Rep Power: 0

So I wrote a post up here before about my car overheating...I replaced the thermostat with a Honda one and also replaced the Engine Coolant Temperature Switch because the fan wasn't coming on when it overheated. Well when we fixed that it came on again and the car ran fine for about what...a week? Now it's back to overheating again and the fan isn't cutting on AGAIN but this time the needle is fluctuating without the heater being turned on to cool the car back down. So somehow the car is cooling itself down without the fan running but it's still overheating back and forth at random times. Any suggestions on what the heck is going on?? I also switched out the relays and the problem is still occurring.

 
Rep Power: 313

Air in the coolant system, probably a failed head gasket.

 
Rep Power: 0

Is there a special method to purge all the air out of the coolant system?

 
Rep Power: 211

http://www.denlorstools.com/home/dt1...ng_system.html

When I was learning flush the coolant system myself I found this video and it helped alot.. hope it helps you the same!

 
Rep Power: 0

Haven't been able to get the car to overheat again. Will definitely look into getting that special funnel. My car was low on coolant though and I'm not sure who did it but my overflow/recovery tank was beyond the max fill line so when I took it to my votech teacher he transferred the extra coolant from the tank to the radiator. I took my car to a mechanic today and he couldnt get the car to overheat either. The coolant level is still the same meaning full now. The mechanic wasn't suggesting a head gasket but I've had another one do request it. It's showing NO signs of a bad gasket.

Also, there's a coolant leak coming from the water outlet cover on the front of the block that attaches to the upper radiator hose. I checked out the Honda automotive parts website and there's no gasket for it? So does that just use gasket sealer around it or...?

 
Rep Power: 0

I had an overheat on my car 2 months ago...thought it could be any one of 10 things...and then I started losing oil too...was all worried about the head gasket but then I discovered it was coolant leaking out of the main hose from the radiator to the engine..It was a small leak but i could see the green crystals around the edge..New hose, new collar and presto...So look around all your connections for a loose hose. you can take it to a garage and have the coolant system pressure tested and they'll find the leak real fast...Oil in your coolant would mean head gasket...Just a loss of coolant usually means leak...


For the hose right in front there you just can put a clamp on it



another sign of coolant loss is your heat wont work right...It will only come on when you are at high rpms and putting out a lot of engine heat...At idle there isn't enough coolant to fill the heater...

 
Rep Power: 0

My car overheated again last night, found out it's losing coolant now but the oil looks fine and there is no white smoke coming from the tail pipe and no oil in the antifreeze. This is the second time it's been low on coolant since we did all the work. I took it to a second mechanic and he didn't recommend a head gasket change but I just don't know what's going on. There are no puddles of antifreeze on the ground and there ARE hose clamps on both ends of the hoses already. I'm thinking about taking it in on Monday to get the radiator cap and system pressure tested?? And I don't know when people reply to me is there a way to get an email notification when you guys reply so I can get back to you sooner? lol.

 
Rep Power: 313

Pressure test usually wont reveal a head gasket and I'm sure that's your issue unfortunatly Keep throwing parts at it or go straight for the problem, it's up to you. Is your coolant overflow full past the max line?

 
Rep Power: 0

If you're so sure it's a head gasket besides overheating why isn't it showing any other signs of a blown head gasket?

 
Rep Power: 313

LoL it doesn't have to... It could be a very small head gasket failure that is slowly displacing coolant in the system. You don't have to believe it, you can change everything around it spend hundreds of dollars just to replace the HG after all that. Even your mechanic suggested it.

 
Rep Power: 0

I have had one mechanic suggest it and all the others say no it's not that. The problem is the mechanic that said it was a head gasket, his wife did a price on a head gasket change at somewhere of $1400-$1800. The other mechanic I took it to, i asked for a price and they said $544...I'm not sure if it's because it was the first mechanic's receptionist/girlfriend/wife that did a misqoute or what. I haven't really wasted any money so far though the fan wasn't working and the thermostat needed to be a honda one. The head gasket will be changed though I do want it done by the first mechanic cause he only works on Hondas but I have to get it quoted again to make sure....thanks. I'll keep you posted further. It might be a few weeks.

 
Rep Power: 313

Okay, sorry for the bad news... Why not change it yourself?

 
Rep Power: 0

I got the quote today and it's $800. I'm not really into the mechanic side of things, I'm an auto body girl...I mean I can change my oil and the basics but that's about it. Sad I know. And my dad does some engine work but last time he just tried to check the timing belt he rigged up the car by drilling a hole in the engine bay area to get to the bolt without the special Honda tool. So needless to say I don't trust my dad dealing with something as thorough as a timing belt or head gasket job. I got a compression gas test done on the car today by a diesel mechanic friend and it confirmed that it's a blown head gasket...*bows down to you* lol. You were right. Now I just pray to god the head isn't cracked >.<

 
Rep Power: 0

Now I'm wondering what are my chances for having a cracked head? Every time my car overheated, it never went into the red zone but would go about 3/4 of the way up. I always cooled it down by turning on the heater...I'm seeing that a new head costs like $1000 - $1556 on Hondaautomotiveparts.com.

 
Rep Power: 812

more than likely its just a warped head and machining the surface will be good. if not, used heads go for around $150 on ebay usually. i would never buy a brand new one. you could get a whole used engine under 50k miles for $600. and about the same labor to swap the engine as doing the head gasket. if you get an ebay head, you still have to get it cleaned and checked to make sure its okay to put on the car.

 
Rep Power: 0

I wouldn't worry about anything being cracked. I ran into a similar issue about two years ago where my engine kept over heating and nobody could figure it out. This went on for months and it would max out the temp gauge. At that time I just moved and I was stupid and brought it to a dealership. I wasted over $700 with them. A friend of mine suggested a radiator shop. They were able to figure out the problem and fix it. It was a blown head gasket. If I remember right it cost around $1,100 dollars.


Good Luck,
R

 
Rep Power: 812

before doing head gasket, make sure to do the obvious like new radiator cap and thermostat.

 
Rep Power: 0

Thanks all...that eases my worries a lot. The thermostat has been replaced with a genuine Honda one the cap has not been replaced. I watched my mechanic friend perform the "block tester" test twice and both times the blue liquid turned to green indicating a blown head gasket. I'm learning so much over all this haha.

 
Rep Power: 313

The exhaust test is a really good way to indicate a blown gasket ! Now you can perform all kinds of maintenance while changing the head gasket. Which is the good. The bad is the gasket needs replacement

 
Rep Power: 0

Yeah I don't know what other maintenance needs to be done. I already had the timing belt, drive belts and water pump replaced. I had to take out a $400 loan just to get the $800 to get this fixed. And now will have to wait til week after next to get the car into my mechanic's shop cause they're so busy. Hope it's all okay after that. Now to post a new thread about a water leak in my trunk after having the quarter panel replaced after an accident!