Okay, I have a 1989 Honda Accord LX with 147,000 miles on it. I've had it for four months. Within those four months I have had a standard tune-up done (including, but not limited to: new oil filter, spark plugs, wires, air filter, distributor cap), the tires rotated, new front brake pads, as well as a diagnostic on all hoses, belts, fluids, and a pressure check on the reservoir for antifreeze. Everything has checked out okay, but my car overheats quickly (less than four minutes) and it has gradually become worse for wear. When overheated, an obscenely loud rattling can be heard and the car begins to chug. Hills are out of the question. Smoke begins to billow out from underneath the hood. The rattling isn't consistent, it only occurs when gas is applied. More gas, louder rattle. I have an inoperable fan (the dual fans behind the grill don't turn on, ever) and there's a loose part underneath the car (which I believe is a half-pipe aligned to protect a much more important part) around the center/ underneath. I've been given so much varying advice that, if I listened to everyone collectively including mechanics, I need a new AC compressor, alternator, clutch, battery, muffler, etc. What's the simplest solution to get my car running again for the next year? I know the fans need to be fixed, but other than that... if that's all I have to do, e-mail me a kick in the teeth for wasting your time. Thanks!

 

sounds a lot like a blown headgasket and possibly a cracked piston. Yeah, those engines do rattle pretty loud when the piston is trying to compress liquid. It is really fun to fill the cylinder full of coolant, then run the engine to bend the rods.