2003 Civic..Need help
 

Hi everyone,

I'm hoping someone can shed some light on my situation. As you can see since I can't even specify a subject, I'm not versed in automobiles.

ANyway, here it goes:

Yesterday, while I was in a parking lot in idle, I heard this loud noise coming from under my hood and I saw a plume of smoke.

It sounded like a steam pipe releasing steam. Then there was the smell of burned rubber. While I was sitting in the driver's seat, it came from the left side.

It drove fine. Or at least, I thought it did. There's a hissing sound in the car now. Very faint hissing noise, like a fan.

I tried to recreate the samething this morning and withou fail, while in park I rev'd it up to about 2000rpm and loud noise like pressure being released from steam pipe and car shuts off.

I'm sorry I can't be more specific with what part under the hood I think it's coming from, but I'm completely ignorant.

The car has 61000Kms, so just out of my warranty. Hopefully, it's still cover under my power train..But, I'm guessing it's not.

Any help is appreciated.

hmmm...sounds like engine coolant and ur radiator, bring it to the dealership now

Also, I did notice a leak of liquid under the card immediately after/during this last night.

WHen I looked under the hood today, there was some sort of liquid by the radiator...

yeah might be something wrong with ur cooling system and ur radiator hoses...better bring it to a shop and have it look at. check if u still have some coolant left too

If its a green liquid its coolant, which is from your rad. DO NOT DRIVE your car if the leak is bad or if your are low on coolant. Fill it up but if it still leaks out DO NOT DRIVE, tow it.

Sounds like you blew your cap but I don't know how you drove home. Whats your temperature gauge look like? how high is it?

Temperature is fine..It's in the middle *regular* like it always is.

It wasn't green. I didn't notice any problems driving it.

I'll post some pictures in a few mins as to where the liquid is and what not.

OK take some pictures but if you say you heard a noise similar to a burst of steam and you say you saw a plume of smoke.

It defintely sonds like you popped your rad cap, or blew a hose which will cause the burst of steam. The reason why not to dirve your car is that with the system open like that you will not be able to cool your motor and it can seize from overheating.

Tkae pictures and post them or ask a familf, friend or neighbour to check it out before driving it.

http://www.8inet.com/aingaran/100_8031.jpg

http://www.8inet.com/aingaran/

THe pictures are located here...I appreciate all the help!

If it's the radiator coolant, would the the engine shut off like that?

imo its ur coolant...something around the radiator. u might have a loose rad hoses...its hard to see in the pics, i gotta be there with u to tell the problem?
1st pic looks green - coolant then

would i be able to drive it home? i'm at work right nw.. it's about a 25 km home..i wouldn't be able to drive it to the dealer till tomorrow..

when my old car just stop in the middle of the highway...i found out the problem was my coolant was mixing with my oil! and it completely shut off my car! but this car was an american...dunno much about imports yet

i'll be very cautious driving it! if were u i wouldn't have drove it! not too sure if u can still drive it home - maybe maybe not. ask for help with ur co-workers too

How much would it cost to repair this?

60+k

not sure how much...

my advice - fix ASAP!

Looks like coolant to me too.

If your at work now, your temperature is cool so remove your rad cap and fill up your rad. Then sit in your car and let it idle. Watch to see if your temperature rises and how high then get out to see how bad the leak is. If the temperature gets high or the leak is bad DO NOT DRIVE. If its not you can make it home, if your temperature starts to get higher while drivng turn your heater on FULL. GEt it fixed as soon as possible otherwise you can overheat your motor.

As far as cost it might be a hose or a cap which are in the area of $20ish or it might be a crack in your rad in that case it depends on OEM, aftermarket, new or used.

Oh and a bottle of coolant another $20ish

I drove my car home...It was not hot at all (did not overheat)..Will take it to dealer tomorrow.

any suggestions.

fyi: new wrinkle...car is completely dead now.. it's either a dead battery or some wire is loose or cut.. i tried one of those battery charger/starters where you plug it into the wall and try to start it.. absolutely no response from starter!

With a 2003 shouldn't you still be under warranty, because it sounds like you should take it to the dealership to get it fixed.