faran

Evening Techs-

Please do not tell me to use " Search" feature or FAQ's.

I am posting after doing extensive troubleshooting and research, so please ONLY advise if you can help and point me in positive direction.

Here is my situation, I have Honda Accord 1994 EX A/T with about 225K miles. It used to run like a Champ, but now overheating and this thing is hitting me up the wall.

What I have done and seen:

• Replaced the Radiator with an aftermarket one
• Replaced the Thermostat with an aftermarket one
• Both fan switch A/B has been replaced
• Upper and lower hoses have been replaced
• All smaller connecting hoses are almost new and not leaking
• Both fans are working
• Bled the system too by using the bleeder valve
• Heat works fine
• Replaced the Timing belt and Water Pump, almost 2 years ago
• No coolant in the spark Plugs or reservoir

When I am driving at lower speeds in the city traffic(Stop and Go) or at a traffic light, temperature gauge starts to climb up, Fan kicks in and it drops to almost half but then again it goes up to nearly 'Red' mark.

It happened to me today, I pulled the car on the side of the road and when I touched the Upper and lower Radiator hose, they were extremely hot.

I would be really grateful to any experts and Gurus, who can point and help to troubleshoot and fix this Overheating problem.

Thanks again.

Lost Again

Can we assume the rad cap was tested or replaced.

Are you sure the HG is not blown/leaking.

Are the fans staying on when the temp begins to climb back up?

doctorbee

you seem to like aftermarket parts and it only happens at low speed. my guess is the water pump.

did you use an aftermarket water pump 2 years ago? i'd pull the timing cover and look for coolant at the weep hole

zeinhonda

heat probably wouldnt work great if it were a water pump.... when it starts to climb to red is the heat still working great? hate to say it, but i suspect head gasket with that many miles. do a leak down test on it... get a pressure tester and put it on the top of your radiator where the cap goes and pump it up and see if it holds pressure or if it bleeds down. your cooling system is a 100percent sealed system and should be "air tight" no leaks

faran

Thanks Guys for the reply.

So, here is the answer to the questions above and some update:
Rad cap is the one, came with the aftermarket Radiator. I do have a Genuine Honda Rad brand new cap, but size of the new radiator is different.

Fans are staying on, when the gauge is climbing up.

Yes, water pump is an aftermarket one.

Heat works GREAT, yes heat works all the time.

Update:

Again, I bled the system today , felt that overheating has improved a bit. Gauge only climbed twice in stop and go traffic after driving for almost 1 hr.

But, saw another thing, as soon as I start the car and engine is running, some coolant is dripping on the driver side below the Timing belt cover, seems like seeping from the water pump area though not sure. There is no leak or dripping when engine is not running.

I checked the radiator and reservoir, both were almost full, maybe dripping is too minor.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

doctorbee

take off timing cover and inspect the water pump's weep hole. coolant is probably leaking out of there. if it is you need to replace the water pump again with an OEM brand

tim73

I am always leary with aftermarket thermostats. I ALWAYS use OEM. I had a 97 accord, with 2.2. I installed an aftermarket thermostat, and it did somethign similer to what you are saying. Installed an OEM one, fixed it.

bigbpatel

iTrader: (2)

i had the same issue, HG was blown and i got the car with an after market thermostat, so i replaced with an oem one while replacing hg. also replaced all piston rings, timing belt etc. then got a mishimoto radiator. hopefully ill have it back and running this week.