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I recently bought a 1.7 Civic with blown head gasket. I took the head off and one of the valves were burnt through the guy at the head shop said it was due to a egr failure. Is this true can a egr cause this?. I had the head repaired, resurfaced, valves replaced and a full valve job. I put it all back together and It ran great with the exception of a little smoking and a tin can sound with I found out later was the gutted cat converter (pregutted before bought the car)
The car lacks power over 3700 rpm is this normal . Any advice or input would be great>

 
Rep Power: 284

D17a1 or D17a2 engine?

 
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non vtec not know it if is a1 or a2 though Im kinda new to the honda scene

 
Rep Power: 199

That is a1 then. My first thought was that your VTEC wasn't working. Axe that one. First thought is a exhaust restriction. Sounds like the kitty went bye bye, so not that. What about the muffler? Also do you have any way to check the fuel pressure while you are going down the road? You just had the head off, any way you go the timing belt one tooth off or something?

 
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I can check fuel pressure and i will tomorrow but what is the easiest engine swap I will do the work my self. I dont think its timing belt off a tooth it runs smooth. it does smoke some though I think the rings are to blame.

 
Rep Power: 192

2002 A1's don't have an EGR valve, only 01-05 EX's and all '04-'05's have them.

Easiest swap would be another A1. I don't think the bottom end is the problem though, maybe the head wasn't rebuilt right. Did you drive it before you pulled the head?

 
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no bought it with blown head

 
Rep Power: 192

So it wouldn't run at all when you bought it?

HG's on these cars are a common problem and gradually get worse, most of the time the car will run fine for a period of time as long as you keep coolant in it. Eventually it'll start blowing coolant out of the overflow and this is when most people would stop driving the car. If the previous owner drove it till it wouldn't run it's possible it was overheated multiple times and went boom. Typically a bad bottom end would make noise though.

Have you pulled the spark plugs? Or a compression test? How bad is the oil consumption?

 
Rep Power: 511

when you say "no power above 3700," do you mean it's sluggish as a **** above 3700? Or does it not want to rev past 3700 at all? If it's the latter, then your ecu is throwing your car into limp mode.

 
Rep Power: 0

no bottom end noise . it will rev way past 3700 just does not seem to how power in the top end like my 92 civic its not vtec either