95 Civic LX hardly heats up

MARSHHAWK

MEMBER
1995 HONDA CIVIC

I have a 95 Honda Civic manual tranny with a 193,000 miles. It has the 1.5 engine not a vtec. My heater takes a long time to heat up and when it does it doesn't get very hot.

I just changed the thermostat with no effect. I boiled the old one and it opened right up so it wasn't that. Antifreeze is good and is full.

Could a bad radiator cap cause this problem or am I looking at a new water pump. If so its my understanding I may just as well have the timing belt done as well?

Please feel free to correct me if any of the above is not correct of if you have any other ideas.

Thank you

Bill/WI

4 Replies

MIKE H R

MECHANIC
3,094 POSTS

You say that you have little heat. What does the temp guage say? While the car is running check and
feel the hoses to the radiator. Are they hot? If so i
would check to see if the hoses going to he heater core are hot. The problem might be that the heater core is slightly clogged if this is the problem I would back flush the heater core.

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Friday, February 16th, 2007 AT 10:47 AM

MARSHHAWK

MEMBER
2 POSTS

The temp guage(no numbers just H and C) goes to just slightly below 1/2 way up. I am by no means a mechanic:) But I am confused. Both heater core hoses are warm. Top hose from radiator is warm but bottom hose that goes to the thermostat seems cold and empty?

I am currrently letting the car idle in my driveway to see if there is any air I can get out of the system.

Would you recommend a purge by a proffesional place or?

I have had to add some antifreeze in the 15 minutes it has been running but there are no leaks.

I appreciate all the info you folks can provide. Oh I also bought a new radiator cap I figured it couldn't hurt:)

Bill/WI

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Friday, February 16th, 2007 AT 12:22 PM

BRUCE HUNT

MECHANIC
3,754 POSTS

Bill if you are in Wisconsin I know you really want the heat. Here is my two and half cents worth. From experience, this is not the water pump. Usually when they get weak they leak. You will probably find that the cap did not fix it.

Monitor the fluid level very close. If there are no leaks and the fluid level drops and keeps doing that you are looking at a head gasket problem.

The other suggestion about a flush is a good one as well.

Please also consider that the car's damper for the heat control may not be opening all the way to let out the hot air and is mixing with some outside cold air.

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Friday, February 16th, 2007 AT 1:26 PM

MIKE H R

MECHANIC
3,094 POSTS

The bottom hose seems empty? Try squeezing it a couple of times and listen if you hear anything or feel anti freeze in hose. Iot might have a vapor lock. Did you have to put more antifreeze in it that you mentioned?

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Friday, February 16th, 2007 AT 2:39 PM