I have a 98 Civic EX that recently overheated and now won't start. I pulled the upper timing cover and it appears that something in there melted over the water pump pulley and stopped it from turning and damaged the timing belt. It looks like the goop that seals the timing cover. What do you think this is? What do I have to replace here?

Vic

 

That is (or was) the inner plastic timing cover. It's the same kind of plastic as the outer covers. Driving overheated until the car will go no more almost always means the whole engine is ruined.

You could chip that plastic off and reassemble with no covers just to see if it will run. The plastic is only there to keep foreign objects out of the timing belt.

 

If the engine was that hot to melt the plastic, do you believe the engine is toast and even worth the effort to cleanout, replace the timing belt and try to restart? Based upon your experience, should I just replace it? If so, what are my best options to get another engine?

 

It depends how much work/troubleshooting you want to do. You could always have the head checked and milled to be flat again, replace the water pump/timing belt and tensioner/head gasket, put everything back together and hope it runs after words.

You could also get a replacement head and just go from there.

Or you could just get a replacement motor, toss it in and move along. Best options on a new motor would be to check out your local craigslist, and junk yards. Anything involving shipping would be a last ditch effort IMO since it raises the price considerably.

Just wondering, do you have an AT or MT? If AT, I would suggest replacing the trans fluid as overheating severely shortens the life of the AT trans fluid.

 

It's a MT 5-spd. What engine does this have? Someone local has a D16Y5 out of a '97 and I was wondering if it would work for my '98 EX?

 

Not without some wiring and ECU changes.

D16y8 OBD2a is the setup you've got. You should be able to find one for $300 or less.

 

D16Y5 is I think the VTEC-E version found in the HX. It's built for gas economy over performance. It's considerably different than the EX's D16Y8. Also after 1998 (OBDIIb era), the intake ports on the D16Y8 were changed. So make sure you get a 1996 to 1998 D16Y8.