Rep Power: 0

hi, I have read a bunch of posts and just want to confirm that I have done everything right. before I take it in to look at the head gasket.

the car started overheating all of a sudden, it just had a new rad put in it before we bought it in December, I bled it out for about 1 hour last night, about 15 cycles of the fan , topped it up this morning and took it for a drive, it was fine for about 1/2 an hour then the heat goes cold and the temperature gauge starts climbing, after a few min the heater started blowing hot and the temp went down again. then a few min later it did it again and stayed like that.

thanks
Steve

 
Rep Power: 224

After a drive is the radiator low and the reservoir overfilled/overflowing?

 
Rep Power: 210

Was the thermostat replaced when the radiator was replaced?

 
Rep Power: 0

yesterday it was, just checked after todays drive now that it is totally cold, the reservoir is just a couple inches down from the top so yes its high , and the rad is still above the fins but lower than I had it.

Steve

 
Rep Power: 0

I am not sure, it was done at a shop before I bought it so I am trying to find out what all was done. but the radiator and the cap is new as well as the upper and lower hoses.

Steve

 
Rep Power: 0

I did do a block test on it but it didn't pick anything up, but from reading the overheating thread it doesn't pick it up all the time so I don't know.

to me it almost seams like it is airlocking , but I have no experience with Honda so not sure how that would happen.

Steve

 
Rep Power: 224

That is a fairly good indicator of a bad head gasket.

 
Rep Power: 0

so it is the head gasket, the warranty is picking up about half the bill, as I am having the water pump and timing belt done while its open. is there anything else you should do on these cars while your at it? I am new to honda.

Steve

 
Rep Power: 222

Make sure they use OEM parts

 
Rep Power: 518

Tensioner pulley assembly for the timing belt? Maybe.
I urge using Genuine Honda part ---- if you do it.
Not aftermarket.
Same for water pump. And coolant. May as well get the Honda timing belt since you're already there lol
And the accessory belts too.

 
Rep Power: 119

The when they are already replacing the head gasket, the“extra” labor to replace the tensioner and water pump is literally only 2-3 minutes of work.
Its no additional labor to replace the timing belt and accessories belts with new versions.

 
Rep Power: 210

OP didn't mention mileage. Can the original tensioner be used for up to 160k miles (2 timing belts) if it appears to be in good shape upon inspection between belts?
I can't recall if I read that in an ezone post in the past or maybe in a 6th gen service manual and applied it to the 7th gen below.

My mom's car ('04 Civic) was at 85k miles when I replaced the timing belt, wp, accessory belts. I kept the original tensioner on as it spun freely and I replaced the spring with a genuine oem part.

 
Rep Power: 0

sorry it has 306000 km or 190139 miles. the timing belt was done 40000 miles ago but I am having the water pump, timing chain, tensioner and what ever else is in the kit they have. I am going to stop in tomorrow and ask them about the kit, then Ill call Honda and see how much they would charge for a similar kit of OEM parts.

thanks
Steve

 
Rep Power: 518

I know this is late.....No, not always....The real time involved in extra parts replacement depends on what was already disassembled to remove the head.
FRT labor time for the 1.7 head gasket replacement job was absurdly low to begin with, and can be accomplished without complete removal of timing belt, lower cover, crank pulley etc.
I would remove the upper timing cover and release the tensioner spring and slip the belt off the top pulley, remove the head leaving not much else disturbed.

In this case replacing additional timing components is far more involved than a 2-3 minute job. I'm gonna need appropriate labor money for that extra work.