[shmuelic]

Devastated. Drove it hot because of a coolant leak without noticing and blew my 3rd Cylinder headgasket. Wondering if anyone has done the same and has any advice. I live in Phoenix, AZ and am looking for a mechanic as well as anyone with a similar story. Did the engine ultimately need replacing? I have the '09 4 wheel drive with 160k miles.

 

[Wes Kootenay]

Welcome! Sorry to hear this on your first post.
How have you determined the blown head gasket, cylinder compression check, dye added to the radiator, etc?
Where did the coolant leak from, was it the dreaded metal heater pipe rusting out?
Obviously the head will have to come off and see where you go from there.

 

[shmuelic]

Haven’t figured out the source of the leak but I refilled the reservoir with water and it pretty quickly came out below the front left headlight. Pulled the spark plug and it was wet and got a P0303 cylinder 3 misfire code.

 

[Wes Kootenay]

Haven’t figured out the source of the leak but I refilled the reservoir with water and it pretty quickly came out below the front left headlight. Pulled the spark plug and it was wet and got a P0303 cylinder 3 misfire code.

OK. Looking quickly at our '09, could be a blown bottom hose or leaking radiator core?
Do you have a compression gauge to check all four cylinders?
I'm not a trained car mechanic, just trying to think this through

 

[Avisitor]

Haven’t figured out the source of the leak but I refilled the reservoir with water and it pretty quickly came out below the front left headlight. Pulled the spark plug and it was wet and got a P0303 cylinder 3 misfire code.

Sorry to hear about your troubles
Wet from coolant or wet from fuel?
Have you done a compression test and/or leak down test?

 

[DashingDaryl]

It looks like you could get an engine from this guy

2009 HONDA CRV 2.4 PARTING OUT FOR PARTS - auto parts - by owner -...

MATADOR AUTO PARTS 2104 W BROADWAY RD 85041 2009 HONDA CRV 2.4 PARTING OUT FOR PARTS HOOD BUMPER GRILLE HEADLIGHT TRUNK LID CARPETING HEADLINER SPEEDOMETER DASH PANEL DOOR PANELS SEATS TAIL LIGHT...

phoenix.craigslist.org

If you want to turn it over to a mechanic, this is the best in Phoenix

https://www.yelp.com/biz/has-auto-repair-phoenix

 

[shmuelic]

Sorry to hear about your troubles
Wet from coolant or wet from fuel?
Have you done a compression test and/or leak down test?

It looked like fuel. Taking her to a mechanic tomorrow so I haven’t had the compression test/leak down done yet

 

[shmuelic]

It looks like you could get an engine from this guy

2009 HONDA CRV 2.4 PARTING OUT FOR PARTS - auto parts - by owner -...

MATADOR AUTO PARTS 2104 W BROADWAY RD 85041 2009 HONDA CRV 2.4 PARTING OUT FOR PARTS HOOD BUMPER GRILLE HEADLIGHT TRUNK LID CARPETING HEADLINER SPEEDOMETER DASH PANEL DOOR PANELS SEATS TAIL LIGHT...

phoenix.craigslist.org

If you want to turn it over to a mechanic, this is the best in Phoenix

https://www.yelp.com/biz/has-auto-repair-phoenix

I appreciate the recommendations, following up on both of them. Hoping the engine doesn’t need replacement but we’ll see.

 

[Wes Kootenay]

It looked like fuel. Taking her to a mechanic tomorrow so I haven’t had the compression test/leak down done yet

Following your post, very interested in the outcome. Please keep us 'in the loop'.
Cheers!

 

[shmuelic]

Circling back to finish this off. I had her towed to a mechanic in south Phoenix. They confirmed the 3rd cylinder head gasket was blown and decided the engine would survive so they did the head gasket, they did the timing chain and replaced the coolant line which had a visible rust hole right where it met the metal housing at the bottom of the coolant tank. The car is from Maryland right on the Chesapeake bay so hopefully the desert air will help preserve it. The repair was $2080 altogether at JLA auto. I’ll update if my engine blows up in the next couple years but for now she’s running well.

 

[chidog]

Doesn't sound like too crazy of price. I'm guessing they had the head worked on?

 

[Wes Kootenay]

Circling back to finish this off. I had her towed to a mechanic in south Phoenix. They confirmed the 3rd cylinder head gasket was blown and decided the engine would survive so they did the head gasket, they did the timing chain and replaced the coolant line which had a visible rust hole right where it met the metal housing at the bottom of the coolant tank.

Thanks for the update. Good to hear they found the leak.
With the cost of parts and labour these days, that bill sounds reasonable to me

 

[shmuelic]

I thought it was a good price after quoting around for a while. I got quotes that were 2200 2400 even 2800 for just the head gasket. The mechanic had a machine shop in house which helps.