Between the cylinder head and engine block of your Eclipse sits the head gasket. This part keeps the coolant and fuel separate as the fluids travel through the engine assembly. It is also where the Eclipse seals the internal combustion process. You may need to replace a blown head gasket in your Eclipse if it overheats. However, you may also have a blown head gasket from dirty bolts, damaged bolt or installation problems.
Make sure the engine is cold before working underneath the Eclipse's hood. Detach the negative battery cable. Unscrew the plug situated under the air conditioner compressor or in the rear of the power steering pump to reach the coolant reservoir. Pour the coolant inside a sealed container to prevent the crankcase and pistons from filling up with coolant.
Mark the Eclipse's car parts prior to removing or disconnecting from the vehicle. Detach or remove the air cleaning housing, air intake duct, ignition wires and fuel line. Separate the hoses: coolant bypass hose, heater hose that connects the intake manifold and the radiator hose. Disconnect the belt connected to the power steering pump. Take the pump off its bracket or mount. Put the power steering pump to the side. The hydraulic line needs to stay in place.
Place pads on the floor jacks and situate wooden blocks safely on the pads. Place the padded floor jacks under the Eclipse. Remove the mount brackets from the engine on the left front side. Gently glide the air conditioner compressor belt off the engine and remove the alternator belt.
Loosen the left-side engine mount nuts. Remove the engine mounting brackets. Disconnect the dipstick hose and remove the timing belt cover, crankshaft pulley, the upper timing belt and valve cover. Take off the distributor assembly. Disconnect the fuel line and plug it, so fluid does not spill. Loosen the throttle cable nuts and slip it off the housing.
Disconnect or remove the top engine parts and the various electrical connectors: the manifold absolute pressure sensor connection, engine coolant temperature sensor electrical connector, the camshaft position electrical connector, manifold absolute pressure sensor connection, crankshaft position sensor electrical connector and exhaust gas recirculation valve electrical connector. Remember the location of every Eclipse car part by labeling with paper.
Take the cylinder head bolts off the vehicle in the reserve order of installation in a crisscross manner. Start with the outermost bolts and go toward the center of the cylinder head.
Check the cylinder for damage and change if necessary. Resurface the warpage when it's over 0.003 inches within a span of 6 inches or 0.006 inches along the complete length of the head. Remove the old head gasket and clean the mating surface. Cover the engine block with a cover to stop dust, dirt or foreign material from entering the engine. Align the dowel pins and control lips. Return the oil control lips and place an O-ring.
Place a new head gasket in place with the identification pointing upward. Position the camshaft sprockets and tighten bolts to 65 foot-pounds. Place sealer on the bottom edges of the half-round section of the belted-side of the new head gasket. Position the valve cover. Torque bolts in correct pattern to 2.1 foot-pounds and re-torque the bolts numbered one to six to 2.95 foot-pounds.
Return the engine block parts in place in the opposite order of installation. Replace the coolant in the vehicle. Review an Eclipse service manual for the correct the torque of each bolt.
