I recently picked up this 2000 Honda Civic from the Pull-A-Part in Indianapolis Indiana. I needed a replacement engine and transmission for my oldest sons 1999 Honda Civic. Apparently he overheated it badly, so I decided to replace his engine as well as his slipping transmission.
I didn’t quite get what I needed as you’ll see in the video, but I think this is a great walkthrough on diagnosing a misfire in an engine. I take you through my process from power balance to a quick cylinder leak down test to find the cause of the problem. You can use these skills on any engine to find the cause of a problem like this.
I might use this car for something in the future, but for now, I just need to get my oldest sons car back on the road, but don’t be surprised if you see this car again at some point. BTW I’m calling it #ETCGJohnWick.
I hope you find this information useful!
#ETCGVideo
My Patreon Account: https://www.patreon.com/EricTheCarGuy
The best place for answers to your automotive questions: http://www.ericthecarguy.com
Check out the ETCG Blog for the latest info: https://www.ericthecarguy.com/blog
Check out my ETCG1 channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/ETCG1?sub_confirmation=1
Thanks for watching!
Music
YouTube Music: Carnival De Brazil by Doug Maxwell
Links
Pull-A-Part: https://www.pullapart.com
Tools
Compression Tester: https://www.jbtools.com/cta-tools-2012-universal-compression-tester/
Leak Down Tester: https://www.jbtools.com/lang-tools-clt-2pb-cylinder-leak-test-gauge/
Related Videos
First Time Towing with Dads Truck: https://youtu.be/kI0jCh5X2gs
How To Perform a Power Balance Test: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAOmUjAjNjE
How To Perform a Compression Test: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_tbksFYhl4
How To Perform a Leak Down Test: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgrfT0LFMhc&t=58s
How To Find TDC the Easy Way: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2sA-q7_FtQ
How To Diagnose Exhaust Restrictions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-jp1IIJVVk
ETCG Gets a 1999 Honda Civic for $500: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCYQP1bhnWk&t=13s
How Much Should a Cheap Reliable Car Cost?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClhvKKV7CbE&t=364s
The Pull-A-Part Challenge Episode 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb6rMccSH4s&t=797s
The Pull-A-Part Challenge Episode 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtwBNQyZu38&t=4s
The Pull-A-Part Challenge Episode 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu4V9I8i6mU&t=4s
**Answers to your automotive questions found here: http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq
Social Network Links
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EricTheCarGuy?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EricTheCarGuy
Instagram: http://instagram.com/ericthecarguy
Wanna see more stuff like this from ETCG? Information on Premium Membership: https://www.ericthecarguy.com/premium-content-streaming-etcg-content
Stay Dirty
ETCG
Due to factors beyond the control of EricTheCarGuy, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information.  EricTheCarGuy assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. EricTheCarGuy recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video.  Due to factors beyond the control of EricTheCarGuy, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not EricTheCarGuy®.
Great run-through of diagnosing a "rough" motor to get the diagnosis down to brass tacks. Thank you for this.
Eric, could you check out the video on my channel and see if you may have an idea of what's wrong with my transmission? Thank you sir.
I was baffled when you rotated the crank and #4 didn’t move Pretty amazing it didn’t make a window in the block.
Please do more videos like this. I really enjoy these kinds of videos and I know I’m not the only one.
This was a testament to Honda, pretty cool that it still ran with a catastrophic failure like that. For those faced with the same issue, no compression in an engine, this was a great tutorial in how to determine where the loss of compression is. I do have one suggestion though. Rather than removing the cylinder head, and spending over an hour to determine the failure point, using a borescope in the spark plug hole could have given the same information with much less work. It still gives a better total picture to disassemble as shown in the video, but for a backyard mechanic looking for a quicker diagnosis, a borescope would have yielded the same result with much less labor and time lost. This is not to say that what Eric did was wrong, because it was by no means wrong. Just highlighting another avenue for diagnosis for those interested.
Thanks for the great content Eric, this was an awesome video!
Can anyone purchase identifix/all data or are they just for shops?
ðŸ‘ÂÂðŸ‘ÂÂðŸ‘ÂÂ🌵🌵🌵
I have a 99 Civic. My transmission is going also. I bought it new. Used synthetic oil for all of the 250k miles. I stopped fixing the "little things" since the trans is on it's way out and the car is not worth putting a new/used/rebuilt trans in. Sigh it was a faithful car for the last 21+ years. My only car for all that time. Practically the only car I have driven in the last 21 years. The "trouble shifting" it has is that the shifting linkage is VERY touchy. Once in gear it is fine, as long as you don't breathe on the shifter. But especially in the winter it doesn't want to engage right away…not slipping really just kind of not really engaging. I figure it is in the linkage INSIDE of the trans and would require removal of the entire transaxle to fix. That is a nada..no go.. ain't gonna happen.
OK, the GOOD NEWS… The 1999 Honda Civic was the BEST SELLING car of that year…There are millions of them out there. Shouldn't cost an arm and leg for replacement parts including your engine. (If you know why these cars don't want to shift, please let me know)
I wonder if Erics son watched an ETCG video on how to install the new water pump? Lol
At least you recorded it, this made a good video. Disappointing to go through all of that and see the piston dropped…
would have been cool to hit with some nitrous on the 3. Maybe a boosted 3 cylinder .
You should've seen how fast it would've gone on 3 cylinders
It's funny this vid is so recent. I have the exact same car and broke a timing belt yesterday on the highway. How likely is it I have bent rods? I had just changed the belt 20k miles ago…
makes me wonder what happened to mine, was so easy to work on, lost it in a wreck, the engine was still good when they took it away though, probably lives on somewhere.
What make and model and year is that car behind you at 0:34 seconds on the last bay next to the wall?
It didn't even run that bad for having a destroyed connecting rod inside of it!
Since salvage title, maybe k-swaped drag car? Or if you have time, fixing it forward?
Damn poor Honda
Eric just put a b18/20 in it!!!!
engine almost dies
I haven't even touched you yet!😂
ITS GOT POWER STEERING
Classic. Still think 3-5K oil changes are a waste? Living proof here.
I have this car! It stopped starting on me the other day. I found a little rubber stopper in the driver side floorboard. I know they are needed for cruise control. But it's there an opposite pressing one for the clutch to start? It is dead silent on key turn. Everything but starter as far as starting system goes, is 5 or less years . Battery a couple months. My question is does that rubber stopper press something when the clutch is pressed to the floor? I just redid the drums so i didn't feel like messing with it this weekend. Thanks!
Edit: yup just looked at a diagram, there is a second button that is pressed above the one for the cruise control. I suspect this is my problem! I really hope i can avoid changing the starter lol
You made the cylinder head removal look like the easiest thing in the world. Nice.
This is a crime, 130K and somebody didn't take care of it
this was such an informational video–thank you for going through the trouble to make this! did piston rust itself on to the cylinder walls causing the connecting rod to shatter when the car was started? what are some common causes for rusting into the cylinder in the first place? is it less common with aluminum blocks nowadays?
Back in 2000 Honda already was a step in the future, using deactivable cylinders so you can save up fuel untill the VTEC kicks in ðŸâ€Â¥ðŸâ€Â¥ðŸ˜‚😂
“pieces oooooâ€ÂÂ😂😂😂
That engine looked abused. I would of bought a JDM engine, they are fairly decent price & low miles.
Ouhps in this case my 97 Del Sol Vtec needs more care! 🌸
Had a saab 9.5 in which the engine ran on three cilinders but the car didn't move. Had a broken cranckshaft….. Things happen 😉
Priceless education! Honda almost bullet proof!
Can you tell me where the neutral safety switch is on a 1998 Honda civic is. No one can tell me
Nah, just slap it back together and list it as a 3-cylinder Honda Civic.
But think of all the money the previous owner saved on oil changes!
Dam hope u didn't pay more than 300 bucks
"There was a catastrophic failure in my engine! Parts everywhere! Piston lodged in the block!"
So you need me to come get you?
"Nah, I am driving it back."
Great video, thanks! New sub here.
owner tries to kill a civic… fails.
Once you crank it no compression automatic that piston rod is gone . If the valve is bad , you still have a little bit compression on Number four cylinder . But number four cylinder had no compression at all .
(I just gained 10 automotive IQ points watching this) Same here.
A horse running with 3 legs, instead of 4.
850$ on jdmenginedepot
The reason why you still were able to drive it is because its a Honda. Same thing with Toyota, those two run for ever, even with such neglect.
That's awesome lol
Great video, learned a lot thank you!
Eric! I've asked you questions before! If you're still around, id like to ask you about my 1st gen CR-V. Maybe you could shed some light. Motor swap. No check engine light. Running great. Cold snap/won't start. Getting air/fuel, fire/compression. Before the motor swap, I DID replace cap and rotor. Any ideas? It got negative degrees out and just wouldn't fire up. But get this! I pulled the fuel rail off to check brand new injectors and it fired and briefly ran with the fuel rail off! Starting fluid doesn't do anything. Im wondering if I got some bad fuel and it's just too cold to combust before it's flooding it? Idk. Cranks strong, battery is good. Thanks in advance, Eric! If you can't throw an idea at me, nobody can!
It’s a Honda
I'm not a Honda fanboy. But c'mon, only 132k miles? My Hyundai of the same year is at 225k
Love the cylinder head removal music 🤣