Radiator hose replaced, now car doesn't get heat inside of the cabin

[holden j caufield]

I've got an old 93 Prelude Si h23a I still keep it as it drives good, it's seen better days but going point A to B it still does it's job . The bottom radiator hose cracked and so they replaced it, problem is now there is no heat in the cabin.

I googled and it said air might be trapped in, the mechanic said it was bled correctly. What else could it be? Seems odd the thermostat could go bad right then. If I get no heat in the cabin does it mean the engine is still getting cooled properly (that's my main concern, my car's dashboard has an electric temp gauge that stopped working long ago). I can live without the heat, I just need the engine to be properly cooled.

 

[Yuriman]

I recommend warming up the car, and sticking your hand on some hoses under the hood to trace where warm coolant is going. It's possible it's routed incorrectly now. It's also possible that your heatercore valve isn't opening - you can have someone else watch it while you move the lever inside to make sure. It's also possible the air mix blend door isn't moving (in the dash). The last possibility is that there's still air in the heatercore.

 

[Raizinman]

You have air in the system. Not always easy to bleed even for mechanics. A true mechanic would have warmed the car up to make sure you had heat before he let the car go.

I would take the car back to the mechanic. I'm a believer to always return the car to the person who messed it up. Why should you have to pay a different mechanic to fix what the first mechanic screwed up.

 

[SithSolo1]

I had to replace my radiator a few months ago because of a leak and this happened. Temps were fine for a week but I noticed I would only get heat under power and my engine fan was running more than usual. Next thing I know the car is overheating. Engine thermostat had gone out. Place changed out the thermostat and bled/refilled the system. Works fine now.

 

[jlee]

It sounds like the car wasn't properly bled.

http://www.preludezone.com/5th-gen-honda-prelude/45856-cooling-bleeding-procedure-clarification.html

Do this with the heat on full/high (or make the mechanic fix it for free). It sounds like there's an air pocket in your heater core. The heater core is basically a mini-radiator tucked up by the dash and air gets blown through it to generate heat.

 

[holden j caufield]

It sounds like the car wasn't properly bled.

http://www.preludezone.com/5th-gen-honda-prelude/45856-cooling-bleeding-procedure-clarification.html

Do this with the heat on full/high (or make the mechanic fix it for free). It sounds like there's an air pocket in your heater core. The heater core is basically a mini-radiator tucked up by the dash and air gets blown through it to generate heat.

Thanks, the heat not coming out isn't an issue for me. I wanted to make sure the car engine is getting properly cooled. I won't have time to do this for a few days is it ok to drive in the mean time?

 

[NutBucket]

Should be fine. Just keep an eye on the temp gauge.

 

[LTC8K6]

Thanks, the heat not coming out isn't an issue for me. I wanted to make sure the car engine is getting properly cooled. I won't have time to do this for a few days is it ok to drive in the mean time?

Well, you appear to have no way to know the coolant temp.

You should never drive a car like that.
However, it seems you have been doing just that for a while.

You should have gotten the gauge fixed. It could just be a cheap screw-in sensor.

Does the electric fan at the radiator cycle on and off like it should?

 

[LTC8K6]

Should be fine. Just keep an eye on the temp gauge.

You mean the one that he said isn't working? :biggrin:

 

[holden j caufield]

The 93 prelude dashboard top half temp/fuel guage are electronic. It stopped working 7 years ago. I would need to replace the dash as it's not the fuse. The lower dash with warning lights for gas/temp/seatbelt/brake work. So I can't see the temp, I think if the temp got too high the warning temp light would go on (I don't know as it's never light up, but all the other warning lights work).

I have another car but this thing keeps going and the insurance, mpg, are better than my Acura so I like to drive it. I've driven it 30k miles on a new set of tires and there is no wear on the tires (it has over 200k miles and still runs decently but looks terrible). I have no idea how but on my acura and new cars I've noticed the toe in seems to make the tires wear on the inside fast.

 

[jlee]

Does a coolant temp warning light come on when you turn the key to 'on' but don't start the engine? That should test all warning lights.

 

[NutBucket]

I guess I should have read better

If I didn't know better I'd ask if the OP works at my office since I noticed on of the recent hires drives a Prelude of similar vintage that looks rough (well, paint failing but otherwise in decent shape).

 

[LTC8K6]

No light, just the digital gauge and the way it lights up.

Temperature Gauge
The temperature gauge is fully
electronic. It uses a series of
illuminated indicator bars to show
the engine coolant's temperature
range. Under normal driving
conditions, you will see one of the
bars at the display's midpoint. In
more severe driving conditions,
such as very hot weather or
climbing a long hill, the engine may
get hot enough to illuminate the
white indicator on the right side of
the gauge. If the red indicator
above the H comes on, pull safely
to the side of the road. Turn to
page 193 for instructions and
precautions on checking the
engine's cooling system.
As a test, all the indicator bars in
the temperature gauge illuminate
when you turn the ignition ON (II).

 

[master_shake_]

those cars have a hotwater valve for the heat.

was the heat on when you were bleeding the system?

 

[Vdubchaos]

Well, you appear to have no way to know the coolant temp.

You should never drive a car like that.

My step fathers E90 BMW doesn't have a temp gauge.

Does that mean BMW should not sell anymore cars?

:biggrin:

PS. I agree with you, and would never buy such car (and I don't care if it electronically notifies you once over certain threshold. I don't trust German electronics... due to their history.

 

[NutBucket]

Neither does my Subaru...and my CR-Z didn't have one either. It bugged me at first but I got over it.

 

[holden j caufield]

Does a coolant temp warning light come on when you turn the key to 'on' but don't start the engine? That should test all warning lights.

Yes I believe it does, thanks everyone for the input AT never fails me.

 

[LTC8K6]

Yes I believe it does, thanks everyone for the input AT never fails me.

I don't see that light in the owner's manual.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Most of the gauges are pretty worthless too. They are just within 20 degrees or so of what they say if they even bother to have numbers printed on them.

 

[holden j caufield]

I don't see that light in the owner's manual.

uh oh now you've got me worried, it's been so long I'm not sure but I thought there was a temp warning light.

 

[NutBucket]

That's not common...especially in that era!

 

[LTC8K6]

The red indicator on the gauge is the coolant temp light.