Fastrax203

Okay, I've searched and haven't found anyone having quite the problem that I'm having. The car is a '92 hatch with a D16Z6 swap. The car is automatic (DD).

What I am experiencing is the lack of coolant flow. It overheats sitting still and the lower hose (leading to thermostat/sensors) never gets warm. There is no blending of fluids of any kind, no smoke when you gun it (after the engine's been running for 5 minutes) and it idles very smoothly.

At first I thought it was the fan not running so I changed ALL the cooling system sensors. After that I swapped out the thermostat thinking that was stuck. I've changed it twice just in case with Stant "Super Stat" thermostats. I've drained the coolant twice and it came out clean each time. Oil shows no frothing or blending. I can't imagine the head gasket blowing as the engine came out of my friend's auto ex at 90k miles and we took care of it very well. T-belt was changed at 60k as scheduled along with the water pump. The engine has roughly 165k on it now so...75k or so on the water pump.

There's no odd pulley noises or anything so I can't imagine the pump bearing went bad...unless the fins / impeller shaft broke? Has anyone else ever had an issue like this? Or am I a very special case?

tonyhatchetman

Sounds like the radiator is clogged or the fan dosent work..bypass the fan switch and see if the fan comes on ,

The fan won't run till the coolant between the thermostat and radiator is around 185 then it triggers the fan switch .

motegicivic

Was it a honda water pump?

As for flow, if you open the rad cap (take it off cold first) and run the engine any flow?

Fastrax203

I've bypassed the switch and left the fan running. Still overheats at idle after a while.

I think it's a rebuilt water pump. Not sure what brand. As for flow, I'm not sure it doesn't look like it is though.

Thinking about taking out the radiator and running water via a garden hose through it to check for clogs. Then taking out the thermostat and running water through the cooling system to see if it's still clogged. - nvm...I just realized how dumb that sounds LoL

I'm thinking though, that if the radiator isn't clogged and the lower hose stays cold that the coolant isn't even circulating.

motegicivic

Hate to say this but it might be the water pump, honda only likes new honda pumps ( no aftermarket), if there is a flow problem that is prob it.

virgineg6

I think your water pump took a **** on you also

Fastrax203

I know it's been a while but I figured I'd update. The lower hose now gets warm as it should and the fan works normally but the temp gauge still reads higher than half way (it never got that high before overheating issues started) and will go all the way up to the top when the fan kicks on and lowers the temperature down to about halfway.

I've used an infrared/laser thermometer to check surface temp of the hoses etc. when the gauge reads full hot the hoses aren't more than 195deg F. Is my gauge messed up?

I've also got a CEL #6 which is the engine coolant temp sensor.

Laura Ilkenhans

i think you anwered your ?

NY_2_OC

Same **** happend to me bout a month ago.
New Water pump....also changed timing belt at d time.

Problem solved.

axis11

Same symptoms with a friends Accord. He paid a shop to do a timing belt and water pump replacement. A year later, car was overheating with the same symptoms as yours. Jumped the fan, removed thermostat, still overheats. When we opened the water pump,it has only two blades in the impeller remaining and its badly corroded. It seems all the rest of the blades have been eaten by rust. He was ripped by the shop. Paid for a waterpump change, but the old pump stayed. New pump installed, problem solved.

Laura Ilkenhans

having misfire problem upon acceleration 97 civic idles fine

furious94ls

take everything thats not OEM and put OEM. Problem solved.