1998 Honda Civic Cracked cylinder head

JESTER7107

MEMBER
1998 HONDA CIVIC
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
137,000 MILES

A year ago I had my cyclinder head, thermometer and radiator replaced in my Honda Civic after it had several incidents with overheating. I've only driven it six months out of the last year (I was in Iraq) and only put 7,000 miles on it since the head was replaced. Severals days ago it began overheating again. I pulled over immediatley and found that the lower hose that connects the radiator to the engine had come loose. It appeared that enough pressure had built up that the hose had blown off, there was coolant everywhere. I replaced the hose and took the car to the Honda dealer that had replaced the cylinder head. I was told that the new one is bad too and that I will have to replace it. What are the odds that 2 cylinders head would fail in such a short period of time? What could cause pressure to build up in the engine and force the hose off? Am I off the mark in thinking that perhaps the replacement was not properly installed?

2 Replies

SERVICE WRITER

MECHANIC
9,123 POSTS

IT is entirely possible that is was faulty installation, but at the same time why 7000 miles later? Mis-torque? There may be no determining factor until you get into the job.

If the head gasket goes it can pressurize the cooling system, but the radiator itself is usually the weak link.

Why the hose would pop off and be the weak link is odd. That sounds more like a bad installation of the lower hose. The hose pops, you lose coolant, it overheats, the head goes or head gasket goes. Sometimes the coolant is drained by removing the lower hose as it is quicker and easier sometimes. Maybe it didn't get put back on well enough.