The Honda Civic is one of the best known compact vehicles on the road. While Honda engines are known for their reliability, they are not impervious to breaking down. A blown head gasket is enough to warrant replacing an engine if all you are looking to do is get an engine that runs in your vehicle. Serious engine problems can actually be more expensive to fix than if you simply purchased a new engine. Since Honda builds their engines with an interference-type design, all it takes is a snapped timing belt to cause catastrophic failure of the engine that would require a complete overhaul.
Instructions
- 1
Decide on the type of engine you would like. Honda makes several different types of engines. A basic single overhead cam, or SOHC, engine will offer decent fuel economy, while a SOHC VTEC engine offers the added horsepower of Honda's variable valve timing with lift electronic control mechanism. Honda also offers a duel overhead cam design, also called a DOHC engine, for improved airflow and horsepower output. Most of Honda's DOHC engines in America are VTEC motors, offering exceptional power output for a four-cylinder engine.
2Make sure that the engine will fit into your Honda Civic. If you are replacing the old engine model with the same engine model, you will not have any problems. However, many Honda engines can be swapped into the Civic chassis, even though most Civics come with only a non-VTEC SOHC engine. For example, the Civic chassis will accept the standard D15- and D16-series motors. However, the Civic can also accept the B16-series and B17-series motors, and some Civics can accept the H-series or the new Honda K-series motors. The B-, H- and K-series motors offer exceptional power output, ranging from 160 hp to well over 200 hp, while the D series typically offers under 100 hp.
The model year of your Civic will determine what series will fit into it. Typically, you should not put an engine that is older than the Civic into a Civic's chassis. For example, you should not put a motor series designed in 1992 into the chassis of a 2000 Civic.
3Check with Honda Motor Company or your local Honda dealer to see if a new Honda engine is available for your vehicle. In most instances, you will not be able to and will not need to buy a brand-new engine from Honda. Unless your vehicle is one or possibly two years old, it is most likely that you will have to purchase a used Honda engine. If your vehicle is one or two years old, it is normally covered by Honda's warranty and, therefore, you would not be responsible for purchasing the engine.
4Shop around. Companies like H-Motors Online serve as "online junkyards" and offer used Honda engines that are either domestic or imported from Japan. You can get recommendations to reputable online junkyards from popular and trusted Honda-enthusiast forums, like www.honda-tech.com. You can also visit local junkyards in person; find ones that specialize in used import vehicles. For example, if you live in Rancho Cordova, Calif., you will have access to H.A.P. Recycling, the largest junkyard in California that specializes in used Honda and Acura parts. However, depending on where you live, you may have to range beyond your local area to find Honda engines.
5When you find a suitable engine, ask the junkyard to do a compression check and a leak-down test on the engine. The leak-down test will verify that the engine will not leak oil or coolant and the compression check will verify that the compression in the engine is within the manufacturer's specification. This means that the engine is holding sufficient compression in the combustion chambers and will run as it should.
6Ask the junkyard to verify that all sensors, wires and electrical components on the engine are in working order. Every reputable junkyard will have at least tested these parts and will be able to tell you whether or not they are in working condition. Some junkyards will guarantee that the sensors and electrical components are in working order at the time you make your purchase.
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