head gasket or crack 1997 CIVIC EX

Slight stream of bubbles in the coolent recovery tank ar 800 rpm. Increase
in bubble stream intensity with rpm increase. Car was seriously overheared
once or twice before I bought it one month ago.

 

Definitely something going on, and the head will have to come off to
determine just what it is. My guess is the head is warped rom the
overheating and will need to be milled, but the possibility of a cracked
head is still there.

Mike

 

Do you think it is possiable to use one of those liquid head gasket
repair sealers { thermagsaket or copper block weld} to stop the leaking
gasket.

 

Yes! I have used it sucessfully and have talked to people who say they
have used it sucessfuly.

I used Steel Seal. Read the enclosed link.
http://www.steelseal.com/eng/home.html

To make it work you have to follow instructions 100%, not 99%.
It's my understanding that SteelSeal in the coolant, at 212 Degrees F
or higher, chemically reacts with AIR to close the leak.

Before I used SteelSeal there was bubbling in the coolant and I could
hear a tick - tick. After, no bubbling and no tick - tick.

If it doesn't work you are only out about $80 and you can now do the
head job. If you have a cracked block, you may have to replace the
engine. Are slightly used engines and tranmissions from Japan still
available?

 

Charlie S wrote:
[snip]

You can still find them in Toronto pretty easily. In some cases, it's
actually cheaper to replace the engine than to repair it. A friend was
quoted $1000CAD for a B16 engine with low mileage INSTALLED.

Cosmin

 

Tried chemical head gasket repair with no success.

 

There's no substitute for curing a problem correctly. That crap just
screws up other parts of the cooling system.

D.Mills - Licensed Automotive Technician.

 

If you have a cracked head gasket, the best solution is to replace the
head gasket. I don't believe there is any other solution to the problem.
If you are unsure as to whether or not you have a cracked head gasket,
please repost and we can tell you some indications of a cracked head
gasket. Entitle your post:
"Do I have a Cracked Head Gasket?"

 

I have a 1997 honda civic ex and just had 2 new axels installed about 150
miles ago. This morning one axel just came out of the tranmission and had
to be towerd to the garage where the axels were installed. Does any know
why this would happen? thanks.

 

My guess: the axle was the wrong one and is too short. The axle end is
supposed to snap into the transmission also, but I think the basic problem
is that the axle is just too short.

Mike

 

======================================

One way or another, the mechanic is a goof. The new axles come with
fresh circlips and you have to confirm that they CLICK into place. If
not, it can come out and do a great deal of damage.

'Curly'

 

1. incorrect installation.
2. torn motor mount.
3. collision damage.

whoever installed should have looked for all 3 before giving you your
keys back and taking your money.

 

There are two other problems that I've seen cause the axle to fall out. The
first is an installation issue. Sometimes there is not enough air in the
inner CV boot to allow the joint move in and out as the suspension travels
up and down. If there's not enough air, the joint will essentially be
pulled out the transmission just enough to pop the circlip out of its
groove. The joint then eventually falls out of the transmission. The other
problem occurs if the car has been in an accident and the frame is no longer
straight. It doesn't take much to bend the frame enough to cause a
problem. I know of one car where the driver slid into a curb in a snowstorm
on an icy road. The axle would repeatedly fall out. I then measured the
suspension geometry and determined that the problem was that the frame was
bent.

Eric