So I was given a 2004 civic lx sedan to me. The car had 188,000 on it. The car has a huge crack on the exhaust manifold, has to be more than 3 inches. My brother in law told me the crack wasn't a issue as it's just exhaust gases. I figured a crack exhaust manifold was bad but I had no money to fix and no idea how to fix it.
Anyways at around 193,000 the car start over heating really bad randomly, I flushed out the radiator. and the car seemed fine. but then a few days later started over heating again. so I kept filling up the radiator and the car wouldn't over heat for a few days then would over heat again. I was never able to find out where the coolant was leaking from but its all over the front left (passenger) side of the engine. I think it's coming from the lower hose but I could be wrong.
I kept filling up the radiator every few days till one day at around 199700 miles in the morning I noticed white smoke. I don't know if it was a lot of smoke as I have never seen white smoke from any of my previous cars I have owned, even when starting up on very cold mornings.
Then at around 199850 miles I noticed the smoke again, looked like less then the last time. AT 199950 I cranked my car to start it and it didn't start at first. It cranked (clicked) like 4 times then was silent. Every time after I turned the key nothing would happen. Then after about the 10th time the car finally started.
Then two days later at around 200,050 the same thing happened but this time my brother-in-law jumped me and the car started up instantly. today at 200100 miles the car wouldn't start at all, even when my brother-in-law tried jumping the car this time it would not start.
I took the battery to AutoZone they checked it and they stated the battery was fine. the battery is 2 years old. My car doesn't even crank anymore and there is coolant all over the left side of the engine. I don't know if the coolant shorted something out or if the coolant got in the starter and messed it up. I will check the starter in the morning to see if it's covered in fluid.
Also I should note the battery light has been flickering on and off at any sort of bump since I got the car at 188000 miles.
I know these are all issues I should have addressed before but money is tight and now I know I'm going to be paying for it
As far as getting my car started anyone have any ideas? and how should I address the problems, if I finally able to get my car started.
edit: Also I should note I have done searches but I cant find anything with my problems but I can find post for similar problems but all separate. I seen some for over heating, some for the cracked manifold and some for the car not starting but not for all of them put together..
Would it be cheaper to buy a new (used) engine?