Rep Power: 0

I recently purchased a 2005 Civic with the 1.7 engine. It has 289k.

• Previous owner had head/ timing belt issues so he had head works, belt replaced around a 1000 miles back.

When I got it last week it seemed to run great after a new battery was installed.
I’ve noticed after driving it and getting hot, it is a little hard to start and smokes a small amount of white smoke when initially started.
I drove it to work last Thursday ( about 50 miles) let it set in parking lot for 12 hours then started it and drove home without issue.
The next morning it would not start. The engine spins, it will catch and run a few hundred rpm for 3-10 seconds and then stall.

• I started Friday night, pulled coils and plugs, checked pistons for excess water, checked spark, tried starting fluid into the throttle body and couldn’t make it catch.

I done some reading Friday night about the possibility of the converter being clogged but when I went out Saturday morning it immediately started and run perfect.

• No codes in computer during all this!

I drove around all day Saturday and Sunday and then on my 50 mile work commute Monday morning.
When I come back to it Monday afternoon it was a little harder to start but as soon as it reved up above 1000 rpm’s or so all was great.
Well this morning it would not start again. It kinda acted like it was flooding or not quite getting enough fuel?

• I pulled plugs and #4 is somewhat blackened, the other 3 looked great and had a small amount of gas on them.
• I pulled O2 sensor first to determine if converter clogging was causing problems but didn’t change anything.
• I checked coils by plugging each into multiple cylinder feeds just to assure fire on each cylinder.
• We tried starting fluid again with no difference.
• I pulled top timing cover to check timing to make sure!
• There was some oil on crankshaft sensor so I cleaned it with electrical cleaner as well as camshaft sensor plug.

After putting everything back together, the car started like a new one?
Not sure what was causing my complete no start or start/ rubble/ stall but it is perfect right now until it happens again?

• I have put a quart or so of water in it so I know I still have some issues at head gasket,head,or block but really hate to tear into that until I fix the no start at times.

Does anyone have any ides of what direction I should go in checking next?
I have simple tools to work with but nothing fancy so keep that in mind with recommendations.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and responding if you have ideas!

 
Rep Power: 211

White smoke at startup and losing coolant points to it still has a head gasket breach or warped head as you mentioned. Did the previous owner provide documentation of head gasket repair and milling of the head at a machine shop? Has it overheated since you purchased it? Next time it's hard to start press the gas pedal all the way down. This disables the fuel injectors and allows maximum air into the cylinders to (hopefully) overcome fuel flooded cylinders situation. Sounds like there's coolant getting into the cylinders when the engine cools off overnight, However, you stated that you check for water (coolant) in the cylinders, correct? Was it gas or coolant on the spark plugs?

To properly check timing you will need to pull the lower timing cover off as well as crankshaft timing gear to see if the mark on the timing gear aligns with the arrow on the block (denotes oil pump). See OP's first post in this link https://www.civicforums.com/forums/1...placement.html
Check all engine and chassis grounds to ensure clean mating surfaces and tightness. Check alternator connections for tightness, also the alternator's mounting bolts to ensure they are secure. Have you performed a smoke test to rule out vacuum leak(s)? Smoke up, Johnny!

 
Rep Power: 0

PO told me they replaced valves and worked the head but I didn’t receive any paperwork. He said it was a little more than $900 so I assume the head was ground but really don’t know yet. I have had 0 issues with it overheating but have added a small amount of water a couple of times. I really don’t think timing can be my issue after the no start issue it finally starts and runs perfectly. I have removed, cleaned and grease all the ground straps and cables I have found as well as checked the alternator. I did try wide open throttle during the no start periods and it really didn’t make much difference. May have shuttered for 15 seconds instead of 10. After coming home yesterday, 50 miles running perfectly, I removed the plugs and let it sit about an hour. I did find a small amount of water on #1 cylinder which just confirmed my thought of something about the previous head repair wasn’t 100%. It still leaves me baffled during the no start period because I had plugs out, rotated engine, swapped coil placement etc and could not make it rev up enough to seemingly clear the system until it decided to just start and run perfect again!

 
Rep Power: 0

I’m kinda thinking I have a better understanding of it on some level. After another 50 miles and it sitting 12 hours at work it wouldn’t start. Luckily I had all my tools to remove cylinder 1 plug and it was wet. I dried it the best I could with a lighter and spun the engine to get most of the water out and reinstalled. I was then able to get it to start and rev up enough I guess to dry the water and make it go back to firing. I’m thinking it must have a second cylinder that is getting just enough water in it to foul the plug? That’s the only way I could imagine it should cause a complete no start condition? If it was only 1 I feel it should still start and just run crappy on 3 cylinders?? I picked up a bottle of blue devil, just to try before tearing it apart. I also got a new set of regular copper cored plugs to put in thinking the repeated water may actually have the plugs weaker than they should be? Anyone have experience with similar situations? I’m really hoping it’s just a gasket or head issue and maybe I’m not fighting a separate electrical issue as well. Maybe the blue devil will at least settle my mind that i only have 1 issue to deal with!!

 
Rep Power: 222

Dont put that junk in your engine. It will ruin it. Fix the headgasket properly.

 
Rep Power: 0

Decided to tear it down and go ahead and try to fix the failed head gasket. I found the tag where the previous owner had repair made about 3000 miles prior. Had head checked today and everything looked good. Going to get everything flushed out, cleaned and back together tomorrow if the weather holds. Does anyone have torque specs readily available for the head, cam and crank or any other pointers on the re install? Thanks

 
Rep Power: 367

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

 
Rep Power: 224

I would recommend a Honda head gasket. They're only like $50, don't cheap out here.

 
Rep Power: 0

I checked all my local honda dealers and no one has the gasket. 1 said they didn’t even know if they could get it due to the age of this cat and the other was $75 but would be a few days before he could get it. I am going to take a chance with the $50 felpro just so I can hopefully get it back together while I’m off work. If I have trouble with it I will get the Honda part next go around. At least the head job isn’t too bad on this vehicle.

 
Rep Power: 367

felpro have some happy, others not so much, beware.
I simply order online for the gasket.
https://www.civicforums.com/forums/1...retailers.html