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99 Civic overheating—repair or junk?
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slevchin
New User
Jun 12, 2014, 4:25 AM
Post #1 of 6
(1662 views)
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99 Civic overheating—repair or junk?
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I have a...
99 Honda Civic EX Coupe
1.6 L engine
175k miles
The car began overheating about 3 years ago. At the time I was told the head gasket was blown and ought to be replaced. If not, the end would be imminent. I decided not to do the work and to drive the car into the ground. But the car would not die.
After about a year I started seeing traces of oil in the coolant overflow tank. Looks like the head gasket is blown, they told me. But the car would not die. And it only started to overheat on very long hauls—over three hours. Even on those rare occasions, turning on the heat would quickly bring the temperature down.
More recently I saw that the coolant in the tank had turned rusty orange. Soon after the car began to overheat in earnest. I brought it to two mechanics.
The first mechanic said: your head gasket is blown; your water pump is blown; and your engine is rusted through—that's what the orange coolant means. Junk the car now.
The second mechanic said: I will replace the water pump and the head gasket (and throw in an AC compressor) for $1,200 and your car—with 175k miles on it—will go another 175k easily. It's a Honda, they're indestructible.
Well, whom should I trust? I have had both men do work on my car in the past. Both are good, thorough, honest workers.
The car does, indeed, seem indestructible. The engine doesn't seem to me to be in bad shape: the pick-up is pretty good, it doesn't make any suspicious sounds.
The car has a new exhaust system, a new radiator, brand new tires, a new battery, a few other minor new things—and I am attached to it. I don't want to junk it. But i don't want to throw away $1,200 only to find out that the engine is in fact "rusted through" and will soon be dead.
Is there any way to find out whether the repair is worth it before I make the plunge? Is there something I should ask my second mechanic before I hand over the car for his pricy repair?
Many thanks.
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 12, 2014, 4:28 AM
Post #2 of 6
(1655 views)
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Re: 99 Civic overheating—repair or junk?
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How is the rest of the vehicle? Brakes, body, suspension, transmission, etc.?
You shouldn't waste money in attempting to repair that engine and just have another one put in if you want to keep the vehicle longer. Your call.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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GC
User
Jun 12, 2014, 4:31 AM
Post #3 of 6
(1654 views)
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Re: 99 Civic overheating—repair or junk?
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If its been overheated a number of times, there is engine damage. How much is the question. If you had originally intended to drive the car into the ground, why are you considering repairing it now? Too little, too late. Did you tell them both the whole story? I wouldnt touch the thing....
____________________________________________________
Willing to help, willing to learn... Rob
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 12, 2014, 7:37 AM
Post #5 of 6
(1630 views)
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Re: 99 Civic overheating—repair or junk?
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Some people are lucky. If I owned that car and I did that, it wouldn't have lasted 3 days. I would have ended up with Mount Saint Helens under the hood in the middle of rush hour traffic. It would of thrown a rod out the end of the block and right through the transmission case. Then the oil would have gotten on the hot exhaust and caught fire burning the whole car to the ground. I would have been seen on the 9 o'clock news because when the car caught fire I would have jumped out of the car and got ran over by a semi.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 12, 2014, 7:59 AM
Post #6 of 6
(1625 views)
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Re: 99 Civic overheating—repair or junk?
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I hear you DS - I hear a peep and bang something will go wrong instantly.
OP - What other abuse did it sustain? If body is good the car is worth bucks without an engine. I'd cash in on what you can get for it as it is and put it towards another and take care of it,
T
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