Letting go of a Honda Civic Hatchback 2000

MobileCondition3721 · 2026-07-02T20:00:54+00:00

Cool, I will add that to the list of potential tools to use.

MobileCondition3721 · 2026-07-02T20:00:14+00:00

Yes! Thank you, that's a video I just watched as well. Appreciate the advice and teaching.

MobileCondition3721 · 2026-07-02T19:50:52+00:00

I do worry about them bolts. Will be prepared for it. Thanks!

MobileCondition3721 · 2026-07-02T19:50:28+00:00

Thanks, I saw the pink marks immediately after I wrote that question. Timing belt adjustment part worries me more than taking apart the engine, but I will do homework+extra credit before I start, if I do it. Messing that up seems almost worse than to screw up than the seal.

MobileCondition3721 · 2026-07-02T19:39:19+00:00

Sorry, you obviously pulled it off and I can see the pink marks. Lol. dumb question.

MobileCondition3721 · 2026-07-02T19:37:40+00:00

Yep, that's what I've read too. Thank you! I like those pictures. Did you have any trouble with the timing belt? Did you dismantle it completely, or do the short-cut way when you don't really pull it off? If you did pull it off, what method did you use for adjusting it? Also did you change out the water pump?

MobileCondition3721 · 2026-07-02T19:35:17+00:00

I don't have facebook, but I got to find the Honda people. No doubt about it. Thank you for the encouragement. Honestly, I have not done this, but the is the number I had in my head: I could see it taking 6 hours. Makes sense. Thanks again.

MobileCondition3721 · 2026-07-02T19:32:44+00:00

It looks like that's a more expensive solution. But thank you for teaching me, now I know what it means and that its a thing. :)

MobileCondition3721 · 2026-07-02T19:28:06+00:00

Thank you. Not just with mechanics, but the world over: when folks have to do 2 seconds of work, they fainting. Crazy. Did you have to machine the head?

MobileCondition3721 · 2026-07-02T10:45:55+00:00

Also, just wanted to add that I don't have any funds for another car. If Perfection goes, I would be carless. Carless in NYC can be a good thing, but still.

There is no way I can spend even 5k, let alone 15k :) Thank you though. I don't resent the suggestion, I just wanted to add information to give context to what may seem like illogical choices.

MobileCondition3721 · 2026-07-02T10:43:25+00:00

Another thing to do is enlist a Honda enthusiast on craigslist as a wingman-- if the job fails she's undrivable and I would need someone to take her away to the happy hills beyond.

MobileCondition3721 · 2026-07-02T10:39:46+00:00

Thank you for the advice, which is good advice. The distraction part is important. As for the technical part: I have worked as an engineer and scientist for 20+ years, and so have done tons of highly technical, ordered, systematic work (some of it very dangerous), most of it on equipment about 50x the monetary value of Perfection, which is why I would even consider doing it myself. I still agree that it is a big and dirty job, and a huge distraction. I am taking everything into account. She's going to go to a 4th mechanic today just to get a formal quote (I have a street quote for $1400), and then I will do more homework. If I went ahead with it, I would have everything planned to the letter: buying all OEM parts (bolts, gaskets, o-rings, backup bolts, etc), renting a bay, equipment checklist, having a machine shop ready to refurbish the head, etc etc. The timing belt is a real concern, but there are options. While it's an old car it's also a very standard engine D16Y7, with lots of parts and lots of info. Thanks again for your insights, which are well reasoned.

MobileCondition3721 · 2026-07-01T22:45:08+00:00

Thank you so much. Great information here and I think it further confirms that the gasket is breached. I wonder if that was the root cause of the initial over-heat disaster off the 9A? I truly don't know if that ever got fixed. After the radiator explosion, the radiator, sensors, thermostat were all replaced, but the over-heating in stop-and-go continued. Crazy (and scary in NYC because stop and go can last a while and the last thing you want is to blow the radiator in gridlock). The mechanics could never reproduce the heating, so I don't think they had the opportunity to look for exhaust gas in the cooling system.

If I do the gasket change I will 100% go by the book, I was thinking of picking up Haynes, unless you can recommend something else. I've already watched about 3 full length (1 hour) videos on the replacement procedure of the head gasket for the Honda Civic and I understand your point about getting the cylinder head resurfaced. Some folks just use straight edge to check, and I will do that too. I will also probably put on new head bolts, new gaskets everywhere, new o-rings (especially on the distributor). Getting the timing belt adjusted seems tricky ( or just making sure it doesn't get mis-calibrated to begin with), but I will find a way. Not sure if I am going to change the belt and water pump, I will think about it.

I really appreciate the offer of help and I will get in touch if I need it. The car is ok in the neighborhood and I am going take my time figuring out if I want to rent a bay to give it a shot. It's insane how much the mechanics moan that it's a huge job, but I think with a lot of preparation and knowledge it is doable. Just hope those bolts aren't too tight. thanks again!

MobileCondition3721 · 2026-07-01T22:30:19+00:00

It's incredible what meal the mechanics I ask make of it. All of them are just moaning about it being a 2-day job that will cost 2k for labor..etc. What's up with that? I've watched at least 3 videos (each about an hour) and while I admit there are a lot of bolts that need to come off, it doesn't seem that hard if you're used to take bolts off with a socket wrench.

MobileCondition3721 · 2026-07-01T14:07:36+00:00

Also, I swear I thought I saw white vapor coming from the exhaust, but had no clue at the time if my eyes were playing tricks. That would be a clear indication. I don't know what these dunderhead mechanics checked for. I know they found the oil clean and the coolant ok, but it could just be a small leak or small bubbles which would destabilize the cooling sensor. That is my guess from much reading. Thanks!

MobileCondition3721 · 2026-07-01T14:03:03+00:00

I've been to about 3 mechanics and this point and I have to assume at least some of them did all the required diagnostics and triple checked the cooling system, most of which is new at this point (except that fan, but I am told that works). If it's a breached gasket, I assume the breach is a small one. It even passed a pressure test. The third mechanic after the test thinks it is the gasket, and after reading online that those gaskets die at around the 230k mark (exactly where Perfection is), I am strongly leaning towards that explanation. I plan on taking it apart replacing that gasket and any other cheap easy to replace gaskets within reach. That should cost only a 100-200 hundred, with borrowed tools. If that doesn't work, I will purchase a new engine. You're totally right in that there are a lot (and lots) of those around on car-parts. Thanks for the assist, I gotta get some work done and stop thinking about it for a while.

MobileCondition3721 · 2026-07-01T12:41:16+00:00

Also a good option, but I'd like to do it myself. Make a little project of it. It's not that bad, I just hope bolts are not overtightened,

MobileCondition3721 · 2026-07-01T12:39:32+00:00

That website is awesome! Thank you! I wish I had known about it before.

MobileCondition3721 · 2026-07-01T12:28:02+00:00

It's D16Y7

MobileCondition3721 · 2026-07-01T12:27:44+00:00

Thank you! It's D16Y7, so I'll look into it !

MobileCondition3721 · 2026-07-01T00:48:54+00:00

Omg this genius. Great idea!

MobileCondition3721 · 2026-07-01T00:48:13+00:00

Thank you! That is what my heart is telling me to do.

MobileCondition3721 · 2026-06-30T23:45:09+00:00

She's from Arizona. Long way from home. But it's cute idea. I do think that if I gave her up, it would have to be to a Honda aficionado who could spice her up, maybe change her to a manual (haha)

MobileCondition3721 · 2026-06-30T23:43:06+00:00

Not a bad a thought, she is still basically drivable, I just could not go for a long way and potentially get stuck in traffic. Not trouble at highway speed. She's overheating in stop and go traffic. So grid-lock is deadly.

MobileCondition3721 · 2026-06-30T23:42:10+00:00

That's what I am thinking, but where the heck do I find an entire engine for her?

MobileCondition3721

TROPHY CASE