93 civic overheating !!!

Allright let me give ya the information.

I bought this civic about 2 months ago and everything was going fine except that the hose connect on radiator was cracked and broken.

My wife replaced the radiator and then I replaced the thermostat while I was fixing the car. I also recharged my ac which isnt working but that is another matter.

For the past 2 weeks the engines has been overheating when it is driven for more that 5 minutes.

So last night at around 2 am on my way home it started again and I dont know what to do ?

Also just another piece of information.

Before my wife changed the radiator we noticed that there was too much oil in the car. So after she replaced the radiator I changed the oil filter and drained the pan... There was no water in the oil.

So i need help I dont think its the radiator I just changed the thermostat so what could it be ??

water pump maybe. Are you losing coolant at all?

my wife checked the radiator last week and said it was full today it was totally empty so I guess yes there is coolant loss. However there are no leaks when I look for any.

dunno your head might be warped

Allright new developments.

I noticed today after I had finished driving the car for maybe 10 minutes that there was coolent loss in a steady stream not a quick stream but still a stream, from the left side looking foward of the engine. Dont know if it was from the engine but it was some where fromthat general area.


Is that the water pump or something worse. Help !!!!!

could be ur haed gaskey, i had to replace mine bout a month ago. Also check all ur hose connections and, put teflon tape on all ur threads that connect to the coolant system

Is there a way to check to see if the head gasket is blown ??

like check the cylinders or something ?

I guess I will test with a pressure meter and see if its blown any suggestions or tips for me changing my head gasket ??

what is up with "93" civic's this month. Mine is overheating too.. I notice my fan doesnt come on anymore when the temp gauge goes past 3/4's near H "hot". I don't know what caused it to go out? I check fuses hood,dash.. all ok. I the harnest wiring seems to be all connect too. I guess i have to just buy a new fan... Unless others have any other suggestions?

My fan works so I am not sure what it is. Although I suspect it to be my head gasket dont know yet I guess I miht check with pressure tester

what is up with "93" civic's this month. Mine is overheating too.. I notice my fan doesnt come on anymore when the temp gauge goes past 3/4's near H "hot". I don't know what caused it to go out? I check fuses hood,dash.. all ok. I the harnest wiring seems to be all connect too. I guess i have to just buy a new fan... Unless others have any other suggestions?
try replacing the relay for it.

allright here are the results from my compression tests

spark plug hole number 1- 180

spark plug hole number 2- 170 Water squirting out

spark plug hole number 3- 170

spark plug hole number 4- 180

So is my guess right when I say that the headgasket is blown between 2 and 3 ??

Need some information if you think this is correct.

Allright I finished taking out my exhaust and intake manifold. I am realy glad that I put in an extra 5 dollars for that can of bolt and nut lubricant/breaker. Going to start the head thursday. So any suggestions or tips. Also is there a way for me to see if I warped the head or would it be easier to take it into a shop ?

Also I also heard that if the head is warped that the bolts are going to be bent is that correct ? I am a true newbie so dont hold back give me all the advice you have. Thats it for now, thanks for all the help guys :)

if you have a feeler gauge or something like that, just run it along the bottom of the head and see if there is any inconsistencies. If there are, you can get it resurfaced (look in that the thread "higher compression?").

what is up with "93" civic's this month. Mine is overheating too.. I notice my fan doesnt come on anymore when the temp gauge goes past 3/4's near H "hot". I don't know what caused it to go out? I check fuses hood,dash.. all ok. I the harnest wiring seems to be all connect too. I guess i have to just buy a new fan... Unless others have any other suggestions?

Check your thermostat: Heres how....
An easier way is:
Warm the engine up until it gets hot. If the engine is hot and the upper radiator hose is still cool, then its your thermostat. If the upper radiator hose is hot, then the thermostat is fine.

If its not that, check for leaks. Another common problem is a faulty "fan switch". Its a metal piece that screws directly into your motor... located towards the back of the motor... kinda behind your distibutor cap.... and it has a plastic plug, plugged into the top of it. Honda retails it for about $45. You can buy a Mugen one for $50... but you'll have to get a Mugen Thermostat for $85 for it to work as it was designed to. The Mugen setup turns your fan on at 80, instead of 93 degrees.

when I took off my head to replace my head gasket, this is what I found
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/503/62025head.JPG

And this is what happens when you wait too long!
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/503/62025smoke-med.JPG
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/500/62025smoke1-med.JPG

My poor civic :disappoin

That was when I had my D15B7 in there.... The picture below is a pic I took 2 days ago. I am parting out the engine. This is what your oil will look like if you wait too long (Coolant mixed with oil -Right side)

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/500/62025enginenow-med.JPG

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/500/62025gasket-med.JPG


Gosh I keep editing this post just to add more pics and help you out as much as I could.

OMG!!!! looking at those pictures is giving me the chills. Like a car version of Faces of Death. I would be freaked out of my mind if my car ever did anything like that.

Thanks for the pics that will certainly help with my problem :)

And I dont think I waited too long.. Hopefully. We will see though.

where is the peaking hole to find the top point center for my number 1 piston??

here is the link to my galleries which show where they should be ? Right ?

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=3256&ppuser=243423

I heard you can put ice chips in your radiator. Has anyone tried this. If someone tries it, let me know how it works.

wtf does this have to do with his problem??!?! Don't hijack threads

Umm... I'm new, I don't know any better.

Its like a fucking virus you cant get rid of. Just keeps coming back.

Allright It was my head gasket as there was water in my cylinder. I had the warped head sanded down or serviced or whaterever it is called. I then applied a new head gasket I torqued everything down to the proper specifications. I applied the exhaust and intake manifold gaskets. And of courase I made sure that the cylinder 1 was up and aligned. To top dead center :) I connected everything up changed the oil filter and the oil. Replaced a broken fuel injector :( AND.....................


The car turns over but wont start!! :( :( :( :( :(

I checked the spark wires to see if there was spark and yes there was.
It turns over but wont start and I have no idea why. Any suggestions as far as diagnosing this problem ?? Please help I need the car by monday *Sigh*.

does this mean I am screwed Lol I hope not. any suggestions ?

make sure you have your spark plug wires going to the correct cylinders.

[QUOTE=djstorman]Allright let me give ya the information.

I bought this civic about 2 months ago and everything was going fine except that the hose connect on radiator was cracked and broken.

My wife replaced the radiator and then I replaced the thermostat while I was fixing the car. I also recharged my ac which isnt working but that is another matter.

For the past 2 weeks the engines has been overheating when it is driven for more that 5 minutes.

So last night at around 2 am on my way home it started again and I dont know what to do ?

Also just another piece of information.

Before my wife changed the radiator we noticed that there was too much oil in the car. So after she replaced the radiator I changed the oil filter and drained the pan... There was no water in the oil.

So i need help I dont think its the radiator I just changed the thermostat so what could it be ??[/QUOTE

I had the same problem a few months back.. It's simple to fix there is a bleeder valve for the cooling system right where the top radiator hose connects to the block. Get the car to operation temp and then take off your radiator cap. Watch out for water spraying out..Make sure to have the heater valve open too. Then fill the radiator and then it should be a 12mm wrench and open the bleeder valve and it will start sucking fluids down make sure to keep it full. then when water comes out of the valve without air close it. Let it run for a few minutes and then open the valve to see if any more air comes out. If not then that should solve your problem

Update???? How is it now?

Allright I checked the spark plug wires and they are going to the right cylinders so.. Also they are giving off spark. I was thinking the next thing I could check was my compression just to make sure I put the head on with no leaks. Anyone else have any other advice? It turns over but doesnt start now . :(

are you getting fuel? Might have a bad pump or clogged injectors

my car runs great after bleeding the cooling system.... So for anyone that has the problem if you need instructions on it hit me up....

my car runs great after bleeding the cooling system.... So for anyone that has the problem if you need instructions on it hit me up....
If its not too much trouble... can you post up instructions to help others... that way if someone does a search in the future, your instructions will help them out. Thanks

It's simple to fix there is a bleeder valve for the cooling system right where the top radiator hose connects to the block. Get the car to operation temp and then take off your radiator cap. Watch out for water spraying out..Make sure to have the heater valve open too. Then fill the radiator and then it should be a 12mm wrench and open the bleeder valve and it will start sucking fluids down make sure to keep it full. then when water comes out of the valve without air close it. Let it run for a few minutes and then open the valve to see if any more air comes out. If not then that should solve your problem

Allright all, Good news I have fixed the Civic!!

Just a recap. My problem orginally started as a radiator which plastic connect for the tube going to the engine had basically fallen apart. It was losing water which cause the car to overheat multiple times.

My wife replaced the radiator but not before the head gasket blew.

Next I took the head off and had it grinded down to take out the warp. I then proceed to replace the gaskets and put the head back on. Not so easy though as I mistake the torque specifications and break off a valve bolt and a bolt that connects the valve cover to the head. I replace these and put it back. I start it up and it turns over but doesnt start.

I do the timing again and it starts but is very sluggish.

I drive over to my dads to get some "big man " help. Turns out I didnt put it to top dead center I put it to the red mark instead of the white mark. At this point I realize I need to read more closely :)

Finally tonight after 2 weeks I have finished and it runs like a pearl.

Would like to thank a few people who helped out .

sageuvagony
swift1069
dat1laosguy
fiercecivic

I would finally like to make a speacial thanks to GScivic7

This guys was awesome, he must have spent a good 2 hours talking to me about this problem and offering his knowledge. Thanks very much :)

lol...thanks man, i wish I could have helped out more though. Really glad everything got worked out.

Glad to hear that the members of AF were able to help you out, and that everything is running nice and smooth!

GSCIVIC7:
You might want to check your water pump.
I have a 93 civic coupe and have blown two hoses within the past month. AFter that, (cahnged them) i saw the coolant, slowly, dripping out of the left side of the engine (from the drivers side), i checked and it was the Water pump. It is attached to the timin so i didn't want to mess with it, but it is almost right next to the alternator (i think), anyhow, the car runs without over heating now. Maybe this can help!
If no, then forgive the post since i am new to the scene i dunno what else i can help you out with, it sounds like the same problem though!

Ok, i just realized my pst is way to late and addressed to the wrong handle. ha ha, im such a newb

lol...there are good funny newbies.

lol no prob if anyone knows about corvettes let me know I have a problem concerning it too and noone has responded to it yet in the group.. I changed mufflers and the chip.. I runs great but it idles at 1600 and wont drop. I'm not sure if the shop recalibrated the computer for the new chip or not. But I was thinking it could be a sensor too..If you can toss in a thought it may help thanks

My friend has a 94 Civic with a very similar problem. I ran the engine with the cap off and a thermometer stuck in the radiator and it registered in the 200 degree range and the guage was into the orange bar almost into the letter H on the temp guage and the fan still wasn't on. As the needle started covering the H the fan kicked on. The thermometer was now reading 215 degrees and the coolant was boiling. Replaced both the sensor for the fan and the guage still no difference. It almost seems as though the temp guage isn't reading correctly. I don't quite understand this setup Honda has on this engine with the fan switch on the thermostat housing which is at the lower rad hose. Is this why the different temperature switches are available? The original Honda switch seemed to work fine for so long then it was noticed that the fan wasn't coming on any more. I'm a little cornfused. Anyhow any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Rick

well a thermostat is in the upper radiator hose not the lower. the reason u'r coolant was boiling was because u had the cap off. the whole system operates under pressure, so that's wut keeps it from boiling at the normal "water" boiling point. w/ the cap off it couldn't hold pressure. sounds like the temp gauge is wack, because everything else sounds like it's operating correctly.

when you get the head off check your cylinder walls for cranks, and if it was my car i would get the head plainned seeing that you got it off .

No doubt the coolant operates under pressure but how else would you check the temperature of the coolant. A thermometer is the easiest. Everyone I talk to says the guages never malfunction. I was hoping I didn't have to change the guage as the bezel seems like a muther to get off without cracking it. Thanks, Rick

well a thermostat is in the upper radiator hose not the lower. the reason u'r coolant was boiling was because u had the cap off. the whole system operates under pressure, so that's wut keeps it from boiling at the normal "water" boiling point. w/ the cap off it couldn't hold pressure. sounds like the temp gauge is wack, because everything else sounds like it's operating correctly.
The thermostat is at the engine side of the lower hose not the upper like normal engines. Changed the sending unit and the guage now the guage reads hot as soon as you start the engine. Time for an aftermarket guage at least I know that will work. If this was my vehicle I think I would take it out back and use it for target practice

The thermostat is at the engine side of the lower hose not the upper like normal engines...
yep u'r right. it was a long night and i did my normal, forget a few things, my bad. good lookin out