rangerrickii

This is kinda wierd, I'll try to be as exact as possible. I am working on a '91 Legend V6. Car recently was at a repair shop to have a new clutch installed. My friend got it back and since the car has been overheating like crazy. Some days it would go for miles, others just a few blocks. I replaced thermostat, checked radiator, and lifted front end up approx 2' to insure no air pockets in engine when refilling cooling system. Started car let run for a while, had heat, circulation and everything seemed ok. Let car idle for approx 30 mins no overheating, guage registered less then half way. Took car for drive all seemed well. Enrte to home after stopping at a traffic light, i noticed heat slowly faded and the temp guage started to rise. Pulled over,, hoses hard, uppper very hot lower ice cold. Fans not running. Circulation was completely stopped. Let vehicle sit for approx half hour and continued on. After getting off highway and sitting at light, heat dropped and engine began to overheat,,, but only got to near the H and then settled down on its own.
I am not sure exactly what is going on here. I dont suspect rad due to the fact car is fine for the most part. Is it possible that the water pump impeller could be worn? Car has less then 90K original miles on it. I dont suspect head gaskets due to the fact that under full load on the highway it does not over heat. Seems only after driving a distance and then being left to idle. Tonite comming to work, it tried to overheat again, only this time heat stayed intact. I have checke the cooling fans, actually triggered them to stay on full time on the outside chance that it was intermittantly not turning on.

Acura's are new to me, I have worked on Mercedes Benzes and others more frequently. I am doing this as a favor. I know with Benzes, they have an auxillary water pump in the hose line to the heater core to improve flow at idle. Does Honda do the same? Could it be when the engine was removed someone reversed the heater hoses?

ANY help is appreciated.

Rick

rangerrickii

another thing i failed to mention, is I am running 90% water in it at this point. Is ti neccessary for these to run at least a 50/50 mix to raise the boiling point? Could it just be the water is boiling prematurely?

Thanks.

DCFIVER

No Auxillary pumps and 50/50 is not a must. Are you a tech?? Next time it over heats use your infrared thermo to check the temperature of the upper an lower hoses also the temp on the block itself. Let me know what you find...

rangerrickii

thank you for the reply. Ive been working on cars for over 20 years. Not professionaly. Just with my hand the difference in the hoses is immense. The upper hose and rad tank is soo hot you cannot hold it, while the lower hose is at ambient temperature. It almost acts as if someone turned off a valve and blocked entire circulation. Radiator is progessively cooler down to bottom tank wich becomes cold. When system is working normally there is a difference between the hoses, but not that great. Rad seems warm over entire surface (no plugged veins).

Thanks again!
Rick

Cru Jones

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rangerrickii &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It almost acts as if someone turned off a valve and blocked entire circulation.</TD></TR></TABLE>Thermostat is not opening.