Project: Dream CRX

[Nden]

the coolant bleeder valve should be on the front of the motor, where 1 rad hose connects. if ur jdm doesn't have it like mine did.. just swap it from another D block and use some hondbond. worked for me.

[SVOboy]

Verified using the Helms procedure: dead LAF sensor.

Anyone got a spare they wanna sell me?

[SVOboy]

Budget coming soon...I'm scared.

[ttoyoda]

A "mere" 96 bucks.. what's not to love?
Did coolant or oil dribble on the outside? Are there little holes on the side of the outside part where the wire comes out? Did stuff get in those holes?

[ttoyoda]

From here:
http://www.civicvx.com/lean_burn_info.html

"LAF Sensor Contamination: LAF sensors do not wear out, they typically fail due to contamination. The material that the sensing tip is made of is porous and many types of material will clog the pores or the LAF sensor. As the sensor becomes contaminated it slowly gets slower and slower in its response to changes in the oxygen content of the exhaust. Eventually the sensor may totally fail."

[ttoyoda]

More info from above site:
"There are external air vents on the LAF that must be clear of debris and free of any contaminants to function properly. These vents are built into the body of the LAF sensor. If these vents get clogged, the sensor will not operate properly.

Personal Note - (It may be possible to clean a failing LAF by placing it in a vice (just to hold not to crush) with the sensor facing out and heating the tip with a propane torch. Be careful to not over heat the tip. Keep the tip under 800 degrees to be safe. DISCLAIMER! This is what I've seen/read/heard from other sources)"

[SVOboy]

I'm currently talking to tom, the writer of that site you just referenced, to get his ideas,

[SVOboy]

Here's the part that no one wants to hear about:

Costs:
- Swap: $480 (engine and sensors)
- ECU: $40 (came with swap)
- Misc junk: $75 (wire, oil, coolant, et cetera)
- ECU plugs: $15
- EGR control box: $50
- DMM: $22
- Shrink wrap: $5
- Intake cleaner: $4
- Brass fittings: $9
- Fuel line: $79
- LAF: $177
Subtotal: $956

Uncosts:
- Injectors: $55
Subtotal: $55

Total swap cost: $901

Now, keep in mind I still need to buy an o2...but there's also some junk I can sell...Damn expensive crap.

[ttoyoda]

Here's the part that no one wants to hear about:

Well I am happy to hear about it
But you did this for the fun of it, right?

IF the propane torch does not work, and you can find someone who has an oxygen-acetylene torch, try heating (gently!, the flame temp is much, much higher than propane) with a flame that has a lot of extra oxygen in the mix. That should help oxidize away most anything with carbon in it.

If all else fails bringing that LAF to life, you could try AS A LAST RESORT cleaning with that (nearly) universal solvent, methylene chloride.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dichloromethane
If you have access to a school lab they might have it.

It used to be sold as carburetor cleaner and boy did it work well
Happy days, happy days.

Don't touch, breath, etc. it. Handle everything with tongs.
Make a hole in the lid of a glass jar, run the LAF wires out the hole.. this solvent may dissolve the insulation on the wires after a while, so don't dip too deep. So doing this is a bit tricky. AND I am just guessing that it might work. Never tried it. Still, if it works, worth 95 bucks.

Then there is:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_tetrachloride
But you must balance $95 against probability-of-health-problems, etc. and I have the impression you have a lot of natural life years left, so more reason to be concerned with exposures now that MIGHT lead to cancer 40 years from now..

I hope you are wearing gloves when you do all this car work, because mineral oils will pass thru human skin and attack the (liver/kidneys? I forget. Maybe memory brain cells? ) after many years.

[reformed]

You should do what I'm planning to do. Now that you have a "spare" engine, find a car with a blown one for cheap and swap in your good spare. Then sell it for a profit to offset the cost of the swap. Given you have the time to pull it off.