Help Me Help Me Please!!!!

[ilicalot]

I have a 1985 Civic. I was driving to town (12 mi) and my car over heated. I left it there for 1 hour, and when I came back it started right up. Then about 20min. later it over heated again. Anyway, I got a new thermostat and put it in. The next day I drove it 5mi and it over heated once again....I got it back to my house and flushed the radiator and now it won't start properly, and it is blowing a large amount of white smoke...ANYONE PLEASE HELP!!!!!

[sofast]

When you flushed it did you get fluid on any electrical components? That could make it hard to start and run like crap. If it happened right after yo flushed it that could be it. Did you let the car warm up with the radiator cap off to get all the air out? Could have a large air pocket. As for the overheating. Are your fans working? Did you know that if you are driving and your car starts to overheat to turn on the heater defroster and your fan will kick on to cool the radiator?

[cvcc_wagon]

Originally Posted by sofast

bla, bla, bla

your head gasket's blown. the overheating was the early sign, when the hot gases from the combustion chamber come in contact with the coolant it heats up much faster then it would just through transfer of the block and head. in addition to that the pressure created from the hot gases blows coolant out the relief valve into the overflow tank which in turn makes your coolant level even lower creating a bubble in the system so it stops circulating all together. the white smoke you see is steam from your coolant because your head gasket is blown.

[ilicalot]

Not to sound like to much of a moron...How do I fix that?

[lxndr]

Get a repair manual, then remove the cylinder head and replace the head gasket. If it just started overheating chances are that the head is still flat. If it isn't flat you will need to have it resurfaced in order for the new head gasket to seal properly.