Honda Car Forum

96 Accord LX, 2.2L 4cyl engine, ~199,000 miles.

When the car is started, idles, & warms up, temperature gauge settles
at about 35-40% (between blue-line and red-line). As I drive at
normal local speeds ~45mph, temp stays between 35-50%. At highway
speeds (top gear, ~3200rpm), needle gradually moves upward, reaching
75-95%. The cooling fan does come on occasionally. Also, I am not
getting any heat out of the heater, even when turned all the way to
hot, though I could when I first experienced the problem, and that
immediately dropped the temp below 50%.

I have replaced the thermostat, and that didn't seem to do it.

Please make any suggestions as to how I might proceed.

Thanks!
Dave
Livonia, NY

In article <d8fd06fa.0405130439.630dc6bb@posting.google.com >,
daveref@yahoo.com (Dave Wolgast) wrote:

>96 Accord LX, 2.2L 4cyl engine, ~199,000 miles.
>
>When the car is started, idles, & warms up, temperature gauge settles
>at about 35-40% (between blue-line and red-line). As I drive at
>normal local speeds ~45mph, temp stays between 35-50%. At highway
>speeds (top gear, ~3200rpm), needle gradually moves upward, reaching
>75-95%. The cooling fan does come on occasionally. Also, I am not
>getting any heat out of the heater, even when turned all the way to
>hot, though I could when I first experienced the problem, and that
>immediately dropped the temp below 50%.
>
>I have replaced the thermostat, and that didn't seem to do it.
>
>Please make any suggestions as to how I might proceed.
>
>Thanks!
>Dave
>Livonia, NY

Did you purge the air out of the bleed bolt?
It does sound like the radiator is clogged though.

> I have replaced the thermostat, and that didn't seem to do it.

has the water pump ever been changed? timing belt?

I wouldn't drive the car, even if the temperature gage is slightly off.
The temperature gage should always be on it's assigned position (after
the engine warms up), anything else is not acceptable and you risk
damaging your engine.

Hopefully, it's not a head gasket problem. I had the same symptoms with
my 84 CRX, which was caused from a cracked head gasket that was letting
air flow into the coolant. The excessive air in the cooling system will
block he coolant flow. I'm not sure about the 96 Accord, but I suppose
the newer cars are better designed to get rid of excess air in the
coolant. At 200,000miles, I'm assuming that the radiator, water pump,
thermostat and even the hoses are all new. If not, you have a starting
point. Also, I've been in situation where the replacement thermostat was
also defective.

Pars
98 Civic Hatch

Dave Wolgast wrote:

> 96 Accord LX, 2.2L 4cyl engine, ~199,000 miles.
>
> When the car is started, idles, & warms up, temperature gauge settles
> at about 35-40% (between blue-line and red-line). As I drive at
> normal local speeds ~45mph, temp stays between 35-50%. At highway
> speeds (top gear, ~3200rpm), needle gradually moves upward, reaching
> 75-95%. The cooling fan does come on occasionally. Also, I am not
> getting any heat out of the heater, even when turned all the way to
> hot, though I could when I first experienced the problem, and that
> immediately dropped the temp below 50%.
>
> I have replaced the thermostat, and that didn't seem to do it.
>
> Please make any suggestions as to how I might proceed.
>
> Thanks!
> Dave
> Livonia, NY

Hi Pars,

I thought that I was loosing my mind here with my problem in
my 95 Integra. I had replaced my t-stat a year ago because the temp
gauge would go up when I was stopped but would go down when I was
moving. I replaced it with a new one but the issue still happened. I
couldn't figure out what was wrong, so I also replaced the sensor
going to the readout in the dash but I am still having the same issue.
This is good that someone else has had a new defective t-stat. I'm
going to go order another one and see if it help since they aren't too
expensive.

Thanks,
Nick


On Sat, 15 May 2004 06:15:21 -0400, Pars <"sdaro(remove)"@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>I wouldn't drive the car, even if the temperature gage is slightly off.
>The temperature gage should always be on it's assigned position (after
>the engine warms up), anything else is not acceptable and you risk
>damaging your engine.
>
>Hopefully, it's not a head gasket problem. I had the same symptoms with
>my 84 CRX, which was caused from a cracked head gasket that was letting
>air flow into the coolant. The excessive air in the cooling system will
>block he coolant flow. I'm not sure about the 96 Accord, but I suppose
>the newer cars are better designed to get rid of excess air in the
>coolant. At 200,000miles, I'm assuming that the radiator, water pump,
>thermostat and even the hoses are all new. If not, you have a starting
>point. Also, I've been in situation where the replacement thermostat was
>also defective.
>
>Pars
>98 Civic Hatch
>
>Dave Wolgast wrote:
>
>> 96 Accord LX, 2.2L 4cyl engine, ~199,000 miles.
>>
>> When the car is started, idles, & warms up, temperature gauge settles
>> at about 35-40% (between blue-line and red-line). As I drive at
>> normal local speeds ~45mph, temp stays between 35-50%. At highway
>> speeds (top gear, ~3200rpm), needle gradually moves upward, reaching
>> 75-95%. The cooling fan does come on occasionally. Also, I am not
>> getting any heat out of the heater, even when turned all the way to
>> hot, though I could when I first experienced the problem, and that
>> immediately dropped the temp below 50%.
>>
>> I have replaced the thermostat, and that didn't seem to do it.
>>
>> Please make any suggestions as to how I might proceed.
>>
>> Thanks!
>> Dave
>> Livonia, NY

On Sat, 15 May 2004 10:19:22 -0400, Nick <npolite@NOSPAMMONKEYShotmail.com>
wrote:

>Hi Pars,
>
> I thought that I was loosing my mind here with my problem in
>my 95 Integra. I had replaced my t-stat a year ago because the temp
>gauge would go up when I was stopped but would go down when I was
>moving. I replaced it with a new one but the issue still happened. I
>couldn't figure out what was wrong, so I also replaced the sensor
>going to the readout in the dash but I am still having the same issue.
>This is good that someone else has had a new defective t-stat. I'm
>going to go order another one and see if it help since they aren't too
>expensive.

If you are showing overheat only when stopped its more likely that it's due
to the fan(s) not coming on. You need to check/replace the thermoswitch
and/or relay which controls the fans. On an Integra it should be on the
thermostat housing IIRC.

>
>On Sat, 15 May 2004 06:15:21 -0400, Pars <"sdaro(remove)"@hotmail.com>
>wrote:
>
>>I wouldn't drive the car, even if the temperature gage is slightly off.
>>The temperature gage should always be on it's assigned position (after
>>the engine warms up), anything else is not acceptable and you risk
>>damaging your engine.
>>
>>Hopefully, it's not a head gasket problem. I had the same symptoms with
>>my 84 CRX, which was caused from a cracked head gasket that was letting
>>air flow into the coolant. The excessive air in the cooling system will
>>block he coolant flow. I'm not sure about the 96 Accord, but I suppose
>>the newer cars are better designed to get rid of excess air in the
>>coolant. At 200,000miles, I'm assuming that the radiator, water pump,
>>thermostat and even the hoses are all new. If not, you have a starting
>>point. Also, I've been in situation where the replacement thermostat was
>>also defective.
>>
>>Pars
>>98 Civic Hatch
>>
>>Dave Wolgast wrote:
>>
>>> 96 Accord LX, 2.2L 4cyl engine, ~199,000 miles.
>>>
>>> When the car is started, idles, & warms up, temperature gauge settles
>>> at about 35-40% (between blue-line and red-line). As I drive at
>>> normal local speeds ~45mph, temp stays between 35-50%. At highway
>>> speeds (top gear, ~3200rpm), needle gradually moves upward, reaching
>>> 75-95%. The cooling fan does come on occasionally. Also, I am not
>>> getting any heat out of the heater, even when turned all the way to
>>> hot, though I could when I first experienced the problem, and that
>>> immediately dropped the temp below 50%.
>>>
>>> I have replaced the thermostat, and that didn't seem to do it.
>>>
>>> Please make any suggestions as to how I might proceed.
>>>
>>> Thanks!
>>> Dave
>>> Livonia, NY

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

Hi George,

Sorry forgot to mention that when idle it doesn't overheat but
goes up to just less than about the halfway mark, then the fans kick
on. So I think that there is still a faulty t-stat. What are your
thoughts?


Thanks,
Nick

On Sun, 16 May 2004 18:29:10 -0400, George Macdonald
<fammacd=!SPAM^nothanks@tellurian.com> wrote:

>On Sat, 15 May 2004 10:19:22 -0400, Nick <npolite@NOSPAMMONKEYShotmail.com>
>wrote:
>
>>Hi Pars,
>>
>> I thought that I was loosing my mind here with my problem in
>>my 95 Integra. I had replaced my t-stat a year ago because the temp
>>gauge would go up when I was stopped but would go down when I was
>>moving. I replaced it with a new one but the issue still happened. I
>>couldn't figure out what was wrong, so I also replaced the sensor
>>going to the readout in the dash but I am still having the same issue.
>>This is good that someone else has had a new defective t-stat. I'm
>>going to go order another one and see if it help since they aren't too
>>expensive.
>
>If you are showing overheat only when stopped its more likely that it's due
>to the fan(s) not coming on. You need to check/replace the thermoswitch
>and/or relay which controls the fans. On an Integra it should be on the
>thermostat housing IIRC.
>
>>
>>On Sat, 15 May 2004 06:15:21 -0400, Pars <"sdaro(remove)"@hotmail.com>
>>wrote:
>>
>>>I wouldn't drive the car, even if the temperature gage is slightly off.
>>>The temperature gage should always be on it's assigned position (after
>>>the engine warms up), anything else is not acceptable and you risk
>>>damaging your engine.
>>>
>>>Hopefully, it's not a head gasket problem. I had the same symptoms with
>>>my 84 CRX, which was caused from a cracked head gasket that was letting
>>>air flow into the coolant. The excessive air in the cooling system will
>>>block he coolant flow. I'm not sure about the 96 Accord, but I suppose
>>>the newer cars are better designed to get rid of excess air in the
>>>coolant. At 200,000miles, I'm assuming that the radiator, water pump,
>>>thermostat and even the hoses are all new. If not, you have a starting
>>>point. Also, I've been in situation where the replacement thermostat was
>>>also defective.
>>>
>>>Pars
>>>98 Civic Hatch
>>>
>>>Dave Wolgast wrote:
>>>
>>>> 96 Accord LX, 2.2L 4cyl engine, ~199,000 miles.
>>>>
>>>> When the car is started, idles, & warms up, temperature gauge settles
>>>> at about 35-40% (between blue-line and red-line). As I drive at
>>>> normal local speeds ~45mph, temp stays between 35-50%. At highway
>>>> speeds (top gear, ~3200rpm), needle gradually moves upward, reaching
>>>> 75-95%. The cooling fan does come on occasionally. Also, I am not
>>>> getting any heat out of the heater, even when turned all the way to
>>>> hot, though I could when I first experienced the problem, and that
>>>> immediately dropped the temp below 50%.
>>>>
>>>> I have replaced the thermostat, and that didn't seem to do it.
>>>>
>>>> Please make any suggestions as to how I might proceed.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks!
>>>> Dave
>>>> Livonia, NY
>
>Rgds, George Macdonald
>
>"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

daveref@yahoo.com (Dave Wolgast) spake unto the masses in
news:d8fd06fa.0405130439.630dc6bb@posting.google.c om:

> 96 Accord LX, 2.2L 4cyl engine, ~199,000 miles.
>
> When the car is started, idles, & warms up, temperature gauge settles
> at about 35-40% (between blue-line and red-line). As I drive at
> normal local speeds ~45mph, temp stays between 35-50%. At highway
> speeds (top gear, ~3200rpm), needle gradually moves upward, reaching
> 75-95%. The cooling fan does come on occasionally. Also, I am not
> getting any heat out of the heater, even when turned all the way to
> hot, though I could when I first experienced the problem, and that
> immediately dropped the temp below 50%.




*Every* symptom suggests a clogged rad.

With the engine COOL, take off the rad cap and peek inside. Are the tubes
covered with whitish deposits? Oh, you CAN'T see the tubes because the
fluid is too murky? Oops. Bad maintenance.

Either you haven't been changing your fluid regularly or you're using
silicated coolant.

Drive the car until completely warm. Run your hand around the rad surface.
It should be uniformly hot all over, and both big hoses should be hot as
well.

If not, replace the rad. And start changing your coolant every second year,
with OEM if possible, and if not, with the non-silicate stuff and
_distilled_ water.

--
TeGGeR®

The Unofficial Honda FAQ
http://www3.telus.net/public/johnings/faq.html

How to find anything on the Internet or in Usenet Groups:
www.google.com
www.groups.google.com

On Mon, 17 May 2004 06:52:17 -0400, Nick
<npolite@NOSPAMMONKEYS.hotmail.com> wrote:

>Hi George,
>
> Sorry forgot to mention that when idle it doesn't overheat but
>goes up to just less than about the halfway mark, then the fans kick
>on. So I think that there is still a faulty t-stat. What are your
>thoughts?

In your previous post you said: "the temp gauge would go up when I was
stopped but would go down when I was moving". I took this to mean stopped
== engine idling and that the temp was going up above normal. If you're
saying that the gauge rises up to normal then you're running too cool when
the car moves?? Either way, I am unsure of what you're problem is.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

Hi George,

That's exactly it. The car at idle warms up to less than the
1/2 mark and stays there. When I take off and drive the temp drops
down to near the cool mark. I have already replaced the t-stat once
before but that didn't help and I was wondering if I should reorder
another one or if the problem is somewhere else.

Hope this is enough info....

Thanks,
Nick

On Mon, 17 May 2004 19:05:27 -0400, George Macdonald
<fammacd=!SPAM^nothanks@tellurian.com> wrote:

>On Mon, 17 May 2004 06:52:17 -0400, Nick
><npolite@NOSPAMMONKEYS.hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>>Hi George,
>>
>> Sorry forgot to mention that when idle it doesn't overheat but
>>goes up to just less than about the halfway mark, then the fans kick
>>on. So I think that there is still a faulty t-stat. What are your
>>thoughts?
>
>In your previous post you said: "the temp gauge would go up when I was
>stopped but would go down when I was moving". I took this to mean stopped
>== engine idling and that the temp was going up above normal. If you're
>saying that the gauge rises up to normal then you're running too cool when
>the car moves?? Either way, I am unsure of what you're problem is.
>
>Rgds, George Macdonald
>
>"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??