Honda Car Forum

Hi

I have Honda LX 99 4 Door. Today I started engine to drive and I
noticed that
the thermometer indicator went up and down couple of times (it went up
to about half.) and it became normal and I drove about an hour
without any problmes. This is first time that I noticed it.
I was told that I should check or replace thermostat. I have heard
that after you change something which you should not then more
problmes occur.
I just wonder if anyone has same problem as this or should I check the
thermostat?

Thanks

"MIN" <wlee04@chol.com> wrote
> I have Honda LX 99 4 Door. Today I started engine to drive and I
> noticed that
> the thermometer indicator went up and down couple of times (it went up
> to about half.) and it became normal and I drove about an hour
> without any problmes. This is first time that I noticed it.
> I was told that I should check or replace thermostat. I have heard
> that after you change something which you should not then more
> problmes occur.

This is a cliche designed to relieve stress. Ignore it.

Careful troubleshooting is all that is required.

> I just wonder if anyone has same problem as this or should I check the
> thermostat?

The thermostat's a good first place to start, particularly given the age of the
car.

How many miles are on your car, BTW? If over 70,000 miles, it probably wouldn't
hurt to replace the thermostat. If you're handy and have done a little work on
cars in the past, replacing the thermostat is a pretty easy do-it-yourself job.

The part should run you around $20. Don't forget the rubber gasket for it. Buy
an OEM thermostat. My research on the net and around town indicates it's worth
the couple extra bucks.

My 91 Civic LX's cooling system was working fine, and at 151k miles I'd never
replaced the thermostat. Someone here cautioned me that they do degenerate in
performance over time, so it was probably a good idea to pre-emptively replace
it, particularly given how long it had lasted.

A few other questions:
Do you follow the maintenance schedule for draining and replacing the coolant?

Do you regularly check the reservoir level?

Have you checked to see that the fan comes on after the car has sat and idled a
while?

MIN wrote:
> Hi
>
> I have Honda LX 99 4 Door. Today I started engine to drive and I
> noticed that
> the thermometer indicator went up and down couple of times (it went up
> to about half.) and it became normal and I drove about an hour
> without any problmes. This is first time that I noticed it.
> I was told that I should check or replace thermostat. I have heard
> that after you change something which you should not then more
> problmes occur.
> I just wonder if anyone has same problem as this or should I check the
> thermostat?
>
> Thanks

=====================
Min,

Your thermostat won't work at all if your coolant is low.

Most models of Honda require that the coolant be about half-full in the
reservoir. I expect your (unknown model) Honda is the same. Follow the
directions in your owner's manual and watch to see if things change. If
the reservoir is empty, open the rad cap (cold) and fill to the top
first with 50/50, and then fill the reservoir half-way. Use distilled or
Reverse Osmosis water to dilute the coolant, not tap water.

'Curly'

=====================

Hi Caroline,

I believe that up until the revised 98 Accord having the fan
come on after shutting the car off was normal. I have a 99 Accord LX,
and I have yet to hear it come on after shutting off the car. Does
anyone else know otherwise?

Thanks,
Nick

On Sat, 10 Apr 2004 22:05:52 GMT, "Caroline"
<caroline10027remove@earthlink.net> wrote:

>"MIN" <wlee04@chol.com> wrote
>> I have Honda LX 99 4 Door. Today I started engine to drive and I
>> noticed that
>> the thermometer indicator went up and down couple of times (it went up
>> to about half.) and it became normal and I drove about an hour
>> without any problmes. This is first time that I noticed it.
>> I was told that I should check or replace thermostat. I have heard
>> that after you change something which you should not then more
>> problmes occur.
>
>This is a cliche designed to relieve stress. Ignore it.
>
>Careful troubleshooting is all that is required.
>
>> I just wonder if anyone has same problem as this or should I check the
>> thermostat?
>
>The thermostat's a good first place to start, particularly given the age of the
>car.
>
>How many miles are on your car, BTW? If over 70,000 miles, it probably wouldn't
>hurt to replace the thermostat. If you're handy and have done a little work on
>cars in the past, replacing the thermostat is a pretty easy do-it-yourself job.
>
>The part should run you around $20. Don't forget the rubber gasket for it. Buy
>an OEM thermostat. My research on the net and around town indicates it's worth
>the couple extra bucks.
>
>My 91 Civic LX's cooling system was working fine, and at 151k miles I'd never
>replaced the thermostat. Someone here cautioned me that they do degenerate in
>performance over time, so it was probably a good idea to pre-emptively replace
>it, particularly given how long it had lasted.
>
>A few other questions:
>Do you follow the maintenance schedule for draining and replacing the coolant?
>
>Do you regularly check the reservoir level?
>
>Have you checked to see that the fan comes on after the car has sat and idled a
>while?
>

"'Curly Q. Links'" <motsco__@interbaun.com> wrote in message news:<4078729D.1000609@interbaun.com>...
> MIN wrote:
> > Hi
> >
> > I have Honda LX 99 4 Door. Today I started engine to drive and I
> > noticed that
> > the thermometer indicator went up and down couple of times (it went up
> > to about half.) and it became normal and I drove about an hour
> > without any problmes. This is first time that I noticed it.
> > I was told that I should check or replace thermostat. I have heard
> > that after you change something which you should not then more
> > problmes occur.
> > I just wonder if anyone has same problem as this or should I check the
> > thermostat?
> >
> > Thanks
>
> =====================
> Min,
>
> Your thermostat won't work at all if your coolant is low.
>
> Most models of Honda require that the coolant be about half-full in the
> reservoir. I expect your (unknown model) Honda is the same. Follow the
> directions in your owner's manual and watch to see if things change. If
> the reservoir is empty, open the rad cap (cold) and fill to the top
> first with 50/50, and then fill the reservoir half-way. Use distilled or
> Reverse Osmosis water to dilute the coolant, not tap water.
>
> 'Curly'
>
> =====================


Thank you so much for help,

I have driven for couple days since I had the problem. It is working
fine.
I checked the coolant liquid which is normal,the thermometer is normal
and eveything else seems normal.
I guess since it is over 70000 mi now, I should replace thermostat
just in case.

Again, I appreciate for your help.