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1986 Honda CRX how to find where is the problem?

Tiny
RUDOLFCRX
  • MEMBER
  • 1986 HONDA CRX
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 160,000 MILES
Hi, I have a crx zc 1 gen with pgm-fi, and everything runs perfect, only have trouble with cooling system. New thermostat, new head gasket, the head was on hydrotest, new radiator cap, new timing belt. I see no leakig, but still missing coolant, after driving a 200 km on 2000-2500 rpm, or 60 km on 4000 rpm. There is no pressure in radiator, or I just can't detect it, but every time I have air in system (radiator is fool, reserve tank is fool, the air is stocked somewhere in engine). No oil in coolant, no coolant in oil. I lose almost 2 liters of fluid, and then the problems with overheating begins. And for first time, yesterday was overflow in reserve tank, but no presure on radiator cap. How to find where and what is the problem?
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Thursday, March 19th, 2009 AT 1:36 PM

9 Replies

Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,938 POSTS
Hi there,

If you have no system pressure you will have a small leak somewhere, re test the cooling system with a pressure test hot, let it sit for some time, and also re check the new pressure cap, start here.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Thursday, March 19th, 2009 AT 6:05 PM
Tiny
RUDOLFCRX
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  • 13 POSTS
I have checked the pressure in hoses, and there was pressure. Then I get of the radiator cap, some coolant comes out, but not too much. Then I get of the bleed bolt, and more coolant comes out, and some gas (couldn't smell is a water or smoke), than again some drops of water, and again gas. The engine was runing, and there was no endig of gas-water coming out. Like every 5 seconds a little gas, than water, but just on bleed bolt, at the top of radiator nothing was happening, I only refill there the coolant. Its look like there is a compression getting in watter somehowe, but slill don't know how to locate the problem. My mechanic said, that when the gasket was changed, everything was ok, no damage on head. Cold be a problem in the engine block? How can I be shore where is the problem?
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Thursday, March 19th, 2009 AT 8:36 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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Hi rudolfcrx,

I believe you have a gasket problem as the reservbe tank is overflowing, which means there is excessive pressure getting to the cooling system.

When you replaced the cylinder head gasket, was it for a overheating problem? Was the head refaced?

I have seen many cases of cylinder block face warpage or uneveness due to corrosion caused by bad head gaskets.

There are chemicals available that you can put into the cooling system to test for presence of hydrocarbons and this would verify if there are any combustion leaks.
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Friday, March 20th, 2009 AT 11:36 AM
Tiny
RUDOLFCRX
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
The head gasket was changed because overheating, and there was a pressure in system, and reserve tank was overflowing, just like now, but there was oil too. Now everything is the same, only no oil in water and did't overheat the engine jet (i stop and wait until cools down). It was refaced, and put back with gasket cit for crx. Bigger pressure on bigger rpm, and only air in cooling system, no sings of oil. Still don't know what is the problem?
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Friday, March 20th, 2009 AT 4:15 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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There is too much air in system and it should be pressure getting past the cylinder head gaskets.

Head has been refaced so that leaves the block as the only other possible cause. Many such cylinder blocks warps and has to be refaced or block replaced to solve problem.
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Saturday, March 21st, 2009 AT 7:34 AM
Tiny
RUDOLFCRX
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
Now the head is down, and the head gasket was bad. But, there is another problem, can be bigger than the head gasket - the bolts wasn't restrict, with litle energy I can teke out the bolt. Ok. But when I want to put it back ant restrict it to 65 Nm, I found that the bolt cannot be restrict becouse the screw is bad. What to do now?
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Wednesday, March 25th, 2009 AT 6:19 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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Overtightening of the bolts would cause the threads to be damaged and the only way is to do a rethread.

This would involve reboring the hole, tapping oversized threads and putting in an insert.
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Thursday, March 26th, 2009 AT 6:36 AM
Tiny
RUDOLFCRX
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  • 13 POSTS
One more question- is there any way to see that is the head gasket blow or a warped cylinder head? What is the different between them (symptoms and sings).
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Wednesday, April 1st, 2009 AT 1:34 PM
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
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Hi there,

The head gasket will blow if the cylinder head warps, the gasket failure will be a result of the head problem.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Wednesday, April 1st, 2009 AT 5:33 PM

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