Ok, so this started last Friday on the 20th. The car started overheating on me, but no smoke from hood or anything like that. The overheating only seems to start when I've driven on the freeway at 60+ MPH for about 10 minutes and take the exit. This past Tuesday I was leaving for work when I started the car it started shaking and I noticed white smoke coming from the muffler and the check engine light was flashing. I waited about 20 minutes (of course I was late for work at that point), and started the car again and it worked fine, l checked the radiator and noticed that the coolant was low so I added some antifreeze and was able to make it to work.

Now my car is still doing that shaking thing when I start the car as well as the white smoke from the muffler, but I notice when I give it some gas the shaking stops. I've taken the car to a few mechanics who have insisted that I'm crazy because the car won't do it once they take it for a drive. Note: I've also changed the thermostat because I was told it could be that. It doesn't over heat when I stick to the main roads and not the highway. I've come here because I don't know where else to go because everyone thinks I'm crazy because when they drive it, there's no shaking, no smoke and no overheating. Also now the check engine light is on, but not blinking.

I'm starting to think that it might just be warming up when it's doing this? Any input would be great!

 

White smoke = coolant
White smoke and overheating = blown HG or cracked sleeve. 94

 

No doubt you have a blown head gasket. Please don't drive it any more or you risk ruining the engine. The reason it shakes is because you are leaking coolant into one of the cylinders and that cylinder isn't working anymore, no spark etc. so you only have 3 and it vibrates.

My first experience with head gasket repair was with my 93 Civic and it was not that hard so you might try to do it yourself if you can get a ride for a week or so. Otherwise I'd say $800 would be an average cost for repair but there is no guarantee they'll do a good job. The reason I got my car cheap was because someone repaired it 20k miles before and did a bad job and it blew again so the owner figured it was hopeless. I did it myself and it's lasted 80k so far.

 

Thanks for replying guys! Yes, after taking it by my dad's house, he confirmed that it is indeed a head gasket that is blown. I know basic things about cars, but I'm not that much of a car fluent girl. I just wish a head gasket job was as easy and cheap as it is to buy the head gasket itself.

 

those must have been some crappy garages if they couldnt figure out that it possibly had a bad head gasket from the way you described it, they didnt even test it

 

Nope, no one tested it. They just drove it around for a few minutes and came back saying that it was fine and nothing was wrong. One did mention that it could be a bad gasket because he checked the oil, but said it's fine after he took it for a 3 minute drive.

 

....well glad you were able to figure out what was wrong, but changing the headgasket is a good way to learn some more about your car

 

It would be a good learning experience, but I'll just keep it to the professionals when the time comes to fixing it on this one.

 

next time do a search....

read through this thread. thanks.

https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-civic-2001-2005-78/01-05-civic-cooling-system-q-overheating-fans-inoperable-etc-2889523/