Head Gasket Horror! I Need Help

[hondacivicduty]

For the last month and half, my car has been overheating everytime I park if I leave it on for longer thank 2-3 minutes after driving. The radiator reservoir also boils whenever I drives and often bubbles over causing me to have to keep adding coolant to replace it. Although I just had the entire engine replaced only three months ago, I was just informed by the local Honda dealer that I have a blown head gasket, and that it will cost between $900-$1400 to fix (assuming I don' t need a whole new head). I have only had this car since Feb. and I have already sunk over 4K into it in a services and parts. What could possibly have caused this to happened to a recently replaced engine? Is it worth fixing, or should I cut my losses? What are my options in terms of fixing the head gasket cheap? Please help me...

[superbluecivicsi]

you probably bought a block with a blown headgasket.

cheap will = buying the headgasket and doing it yourself. the price you pay for a headgasket replacement is mainly in labor cost.

[V T E C H]

yeah, putting a new head gasket on there your self shouldnt be that big a deal. it will just take some time, and you will be carless while you do this sooo you can either take it to the dealer and have it fixed for a grand, or you can do it your self for like 50 bucks or how ever much a gasket set cost you.

[_93civchatch_]

Originally Posted by V T E C H

yeah, putting a new head gasket on there your self shouldnt be that big a deal. it will just take some time, and you will be carless while you do this sooo you can either take it to the dealer and have it fixed for a grand, or you can do it your self for like 50 bucks or how ever much a gasket set cost you.

yepp... if you have some sockets.. a ratchet... a screwdriver...and maybe a wrench...plus about 50 bucks... you can do it yourself... its simple

[sohcfreak97]

you might want to send your head out to get decked and checked for cracks though...if its been over a month wit it overheathing just hope its not cracked...but def. get it sent out...that'll cost u around the 200-400 price range depending on your location and the guy doing it...

[hondacivicduty]

Hey, guys. Thanks so much for all your help and advice, but I finally ran out of money and patience for repeatedly purchasing new parts for my civic- so I sold it. But get this: I got less than half of what I paid for it (and that's before even considering the more than $4000 worth of parts and services). I'm so devastated, and I have no idea what to do. I've got to find another used car with only around $3000. It definitely will not be a '99 Civic EX.

The moral of the story is please be very careful buying used. I saw no evidence that my car had ever been in an accident and got a clean carfax on it, but it had been and that's why I got so little for it, furthermore, is perhaps why I had so many problems with it. So best wishes to you guys, and please be careful.