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Hello all, new member but have been on looking for advice. Here is my problem. The other day when I replaced my thermostat on my 2003 civic EX, I broke off on the mounting bolts from the housing cover. After trying an extractor that didn't work, I ended up fubarring the housing. I have ordered a new water passage housing and gasket along with a few other parts. Does anyone have the procedure to change out the housing with pictures. I have searched and found nothing. Also since I am replacing the housing would it be wise to change out the EGR valve? The car has about 200k miles and aside from regular maintenance, ie oil changes and a new alternator and belts I have not done anything to the vehicle. As far as I know, it is all still stock. Sorry for the long post and thank for any advice you can give.

 
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I had to pull it off when I removed my trans out the top. It's really not hard to remove, there's 4 bolts and a nut, and some hoses. You could've reused the gasket because its metal. Soak those egr bolts in some good penetrating fluid before you try to remove them. and make sure those surfaces that the gasket meets up with are clean. I missed a spot when I put mine back on and it started dribbling coolant so I had to pull it off and redo it.

This is a picture from a parts catalog but it should give you a good idea.



Or if you search in the forum for transmission removal/dissassembly, or clutch jobs you might find other pictures

 
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Thanks for the advice. I have heard people say that those bolts are pretty hard to get off.

 
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I had no problems with mine and the car had like 250,000 kms and I live in rusty Canada.
Use penetrating fluid and let it soak for best results. Although I didn't need any

 
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When I did my water passage gasket (had a bad leak, causing probably a quart of coolant loss a week), it took maybe an hour to do.

Drain coolant. Remove 3 bolts and 2 nuts. Remove hose clamp behind the engine that connects 2 rigid lines with a rubber hose. Remove said rubber hose from rigid line attached to water passage. Finagle water passage off. Installation is more-or-less reverse of removal. Tighten to proper torque specs found in a manual or online. Refill coolant and burp system well.

 
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Thanks for the explanation. I am hoping that the parts come in by the weekend so that I can tackle the housing. One more question. Would it be wise to replace the upper and lower radiator hoses since I'll have them off anyways?

 
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might as well for how cheap they are, make sure you bleed the coolant properly after you're all done

 
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I didn't even remove the hoses completely when I did it. I just disconnected them from the water passage and thermostat housing. That's all up to you though.

 
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I'm going to replace the hoses. When I did the thermostat, I noticed that they didn't look all that great. Trying to get he car in the best shape possible since I'm going to pass it down to my son and don't want him running into issues if I can prevent them beforehand. Thanks again for the input.

 
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Sounds like a plan. If you're mid-job and run into a wall, post up. Hopefully someone will be around to answer in a timely manner.

 
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Well the new water passage is in. The only issues that I had were undoing the hose clamps and getting the hoses off but after 200k miles that to be expected. Thanks XRiceboyX and Colin42 for the advice and suggestions.

 
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Glad to hear it dude!

 
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Those rear hose clamps were a huge pain. lol. Glad to hear you got it done without any other problems.

 
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i replcaed my themostat inn parking lot of autozone thinking it was going to br a normal thermostte johb.....not the case. i need to know where i can get the housing that connecs onto engine head. and and advice greatly apprecaited, i just put1200in a new tranny it always runs hot in summer maybe thid will stop thst. so it is removable not the piece the hose connect to but wehre the thermistqt goes abd has teo bolts i over titghting one and snapped it could not extrsct it i drillled the hole out and was off a quarter inch, also when i went to start car i got two clicking niseeeees from under glovrbox autozone gave me the closest they had whivh took click away but car will not start after i chngrd thermostat aand riigged houinh with c clamp just to get it out of the perking lot any ideas whi has these oartd cheap and part numbers?? this is onlycar i really need it im a care giver..thanks

 
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Here is a diagram of the housing and the parts that connected to it. I got my parts from Hondapartsnow and I think the housing was like $80.00. I replaced the EGR sensor and a few hoses as they were looking pretty worn.

 
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There's 2 sets of grounds supposed to be bolted to the coolant housing, if they don't have good contact you can have big problems

 
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How do I remove the rubber hose from the metal tube? That connects to the water passage housing? The hose sprung a leak and I need to replace it? Easily removal of that hose?

 
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Remove spring loaded hose clamp and pull hose to remove from the fitting to which it attaches. If it's not coming off, and you're replacing it anyways, use whatever you need in order to get it off. I've been in situations where I've used a pair of channel lock pliers to grip and twist the hose to break off any crust-seal for removal and I was able to re-use the hose with no issues. Again, if you're replacing the hose, do whatever you need to do to get it off. Try not to damage anything other than the hose, but that kinda goes without saying

 
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Is there a part number for that hose?

 
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Lower radiator hose for 2003 1.7L (both vtec and non-vtec) MT: 19502-PLD-000

For AT variant: 19502-PLC-000