Honda Civic 1985

PRINCESSLION79

MEMBER
1985 HONDA CIVIC
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
177,800 MILES

My car was smoking before I changed the head gasket and the valve seals. Now when I brake the car stalls and the exhaust there is black sooti. There is no more smoke from the exhaust. My car sat for 15 days while I was changing the gasket and seals.

Wednesday, March 30th, 2011 AT 8:16 PM

5 Replies

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,815 POSTS

Check if all 4 spark plugs are sooty. Is this a carburetted or fuel injected model? Is the timing belt installed correctly?
Are ther any vacuum leakages?

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Wednesday, March 30th, 2011 AT 11:07 PM

PRINCESSLION79

MEMBER
7 POSTS

Hi KHLow2008,

The brand new spark plugs are sooty. It is a carburetted model. The timing belt was marked and put back correctly. And how can I check for vacuum leaks?

The RPMs needle goes up and down when the car is in park, and when I press the brake pedal when the car is in drive gear.

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Wednesday, March 30th, 2011 AT 11:36 PM

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,815 POSTS

This indicates the carburettor is providing excessive fuel or insufficient air is getting to the engine. Check the auto choke and ensure it is opening fully when engine is warmed up.

Ensure you have sufficient coolant in system.

Is it single or twin carbs?

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Thursday, March 31st, 2011 AT 12:23 AM

PRINCESSLION79

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7 POSTS

I just changed the intake manifold gasket.I runed the car several minuts and the needle of the engine temperature is in cold position it did not go up. Is it normal. And the car sounds like runing on only 3 spark plugs

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Thursday, March 31st, 2011 AT 2:29 AM

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,815 POSTS

It takes about 3 to 4 minutes before the temperature gauge would show. If the thermostat had been removed or is stuck in the open position, it would take a much longer time for the gauge to indicate.

If there is any misfiring, check the spark plugs and related components. Have the compression tested and valve clearances checked/adjusted.