Overheating

GHOSTDRGN

MEMBER
HONDA CIVIC

I have a 1998 honda civic dx coupe, 5 speed, non-vtec. The problem im having is that the temperature rises about 3/4ths of the way before the radiator fan turns on and the temperature begins to drop. The temp only rises after the car has been driven for a while and when we are at idle(stopped for 1 or two minutes). My mechanic checked it out but the temp never went up when he had the car. He did say my radiator has a very small leak. But shouldnt the fan still be kicking on sooner. Seems like before the fan was turning on much sooner than now.I plan on replacing radiator with an all aluminum radiator. But what should I look for to make sure the fan working properly?

3 Replies

BRUCE HUNT

MECHANIC
3,754 POSTS

The leaky radiator can change the way things read. The radiator will very likely put things back to normal. While replacing the radiator, do the thermostat as well.

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Monday, June 18th, 2007 AT 11:21 PM

ALWAYSLEARY

MEMBER
8 POSTS

There is a reason why coolant systems are designed to build up pressure. The more pressure built up on liquid the higher the temperature has to be for that liquid to boil. Hondas are set for around 17 lbs in the coolant system. If you have a leak in your radiator, then the pressure is not building up and the antifreeze/water combination is getting very hot and almost up to boiling.

Also, you probably have an air pocket in your system since when your car cools off instead of pulling coolant back in from the overflow tank, air is being pulled back in from the crack in your radiator. Get that new radiator and purge the system of any air by using the piss valve up near the radiator hose on top of the engine.

Good luck. Also, always make sure you have coolant in the overflow res for the system to pull back in when needed, otherwise it is sucking in air.