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Car Overheating

Tiny
SHELMS7
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 ACURA CL
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • MANUAL
  • 158,000 MILES
Overheating when in idle. When driving the temp gauge drops back down to normal. I had the thermostat replaced and the Cooling temp sensor replaced and it's still doing the same thing while in idle. Does anyone know what could possibly cause this? It's full of engine coolant and does not appear to have a leak anywhere. Both of my fans are coming on properly it appears.
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Thursday, December 9th, 2010 AT 10:52 PM

41 Replies

Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Have you checked for air trapped in cooling system?
Are the cooling fans turning in the correct direction?
Does turning on the heater reduces the overheating?
Have you checked the radiator for clogging?
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Friday, December 10th, 2010 AT 7:28 PM
Tiny
JAMES1000
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 1998 ACURA CL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 136,000 MILES
Overheated while driving. Pulled over, small pool under vehicle, greenish, not oily.

Got thermostat replaced, hose as well. Transmission was replaced within last three years, and timing belt has been replaced twice previously.

Car still overheats. My mechanic believes it may be an engine problem.

Does the car have hope? I am afraid this is the end. The car overheated once about three years ago (and even then the temperature gauge didn't move much past the center, a smidgen). Since then the needle never moved past the midpoint of the temperature gauge until the overheating episode this week.

Very sad. This car has been a great car.
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Monday, August 26th, 2019 AT 12:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Hello,

This sounds like it could be a problem with your vehicle's water pump. The water pump is used to circulate the coolant around the cooling system so it can take the heat that your vehicle's engine produces and move it to the outside air. Without the water pump, your coolant will sit idle and will eventually just boil away. There is a puddle of coolant under your vehicle, because when the water pump bearings fail, there is a hole designed into the pump, called a "weep hole", to let the coolant leak out so it doesn't reach the already failing bearing and cause the bearing to freeze up in place. Here are a few links below for you to go to:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/water-pump
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/symptoms-of-a-bad-water-pump
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/water-pump-replacement

Please go through these guides and get back to us with what you are able to find out.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros
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Monday, August 26th, 2019 AT 12:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JAMES1000
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Thank you. Unfortunately, this ended up being a blown head gasket. I had a new gasket, radiator installed. Car was like new for twenty miles. Now won't start! Hope it's a battery problem.
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Monday, August 26th, 2019 AT 12:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,702 POSTS
I would see if the engine turns over by hand, if the head gasket/cylinder head has had a problem it will fill a cylinder with coolant not allowing the engine to turn over. Here is a guide to help us:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/starter-not-working-repair

Please run down this guide and report back.
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Monday, August 26th, 2019 AT 12:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JAMES1000
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Thanks for your help. Ended up being a part that causes the brake lights to stay on even when ignition turned off (for now!). The part was replaced so that the brake light will not be triggered. Fingers crossed.
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Monday, August 26th, 2019 AT 12:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,702 POSTS
Can I ask which part it was that fixed it?
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Monday, August 26th, 2019 AT 12:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JAMES1000
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Hardware for brake pedal? Some part to allow for the brake lights to turn off.
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Monday, August 26th, 2019 AT 12:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,702 POSTS
Good to hear, please use 2CarPros anytime we are here to help.
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Monday, August 26th, 2019 AT 12:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BRANDE
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1999 ACURA CL
Engine Cooling problem
1999 Acura CL 4 cyl Automatic 87,000 miles

Hi,
I have gone through many answers and steps to try to get the right one, hopefully you may know. The car overheats and goes to the danger zone within 5 to 10 miles of driving time. My answers have been everything to just add coolant to blown head gasket. I have also been told it could ge the thermostat. Do you have any suggestions from your experience? I do not have alot of money and am afraid to be ripped off as I have been in the past.
Thank you.
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Monday, August 26th, 2019 AT 12:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
Hi there,

There is a number of things that will cause overheating,
1. Coolant loss due to internal or external leaks
2. Faulty thermostat.
3. Blocked radiator.
4. Cooling fans not working.
5. Failed water pump (will normally leak badly when failed)
6. Lack of adequate air flow due to restricted A/C (blocked) condenser. (Least common)

So get these checked and you should be fine.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Monday, August 26th, 2019 AT 12:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHOOPER
  • MEMBER
  • 22 POSTS
Try to fill the radiator up, run it up to operating temperature, let it cool and check your antifreeze again. After making sure the cooling system is full, I would look for leaks and test drive, watching the temp gauge. I don't think the oil cap would have anything to do with the overheating, probably left off during an oil change, I done that before!
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Monday, August 26th, 2019 AT 12:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WLYB
  • MEMBER
  • 17 POSTS
  • 1998 ACURA CL
  • 200,000 MILES
The car overheated a few times and we towed it home. Needs a radiator and probably head gaskets, if not worse, but it will not start at all. It turns over okay and still wont fire with starting fluid. Still gonna check for spark after charging battery, but my question is is there any kind of reset I need to perform if I find no spark"? And any other advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
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Monday, August 26th, 2019 AT 12:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
No reset I can think of do you have any codes in the computer?
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Monday, August 26th, 2019 AT 12:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WLYB
  • MEMBER
  • 17 POSTS
Dont have a reader and car is in driveway. Before overheat we got codes for multiple misfire and oxy sensor. I also checked piston position to rotor position and it looks good.
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Monday, August 26th, 2019 AT 12:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Now it won't start so codes could have changed basic code readers are pretty cheap these days. Let's see if we have spark? Then what the actual fuel pressure is?
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Monday, August 26th, 2019 AT 12:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WLYB
  • MEMBER
  • 17 POSTS
Will do. Thank you and I will get back latter on progress. Thanx again I appreciate all your help
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Monday, August 26th, 2019 AT 12:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARRISSA
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 ACURA CL
Engine Cooling problem
1998 Acura CL 4 cyl Automatic

I would like to know why my car overheats when a/c is on. I have had radiator replaced last year.
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Monday, August 26th, 2019 AT 12:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
Hi there,

I would first be checking that the cooling fans are coming on, and then the thermostat is ok, start there.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Monday, August 26th, 2019 AT 12:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Your welcome keep me posted.
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Monday, August 26th, 2019 AT 12:29 PM (Merged)

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