Rep Power: 0

Well, I did quit a bit of searching and can't quite pin point the problem of my car.

There's quite a bit of coolant leaking underneath the battery. The car over heated for the first time today. The heat takes a really time to come on but eventually does. Can't seem to find the leak but I'll take another look. Any help? The reservoir is full so I don't know what to do.

 
Rep Power: 219

Happend to me too. Its coming from your resivoir. Mine was a head gasket.The cylinder pressure leaks into your coolant system and causes displaced air to fill your your overflow and spills out the top. If you are overheating too that is a sign for a headgasket. Also, does your heat turn cold at stops?

 
Rep Power: 219

Oh, and if ya dont want to get flamed, use the Search button. It will save ya alot of time, give ya infinite wisdom and keep ya from getting bagged on by the Moderators and seniors!

 
Rep Power: 0

Yeah, I did use the search button. There were just a plethora of coolant related posts. Sorry.

So you think it's a head gasket? I just got done taking everything apart and couldn't find any leaks from anywhere else. Just a massive amount of coolant. I did notice the reservoir was filled to the brim.

 
Rep Power: 0

First thing I would do is check the radiator cap then if your fluid got real low and you added more I would bleed the air out of the system. As far as a headgasket I would have it pressure tested first. I have a 2001 Honda civic that I just did the headgasket myself and its alot of work. Good Luck

 
Rep Power: 219

It is alot of work to do a head gasket. You have to know your way around an engine. But I had it done, with my head being lathed in one day. As far as the pressure test, my teacher at the college I attend did one on my car before I decided to replace my gasket, and I got full cylinder pressure in each one. It was wierd. But when I took the head gasket off I could clearly see where the leak was coming from. From 01-05 the head gaskets on these things are good for about 90 to 130k before they go out. You can replace the rad cap and thermostat first and see if that fixes your problem. Because if it does you will have saved yourself alot of time and money. I did. When you replace anything in the cooling system always remember to lift the front of the car as high you can and then bleed the system of air like wetpinkpants said. Be aware not to let your car overheat too many times or for any extended period of time because you could seriously warp your head. And always get it lathed at a machine shop if you do your head gasket, cause I'm sure the screaming rage will set in if you go through all the trouble of replacing your gasket and then find out you still got a leak cause your head is warped! Good luck man, and keep us informed!

 
Rep Power: 313

^This man knows what he is talking about. I had the exact same problem happen to me and replacing the head gasket fixed it. It took me 3 days to do it but I took my sweet *** time and made sure I did it right. Haven't had a problem since.

 
Rep Power: 367

I would just do a gas tests in the coolant - that will tell if there are combusted gases leaking to the coolant.
A full resorvoir is just another giveaway that if coolant is leaking but levels are good, something else is taking the collant's place... Combusted gases!

 
Rep Power: 0

I'd pressure test the cooling system.

If there's a leak, the pressure test will reveal it.

 
Rep Power: 313

Pressure test won't reveal a head gasket leak. The best way to check for head gasket failure is to check for exhaust gases in the coolant system. His coolant isn't leaking, the exhaust gases are displacing coolant in the system and pushing it out of the overflow.

 
Rep Power: 0

I'm just not convinced it's a head gasket. There's no power loss, there's no milky white substance in my oil, im not cross contaminating. Im honestly at a stand still with this one guys. The heat goes cold randomly. It's not any certain time, sometimes when idling but comes back on, sometimes driving up a hill. And no white smoke coming out of the exhaust. I also drove it quite a bit after and have been ever since and have had no over heating probs. Im still a bit worried about it though.

 
Rep Power: 812

when my headgasket went, all i had was a misfire on cold start that would cause rough idle and then go away a minute later. no other signs except for coolant residue on spark plugs.

 
Rep Power: 313

I had no coolant residue on the spark plugs, no milky oil, no misfire, NOTHING except coolant overflow filling up and blowing cold air at idle and it was my head gasket for sure because when I replaced it, the problem was fixed You don't have to have those symptoms if it's a small leak in the gasket. However, when the head came off one of the pistons was clearly getting washed with coolant.

 
Rep Power: 0

Repped.

Well do you guys have any recommendations to where I can find a replacement head gasket. All i can find are the complete rebuild kits. This is going to make for one long weekend. Any superb links to head gasket changes?

 
Rep Power: 313

Well.. I started a DIY that I haven't worked on for a while that can get you started for sure. The Honda manual is an awesome source of information and can get you a long way if you decide to do it yourself. It's a huge job so I suggest you take your time when doing it and read through everything thoroughly. It's a very general DIY because it's a big job and you should kinda know what your doing before you even start, and I've only covered up until head removal. There are a lot of steps you dont have to do it your not changing your timing belt at the same time:

https://www.civicforums.com/forums/1...-belt-diy.html

Here is the manual for download:

https://www.civicforums.com/forums/1...e-updated.html

You have enough resources here to finish the job... Just take your time, label everything, and don't eff it up or you could be buying a new engine.

 
Rep Power: 0

No pressure. I just bought this car too, the lady had told me everything was ok and replaced on it. I wished I'd knew more about civics before jumping into this buy.

 
Rep Power: 313

It's a good car.. fix the head gasket do it properly and never look back .. I did mine 20k miles ago or so and it hasn't caused me any problems since.. Except for little petty stuff here and there but what do you expect from a car with 110k miles... I like my civic and it's been good to me as far as I'm concerned ... It's just too bad it happened right off the hop for you I've had mine since new and I've changed the head gasket, 2 lower ball joints, brakes a couple times... oh yea and a thermostat which is why my head gasket failed to begin with. I'm lucky I know this because most of the time people don't even know why it fails so it's prone to fail again...

Also, if you just bought the car a head gasket change means you can do a shitload of maintenance while your at it. I.E. timing belt, water pump, etc.

 
Rep Power: 0

Jesus, well I'm looking at NAPA now because they're the only ones that ship to APO. Im stationed in Germany so getting my head looked at and machined isn't going to be possible. Im posted in the middle of nowhere and have to drive 35 mins for gas. It's ridiculous.

I will have to replace the head bolts right? https://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/C...+50032+2032006

And the head gasket itself?https://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/C...+50032+2032006

This would be the only water pump/timing belt kit that can send to me...
https://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/C...+50032+2032006

 
Rep Power: 812

maybe look for an extra head you can get checked? usually $150 on ebay for a used one and then you could take that one to a shop to make sure it checks out. otherwise you could be wasting alot of time replacing just the gasket if the head is warped.

 
Rep Power: 313

You absolutely do not need to replace the head bolts if this is the first time you are removing the head. In fact it's a waste of money. Honda head bolts dont stretch like many other manufacturers so they are okay to use two, maybe three times

However, if you do replace the head bolts only go OEM or ARP head studs, which means the ones you have installed are probably better than the Napa ones even though they have been used. I do love Napa, but there are some things I won't order from even them If you haven't overheated it too bad your head should be okay. You will however have to clean the head up and this gets tricky if you don't have access to a die grinder and an aluminum safe attachment. Even the slightest scratch in the surface of the head can cause major issues with head gasket seating.. So don't use sandpaper or anything like that unless its like 1500 grit. Even that can eff the surface of the head up.