new water pump in (it was leaking, probably why it ran out of fluid and was over heating in the first place) new timing and lower belt, tensioners.. all good to go right!?!?! heheh

Everything seemed great no issues.. 2 days of casual few mile trips here and there and all of the sudden.. It was very hard to start "she stated" and then it would no longer run..

I go get in.. It was hesitant on starting but did, blowing white smoke (HRMM) I ran over and plugged it in and got the ole 0420..
I attempt to start it up to drive home and it turns over "OK" a few times and then starts a hick up style feel (Like back compression or something)..

Anyhow.. Im greesy, tired and thinking bad things.. First was head gasket failed already?? Valve issue? I would go into the exhaust side of things but when it was running it was the ole white smoke.. I will tow it home tommorow and get compression readings etc.. Yet I thought maybe someone might just give me an easy fix! hehe..

Was initially thinking valve adjust when it ran me over to the parts store.. Yet now im a bit tired and looking for the best direction.

Thank you all in adance.

Skez

 

head gasket. not to point out mistakes, as i have experienced the same; my guess would be stretched head bolts,warped block face or improper head torque.

what brand head gasket did you use?

compression test as you said to confirm - and save valve job for after any potential work

 

Do not recall brand.. kit was $150 or so.. nothing fancy but did not appear to be junk. Head bolts all new and torqued to spec, did have an issue with one of the kinda "sticking" during the torque but everything went smooth.. Not the first one or the 4th one I have done in my honda years..

Warped block is not something I have delt with or ever seen.. I wont be pulling it apart again.. junk yard toy if this is really the case.. Not interested in another 5 hours in the driveway.. the 650$ bucks into it in the last month makes it more worth the 150$ I can get at a pick and pull for it.. sad, most hondas in the family have over 200k and still going strong.. for one with 90k miles on it to dump like this makes it a lemon imo.. looks like the kid will have to save up for another car!

 

understandable, but it seems such a waste. i can understand the labor and time involved, but it is usually much easier the second time around on a car..as I said i have experienced the same issue.

would be simple enough to roughly check the block with a straight edge. it's most likely not warped - using an oem or fel-pro gasket(30-70$), reusing the same bolts and most, if not all other gaskets.

might be something to sit on for a week or so. it would be a shame to see a potentially good Honda go to the scrap heap, especially with the sentimental value it seems to hold.

 

Saddest part is its the intake bolts I hate the most.. was thinking if indeed I didnt get the torque correct on the "sticky" bolt it may have blown by in that area.. car really has not been driven, might back the bolts off and retorque.. yet this is not an american car so that is probably a pipe dream.. my hands are just to big and my body is to dang old! heh, thanks for bringing out the "feelings" aspect of things.. makin people second guess a quick choice to get rid of the headache!

 

fair presumption on the sticky bolt, but yeah, almost surely a pipe dream to re-torque and save gasket.

if you end up replacing the gasket again - if you didn't have them over spec already - bolt holes were free of debris, you might look into tightening the head bolts over oem specs, especially since the bolts are now used.

I have had to, and also know others that do the same with honda's/other imports that have blown gaskets after suffering a warped head, and it seems common practice on here as well. with studs being the most torque applicable solution.

np on the "feelings" cars bring it out of me. I wish you good luck, sir!

 

$20 compression test


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