1996 Honda Civic Temp Gauge Rises at Idle

HONDA CIVIC
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STYLEZ302
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I have a '96 Honda Civic EX Coupe, 225K miles......My temperature gauge is starting to act funny on me.....My antifreeze is filled to the max line, and i don't se any leaks.....My issue is though when I'm driving the needle is where it's usually at which is a little bit above Cool......But when my car is at a stand still, like the drive thru McDonald's the needle starts to rise to H......But when I take off again it starts to go back down......Someone plz help, Thanxz!
Mar 20, 2007 at 3:33 PM
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BRUCE HUNT
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You need to check and see if the fan works. When slow or sitting it acts like the wind of moving the vehicle and cools the radiator. See if the fan works or not. Try hooking wires from the fan to the battery to test. Then if it works you will probably have to replace the sensor that controls the fan.
Apr 7, 2021 at 5:19 AM
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STYLEZ302
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okay, but should the fans turn on at a certain temp. automatically or no?.....Jus' asking b/c I'm not quite sure......But tomorrow I'll make it a point to check my fans b/c that's prolly what it is
Apr 7, 2021 at 5:19 AM
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BRUCE HUNT
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It is thermostatically controlled and will or should turn on automatically. The A/C cooling fan should come on as soon as the A/C in switched on. Two seperate systems.
Apr 7, 2021 at 5:19 AM
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STYLEZ302
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I finally figured it out!......I had no antifreeze in the radiator......So i just drained out what little bit i had which was old antifreeze.....Sprayed the hose into the radiator to wash out all the dirt, and just refilled it with fresh antifreeze.....And now my temp. gauge is where it's supposed to be.......BUT! i have a new problem......Now when I start my car it chokes, and acts like it what to shut off.....What could that be?
Apr 7, 2021 at 5:19 AM
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BRUCE HUNT
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Start with purging the cooling system of air. Possibly once that is removed everything should go back to normal.
Apr 7, 2021 at 5:19 AM

Suggested Repair

Verify the radiator cooling fan runs, including a direct battery test, and replace the fan control sensor if the fan itself works. After finding the radiator low on coolant, refill with fresh coolant and purge trapped air from the cooling system, which may also stop the new choking on startup.

Conversation Summary

A 1996 Honda Civic temperature gauge stayed near normal while driving but rose toward hot when the car was stopped, with no visible leaks. The expert advised checking whether the thermostatically controlled radiator fan operates and testing it by connecting it to the battery, then replacing the fan control sensor if the fan works. The owner later found the radiator nearly empty, flushed out old coolant and dirt, and refilled it, which corrected the gauge. The car then choked and seemed ready to stall on startup. The expert recommended purging air from the cooling system.

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