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Alright guys, I am in dire need of help. My car keeps overheating, but it only overheats when I drive for a long time such as an hour long plus trip on the highway. Once I get into the city/stop-go driving, they thermostat will fluctuate. So what is wrong? I have changed the thermostat numerous times and also the switch relay sensor that kicks the fan on. Its been happening like this for nearly a year. But it happens periodically, and its quite frustrating. I am also wondering if its the actual gauge becasue my gas gauge is also broken as well, but if this was the case then why does my car overheat only when getting off the highway. Thanks for the help, any would be appreciated.

 
Rep Power: 321

Check your coolant tank and radiator...check for any oil residue.
Check your coolant hoses when car is at running temp and check if its hot or cold.

Sounds like you have a blown head gasket...because I had the same symptoms and it was just that.

 
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Yeah, tahts what I read from previous thread that it might be a blown head gasket. How much does it cost to repair? Thanks and more details about what you had done to fix it and all. Thanks.

 
Rep Power: 321

New (used) head (just in case) and gaskets + other misc small stuff here and there...labor by Bob (dopes6070) and Robbie (forgot his username).

I don't know how much it'll cost to get it done at a shop, but after the fix the car doesn't overheat or lose coolant and there's no more oil residue.

With a trusty genuine Honda repair manual and the proper tools, you should be able to do it at home if you are comfortable tearing your engine apart.

 
Rep Power: 244

head gasket .. check to see if ur hot air is cool when the car is over heating

 
Rep Power: 257

have you had you cooling system flushed? and i mean flushed with pressure...not sticking a hose at the top of your radiator and letting it drain out the bottom. I had similar symptoms but i didnt have a blown headgasket. I had build up in my radiator that eventually clogged it up. Actually the overheating got really bad then all of a sudden went away and didnt overheat for several months. Then it came back. It was very intermittent to say the least. Have you checked your oil for coolant or your coolant for oil?

Mine would also overheat the most when getting off the freeway

 
Rep Power: 812

your radiator fins might just be screwed from too many rock dents

 
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Alright, how much does it cost to get your cooling system flushed with pressure?

I will also check my radiator fins as well.

Also, during the winter my car would not blow hot air sometime either. It varied. Sometimes the heat would work but sometimes it wouldnt during the winter months.

 
Rep Power: 244

99.99% headgasket -- do a compression test and verify

 
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Alright, thanks man.

Also guys, I am only needing the car till I graduate which is in December. Could something temporary like "Thermagasket" work? Have you all heard anything about it?

 
Rep Power: 249

Yeah, I'd do a compression test. And just to be safe, I'd go ahead and fix the head gasket before you try to sell it, it's not incredibly difficult. And it would suck if they compression tested it before they bought it from you...

 
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Alright, well I am currently out in California and wont be back in Oklahoma with the Civic till Sunday. So then I will get a compression check, how much does it usually costs?

 
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you can buy a tester from auto zone for 30 bucks or you can pay a shop for a half hour to an hours worth of labor

 
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Yeah, that's a really simple procedure. And it's a good tool to have in your garage, as it's universal and is a good measure of an engine's health.

 
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^ I concur

 
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So I got my engine checked, and they said I had carbon monoxide in my head gasket.

So what should I do now? One guys said it would cost around $700, but I only need the car till December. Is there a quick fix? Would you all recommend it? Thanks, guys

 
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700 is way overpriced

 
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How much should I be paying?

 
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no more than $400 for labor to change the gasket.

 
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Well, they had mention something about bringing the head to a body shopto make sure its no warped... So you think maybe I should just buy the gasket from Honda and see if someone could just replace it?

 
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you should have the head checked yes, but to have it fully teested, milled if needed, and cleaned/prepped shouldnt be more than $70 at a local machine shop.

 
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Alright, well I am still unsure what to do. So I guess I will look for a guy that could do less than $400.

Thak for the help, any more suggestions or tips woud be great.

 
Rep Power: 238

maybe you have a hairline crack in between the valves at the coolant side?
~ youd notice a loss of fluid due to it burning up in the chamber.

Could be warped?

~ Headgasket could be the issue?

~ Radiator checks out ok?

~ Air in system? bleed it?

~ Thermostat damaged or not working correctly?

~ Rad cap check out?

Could be many of things, you just need to start with the easiest and cheapest thing and work your way into it before taking it in and spending a heap.

just some ideas^

Good luck

 
Rep Power: 255

My car had a unstable temperature needle with no heat and I just had air in my cooling system.

 
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So a coolant flush with pressure would be a good start, and replace my thermomstat again?

 
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Since I have carbon monoxide in my head gasket what does that actually mean? Is it worse than having cơlant in my oil and other causes of gasket problems?

Also, would buying a used Civic head be another route to replacing my gasket? And I do remember about sometime ago I had a misfiring problem, what does that exactly mean? Was it just the spark plug needing to be replaced or what?

Thanks for all the help!

 
Rep Power: 257

why would you buy a head if you are trying to replace the head gasket? Misfiring could be spark plugs...could be something else too

 
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Could I replace the head gasket with a whole new head? Or would that be too complicated? I dont know, just a thought.

 
Rep Power: 257

the head gasket doesnt generally come with the head...its a seperate piece. yes you can replace the entire head....but why?

 
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Alright then forget that idea then.

So Sniper, what did you end up doing with your car? You mentioned you had similar problems but not a head gasket problem. Thanks for the help man.