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Sorry if this gets long winded. Just want to be thorough in case something suggests a clue.

Bought this '03 Civic EX 1.7 VTEC about 3 months ago.

The next day it started throwing code p0133...

Replaced o2 sensor and fixed the p0133 code.

After the first 50 mile road trip the temperature started to spike...

Ran a block check test and sure enough had combustion gasses in the coolant.

Performed Blue Devil head gasket treatment and it seems to be working (we are careful to keep the RPMs below 3500 until I can afford to do a proper repair.) It's been holding for the last two months.

Started throwing p0302 code...

Pulled the plugs and cylinder #2 plug head insert came out with the spark plug. And the plug was different from the other three and was brown and rusty looking. I assume that's where the head gasket was leaking. Never saw any signs of coolant in the oil. I believe the combustion gasses were pushing into the coolant not the other way around.

Put anti seize on the new fine wire iridium plug and JB Weld on the insert and put it back together.

Seemed to be fine for a couple weeks.

Threw a p1259 two or three times.
Changed the oil and filter.

Started throwing p0302 code again. Put a new coil on plug.

Started having multiple misfires and rough idle on start that would go away after a minute or so. Codes were just the individual cylinder misses.

Removed the VTEC solenoid and cleaned it and the screen.

Removed the Idle Air Control and gave it a good cleaning.

Cleaned the throttle body.

So NOW...

Sometimes it starts and runs fine. Then after a 20 minute trip or so it starts missing again. Shut it off and start it back up and it seems to be fine again.

I have only a basic code reader.

In spite of all the problems the first 7 fill ups has averaged right at 35mpg

What is my next thing to check/replace?

I'm not made of money and would rather not take hit for the dealer's diagnostic check, but I may not have much choice at this point.

I'd sure appreciate any insight y'all might have.

 
Rep Power: 0

Need either a new head, or a new insert (hopefully a Time-Sert).

JB Weld isn't intended to be used in that situation. If there was a Heli-Coil holding that plug in, I'm not surprised it leaked (and failed). Get it repaired properly with a Time-Sert -- head-off.

 
Rep Power: 518

I wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole.
Decent used engines can be had cheap.
car-part.com

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.

If you want a real answer, you really need to know which cylinder is misfiring, and check it out while it is still acting up.

Or you can do this:
(assuming your misfire code is cyl #2 here)
Swap plug with a good cylinder, (keep track of where each of these parts goes) like swap between 2 and 1
swap coil with a different good cylinder, like between 2 and 3
Swap injector with the last good cylinder, like between 2 and 4

Drive it until it misfires, then see which cylinder is now missing.
Then figure out what the next step will be.


Someone else may just read the code and tell you less than you already know, or try to sell you a bunch of stuff that won't fix it.




Again:
I wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole.

 
Rep Power: 0

Thanks. I like the rearrange parts idea. I'll give that a try. I realize blue devil isn't a permanent fix just hope it'll buy me time to get to the real fix.

 
Rep Power: 0

It has really started acting up so I ordered all my parts for the complete head gasket,belt, pump etc. replacement.

Run a little and shut it down and on restart it runs extremely rough. I think it must be coolant in the cylinder that needs to clear before it runs smooth. Don't want to bend a rod so it's time to do it right.