Rep Power: 0

My 2001 EX engine self-destructed as soon as I started it this morning, it abruptly stalled and would not turn over. My fault, I noticed my engine making a lot of noise in the timing belt end yesterday morning when I started it to warm it up. Made it home last night after work OK. My gut feeling was I probably shouldn't start it this morning, but I did anyway. Big mistake. At least I didn't have to pay a tow bill. Two years back, I had a local garage perform the timing belt job (17k ago). I initially took it to the local Honda dealer for this job, but got frustrated because there was another issue with the car - stalling out - and they could not tell me what was wrong or how much it would cost to fix, they wanted to start replacing components, and I didn't like that idea, so I paid the 99 dollar diagnostic fee, took my car and left. Bottom line, I know, I should have left it with the dealer. I asked the local garage if they could use Honda parts, they agreed, but they ended up not using them because the aftermarket parts had a 12 month/12k warranty. I wasn't happy about that, but paid the bill and went on.
So if I decide to fix it, what am I looking at in the way of costs? Or would this car be better off being donated to the local tech center for students to learn with? Car is in ave shape, has some issues, rocking driver's seat, noise in front suspension, heavily etched windshield, but it ran great and had cold AC. I looked around online and found some 04/05 models reasonable priced, I am thinking I would be better off getting a newer one, since the automatic transmissions in the 01/02 models are sketchy. All comments/suggestions welcomed!

 
Rep Power: 155

Depends on if YOU are fixing it or if you are going to get a shop to fix it.

I'd start with taking the valve cover and top timing cover off and take a look and see what the timing belt looks like then go from there. But usually if the timing goes then you could have potentially bent valves which would be mean pulling the cylinder head off the car and seeing what damage has been done to the valves or tops of the pistons.

So if you're mechanically inclined and want to learn more about your car it's not too bad if you take your time and document how you take things apart. It's pretty fun and cool to see how it all works.

If you're not inclined to do so then you may want to check into swapping out a replacement engine.

 
Rep Power: 518

Does it still crank, and does it still have compression?

If the timing belt has jumped time by 2 or more teeth, the computer can shut the engine down to help avoid further damage.
Spring and/or tensioner pulley crapped the bed? If aftermarket, then it's a good bet.

Made it out of warranty!!!! LOL

FYI: Factory parts (from most dealerships) would also have 12/12 warranty if they were installed on your car, and you can bet they would last a whole lot longer than 17k.
Figure out what's really wrong before just calling the junkyard.


Do what mikey said. Pull the top timing cover off and see what happened. Maybe it broke the tensioner spring and didn't completely trash the belt.

May or may not have serious valve damage, may just need a good timing belt job (factory tensioner parts) to run again....


If you are lucky.

 
Rep Power: 0

I'll pull the timing cover when it warms up a little outside. The engine shut off as soon as it started, and when I hit the starter again, the starter made a straining noise, so I let off right away. The car had ample power driving home last night. Maybe there is hope after all! Thanks for your suggestions!

 
Rep Power: 518

I've seen them get out of time by a couple teeth and/or break the tensioner spring and jump time....

When the computer won't let it run.....They will start and run for 2 seconds then shut off.


Did the engine run out of oil?

What does 'straining' mean?
Lost compression? Flooded the engine?

I guess there are many possibilities, but I was running with the 'noise in the timing cover area' related guesses.

 
Rep Power: 0

Yes, engine is full of oil. I don't believe the engine ran 2 full seconds, seems like it immediately shut off once it fired up. I hit the starter again, but the engine did not turn over, and the starter definitely made sound like it was trying to do something, and it didn't sound good, so I immediately let off. To describe the sound of the engine prior to this happening - very noisy knocking and chattering, reminded me of bearing noise. It came on pretty quickly. Didn't really notice the noise when driving the car. So maybe there is hope if the timing belt is still on? I'll definitely pull the cover off this weekend. Thanks again!

 
Rep Power: 518

Cross your fingers
Pray to the God of your choosing
Take it apart and look!

 
Rep Power: 209

pistons hitting valves most likely

 
Rep Power: 0

Update, I was wrong in my initial post when I said the engine would not turn over after it stalled. When I hit the starter after it stalled initially, the starter was spinning the engine quickly because of the timing belt jumping teeth or failing. Because there was no compression, I just heard the starter motor spinning fast and let up. Verified that just now. I'm amazed the car ran so well with the noise and apparent interference of valves and pistons occurring, no loss of power, and it ran until I got home and failed as soon as I hit the starter the next morning. When I first heard the noise, I assumed something was vibrating on the outside of the engine. Looking back at my records, apparently I had the timing belt job done Dec 2012, and have put 22k on it since, so I feel a little better that I got an extra year and 5k miles than I thought I did I assume there are a lot of businesses that swap out engines in Civics and it wouldn't be too expensive to fix, and that they would put a new timing belt on the engine before installing? So would I be looking at 1000-1500 for a good used EX engine installed with some sort of warranty?

 
Rep Power: 518

You do realize that "local garage" you used just cost you an engine?

Call around and ask, or DIY it so you know exactly what went into it.

I'd probably replace the head gasket and timing stuff on any junkyard engine before installation. Maybe rings too. More labor now but can save headaches in the future IF it's done right.

If you are gonna go that route, you could have pulled the head on your engine and replaced the bent valves.

 
Rep Power: 150

I agree with Ezone's points. His last point sums it up. I personally wouldn't buy an unknown engine and put the time, money and effort. I'd put my effort into the engine you already have. Pull the head, take it to a reputable machine shop. When you replace your head, put on new head gasket, timing belt, tensioner, water pump, etc. It isn't that difficult to do and its going to be way cheaper.
There are countless posts on this site with info and more than 1 DIY on the head gasket and timing belt. The machine shop will take care of the valves. Its an education that will serve you well in many ways, some will be hard to measure, but the money savings will be big and easy to measure.

Never trust a car with a recent timing belt or recent paint. Where did they source the parts? I know plenty will disagree but I personally don't buy parts from Ebay. I'm okay with high quality gaskets from after market, but get sensors, water pumps, alternators, AC compressors, timing belts, tensioners and fluids from Honda.

EDIT: Keep chin up, something mechanical failed with the timing. The past is the past, learn and move on. There are a lot of people that think all timing belt jobs are equal. You now know that they aren't. You did the best you could at the time and thought you had it covered. Take your head off and find out what that is going to cost you. Start a list of parts for the timing belt and head gasket. Call around to Majestic Honda or other dealers and see if they'll give you a deal for buying all the parts from them. You might have it all back together with high quality parts for $1000 and two Saturdays of work. Enjoy the work. Take it apart and organize everything. Take pictures. Watch youtube videos. When I work on my cars I take my time and enjoy it. Listen to some music and talk to your neighbors as you work.

 
Rep Power: 0

I do really appreciate every reply to my posting! Thank you all for taking the time to weigh in with the encouraging comments and tips! My mind wants to fix it myself, but my 53 year old overweight and achy self isn't so sure. It's worth fixing, and I'll get started on it someday soon...

 
Rep Power: 518

Saaaalllute!

 
Rep Power: 0

Thanks Ezone! I was surprised no one had taken this name on the forum when I signed up. I grew up watching He-He-He Haw Haw on Sunday nights!