1995 Honda Civic Intermittent heating

ELMNB

MEMBER
1995 HONDA CIVIC
4 CYL
2WD
MANUAL
190,000 MILES

The heating in my 95 Civic works fine till it doesn't. Heater, motor, blower, fan all work at all speeds right up until the heater begins to blow out cold air. Car is not overheating, temp needle stays in midrange and antifreeze is full. Each time it's happened so far, the heat comes right back on after I shut the car off and then start it up again. There is occasional banging noise under the passenger side dashboard in the area of the heater but this goes away after the car runs for awhile. I'm hoping this is something simple as I really do not want to have to take out the whole dashboard to get the source of the problem. Do you have any suggestions.
Thanks!

5 Replies

IMPALASS

MECHANIC
3,112 POSTS

Hello -

To better assist you I have attached the choices of a Honda Civic. Please let me know your model and also the size of your engine in liter.

With the miles you have it could be your thermostat, water pump, and radiator or heater core. Let's try to go simple to the complex.

Next time this happens jump out and feel both heater hoses going into the fire wall. If both are cool then my first thing would be to change your thermostat as it may be sticking wide open. If one is hot and the other cool, then your heater core may be plugged.

The last vehicle did the same but the water pump was bad. So please make sure you check your belts that they are nice and tight and there is not play in your water pump pulley and there is no leaks from it.

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Monday, February 2nd, 2009 AT 8:14 PM

ELMNB

MEMBER
3 POSTS

It's a 95 civic dx 1.5 liter. The heater has been running fine for the last couple of day so I wonder if it could just be that something was stuc. Maybe a flip in the blower?
Thanks for your help>
Bill

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Wednesday, February 4th, 2009 AT 4:27 PM

IMPALASS

MECHANIC
3,112 POSTS

Hi Bill

Thanks for the update....... That is good it has been running okay for the last couple of days but bad for troubleshooting huh?

Please still next time it does it do the check I asked to see what you find.......I still wonder about the thermostat.......

Let me know.....

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Wednesday, February 4th, 2009 AT 10:33 PM

ELMNB

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Hi Thanks for getting back to me agiain.
Had some problems today as the heater was running half strength for part of the commute both to and from work. Started working fine half way home.
Hoses were both hot but I'll swap out the thermostat just in case that's the problem.
Thermostat was already replaced last summer during a tune up but I'll do it again this weekend to cover all bases.
I'll let you know how it goes.
Thanks again.
Bill

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Thursday, February 5th, 2009 AT 5:24 PM

IMPALASS

MECHANIC
3,112 POSTS

Hi Bill

Thanks for the update. Since both hoses were hot then the heater core is not plugged so it must not be getting hot enough or good circulation..... That could be the water pump or thermostat.

Take a good look at the thermostat once out......... When you replace.....