Couple of Basic Questions

Just picked up a 89 Accord SEi 4 Door for $200. I think I got a pretty good deal as the body is decent, it has a perfect (and I mean perfect!) Leather interior, Rockford Fosgate deck, and seems to run ok.

Now I am having some issues with it. One is that at higher RPMs (4500+) It will sometimes put out white smoke, and sometimes if you open the hood when its running you can faintly see white smoke coming out from under the head. Probably a blown head gasket, right? If so, how hard is it to replace them, the part prices don't seem too steep.

Secondly, just today I noticed the battery (alternator) light was on. It goes off however if I hit the breaks, or turn the AC on high. This happend after I 1. Ran out of gas, 2. cleaned the engine.

Also, pulled the e-brake so I could get out and open the garage door, and the car didn't stop. It seems to engage it some, but will not hold the car on a hill.

Also just so you know if it makes a difference or not, there is no power steering belt on the car currently.

So you guys got any idea what could be causing these things?

Thanks!

the white smoke is a blown head gasket cost to fix 900-1200 dollars. I think some fuses might be mixed up or burned for the battery light, and the e-brake needs adjsuting or you need new rear brake pads or shoes.

900-1200? Parts are a lot cheaper. What is involved in replacing it myself?

Ah! I see I responded to the FIRST of your identical postings. Why DID you post the same question 2 1/2 hours apart? We're all volunteers here - a couple of hours is a very small amount of time to wait for a response.

{quote]I think some fuses might be mixed up or burned for the battery light, [/quote]
No, 94accordlx1, fuse problems won't do that. And what are "mixed up fuses."

The double was an accident, It said the page didnt send, so I reconnected later and tried again, sorry. Anyone know about teh head gasket replacement? There doesnt seem to be a loss of power, and its only every once in awhile. I was holding it at 5k rpms today with no smoke. Also there is no coolant in the oil.

Sounds like the (good) parts might be worth $200! You've got a passel of troubles there, boy, so I hope you don't mind putting a lot of sweat equity into the car, and maybe still not having it run right.

Head gasket? Maybe. But the head may be warped or cracked too. E-brake might be frozen cables, or just need adjustment. Or your rear brakes might be rusted up entirely!

No power steering belt? Why not? What's the matter with the power steering?

Your gen light problem MAY relate to your getting cleaning liquid on the belt and it's slipping now. But why INCREASING the load would make it go off again, I've no idea.

I think you bought a bag of someone else's bad maintenance.

Just to keep it all in the same thread. Also, car only has 129k miles, and im sure thats all original.

Update

No more gen light issue. It hasn't smoked on me at all today, and there is no coolant in the oil. The smoking is only when revved at higher RPMs, and it didn't even smoke when I did that today. The reason there is no power steering is that the pulley is broken, and so it keeps throwing the belts off. I have a new one so I need to get it installed.

Any thoughts on the head gasket?

That's good news. I hate to admit that cars "heal themselves" but I had an oil leak that did just that. My mechanic said it was a rear main seal (expensive) problem. With no other repairs, it just stopped. Now I never get a spot of oil in my driveway.

Another Update. Pulled the radiator cap, and the fluid is right where it should be up on top. However it is a rusty brown color. Does it just need a flush? Also this car did have an anti-freeze leak before I bought it in which it was repaired.

Yes - the system needs flushing.

Have you tried Restore in the car? That help some of the smoke that I had in my 87 with 210K. And its pretty cheap.

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but what is restore? Also this car seems to be using an awful lot of gas. Does that have anything to do with the smoke?

Restore is an oil additive that you can pick up at walmart. You only have to put it in when you change the oil and then every year or so. I was getting poor mileage at the time and I started getting 10 mpg better. Might work for you too. Keep me posted if you try it.

geoff.doctor - you said white smoke, right? An oil treatment won't help with that. Oil smoke is black.

Bad gas mileage (and it sounds like you have only guessed whether it's "bad" or not) could be any one of a number of things.

Are you SURE you don't want to just get rid of it and get a better one? You've got more problems at one time than I've had in all the 3 Hondas I've owned put together. We haven't even gotten around to asking you when the timing belt was last changed. Or whether the axles click when moving on full lock.

COdger, I am new to cars, and bought this one as a project. I want to experiment with it so I can learn how to do this stuff on my nicer car (Nissan Maxima SE). If I blow up the engine, I'll sell the leather seats and deck and get all of my money back.

I don't think the white smoke is a head problem. You may have sticky rings. Lemme guess, you get the smoke -- sometimes -- if you rev the engine after starting the car. If you drive the care for a half an hour, you either don't experiment with revving the engine or you don't notice the smoke. If that's what's happening, your problem is definitely sticky rings.

If that is the case, the solution is to pull the pistons, replace the rings and make sure the pistons get a good cleaning. The cylindar walls should be honed at the same time. While it's all apart, might as well let a machine shop clean up your valve seats. No need for them to resurface the head unless the head is warped.

If it were me and I bought it for the purpose of learing how to take care of cars, I'd pull the engine and do a complete overhaul. Whatever is causing the smoke, you'll get at it.

Woofhaven, I was all ready to do that however currently it is not smoking anymore after the radiator flush, so I'll see where I am at in a few days. Also, the vents in the center of the car for the AC/head were all busted up when I bought the car. I just got new ones, and I was wondering how do I remove the dash? As it looks like that is the only possible way to get the new ones in. Thanks in Advance!

and bought this one as a project. I want to experiment with it so I can learn how to do this stuff on my nicer car (Nissan Maxima SE). If I blow up the engine, I'll sell the leather seats and deck and get all of my money back.
Fair enough. But don't forget to factor in the money you spend to get to the point where all you've got are seats and a deck to sell. (Good) Honda parts aren't cheap. So even if you you put your own time down to experience, you'll still be forking over some significant cash.

If that's what's happening, your problem is definitely sticky rings.

If that is the case, the solution is to pull the pistons, replace the rings
I don't necessarily agree with your diagnosis, woofhaven, but why REPLACE sticking rings? At least try an additive first. Now, worn or broken rings are another matter. And they often go along with worn or broken pistons.

Codger, I am definantly watching out for that. I am listing the car for $1000 as soon as I fix the valve gasket (i think?),and I am sure it will sell around here, I live in a college town, so theres lots of kids looking for cheap rides.

I don't necessarily agree with your diagnosis, woofhaven, but why REPLACE sticking rings? At least try an additive first.


I can't argue with that. I'm curious, though, what additive you know of that could address that problem?

Also, do you have any thoughts on why his smoke would disappear after flushing the radiator? That sounds wierd!

I thought it was weird too, but the radiator had obviously never been flushed. Ot took 11 cycles before the water was clear, and the first cycle when drained looked like coffee with milk.

what additive you know of that could address that problem?
I can't give you a brand name, but the parts store should be able to find it if you tell them "I think my piston rings are gummed up"

Hmm. It sounds like the cooling system had plain water, not anti-freeze in it. Anti-freeze contains anti-corrosion chemicals and shouldn't get that gunky.

Ok its for sale! $1200 and I have had 11 calls the first two days! another problem however, smoke comes when the dipstick is pulled? Any idea why? the valve cover gasket was just replaced.

That DOES sound like rings! You're getting blow-by.

Just for the record. Being that there was some confusion. Burning coolant = white smoke
Burning oil = bluish-white smoke
Running too rich = black smoke