92 Civic aches and pains...
 

(1) So my mechanic thinks its a head gasket that needs replacing.. do you? Here are the facts:

When driving around town for errands - car off and on often - it stutters horribly upon restarting as if the idle is going crazy. Sometimes it smoothes out within seconds, other times stays bad and grey smoke/steam billows from the tailpipe when I gas it. Also, coolant has been mysteriously disappearing without leaks on the pavement and no loss of pressure (says the mechanic about the system). SO, coolant leaking into the engine causing the stuttering/overheating/smoke burnoff via a bad head gasket?

(2) Also just today I noticed upon braking my FL brake makes noise - but not when im not pressing down, or completely braking, just that middle ground if im coasting to a stoplight or taking a turn. It sounds like something rubbing once every revolution. Any ideas?

yea is the headgasket.

the noise if only when turning could be the axle. but thats more of a ticking noise.

definately sounds like a head gasket. Check your oil and coolant levels and smell them. You should be able to smell oil/exhaust in your coolant resivoir.

The brakes, is there any vibration in the pedal or just a noise?

Ok, head gasket it is. Had to be sure. If I recall that's pretty pricey... blah.

The brake isn't vibrating; I only noticed it because I had the window rolled down and initially heard a soud pinging off a brick wall I was driving by. Then it became apparent when I turned the music down and slowly came to stops here and there.

brake pads are shot. time for new ones.

plus the headgasket is only expensive if you pay a shop to do it. i did mine myself. get a couple days off if its your first time and try to do it yourself.

:yes: exactly

haha, not me :)

you got to learn some how. at least watch someone do it.

just get a service manual dude. If you ever built legos as a kid and can follow simple instructions, and know what a 10mm socket looks like, you can work on cars.

Anyone have the 92-95 civ pdf manual?

Hell...you live in VA. Just give Arnel (Thermal) a call. he can set you straight.:D

no shit i didnt catch that.

check google im sure someone has one.