YACT: 96 Accord 4 Cylinder Manual Overheating

[tnitsuj]

Any suggestions on what to look for in this situation.

96 Accord 4 Cylinder manual transmission with about 110k miles. The engine is overheating ( in the red when driving around town or on the highway over 70mph). The fan kicks on after the car is turned off, and while the car is cold the engine will rev between 700rpm and 1500rpm.

What should I check first/likely causes of the problem.

Thermostat, coolant leak?

 

[Eli]

Well, first, check to make sure you have coolant.

You should never let your engine get into the red.

Pull off to the side of the road and let it cool off before it hits the red. The slight inconvienence is much better than the inconvienence a toasty engine will cause.

 

[tnitsuj]

Not my car. I wouldn't drive like that. My guess is the thermostat is hosed or the relay to turn on the fan is hosed.

 

[Ryan]

What was the last time the coolant was changed?

 

[zixxer]

Originally posted by: tnitsuj
Not my car. I wouldn't drive like that. My guess is the thermostat is hosed or the relay to turn on the fan is hosed.

nah its not the fan thing.. cause it shouldnt overheat even if theres no fan while your on the highway..

its either :
1) stuck thermostat
2) busted hose and missing coolant
cant think of anything else

if he has coolant, id replace the thermstat

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Get a kit to test for by-products of combustion in the coolent..If it's a head gasket leaking.
Nothing you do will cure the overheating problem..Do this first. It will save you allot of frustration..At 110k and 8 years this is wise to do first.. The kit is cheep..Most auto stores carry them.........:sun:

 

[tnitsuj]

Originally posted by: galvanizedyankee
Get a kit to test for by-products of combustion in the coolent..If it's a head gasket leaking.
Nothing you do will cure the overheating problem..Do this first. It will save you allot of frustration..At 110k and 8 years this is wise to do first.. The kit is cheep..Most auto stores carry them.........:sun:

yeah...I asked him to look for coolant in the oil.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

That has nothing to do with combustion gas blowing into the coolant passages.
Water in the oil can happen but doesn't always happen. Test the coolant.

 

[xxAgentCowxx]

get NOS!

 

[NutBucket]

Man, I hope that guy didn't drive around too long in the red. Hell, once will warp the head and/or block on those Honda engines. NEW ENGINE FOR YOU!!!

 

[TechnoKid]

You MAP (manifold abosolute pressure) sensor or IAV (idle air control valve) may be the cause for the rpm fluctuations at cold idle. Although, it could very well be the coolant temperature sensor failing because if the engine can't tell if the car is warmed up, your idle may fluctuate like described. Also, your auxilary fan switch may have failed. The aux fan switch runs off the temperature of the coolant as well.

As for the overheating, do what people described and check the coolant level in the radiator. When it is cool, uncap the radiator cap and check that the tanks is full, if not, then refill wil distilled water and the proper amount of antifreeze. You may also want to check the upper radiator hose to make sure that isn't leaking, and go over the lower one too.

One more thing: has the timing belt been replaced yet on the car(110k miles, just wondering)?? If not, then you may have a serious problem, as the water pump may have failed. In that case, you are looking at about $400 to $600 to get the water pump, timing belt, and all drive belts replaced.

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
Man, I hope that guy didn't drive around too long in the red. Hell, once will warp the head and/or block on those Honda engines. NEW ENGINE FOR YOU!!!

yeah so true!

 

[FlashG]

Originally posted by: TechnoKid
You MAP (manifold abosolute pressure) sensor or IAV (idle air control valve) may be the cause for the rpm fluctuations at cold idle. Although, it could very well be the coolant temperature sensor failing because if the engine can't tell if the car is warmed up, your idle may fluctuate like described. Also, your auxilary fan switch may have failed. The aux fan switch runs off the temperature of the coolant as well.

As for the overheating, do what people described and check the coolant level in the radiator. When it is cool, uncap the radiator cap and check that the tanks is full, if not, then refill wil distilled water and the proper amount of antifreeze. You may also want to check the upper radiator hose to make sure that isn't leaking, and go over the lower one too.

One more thing: has the timing belt been replaced yet on the car(110k miles, just wondering)?? If not, then you may have a serious problem, as the water pump may have failed. In that case, you are looking at about $400 to $600 to get the water pump, timing belt, and all drive belts replaced.

Do all the above.

Plus check the oil. Does it look brown & foamy and smell funny? Also if the coolant is low check the exhaust to see if it looks like white smoke or water vapor is blowing out.

A blown head gasket isn't the worse thing in the world. If thats what happened the head and block might be able to be resurfaced.

 

[NutBucket]

Man, I didn't even think about the water pump! That's a really good point. I would hope they didn't let it go until 110k. Or maybe they were cheap and only got the timing belt replaced but not the water pump.

 

[toant103]

water pump?

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: toant103
water pump?

Uh, the device in your car that circulates water through the cooling system?

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: toant103
water pump?

Uh, the device in your car that circulates water through the cooling system?

*chuckle*

 

[Quixfire]

First; check the coolant level. Low coolant can cause these concerns.

Second; if the coolant level is low, then pressure test the system and locate the leak. Else, check the upper radiator hose for heat when the engine is warmed up. If the upper hose is hot or very warm to the touch, that is normal. If the hose is warm or cool, then you may have a stuck closed thermostat.

Please post your results.

Good Luck!

 

[Panakk]

It has to be the thermostat.

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: Panakk
It has to be the thermostat.

the odds are.....

 

[TechnoKid]

Another question is, how long does it take to overheat after starting it up from a "cold" state? When the car first starts up, the thermostat is closed so the engine can warm up faster, and when the temp of the water approcahes 80-90 celcius, it opens to let the coolant circulate through the radiator. Of course, if the water pump wasnt replaced with the timing belt, and if it falied, water wouldn't be pumping throughout the coolant system.

On most hondas, the timing belt and water pump are replaced between 90k miles and 105k miles. The water pump is "good" until 120k supposedly, however, its only about a $60 part and better to replace if everything is already apart for the timing belt change.