Honda Car Forum

Hello all,

I have a 91 Accord with 152K miles on it.
Last week I noticed, when I was stuck in traffic that the temp.
guage was all the way up at high in red! Completely freaked me
out. Just then the traffic started movin and the temp guage
came down to regular level. Then it happened again when I
went to pick up my son at school. I put the car in neutral
and raced the engine for about 5 seconds - guage back to normal!
No temp problems when car is running and not stuck in traffic.
Is this a known problem? What is the solution?

TIA

Raj

planet_first@yahoo.com wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> I have a 91 Accord with 152K miles on it.
> Last week I noticed, when I was stuck in traffic that the temp.
> guage was all the way up at high in red! Completely freaked me
> out. Just then the traffic started movin and the temp guage
> came down to regular level. Then it happened again when I
> went to pick up my son at school. I put the car in neutral
> and raced the engine for about 5 seconds - guage back to normal!
> No temp problems when car is running and not stuck in traffic.
> Is this a known problem? What is the solution?
>
> TIA
>
> Raj
----------------------
With cold engine, open the cap and see if the rad is full to the top,
then open the reservoir and see if it's half-full. Check your parking
spot to determine if it's leaking. If it's dripping below the 'fan
belts', don't drive the car far since your water pump might sieze,
destroying your timing belt and valves... Wouldn't that be a Merry
Christmas?

If that ever happens again, turning your heater on FULL can help to cool
it down, as a temporary measure.

'Curly'

planet_first@yahoo.com floridly penned in
news:1102790638.615140.65400@c13g2000cwb.googlegro ups.com:

> Hello all,
>
> I have a 91 Accord with 152K miles on it.
> Last week I noticed, when I was stuck in traffic that the temp.
> guage was all the way up at high in red! Completely freaked me
> out. Just then the traffic started movin and the temp guage
> came down to regular level. Then it happened again when I
> went to pick up my son at school. I put the car in neutral
> and raced the engine for about 5 seconds - guage back to normal!
> No temp problems when car is running and not stuck in traffic.
> Is this a known problem? What is the solution?
>



You're describing a possible blown head gasket. Either that or a non-
operating cooling fan.

If the fan comes on when the engine begins to overheat, then it's fine.

If the coolant expansion reservoir level is way higher than it ought to be
and the rad is low, that's a big giveaway of a head gasket problem.

Check the rad and expansion tank and report back here.

--
TeGGeR®

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

I'll summarize my experience, which puzzled me for 3 months.

Car: 1991 Accord (163k Miles, Automatic)

Symptoms:
1) Blown water hose, coolant leaking everywhere. Replaced said water
hose. Temperature ran a bit hotter than before.
2) Blown water hose (somewhere else), caused a slow leak. Replaced
said water hose. Temperature is now erratic. Normal when driven, but
approaching red when stopped.

Performed fan tests:
1) Turn AC on, both fans should be running. If not, your fan or fan
switch may be bad.
2) Leave your car in the driveway, idling. Cooling fan should come on
between 5 - 10 minutes, after engine warm-up, and continue to come on
every 5 - 10 minutes. If not, then most likely either the thermostat
or temperature switch is bad.

My results: I got through both tests just fine, but the temperature
continued its erratic behavior. I proceeded to replace the cheapest
component, thermostat (~$15, use genuine Honda), and now eveything is
back to normal.

My discovery: The damn mechanic used a generic thermostat, which may
have performed differently than Honda's specifications. It most likely
did not open, or open fully, at the specified temperatures; resulting
in reduced coolant flow at stopped traffic.

Another note: Make sure to bleed the system of air after any component
replacement. My "normal" temperature gauge is now steadily pointing at
between D and D3 of the transmission readout.

Good Luck.


TeGGer® wrote:
> planet_first@yahoo.com floridly penned in
> news:1102790638.615140.65400@c13g2000cwb.googlegro ups.com:
>
> > Hello all,
> >
> > I have a 91 Accord with 152K miles on it.
> > Last week I noticed, when I was stuck in traffic that the temp.
> > guage was all the way up at high in red! Completely freaked me
> > out. Just then the traffic started movin and the temp guage
> > came down to regular level. Then it happened again when I
> > went to pick up my son at school. I put the car in neutral
> > and raced the engine for about 5 seconds - guage back to normal!
> > No temp problems when car is running and not stuck in traffic.
> > Is this a known problem? What is the solution?
> >
>
>
>
> You're describing a possible blown head gasket. Either that or a non-
> operating cooling fan.
>
> If the fan comes on when the engine begins to overheat, then it's
fine.
>
> If the coolant expansion reservoir level is way higher than it ought
to be
> and the rad is low, that's a big giveaway of a head gasket problem.
>
> Check the rad and expansion tank and report back here.
>
> --
> TeGGeR®
>
> The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
> www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

The cheapass theromstats that u get from discount part
stores for $5 do not work well. Half of them are busted
by the time you buy them. Just use Honda thermostats.

t

disallow wrote:
> The cheapass theromstats that u get from discount part
> stores for $5 do not work well. Half of them are busted
> by the time you buy them. Just use Honda thermostats.

Are Stant okay?

if it has a air relief valve, make sure thermostat is installed correctly.
Honda thermostats has the valve. Not sure if stats have them.
Also make sure system is purged of air, buy a repair manual for steps.

motsco_ _ wrote:
> planet_first@yahoo.com wrote:
> > Hello all,
> >
> > I have a 91 Accord with 152K miles on it.
> > Last week I noticed, when I was stuck in traffic that the temp.
> > guage was all the way up at high in red! Completely freaked me
> > out. Just then the traffic started movin and the temp guage
> > came down to regular level. Then it happened again when I
> > went to pick up my son at school. I put the car in neutral
> > and raced the engine for about 5 seconds - guage back to normal!
> > No temp problems when car is running and not stuck in traffic.
> > Is this a known problem? What is the solution?
> >
> > TIA
> >
> > Raj
> ----------------------
> With cold engine, open the cap and see if the rad is full to the top,

> then open the reservoir and see if it's half-full. Check your parking

> spot to determine if it's leaking. If it's dripping below the 'fan
> belts', don't drive the car far since your water pump might sieze,
> destroying your timing belt and valves... Wouldn't that be a Merry
> Christmas?
>
> If that ever happens again, turning your heater on FULL can help to
cool
> it down, as a temporary measure.
>
> 'Curly'

Well, no sppots in the garage, so no leaks from rad.
Rad is not full to the top, resservoir is half empty.
Do you think it just needs more coolant?

TIA

Raj

motsco_ _ wrote:
> planet_first@yahoo.com wrote:
> > Hello all,
> >
> > I have a 91 Accord with 152K miles on it.
> > Last week I noticed, when I was stuck in traffic that the temp.
> > guage was all the way up at high in red! Completely freaked me
> > out. Just then the traffic started movin and the temp guage
> > came down to regular level. Then it happened again when I
> > went to pick up my son at school. I put the car in neutral
> > and raced the engine for about 5 seconds - guage back to normal!
> > No temp problems when car is running and not stuck in traffic.
> > Is this a known problem? What is the solution?
> >
> > TIA
> >
> > Raj
> ----------------------
> With cold engine, open the cap and see if the rad is full to the top,

> then open the reservoir and see if it's half-full. Check your parking

> spot to determine if it's leaking. If it's dripping below the 'fan
> belts', don't drive the car far since your water pump might sieze,
> destroying your timing belt and valves... Wouldn't that be a Merry
> Christmas?
>
> If that ever happens again, turning your heater on FULL can help to
cool
> it down, as a temporary measure.
>
> 'Curly'

Well, no spots in the garage, so no leaks from rad.
Rad is not full to the top, resservoir is half empty.
Do you think it just needs more coolant?

TIA

Raj

The fan comes on and I hear it after I park the car in the garage.
I just replied to Curly's message that I don't see any coolant when
I open the rad but coolant is halfway down in the reservoir.
Is it just a matter of low coolant?

Thanks.

Raj