Head Gasket Replacement: Part 5 (FINALE) [2003 Honda Civic]

[@MattsMotorz]

I just want to update everyone: As of August 8th 2018, I have put 20,000 miles on the Honda and it is still going strong! Gets 38 miles per gallon!!

[@emmabelko563]

How long did it take you in total to do all that?

[@cesart1033]

Great video thanks

[@MiniaceX]

How is it going now?

[@johnbankston3967]

Well Done!

[@marvi1991d]

This was my first major DIY project in a car without hopes of fixing the car, however your videos made it easier to complete and it was really REALLY help full. a week after i finish the project and the car is not longer overheating. Thanks you sir and I hope this video help other people who sadly have the same problem.

[@elliottpetersen8998]

Well it took my Dad and I a week to do the head gasket job but we could not have done it without your video, so thank you very much for making this video! I am very grateful that you made this and put this out there!

[@MattsMotorz]

Awesome! That's great to hear!

[@demguiz944]

Matt, I can't thank you enough for this series of videos. I just finished mine today and I don't think I could've done it without your videos. I would say to all who see this; if you're going to do this, buy genuine Honda headbolts. The ones I got from Rock Auto, while cheaper were not as hard as the originals - they were 10.9 and the Honda OEM were 12. I had exactly the same problem you did with the popping bolts. and the leak down test showed 80% leak on one cylinder. When I pulled the cheap bolts out they were shredded. I spent several days cleaning bits of metal out the head bolt holes. Finally got them clean and reinstalled OEM bolts and HG. I cranked her up today and she purrs like a kitten. I plan to get 200K more miles out of this car.

[@donh215]

Dem Guiz which head bolts did you buy from rock auto? I just ordered a set of Mahle bolts. Wondering if I should return them

[@Yoglawm]

I just replaced the head gasket on my '03, I wanted to thank you for the video, my car runs like it did when I bought it 17 years ago (or perhaps even better!).

[@joeconley1981]

Love the videos that you do. I'm glad you don't skip over the steps that are crucial like alot of other online mechanics do. Your vids give me an accurate assessment on exactly what I'm gonna run into for the job. thanks alot your videos have been very helpful. especially when i went to do a job recently.

[@stanlam1238]

Really like to thank you for the step by step. Just doing my Civic and I do not think I would have attempted it without you videos. Thank you!!!

[@keshyoma]

Thanks for the series of vids! Made me confident enough to do this at home, and avoid 1800$ at the shop.

[@bespokefit]

This video is enormously helpful. My engine will need this eventually. Sooner than later. I'm at 200,000 miles.

[@kuzmikval]

good vids bro. I have a similar problem, only it was my t belt that broke and shot my valves. what i did was find a used head at the junk yard, cost me 50 bucks plust tax, cuz i pulled it myself. I checked it for flatness, it is as flat as can be. still working on it. so far it's going as good as can be expected.

[@joekeilholtz5466]

great video. wouldn't have been able to finish mine without all the great detail

[@ketanbansal4584]

Great video man! Attempting this repair tomorrow, hopefully I don't have to deal with any popping bolts lol

[@MattsMotorz]

Good luck!!

[@Skyfire1031]

I’m about to attempt this job this week myself had to replace the radiator at The same time as the head gasket... hope I have the same result as you!

[@jaysonlundberg2587]

How long did you spend working on it, how did it end up?

[@e.r.videography6209]

The best series bro!

[@MrRL-yu9ir]

good job. 👍 next time,don't use channel locks to break loose coolant hoses..I noticed you gouged the top,thats why you had a lil leak when you did your pressure test😊 but nicely done beginning to end.

[@1EVILZ06]

Huge tip.... snap some pics of wiring and vac hoses. Just refer back to the pics when in doubt.

[@DIYDaveOK]

Great job, great video series. Congrats!

[@joelmccoin9727]

Very good video series, educational, informative, well done, thank you.

[@MattsMotorz]

Thanks! :D

[@autogamer6404]

all 5 parts were great I'm doing this job on a 2005 Civic

[@subwayguy1610]

Success! Great job dude!

[@javaTL]

Thanks for this great video! Curious if you have any car health updates since the repair? Any new issues crop up? Did you ever need to replace the valve stem seals? Also- any tips on cleaning the engine block + cylinder head mating surfaces?

[@dillbulgogi]

Thank you for doing this comprehensive series! Would it be possible to do a video for removing the vtec solenoid? I think I have an oil leak from a bad gasket on it but it seems like there are a lot of hoses in the way after removing the air filter housing.

[@jaybeee89]

Big help! Thank you

[@MarcoGarcia-yg5cq]

I just bought a honda with a blown head gasket antifrize is going in to the oil do you think is better to get another engine or try and do a head gasket job i got it to get experience

[@deacadeind]

great job, thanks for taking a lot of time and effort to do that head job. I think I might have to tackle this job also. I just replaced, radiator,upper lower coolant hose, thermostat, ect sensor, rad cap. I can drive it for 35 min and I hear preasure releaseing from the cap and the upper and lower RAD hoses are really hard. I have 174,000. timing belt and pump was done at 120,000. Once I release the cap preasure it seems all good.. what do you think?

[@MattsMotorz]

Johhny fox can't say without some more diagnostics. A leak down test should be done next. Either that, or a combustion gas test on the gasses from the radiator (I think you can rent these)

[@mattycakes2827]

I appreciate you

[@LeonardoAca]

hi, great job!. where i can find the service manual that you have? thanks

[@misaelacosta1116]

It's called Alldata only shops have it u need to pay for the subscription.

[@mets233]

great video

[@thomasoconnor3736]

You said at the end, bleed the cooling system?

[@MattsMotorz]

Yup. The cooling system was opened up during the repair and has introduced air. This air needs to be bled.

[@jayfixesthings]

I just finished this on my car and watched your videos when I was stuck. I had a torn TB so I changed the HG while I was doing it. Got it all back together and mine doesn't sound as good as yours. I had to put mine in top dead center manually since the timing belt broke and I feel it might've come out a little bit. I have a little bit of a tech almost like it sounds at a time. Do you have any suggestions? Great video by the way and I'm now following you.

[@MattsMotorz]

It would have been a good idea to get the head inspected by a machine shop to ensure that no valves were bent from the aftermath of the broken timing belt. If it were me, I would do a leak-down test. This should shed light on if there are bent valves.

[@chesterl29sp]

Great tutorial man.. I have a question.. I have a honda with 220k. With blown head gasket.. What would you do? Replace de head gasket or swap the engine??

[@luisfortanel9618]

Swap the engine

[@jameswhyte1340]

I lined the cam sprocket to TDC and the timing belt pulley to TDC and put everything back together. When I looked down the crosshairs of the timing belt cover to the harmonic balancer, the 4 notch was about 4 inches away from the crosshairs. Any ideas why this could be? I triple checked but the TDC's but the HB is out of time for some reason.

[@MattsMotorz]

You also need to time the crankshaft. It is likely it moved during the disassembly / reassembly procedure. When you take the harmonic balancer off, there are timing marks on the crank shaft and on the engine block you need to line up.

[@StoicRantings]

Hi. I have the same car that needs a head gasket replacement. How long would you say this job took you, hourwise?

[@StoicRantings]

And btw, thank you so much for posting these videos!

[@MattsMotorz]

Oh man I don't remember. All I know is that it took about 2 weeks. But much of that time was waiting on the machine shop to do the machine work. I work pretty slow so I am not a good gauge.

[@larryburns3561]

honda charges 10 hours labor for a head gasket

[@angelfernandez866]

Can i use a head from another civic and put it on my engine? Do i need to resurface it?

[@19MiLLz92]

is it the same procedure for an 05 lx?

[@juliolucero3412]

Help me out..... My 2005 honda civic is overheating, i see bubbles coming from reservoir at idle, i understand that this can be a head gasket (the car was a gift and the owner told me head gasket was replaced prior giving it to me) but could it be something else? If per say there was a crack in one of the cylinders what would the symptoms be? I don't get misfires engines runs fine when I'm on the freeway ( it does not overheat, only at idle) no check engine light, and recently passed smog (CA). What else can this be besides Head gasket? I replaced thermostat, fan switch, fan fuses, temperature sensor, pretty much everything. Im assuming water pump is ok since it works while driving on the freeway ( I forgot to mention car has 120K miles) Please help. Thanks

[@MattsMotorz]

Bubbles could just mean air is in the cooling system, it isn't enough to condemn the head gasket. Does the cooling fan actually TURN ON? Sit with it at idle and make sure it actually turns on. A crack in the block causes the same symptoms as a blown head gasket. You need more information. First thing I would do is a leak down test. The best thing you can do is try to get your hands on a combustion gas tester. This will tell you immediately if it is the head gasket or not.

[@samsonalonge5640]

How long did this all take you if I may ask pls @mattmotorz

[@jackzuck]

Is teh correct order of putting it back together to instead put the VTEC body piece back onto the head before putting it back in the car?

[@MattsMotorz]

Yes. Just don't put it on last and I think it would work.

[@jackzuck]

All fixed. Thanks a ton!

[@Sib0317]

Boss man . My 05 Honda starts then cuts right off before it idles ...could it be my timing off? My first time starting it... fresh from a diy head gasket Repair ..

[@fairweatherfoundry715]

It could be SO many different things, especially after a head job. Does the problem get better when you hold down the gas pedal a bit while starting it?

[@Sib0317]

+Fair Weather Foundry no it stalling when I rev it it's sounds healthy and no leaks .

[@MattsMotorz]

Hey sorry, I accidentally answered your comment on my other channel's account (Fair Weather Foundry) instead of this one. Anyway, are there any check engine lights? If there are, what are the codes? Did you remember to plug the mass airflow sensor back in? It would be fairly simple to check the timing. Just remove the timing belt inspection cover on the top, and get cylinder number 1 to TDC and see where the marks land.

[@Sib0317]

MattsMotorz yessir . I had to strip it back down to my timing . Got the bottom end and top end lined up at Tdc an important step I skipped earlier in your vid ... Put it back together then fired it up and it's running good I appreciate that man

[@MattsMotorz]

Awesome! Thanks for the update!

[@herro2015]

hello man that a great job please i want to ask you if it the same us honda civic LX 2004 AND GOOOOOOOOOD luck

[@MattsMotorz]

I believe so yes, but I don't know for sure. At the very least it will be very similar.

[@herro2015]

thanks

[@herro2015]

thank you for that

[@wdbne00]

My honda blows extremely hot air inside when the heater running. But the temp gauge reads normal. The upper radiator hose is hot but the lower is cold.. i replaced the thermostat with a new factory one. But still didnt fix the issue. The radiator fluid surges up and down when running. But when i take thermostat completely out and run the car both radiator hoses heat up normally. I cant find any helpful vids on this issue so could someone give me some ideas.. thanks. Also i have replaced head gasket, water pump, timing belt and radiator... dont know what else to do??

[@xorbe2]

Thermostat in backwards?

[@miriamvivo4279]

You have mucho patience

[@deacadeind]

oh another, what and all new parts did you replace. I'll shoot you my email if you have a parts list

[@MattsMotorz]

Johhny fox I just got a head kit which. Came with all of the gaskets on the engine pretty much. I also replaced the timing belt and water pump and the tensioner pulley

[@kuzmikval]

stop using fram oil filters. do some research on'em