1997 Honda Accord-fully loaded..need help

I have a 1997 fully loaded Honda Accord. I bought it as a trade in for $1000 and was told it needs a water pump. Well after my father brought it home and listened to it run again, he thought it needed a head gasket. He called a Honda dealership and they told him that if it needs a head gasket, it would be better to put a new motor in because when just the head gaskets are replaced on Honda's, they always smoke. Has anyone else heard this before? Is it true? Its a beautiful car but it has a knock in it when it runs. I'm a college student and I have someone who takes me back and forth to school so I don't really need the car but I'd hate to see it sit by the house and not run so I want to fix it. Its an automatic. I'm trying to find information on what could possible be wrong with it and if I should just put a new motor in it. If someone can help me, I'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

There's some stuff that doesn't jibe here.
A bad head gasket and the knock are unrelated. Could be 2 problems.

Replacing a head gasket doesn't, IMHO, cause ANY motor to smoke. What they MIGHT have meant is that IF it needs a head gasket, then the head might be warped.

So - do you know (a) what makes soemone think it needs a new water pump? (Not a cheap repair- commercially - by the way) (b) Why does you father think it needs a new head gasket? That's not very common for an Accord.

Then there's the knock. Depends exactly what that it. If you mean a detonation "knock" it isn't serious - various solutions. But if it's a bottom-end (bearing) knock, then you DO need a new motor.

How many miles are there on this car?

My uncle looked at it today. He said the water pump isn't bad but there is a leaking hose. He said that the knocking comes from the lifters and the car is idling at 1500 instead of 700 like it should. The motor has 165,000 miles on it. My uncle is looking for a new motor for me

Based on what you described ---- a new motor for WHAT? You don't replace a motor for problems like those - you FIX them!

Still, if you want to spend the money, Heather .... I doubt you're going to get a NEW motor, just a different one. Maybe with its own set of problems.

Assuming you don't want to argue with your father and your uncle, maybe bringing your questions here isn't such a great idea -- it sounds like you have enough experts in your life already.

Based on what you described ---- a new motor for WHAT? You don't replace a motor for problems like those - you FIX them!

Still, if you want to spend the money, Heather .... I doubt you're going to get a NEW motor, just a different one. Maybe with its own set of problems.

Assuming you don't want to argue with your father and your uncle, maybe bringing your questions here isn't such a great idea -- it sounds like you have enough experts in your life already.


I have nothing to do with my father. My uncle is the one helping me fix it. I want to find a new motor because this one has 165,000 miles on it.

Sorry for the "father" misunderstanding - it was based on your original post
Well after my father brought it home and listened to it run again, he thought it needed a head gasket.

Re. the mileage. I bought my Accord about 15 months ago with 140,000 miles on it. It has about 168,000 now, and I have no plans to replace the motor. I expect to get at least 200,000 - maybe 250,000 - miles out of it.