vat0213

All of the sudden my car (01 ex sedan) overheats. The thermostat slowly rises to near breaking point and drops really rapidly to normal on some occasions. This happens in the mornings and early evening when I commute to and from work. The only thing I turn on when driving is my radio, no a/c or anything else. Anyway, I have lately stopped and turned off my engine entirely because it would almost reach red on the thermostat. Then I let it cool down then I'm off and running again after 10 or so minutes and engine temperature is fine even with the a/c on for the rest of my 40 minutes trip. I checked the coolant level and its good. Weather conditions are not harsh at all(~70 F mornings and ~80F early evenings.) Can anyone give me some advice to help, I am really confuse as to what is happening?

toyomatt84

iTrader: (1)

Try replacing the thermostat, and having the coolant system flushed. If that doesn't work, I'd say your water pump needs replacing.

vat0213

I had just recently used a coolant cleaner and replace the coolant. How long does a water pump usually last before it needs replacing? Also can high engine temperature be traced back to maybe torquing spark plugs too tight?

toyomatt84

iTrader: (1)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by vat0213 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I had just recently used a coolant cleaner and replace the coolant. How long does a water pump usually last before it needs replacing? Also can high engine temperature be traced back to maybe torquing spark plugs too tight?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I wouldn't suspect anything from the spark plugs, when thinking of the coolant system. You may have a dead coolant temp. sensor as well.

02_civic_4u

If your water pump was bad it would spill the coolant out. Its not bad. Your thermostat is probably bad and just needs replacement, it would take about 15 minutes to change and I am sure it would fix your problem.

iwantspeed

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 02_civic_4u &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If your water pump was bad it would spill the coolant out. Its not bad. Your thermostat is probably bad and just needs replacement, it would take about 15 minutes to change and I am sure it would fix your problem.</TD></TR></TABLE>

your incorrect. i just changed my thermostat like 500 miles ago and my car still overheats. and just FYI a waterpump doesnt need to leak to be bad. i think my motors gunna blow soon tho. it misfires on cylinder 3 everytime i start the car. with brand new spark plugs. and it overheats like crazy. lol . so im in search of a new d17. anyone know where to get a good motor?

toyomatt84

iTrader: (1)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 02_civic_4u &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If your water pump was bad it would spill the coolant out. Its not bad. Your thermostat is probably bad and just needs replacement, it would take about 15 minutes to change and I am sure it would fix your problem.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Incorrect. I've had a water pump go, and the impeller inside was actually missing fins due to corrosion. This was on another vehicle, where the previous owner used just water as the coolant.

02_civic_4u

The water pump has a bleed hole that is intended to bleed out when the water pump is bad. Maybe in the rare case the fins inside would be jacked up but I would say in this case it would be the thermostat and if the thermostat doesn't fits the problem then I would further investagate. I would just jump right into the water pump if my car is over heating. The process of elimination for coolant issue is coolant level, coolant leaks, thermostat, and then check the water pump. I wouldn't care if this guy did take his water pump off and you were right but that is not how it sounds. Good luck guy, if you can't figure it out. Take it to the shop and they will give you a deff answer.

ALL MOTOR EM2

check if its ur thermostat by letting the car warm up and feeling the top hose and the bottom one if the top ones hot and the bottom one is still cold that means the thermostats bad if not it might mean its time for a new water pump

DankasCivic

or headgasket, my car had that same problem at first thought oh its this or that and I replaced everything (waterpump,thermostat,radiator,flushed it 3 times still overheats dont over look a blownhead gasket I'v been driving with a blown gasket for 60k now I'm at 211k by the way ( f the motor its gonna be swapped anyway) now i just let the temp do whatever i dont worry but if you plan on keeping your motor for some time get it checkout

02_civic_4u

True, You better pray its not that though.

vat0213

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Last time I looked under the hood there wasnt all these white liquid spots. Looks like something blew. What do you guys think?

DankasCivic

thats a blown head gasket thats how my engine bay looks when it happens check the little hose from your radiator to your over flowtank it should be at the backside of the radiator cap by the top radiator hose it might have came loose (mine did) but all the heat and pressure escaping into the cooling system from the motor will do that it makes it puke from the overflow tank and take a look inside the overflow tank i bet it has muddy/slick looking crap in it , but if you want to keep that motor get it fixed ASAP and it wont be cheap starting from $1000 and go up from their depending on how bad its gotten like i said before i have been driving for 60k on one and i got it down to a science ie... keep filling up my coolant from all the carp getting puked out not a good reconmedation but i dont care about my motor

vat0213

DankasCivic, Is this a doable DIY?

ALL MOTOR EM2

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by vat0213 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">DankasCivic, Is this a doable DIY?</TD></TR></TABLE><TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by vat0213 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">DankasCivic, Is this a doable DIY?</TD></TR></TABLE>


If you plan to swap yes....lol

mike5m

my car does this to... does it only overheat at idle? next time it over heats if your close to a shop pull over have them shoot the gun at it and see the temp. if not close pull over and feel if the engine is to hot if not to hot try to drive it around the block or so... my car does this but as soon as i step on the gas and start driving the temp goes back down. also could be a leak might want to get the radiator pressure tested buy a new radatior cap and maybe a new thermostat and temp. sensor

mike5m

**** are you kidding me?! my car had that stuff on it to... i have a 2002 and i drive it hard but i dont race the **** out of it and i have a blown head gasket most likely Oo

mike5m

how many miles what year and how hard do you drive your car? does a gasket go out for revving to high or sometimes do they just go out

DankasCivic

Is replacing a headgasket doable yes but if you dont know what your doing its best to have a shop do it

Newborn_

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DankasCivic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Is replacing a headgasket doable yes but if you dont know what your doing its best to have a shop do it </TD></TR></TABLE>

Uncle Mike 22

I posted this link a few months ago. It has some pictures and brief info. Check it out.....

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1976225


Modified by Uncle Mike 22 at 9:10 PM 8/9/2007

vat0213

So I replaced the thermostat and all is well now. Pretty sure head gasket is good. Weird thing now is my interior heat doesnt work anymore even with the a/c button on. Fix one problem and another one pops up.

DankasCivic

its still a headgasket trust and belive me I have been driving with one a long while now i give it about a week before it starts to heat up, I had replaced my thermostat and radiator and waterpump because thats what normally is wrong with overheating and it still happens so dont get to happy YET



Modified by DankasCivic at 3:09 PM 8/10/2007

Uncle Mike 22

Your headgasket is bad. I'm certain to 100% Pull your spark plugs. Keep them in order and see if you have a clean one. By clean I mean the white part of the plug.

rushbuster70

looks exactly like my car did when i blew my head gasket