i have a 1995 nsx and just learned that i have blown head gasket. the certified dealer who i have taken my car to for the past seven years says that it will cost $3100 for new HGs and $900 for timing belt. If when replacing the HG they learn they are warped it will cost additional $6000 to replace them..does this sound about right and is there no way to test if warped before breaking the engine down? i would be willing sell it but since i do not know if its going to cost $4k or $10k it would be hard to set a price. do i have any other options....other than new engine which sounds like it will end up costing between $8k to $10k.
Blown Head Gasket
- Thread starter toe222
- Start date
um, get a 2nd opinion. If you do replace the HG's upgrade them to cometic with arp head studs.
Nice 1st post in 6 years.
Nice 1st post in 6 years.
Take your car out of there fast
- Joined
- 25 February 2012
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This set off my bullshit alarm. It may be $6000 if they order new heads from Acura, but there's no reason to do that in most cases. The heads can be sent to a machine shop and machined back into shape for under $1000.
My HG job came in right around $4500. While you're in there, take the opportunity to replace the thermostat, upgrade the head gasket to an MLS gasket (available from SoS) and replace the head studs with ARP studs (also available from SoS).
Holy moly, 3100$ for. HG job? If u got 8k to use might as well ship the car to SOs and do their stage 1 built. Cost lest then 8k and you get brand new part, reliable engine., yiu can boost it up to 500 hp if you want.
Take it to someone else.
Take it to someone else.
I've got a pair of freshly rebuilt heads from a C30A, if it turns out you need them.
+1 Nice 1st post in 6 years. :smile:
Ok, You have provided this information:
a 1995 NSX
a certified dealer has diagnosed that you have a blown head gasket
More information required:
Which dealer and what is the certified NSX technician's name?
Where are you and your car located?
What are the stats on your NSX? mileage? stock, supercharger, turbo?
Has the car been a track car, daily driver, or garage queen?
Was the root cause of the situation determined by the tech?
When was the last time you had all the hoses and timing belt/water pump replaced?
Get a 2nd opinion from a known NSX specialist, based on where you are located we may be able to refer you a trusted expert.
More information required:
I am located in Birmingham, AL.
Which dealer: King Acura Dealership
And what is the certified NSX technician's name? Do not know I have only dealt with service manager.
Mileage? <60k
stock
Has the car been a track car: no
weekly driver at best and always in garage.
Was the root cause of the situation determined by the tech? car over heated and took to dealer they replaced hoses, cap, and tank and then ran test (not sure what kind) and determined the HG was blown.
When was the last time you had all the hoses and timing belt/water pump replaced? Will be doing it now if i get it fixed.
Sounds like the consensus is i should seek a 2nd opinion and probably find another tech.
yes first post in 6 years.....she has been a great car other than the normal issues like trunk struts, a/c unit replaced, rear center speaker.
I am located in Birmingham, AL.
Which dealer: King Acura Dealership
And what is the certified NSX technician's name? Do not know I have only dealt with service manager.
Mileage? <60k
stock
Has the car been a track car: no
weekly driver at best and always in garage.
Was the root cause of the situation determined by the tech? car over heated and took to dealer they replaced hoses, cap, and tank and then ran test (not sure what kind) and determined the HG was blown.
When was the last time you had all the hoses and timing belt/water pump replaced? Will be doing it now if i get it fixed.
Sounds like the consensus is i should seek a 2nd opinion and probably find another tech.
yes first post in 6 years.....she has been a great car other than the normal issues like trunk struts, a/c unit replaced, rear center speaker.
- Joined
- 25 February 2012
- Messages
- 2,165
Typically they test the coolant to determine if it contains either exhaust gases or oil. In either case your HG is assumed to be blown because the only place those things could come in contact is inside the block.
Check your regional subforum for a trusted local tech. If you do decide to get it fixed make sure you narrow down the root cause of the overheat (possibly stuck thermostat in a car of that mileage/age/drive frequency) so that that can be addressed and so that it doesn't happen again. Also couldn't hurt to upgrade to the stronger MLS gasket.
I think I paid around 2500 when my hg blew. I didn't have to machine in back into shape but it sounds like they are crazy on the price.
You might be able to pick up a used motor for under 5k so that is an option too.
I would probably get another quote. You won't know if you need to machine it until it is apart.
Definitely go with the mls when u repair it. You have no need for arp head studs on a stock motor.
You might be able to pick up a used motor for under 5k so that is an option too.
I would probably get another quote. You won't know if you need to machine it until it is apart.
Definitely go with the mls when u repair it. You have no need for arp head studs on a stock motor.
This is good advice.
When a head gasket goes, you can have the motor rebuilt, or replaced. When my NSX engine needed replacing, I found that used 3.0-liter engines were available, typically for $4-6K (and 3.2-liter engines for $8-10K). I paid about the same amount for labor and other parts (because of the easy access, I had them do all the maintenance - replacing the timing belt, water pump, all the cooling system hoses, etc). So the bottom line for the complete engine replacement, including the engine and the labor and other parts, was around $10K, give or take. (They almost certainly aren't talking about a NEW engine for that price; the bottom line for a new engine would probably cost about double that, maybe more.)
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Since your nsx is now listed here for sale, I wanted to memorialize the quote you received so that a potential buyer will know the background.
Was a blown hose the cause of overheating? If there was any reason that you lost coolant, high risk of a warped head. Pretty high cost for what you mentioned. 2nd opinion is cheap since they can do a chemical test of your antifreeze to see if it is contaminated with oil. Also, after they yank the heads, there more be scoring of the cylinder walls because the antifreeze can wash the oil - you may be looking for more than simple head gasket. I would really consider replacing the motor or selling as is, look for a minimum of 10K discount of car with no motor.
No problem....if you noticed my asking price i discounted the price i would have liked to have gotten by the worse case price of the fix. no trying to hide anything about the car.....just trying to determiine if i was getting a fair price to get fixed. if it is going to cost me 10k then seems like it might be time to let someone else own it and hope they enjoy it as much as me. cause i know if i get it fixed i wont have the heart to sell her.
I think the high number is them quoting you if the heads are warped beyond their service limit and they were to replace them. That rarely happens - and there are cheaper alternatives (used) options available. If you need anything for the job, don't hesitate to drop us a line.
regards,
-- Chris
regards,
-- Chris
I was told it was 20 hours of labor involved. another post on this thread said his HG job was 2500 so maybe mine is on the high end but considering where i live and we are talking 500 difference it is not a huge deal.....its more of the new ones for 6k that i have an issue with. but sounds like i can have them sent off and machined for 1k or find some that have been rebuilt. and this sounds better than replacing motor....at least with fixing HG there is a chance they won't be warped.
i appreciate all the advice/opinions.
Can HG's really be done without dropping the engine?
Yes. The service manual does not include dropping the engine as a step and danoland has photographs documenting such (head R&R in situ) here:
http://danoland.com/nsxgarage/bent/index.htm
Original poster and others facing this should also be aware that Driving Ambition carries Cometic multi-layer-steel head gaskets for the NSX that are much tougher than the OEM ones (91mm one for 3.0L engines, 93mm for 3.2L):
http://www.drivingambition.us/SearchResults.asp?Cat=70
And from SOS in different sizes:
http://scienceofspeed.com/products/.../NSX/ScienceofSpeed/MLS_cylinder_head_gasket/
http://www.drivingambition.us/SearchResults.asp?Cat=70
And from SOS in different sizes:
http://scienceofspeed.com/products/.../NSX/ScienceofSpeed/MLS_cylinder_head_gasket/
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I would definitely recommend a second opinion.
As said before go to you regional sub forum and ask for a reputable tech.
That price sounds like new heads, which is out of the questions since used ones are obtainable and like chris pointed out these rarely warp so badly.
I've personally inspected many damaged NSX engines they are generally quite rebuild able.
Personally I'm always very suspicious of dealers.
@ EAC,
Yes it can be done,
But it might be a idea to drop the engine and do a full service and inspection since your are already disassembling it.
As said before go to you regional sub forum and ask for a reputable tech.
That price sounds like new heads, which is out of the questions since used ones are obtainable and like chris pointed out these rarely warp so badly.
I've personally inspected many damaged NSX engines they are generally quite rebuild able.
Personally I'm always very suspicious of dealers.
@ EAC,
Yes it can be done,
But it might be a idea to drop the engine and do a full service and inspection since your are already disassembling it.
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- 15 May 2004
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- 6,898
Common, a blown HG is not a nightmare or a serious engine failure and in most cases certainly not a 10k job, that's silly. It involves dismounting one head, then you know if it's wrapped or not. If it's not the other one is high-likely not wrapped either. Dismounting of one head may be done with the engine in the car but I would be more pleased to work on the engine HG with the engine out of the car. Watch out for a good mechanic!
While you're there you get a new TB, LMa, valve clearance and the like. From this point of view I would regard it as a (pretty) more expensive TB job, nothing else but by no means a standard 10k job. I'm not experienced with US labor prices but maybe 4-5k would do it.
There's also absolute no need to throw more parts at the car (heads new or used or engines new or used) than for changing the HG. Changing the engine for another one only raises the risk of mounting an engine that has another problem as long as you know that your engine is good otherwise. If you wanna be sure do an oiltest (Blackstone).
Just my 0.02.
While you're there you get a new TB, LMa, valve clearance and the like. From this point of view I would regard it as a (pretty) more expensive TB job, nothing else but by no means a standard 10k job. I'm not experienced with US labor prices but maybe 4-5k would do it.
There's also absolute no need to throw more parts at the car (heads new or used or engines new or used) than for changing the HG. Changing the engine for another one only raises the risk of mounting an engine that has another problem as long as you know that your engine is good otherwise. If you wanna be sure do an oiltest (Blackstone).
Just my 0.02.
shawn110975
Suspended
second opinion, Another NSX CERTIFIED MECH. you must ASK this. do you have a certified NSX mech?
or Send to Science of Speed( SOS ) and have the engine Refresh/rebuild program.
or send to Driving Ambitions
or send to R.A.G.E. in tampa I will fix it.
shipping to either location is 500-700
I would personally send to SOS and have them bore the engine to something bigger like 3.5
or Send to Science of Speed( SOS ) and have the engine Refresh/rebuild program.
or send to Driving Ambitions
or send to R.A.G.E. in tampa I will fix it.
shipping to either location is 500-700
I would personally send to SOS and have them bore the engine to something bigger like 3.5
My car is getting the hydrocarbon test done today. :frown:
