2003 Honda Civic Overheating Issue

[BirdmanSRT]

Ok IA I need your help! My 03 civic started overheating about a week ago and has done it about 2 or 3 times this past week! I replaced the thermostat yesterday and put around 150 miles on it between yesterday and today and it has ran fine but just a few minutes ago I was sitting in a drive thru line and it started to overheat so I turned it off for a few minutes and when I started it back up the car was a good temp. I have also noticed that the overflow bottle keeps filling up with coolant and the radiator keeps going empty! Thanks any input will help alot! Thanks

[Tech5]

warped head you will need a head job .....Install a pressure tester on the radiator if it goes from 0- 35 or more you need a head job. If it holds at 15 or less your ok. But I wont be surprise if it shoots to 35 or more. You can also take the radiator cap off when called. Fill it with water only and when it's full crank it up and rev it at 3-4k rpms and see if it shoots a roaster tail out of the radiator. If it starts spitting the fluid out you need a head job.

[BirdmanSRT]

Thats what I figured! Thanks for the help I guess I will go out and price that tomorrow. Thanks Again +1

[Tech5]

no problem man sorry for your troubles we've all been there or will at one point of another.

[Vteckidd]

Ok IA I need your help! My 03 civic started overheating about a week ago and has done it about 2 or 3 times this past week! I replaced the thermostat yesterday and put around 150 miles on it between yesterday and today and it has ran fine but just a few minutes ago I was sitting in a drive thru line and it started to overheat so I turned it off for a few minutes and when I started it back up the car was a good temp. I have also noticed that the overflow bottle keeps filling up with coolant and the radiator keeps going empty! Thanks any input will help alot! Thanks

i would not say its a head problem YET.

First of all if you are losing coolant, you need to REALLY check for leaks. Id cycle water through it, let it idle in the driveway and look for any sign of water dripping out. Squeeze the upper and lower radiator hoses and looks for water to be bubbling or squirting out.

If you cannot find any leaks, and the car overheats, check to see if the fan is kicking on. it should.

Water will push to the overflow tank, thats why it is there, it doesnt mean its automatically a headgasket or head problem. You have to overheat the SHIT out of it to warp the head. just getting hot or pegging H doesnt mean its automatically blew a headgasket.

Since you mentioned its losing coolant, i suspect you have a leak, or the fan isnt kicking on and it is overheating and causing the coolant to push out.

any smoke coming from the car/exhaust?
Timing belt /water pump current?

[Tech5]

i would not say its a head problem YET.

First of all if you are losing coolant, you need to REALLY check for leaks. Id cycle water through it, let it idle in the driveway and look for any sign of water dripping out. Squeeze the upper and lower radiator hoses and looks for water to be bubbling or squirting out.

If you cannot find any leaks, and the car overheats, check to see if the fan is kicking on. it should.

Water will push to the overflow tank, thats why it is there, it doesnt mean its automatically a headgasket or head problem. You have to overheat the SHIT out of it to warp the head. just getting hot or pegging H doesnt mean its automatically blew a headgasket.

Since you mentioned its losing coolant, i suspect you have a leak, or the fan isnt kicking on and it is overheating and causing the coolant to push out.

any smoke coming from the car/exhaust?
Timing belt /water pump current?

That's why I mention to compression check the radiator you can put pressure on it without it running and see if it leaks down and you will see a leak. He never mention a leaking issue as he had overheating issues and replace thermostat to try and fix it and still overheating. BUT the radiator is empty and the over flow keeps filling up. This is what happens when a head is warped , NOW unless this guy can change a thermostat but can't see anitfreeze is leaking out this is a warped head. GOING by his symptoms that is. Another reason to put a radiator pressure test on it , is to see if it builds up to much pressure which indicates a warped head.Either way , I see your point as from check all aspects problems that are simple before thinking worse case. But Sounds to me he has been chasing a problem and still continue to run hot causing the head to become warped.

[Vteckidd]

well he mentioned it overheated and he replaced the thermostate, and it overheated again while sitting still. That usually isnt the sign of a blown headgasket as it will overheat under any conditions. no honda is air cooled. Cars dont just blow headgaskets for no reason. So im betting he has a leak somewhere and he hasnt spotted it (hence its losing coolant).

Im just saying instead of throwing parts at it, id be 100% sure, otherwise hes going to do a headjob, and not fix the problem.

overheating is usually very easy to diagnose, and rarely have i seen a SOHC engine blow a headgasket unless the person ran it completely dry and drove it pegged out on H for awhile.

overheating car is the most misdiagnosed problem

[Vteckidd]

also he said he drove it for 150 miles and it was fine. If the head is warped so bad its pushing coolant into the resevoir, it usually overheats well before that.

I bet it is something very simple

[Tech5]

well he mentioned it overheated and he replaced the thermostate, and it overheated again while sitting still. That usually isnt the sign of a blown headgasket as it will overheat under any conditions. no honda is air cooled. Cars dont just blow headgaskets for no reason. So im betting he has a leak somewhere and he hasnt spotted it (hence its losing coolant).

Im just saying instead of throwing parts at it, id be 100% sure, otherwise hes going to do a headjob, and not fix the problem.

overheating is usually very easy to diagnose, and rarely have i seen a SOHC engine blow a headgasket unless the person ran it completely dry and drove it pegged out on H for awhile.

overheating car is the most misdiagnosed problem

Correct the gauge on the radiator don't tell lies , but I have had so many sohc comes in for head issues more then a ford 3.8L or Pontiac 3.4 3.1 3.8L ....because people neglects them , but honestly if he can't tell anitfreeze leaking then how did he change a thermostat lololol...

People do surprise me everyday with cars, makes me wonder why are they allowed to get a license to drive.

[Tech5]

also he said he drove it for 150 miles and it was fine. If the head is warped so bad its pushing coolant into the resevoir, it usually overheats well before that.

I bet it is something very simple

You could be right I am not fighting with that at all , and I have seen some warped so bad it wouldn't make it 10 feet before over heating .Then I have seen some that would over heat slightly until it gets pure air in the engine . Depends if he is adding water and how much and hard it's pushing into the reservoir jug.

[turbob20]

i have seen a bad radiator cap lose tension and easily let water out into the overflow and fill it up also he said at the drive through it over heated maybe the fans not working and when stopped and it don't come on its running hot! also i have had radiators clog and over heat but thats usually when i was going on the interstate or long pulls.just some food for thought! peace and good luck.

[BirdmanSRT]

First of all I want to thank everyone for their help. I took the vehicle to Honda yesterday and it does have a blown headgasket which i told them to go ahead and fix the issue and they gave me a pretty good price too.

[turbob20]

cool most of my friends have found that they say the worst case scenario and its something simple to get the money at some places. the economy is a bitch!

[Tech5]

I have never worked for a company that has ever allowed this to happen

[turbob20]

you haven,t worked at too many places then have you! ive worked at dealership after dealership shop after shop, honda/acura, kia, gmc, and dodge are among the few around here that i walked away from because of this crap and started my own business. ive worked inside the auto mechanics businesses since 2001! i had boss at many but just this one particular time that said that a car needed back brakes and when i would pull off the hub the shoes would be perfect and just need adjusting and they would say adjust them up sand the shoes and clean it all with brake clean and put it back together. then while the guys were out to lunch id be eating mine at the shop and look at the some of the bills and ill be damned if that brake job didnt say cost of new brake shoes on it! this didnt start happening till around 2008! but it does happen,open your eyes people its getting bad out there!

[turbob20]

ive had my own shop at first on the side but now full time doing pretty good cause now the customer/friends can wait and see the job is done with there own eyes in some cases! im still here and im not starving buy no means since 2001! tech5 im not saying you have but man there are some crazy azz people out there and they will do anything to make or save a dime these days at small shops or mega dealerships!

[Vteckidd]

I have never worked for a company that has ever allowed this to happen

its true, most dealerships will assume the worst even if its far simpler. Now i dont know about charging him for a headgasket and say , replacing a thermostat. but why do you think ALL emissions places charge slightly more than the state maximum waiver? its because even if they dont fix your car, you still can pass

[Tech5]

well when it comes to emissions logic , they charge more then the CERT from the state to not only pay for all the equipment but also the maintenance . The certs are 7 Bucks I think or as I remember them charged , and you can charge up to the max of 25 . The machines,paper,cow gas,hoses,tips etc etc cost a lot to keep them up and running and approved by the state requirements .But I understand what your talking about with dealers. I read the above post and was thinking that dealers charge for work and didn't do the actual work which I have never seen a single dealership EVER put up with that BS!


I have worked for several dealers also in my life and currently own my own business , but while working at a dealers I never seen anyone think the worse nor charged for a job and didn't do everything listed or charge for parts and didn't install them . I know a few shops and 1 on here that I seen them charge for something and didn't do or replace .AND they're still a sponsor so , of course I can't call them out .

[turbob20]

i only seen it happen at one place as well but a hella lot so i cant help but think that would be the only one you know just logical train of thought is all! but i guess with the economy and all i just tend to hope for the best but catch myself preparing for the worst? i think alot of people do that in this day and age! i can tell you this i have never been done wrong by any one one this site!