2003 honda civic head gasket replacement cost

The head gasket is essential for keeping fluids out of the engine. It ensures nothing seeps into the engine, and at the same time it makes certain that nothing is leaking out of the engine, such as coolant or hot gases.

Repairing a blown head gasket costs between $ 978 and $ 3204 for most 2003 Honda Civic hybrids at most repair shops. Different gasket heads will vary in price, some costing as little as $ 280 while others will cost over $ 600. You also have to figure in the price of labor, which can range from around $ 700 to over $ 2000. Replacing the gasket head and performing all the work necessary to put it in place can take a mechanic several hours, and some jobs are much more complex than others.

Blown Head Gasket Cost Comparison

Below are some example costs for repairing a blown head gasket on your 2003 Honda Civic hybrid. These prices are what you can generally expect to pay for the repair at some of the leading garage chains in the country. Prices may vary from location to location, so use these prices as a rough guide only.

Your Mechanic

Work Warranty Price
Parts & labor 12 months $ 978 – $ 2250

Midas

Work Warranty Price
Parts & labor 12 months $ 1049 – $ 2892

Mr. Tire

Work Warranty Price
Parts & labor 12 months $ 1132 – $ 2459

Pep Boys

Work Warranty Price
Parts & labor 6 Months $ 1299 – $ 3145

What is the Head Gasket?

The head gasket serves an important purpose by ensuring no fluids enter or leave the engine, and extreme stress or just normal wear and tear can cause it to fail. You’ll know the gasket is blown if you start to see coolant leaking out of the engine.

Some 2003 Honda Civic hybrids are actually far more prone to leak coolant and blow a gasket than others. You can check consumer reports on your 2003 Honda Civic hybrid to find out how likely yours is to experience this kind of problem. The gasket sits between your coolant tank and your engine’s combustion area. It keeps the (often) cold coolant and hot gases apart from one another, which is crucial to ensuring that your entire engine doesn’t get destroyed.

There are a number of possible services that may be included in the replacement. Machining the head, replacing the thermostat, flushing and replacing coolant and a few other services all cost money . When you receive a quote for the gasket head replacement, be sure to ask if all necessary services will be included and what exactly those services are.

If your 2003 Honda Civic hybrid was damaged beyond the gasket head, then you could be looking at several thousand dollars’ worth of repair. That’s why it is so important to have this problem dealt with immediately and to keep an eye out of the signs of a blown gasket head.

Benefits of Replacing a Head Gasket

The immediate benefit of replacing that blown gasket head is that your engine isn’t going to be severely damaged. Engine repair is a cost that nobody wants to take on, but that’s what you could be looking at if you don’t have this problem taken care of right away.

The gasket head stands between two very volatile and reactive sections of the engine. If it fails in any way, then you have big trouble on your hands. Some minor leaking may not actually damage your engine, but it is not a problem you should be overlooking.

You don’t want to drive your 2003 Honda Civic hybrid much if you suspect a head gasket is blown. The more your drive it, the worse the problem will become. The leaking coolant and escaping hot gases can warp your engine beyond the means of a mechanic to repair it.

When You Should Have Your Head Gasket Replaced

You want to have your engine and gasket head checked during every tune-up . Your 2003 Honda Civic hybrid should be tuned every 3,000 miles or every three months. Just make sure the mechanics are checking the engine and gasket head when they do the other maintenance.

Each time you have your 2003 Honda Civic hybrid looked at, the mechanic should give you a written list of all the checks performed. If you don’t see gasket head on that list, ask the mechanic to check it for you.

You can check the gasket head yourself. Just look for escaping white smoke, high readings on the temperature gauge or leaking coolant. Once you know that your gasket head is blown, you need to have the problem dealt with right away. To avoid further damage to your 2003 Honda Civic hybrid, it is best if it is towed to the mechanic for repairs.

What Is Done during a Head Gasket Replacement?

  1. Not every gasket head replacement is going to be the same. That’s because some cars have different components in that area, and not all of those components are going to be damaged and in need to replacements just because the gasket head blew.
  2. The mechanic will start by taking off the old head gasket. Keep in mind that just because you have the symptoms of a blown head gasket, it may not be the problem your 2003 Honda Civic hybrid actually has. A lot of problems can look similar to this one but may be something quite different.
  3. The gasket may just need to be machined so it will fit properly and not blow again. That’s going to be a lot easier and less expensive than a full replacement.
  4. If your gasket head needs to be replaced, then the mechanic may also replace the thermostat.
  5. The coolant may need to be flushed as well because contaminants may have seeped in as it leaked out.
  6. The worst blown gasket head replacement jobs also involve repairing the engine or replacing parts of the engine. If the problem persisted for a while, then serious damage may have occurred.

How to Save Money on a Head Gasket Replacement

If you are looking to save a little money on gasket head replacement, then you should probably avoid trying to carry out the repair yourself. That’s because the head may need to be machined, and that’s not a process most people can pull off by themselves.

To save money, your best bet is to shop around. Ask for quotes before you commit to a mechanic, and make sure you get quotes from other mechanics as well. If you would like to find auto repair shops in your area then you can use the free directory offered by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence.

How Much Does It Cost To Fix A Head Gasket?

Below are some example costs for having the head gasket repaired on some of the most widely owned cars in the country. These costs should give you an idea of what you can expect to pay to have the work done on your brand of2003 Honda Civic hybrid.

Model Labor Parts Total
Ford F-Series $ 2110 – $ 2692 $ 249 – $ 512 $ 2359 – $ 3204
Chevrolet Silverado $ 748 – $ 954 $ 230 – $ 591 $ 978 – $ 1545
Ford Focus $ 1079 – $ 1376 $ 320 – $ 512 $ 1399 – $ 1888
Toyota Camry $ 1677 – $ 2139 $ 387 – $ 641 $ 2064 – $ 2780
Toyota Corolla $ 795 – $ 1014 $ 295 – $ 448 $ 1090 – $ 1462
Nissan Altima $ 1157 – $ 1477 $ 263 – $ 433 $ 1421 – $ 1910
Honda CR-V $ 772 – $ 984 $ 287 – $ 499 $ 1059 – $ 1483
Honda Civic $ 827 – $ 1055 $ 226 – $ 496 $ 1053 – $ 1551
Honda Accord $ 693 – $ 884 $ 331 – $ 408 $ 1024 – $ 1292
Ford Fusion $ 1346 – $ 1718 $ 287 – $ 647 $ 1633 – $ 2365

How much would it cost to fix a blown head gasket on Honda?

A head gasket repair cost averages roughly between $1,600 and $2,000. This amount breaks down to: Parts costing around $700 – $800. Labor charges at about $900 – $1,200.

Is a head gasket an expensive fix?

How much does it cost to replace a blown head gasket? The cost of head gasket repairs can run into the thousands, meaning it's often easier and cheaper to scrap the vehicle than it is to have it repaired. The average cost of head gasket repair is around $1,000 to $2,000, but this isn't because the parts are expensive.

How do I know if my Honda Civic has a blown head gasket?

How to identify symptoms of a blown head gasket in Honda Civics and other models.
Coolant levels dropping quicker than normal..
Constantly needing to top up the radiator with water or coolant..
Increased engine running temperature..
Cloud of exhaust fumes when idling, or white smoke coming from exhaust..

Is it better to replace head gasket or engine?

Water in your oil will allow your bearings to rust and wear out very quickly. If your head gasket leak has caused this problem you are almost always better off replacing the whole engine as a new head gasket will stop the leak but bearing damage has probably already been done.