Honda Car Forum

The heater in my 2003 Honda Civic only heats up after continuous
driving for 15+ minutes. Additionally, even after highway driving for
2+ hours, the heater sometimes blows cold air when I slow down and do
city driving.

Any ideas?

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mikebuckle wrote:
> The heater in my 2003 Honda Civic only heats up after continuous
> driving for 15+ minutes. Additionally, even after highway driving for
> 2+ hours, the heater sometimes blows cold air when I slow down and do
> city driving.
>
> Any ideas?
>
when did you last check the coolant level in the radiator? it needs to
be full to the top. the expansion bottle needs to be to the "max" mark too.

"jim beam" <spamvortex@bad.example.net> wrote in message
news:a5ednZOri-r5SQTYnZ2dnUVZ_uninZ2d@speakeasy.net...
> mikebuckle wrote:
>> The heater in my 2003 Honda Civic only heats up after continuous
>> driving for 15+ minutes. Additionally, even after highway driving for
>> 2+ hours, the heater sometimes blows cold air when I slow down and do
>> city driving.
>>
>> Any ideas?
>>
> when did you last check the coolant level in the radiator? it needs to be
> full to the top. the expansion bottle needs to be to the "max" mark too.

Well, to the "max" mark when fully warm. That's why it's an 'expansion
bottle.' ;-)

Mike

Michael Pardee wrote:
> "jim beam" <spamvortex@bad.example.net> wrote in message
> news:a5ednZOri-r5SQTYnZ2dnUVZ_uninZ2d@speakeasy.net...
>> mikebuckle wrote:
>>> The heater in my 2003 Honda Civic only heats up after continuous
>>> driving for 15+ minutes. Additionally, even after highway driving for
>>> 2+ hours, the heater sometimes blows cold air when I slow down and do
>>> city driving.
>>>
>>> Any ideas?
>>>
>> when did you last check the coolant level in the radiator? it needs to be
>> full to the top. the expansion bottle needs to be to the "max" mark too.
>
> Well, to the "max" mark when fully warm. That's why it's an 'expansion
> bottle.' ;-)
>
> Mike
>
>
no, it needs to be at "max" when cold. that line is less than half way
down the bottle. the /rest/ of the bottle is for expansion.

do you keep your oil at the bottom line or the top?

mikebuckle <none@000.com> wrote in news:958315_
1397ed5493ce3b93e32b31362b7b8c85@autoboardz.com:

> The heater in my 2003 Honda Civic only heats up after continuous
> driving for 15+ minutes. Additionally, even after highway driving for
> 2+ hours, the heater sometimes blows cold air when I slow down and do
> city driving.
>
> Any ideas?
>



Most likely the coolant level is very low in the radiator.

As others have pointed out, check this first. Driving with low coolant
level will damage the engine.

DO NOT rely on the reservoir level as a judge of coolant level! Check it in
the rad once the engine is cold. It should be right up to the bottom of the
rad cap; that rad cap should be dripping wet.

--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

"mikebuckle" <none@000.com> wrote in message
news:958315_1397ed5493ce3b93e32b31362b7b8c85@autob oardz.com...
> The heater in my 2003 Honda Civic only heats up after continuous
> driving for 15+ minutes. Additionally, even after highway driving for
> 2+ hours, the heater sometimes blows cold air when I slow down and do
> city driving.

My sister had that in her Prelude. It turned out to be a stuck open
thermostat.

Bruce.

Coolant level in expansion bottle is at max when cold. I already
checked that. Oil level is between the top and bottom lines. Oil has
been completely changed since the problem was first encountered and no
difference.

I’m beginning to think its an electrical problem or possibly the
thermostat

"jim beam" wrote
> Michael Pardee wrote:
> > "jim beam" <spamvortex@bad.example.net> wrote in message
> > news:a5ednZOri-r5SQTYnZ2dnUVZ_uninZ2d@speakeasy.net...
> >> mikebuckle wrote:
> >>> The heater in my 2003 Honda Civic only heats up after
> continuous
> >>> driving for 15+ minutes. Additionally, even after highway
> driving for
> >>> 2+ hours, the heater sometimes blows cold air when I slow
> down and do
> >>> city driving.
> >>>
> >>> Any ideas?
> >>>
> >> when did you last check the coolant level in the radiator?
> it needs to be
> >> full to the top. the expansion bottle needs to be to the
> "max" mark too.
> >
> > Well, to the "max" mark when fully warm. That's why it's an
> 'expansion
> > bottle.' ;-)
> >
> > Mike
> >
> >
> no, it needs to be at "max" when cold. that line is less than
> half way
> down the bottle. the /rest/ of the bottle is for expansion.
>
> do you keep your oil at the bottom line or the top?

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Articles individually verified to usenet standards. Visit URL to contact author/report abuse
Thread archive: http://www.AutoBoardz.com/2003-Civic...ict202173.html

mikebuckle <none@000.com> wrote in news:958500_
3277fdfe439f5759e31cf59239eaadb4@autoboardz.com:

> Coolant level in expansion bottle is at max when cold. I already
> checked that. Oil level is between the top and bottom lines. Oil has
> been completely changed since the problem was first encountered and no
> difference.
>
> I’m beginning to think its an electrical problem or possibly the
> thermostat?




Then it's the thermostat.


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/