Do you guys think it's worth it for me to spend $900 to fix a blown headgasket on a 1995 Honda Civic?

[hellfire88]

Hey guys, well this past weekend, my 1995 Honda Civic just started sputtering like hell, so I thought it was the muffler or something. When I drove it on Monday, it started overheating like mad (the needle on the heatmeter was off the charts!), and I pulled over at the closest shopping center and popped the hood. The whole engine was smoking, and the anti-freeze/coolant tank was completely empty! I walked to the local walgreens, and bought a bottle of antifreeze/coolant, and added it in, and let the car cool down a bit. I then drove straight home, and when I got home, and checked the coolant tank again, half of what I had added was gone already.

I just took it to the nearest auto-repair shop yesterday, and the guy tells me that I have a leaky radiator, and that if that was the only problem, it'd cost ~$200 to fix (fine with me...not too bad). However, since I drove it a bit with this problem, one of the headgaskets also cracked . So as a result, the total cost to fix everything would be $900 .

Do you guys think it's worth it for me to spend $900 on my 1995 Honda Civic DX 4dr sedan (auto tranny) with 99,500 miles to fix it? Or do you think it won't be worth it, and just get a new (used) car? I just checked kbb.com, and a 1995 Honda Civic DX with 99,500miles is worth about $3000....

 

[DurocShark]

Just give it to me. I'll fix the gasket and drive it another 100k.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Depends, can you/do you want to buy a new car?

If you fix that, I'd imagine the engine will have quite a life ahead. Also, it might be cheaper to have the guy essentially rebuild the engine while he's in there. Replace all the seals and such, probly wouldn't cost too much more in labor since he's already disassembling the top of the engine. Guess it all depends if he was planning on taking the engine out.

 

[Vette73]

If the $900 also includes the water pump and timing belt then yea. As you should be good to go, if you take care of the car, for another 60k.


I have fixed quite a few things in my old Buick. but when the trans went out it was time to go. Almost 20 years old and 165K its not worth a trans anymore. But a 1995 car and the bill is less then 1k and the body looks good? is worth it to fix. Or fix it yourself and save some money.


i bought a 1996 Saab 900se Turbo fir $600 and am fixing it up now to replace the Buick. Until then I drive the vette . That cost me $45 to alomst fill it up yesterday .

 

[radioouman]

fix it.

 

[RichUK]

Just get rid of it, scrap the thing and buy something else.

 

[nakedfrog]

I might be crazy, but 700 for a head gasket seems a little high. It's entirely possible that I'm wrong, though.

 

[arcenite]

It depends... are you looking for an excuse to buy a new car?

 

[HybridSquirrel]

fix it...find out blue book value of the car and if the repairs are more than that or you think your going to be spending that much in repairs in the near future than dont. my guessing since its a honda it should be fine

 

[dman]

IMO, if everything else is in good shape, go for it. A new car payment figure $300/mo, so, if you think you'll get 3mo's out of this car before needing any other major repairs it's probably not going to be a bad investment.

However, if you ran the car so hot that more than the gasket was damaged or were being negligent on other repairs then the bills could start to go up, etc.

Good Luck.

 

[Rogeee]

Fix it, $700 for a headgasket is about right, by the way, what's a heatmeter ?, you mean temperature gauge right

 

[JRich]

DIY

 

[j00fek]

Originally posted by: DurocShark
Just give it to me. I'll fix the gasket and drive it another 100k.

:thumbsup:

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: DurocShark
Just give it to me. I'll fix the gasket and drive it another 100k.

Damn, beat me to it!

Although you better hope you didn't warp the head by overheating it like that. You know when the needle goes into the red you should stop driving right?

 

[DainBramaged]

Originally posted by: dman
IMO, if everything else is in good shape, go for it. A new car payment figure $300/mo, so, if you think you'll get 3mo's out of this car before needing any other major repairs it's probably not going to be a bad investment.

However, if you ran the car so hot that more than the gasket was damaged or were being negligent on other repairs then the bills could start to go up, etc.

Good Luck.

I agree.

 

[desy]

Once a car gets out of warranty you have to assume the ongoing repair and maintenace costs. If you bought another for 3 G you think its going to be like new?
In all likely hood it will need brakes and the CV boots will cracked and so on.

You know where you are at with this car if the only problem is this one get it fixed.
I usually buy used cars, so when I do I basically get all the fluids changed , tranny, coolant, oil, change the belts sometimes the hoses, all other things like brakes and such checked out and end up dumping a pile of cash in right at the start and then I know exactly where I'm at for expected on-going repair bills.

 

[dainthomas]

Originally posted by: crustyoldman
Fix it, $700 for a headgasket is about right, by the way, what's a heatmeter ?, you mean temperature gauge right

Thermometer.

 

[RichUK]

Originally posted by: dainthomas

Originally posted by: crustyoldman
Fix it, $700 for a headgasket is about right, by the way, what's a heatmeter ?, you mean temperature gauge right

Thermometer.

Its not a thermometer, because it does not have any metric readings on the dial/gauge.

It just has red bars at the top blue at the bottom, and the needle should idle in the middle.

 

[j00fek]

now that i see the milage, id keep it and beat it for 5-10 more years. its a honda itll live

 

[Zontor]

I'd consider a used engine -- there are several places around here (UT) that have Japanese engines witn 30-50k on them.

Wouldn't be much more and would IMHO be a better option if all else on the car checks out (steering, CV boots, etc.)

 

[hellfire88]

thanks alot for the advice guys. Yes, I meant the temperature gauge, lol. I'm a newbie when it comes to cars.

I ended up just forking over the $900. The local mechanic said he'd replace the headgasket, radiator, and thermostat for $900, all-inclusive.

Let's hope this car can still last me 1-2years!

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: hellfire88
thanks alot for the advice guys. Yes, I meant the temperature gauge, lol. I'm a newbie when it comes to cars.

I ended up just forking over the $900. The local mechanic said he'd replace the headgasket, radiator, and thermostat for $900, all-inclusive.

Let's hope this car can still last me 1-2years!

Dude i think it'll last you longer than that.
If you decide to sell it 1-2 years down the road I may be interested

 

[jagec]

Spend $20 and a couple weekends and do it yourself.

 

[ViviTheMage]

fix that cutie pie!

 

[Kelvrick]

Usually, when the temperature goes into the red for too long, doesn't the check engine light come on too? So you not only ignored the temps, but the check engine light until the engine started actually smoking?

EDIT: Thats soem low miles for a 93 though. Personally, I'd probably fix it. It'll still last you a while after its fixed. If you're looking to buy a new car, put an ads as is. See what kind of offers you get, and if it'll net you more then the car is worth, figuring the 900 repair bill, sell it.