Rep Power: 0

So I have the dreaded head gasket problem and it is going to the shop next week to get repaired. The mechanic is A1 and good at his work. The only question I have is that he is attached to a NAPA store. It was an old-time speed shop that finally went NAPA affiliated and when he leased out his old shop, the mechanic's agreement was that he had to buy the majority of his parts through the store. Again, I totally trust the mechanic AND the store.

That being said, they want me to use the NAPA head gasket kit, water pump, timing belt, tensioner etc. Anyone have realworld experience with them and their quality? I have used them on my muscle car stuff with great results, but knowledge and experience with imports for me is limited.

BTW, it is an 04 EX, 114k miles. Symptoms are: pushing out coolant from resevoir, not overheating, slight white smoke at cold startup, white residue at tip of muffler, coolant all over the exterior of the motor, and having to add coolant before 55 mile commute to work and back home.

I have read through the threads, but there is not much info. Looking to see if anyone has had problems with NAPA gaskets or if I should just talk to my friends and ask them to overlook the deal. I think they would order in the Honda OEM parts if I really suggested it.

 
Rep Power: 512

Check the head gasket link in my sig. I have no experience with NAPA parts, but then again, I'm picky, so I went OEM

 
Rep Power: 0

I talked to the mechanic a little more today and he said that he was going to go OEM and if the cost was too high he would eat the difference or I could pay him the difference in a couple of weeks at the next paycheck...Damn love this guy. He said he wouldn't use non OEM that deep in an engine anyhow.

Thanks for the info, somehow I have not seen that post before...must have about 100 pages printed, but not that one. Go figure.

 
Rep Power: 512

A mechanic with the same mentality I have. I approve of this mechanic you're going to.. Lol.

But yea, if its not a pressing matter, I think it's something like $125 shipped from majestic Honda (www.hondaautomotiveparts.com), overnighted is $180-something. DealershIp wanted $220 or so for the same head gasket kit

 
Rep Power: 0

That is why I trust him. He replaced the trans/clutch for me last year and suggested the rear main while he was there. He replaced the seal and about a week later it was leaking like a sieve. Took it back to him on my way into work, mind you I work grave shift so I went in early and dropped it off, and he said he would take care of it. By noon the next day he had it all done, new rear main seal and all. Best part, no charge! Defective seal so he said he would settle with the supplier for the warranty work. Not to mention this was a new shop at the time, with a different kid that owned the shop. My mechanic had just started working there. Since then the owner realized the mechanic knew more than he did so he sold the shop to my mechanic and business has tripled.

So off to the shop it goes Monday night to start the work Tuesday morning. He quoted me a couple of $$ less than having the gasket kit sent out overnight and that is still cheaper than the NAPA kit. All good, I will update with some pics and info as the work gets done.

 
Rep Power: 812

oem is usually better, but napa is the best of the aftermarket stuff. nowhere near the junk autozone carries.

 
Rep Power: 0

Okay, verdict is in and confirmed. HG went bad at #1 cylinder and started to let go on the #2 side also. Definitely looked a little steam cleaned in there. Head was good, just a light resurfacing and block checked out good. Machine shop got the head done same day so it goes back together tomorrow, pick it up Friday. New timing belt, water pump, thermo, belts, hoses, rad cap, plugs, seals and all adjusted. 114.5k on it now, should be GTG for another 115k!

The machine shop is the same that did the work on my 80 Trans Am motor on a restoration last year. If you are in the SF Bay area, check them out at Sturtz Machine in Oakland. Old school machine shop by a guy who has been at it for 40 years. Does it all from domestic to imports and racing motors. Just the two of them, but they are the best. A lot of local drag cars get work done there as well as import race motors. Can't beat the guy for his work and knowledge.

 
Rep Power: 200

I am not typically a fan of AZ, but do they not carry felpro anymore? That is what Napa carries too to my knowledge. (admittedly it has been a while since I have bought one, a really long while since one came from AZ)

Sorry to offtrack OP, glad you found the problem, sounds like you have a good machinist, so hats off to that.

 
Rep Power: 0

Ok, so I got it back yesterday and drove it two blocks to work and then 55 miles home from work last night. About 20 miles into the trip the CEL came on. No loss of performance, no funny noises, if anything it runs better, smoother and quieter.

I did a quick scan under the hood, but I didn't see anything obvious in the 2 minutes I had. Since I am in and out this weekend for the kid's sports, I don't really have time to give it the full check out. Anyone have any hints of things that commonly generate this light after a head gasket? If I get a chance after the games tonight, my buddy has a scanner and I will try to borrow it to narrow it down.