alt.honda - 4 new messages in 1 topic - digest

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Today's topics:

* where is the coolant going? - 4 messages, 3 authors
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.honda/t/c4fe9eb20831608b?hl=en

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TOPIC: where is the coolant going?
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.honda/t/c4fe9eb20831608b?hl=en
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== 1 of 4 ==
Date: Fri, Jan 22 2010 1:54 pm
From: John

Tinkerer wrote:
> "AnhTuan Bui" <anhtuanb@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:2fd77055-bb6c-4a3b-af1d-da032575feaf@r24g2000yqd.googlegroups.com...
>> John, you can try to check the spark plug of each cylinder to see any
>> sign of deterioration.
>>
>> Your cylinder head may have been warped from the overheating, causing
>> the new gasket to not seal properly. Check with the mechanic.
>> Sometimes re-torque all the head bolts to correct specs would help but
>> since your problem has been going on for a while, you may need a new
>> head.
>>
>
> In the good old days (and I mean old) you would cure this by having the head
> skimmed at an engineering shop. It was much cheaper than a new head. Can
> that still be done with modern engines?

I don't know, maybe someone will post that knows.

I'm still in the just keep adding coolant stage. It is quite cheap
actually. About a gallon over the last year, but I now have
suspicion it may be accelerating.

And, this week, the check engine light came on for 2 days, went out for
2 days, came on for 2 days, went out for 2 days, and is now on for
one day. With 120k miles it might be the catalytic converter, or...
The dealers, in my experience, charge about $100 to tell you what
code is being set. But I have heard some shops (muffler type shops?
Pep Boys?) will tell you for free or almost nothing now (seems to me
there was a court ruling requiring manufacturers to open up access to
the codes).

Any idea if I can find out what the code means cheaply?

Thanks!

== 2 of 4 ==
Date: Sun, Jan 24 2010 3:28 am
From: "Tinkerer"

"John" <jhy001@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:4B5A1E90.1010909@earthlink.net...
> Tinkerer wrote:
>> "AnhTuan Bui" <anhtuanb@gmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:2fd77055-bb6c-4a3b-af1d-da032575feaf@r24g2000yqd.googlegroups.com..