i have a 90 integra GS.just bought it about a month ago never really driven it far since im just learning to drive a stick.well i took it out and went about 15-20miles.car cuts off.when i started it up.ran around 200rpm and shut off.i left it for 2days it started right back up and drove it home.today i started it up.about 5mins was running at normal temp.which it warmed up quite quick and everything was cool but the hose from the radiator to the head.is this possibly the water pump? i dont want to go fix something and that not be the probem

 

It could be a lot of things. If the hose going to the top of the radiator is cool and the car is overheating, it usually means the thermostat is stuck closed.

Has the water pump ever been changed? Do you have any service records?

 

i dont have any service records.i have a water pumping sitting here i just bought today.hopefully thats the problem.i took the rad cap off and turned on the car to see if the water was moving.and it wasnt.and one other thing.when the car shut off the check engine light came on.

 

You won't see anything moving if the thermostat is stuck closed and blocking off flow to the top of the radiator. That's a $15 part and takes 20min to change. I would do that before replacing a water pump to be honest, but hey a new pump won't hurt either.

If you don't want to spend the money, you could take the T-stat out and see if the problem persists. Also, you could try heating it up in a pot of water to see if it opens. Just my 2 cents...

 

the good ole thermostat in a pot of water works great!!! sounds like he's got a bad thermostat for sure... not alot that can make a car overheat. when ya workin on cars 20 years old that you just bought, there is a big list of stuff that you just replace.. thermorstat, wires, plugs, fuel filter. give that car the proper tune up it deserves!

 

alright ill test the thermostat when i get home frmo school.where exactly is it located at?

Remove the air intake tubing from the throttle body.
Find the lower radiator hose, and follow it to where it connects to the engine which will be just above the starter. The thermostat is behind the elbow that the hose is connected to - unbolt the 2 or 3 bolts that hold the elbow to the engine and it should come right out.

is this right?and also ive heard that 194F is right temp thermostat but dealer says its 180F.could someone please confirm this.

 

Yeah, it is under the intake arm on the back side of the head area looking from the passenger side to the drivers. Just follow the lower hose and you will find it. If your going to change the wae pump, might as well get the timing belt while your there....

 

ive changed the thermo. still no luck.if i recall i dont think my fans come on when it over heats. i only remeber one time the fan coming on when i had a bad battery and it always killed it.and from there on after i replaced the battery the fans dont kick on.

 

fan switch replacement and make sure the fans work. a old car like this i would just replace the switch anyways...instead of testing the fans first. since i would just change the switch regaurdless of if the fans work. if they dont then i would replace those too then. but i would put a block tester on the radiator cap, run it and see if there are exhaust gasses in the coolant system. could be a head gasket thats bad

 

ill replace fan switch.and see what happens.trying to stay away from the head gasket.if thats it ill just sell the car.as im not experienced enough to change and a shop is going to charge 750 labor

 

start it up and let it run... feel parts of the radiator... if some parts are cold and some hot... could be a glog.. feel the lower hose periadicly if it never get's hot but the upper hose does most likly the thermostate... easy fix.
however I thought the same thing untill i replace the thero and the problem continued.
so i decided to replace the water pump an what do ya know... it was missing nearly all the fins.. So i bad thermo and water pump can show the same signs. thermostat is def cheaper and easy to do so start there.
since you dont know when the wp has been relaced might as well change it, and while your there do the timing belt...
The shuting off isuue may or may not be realated.. could have a cloged IACV which may aslo cause the car to overheat... gl and keep us posted

 

well the timing belt looks pretty new not dry rotten or anything.the car had been sitting since fall time of last year.also its been having starting problems.when starting for 1st time of the day or been sitting without being started for a while take longer for it to crank then it turns over.but then sometimes itll crank but not turn over.but then i try again and it goes.but if i start it turn it off it starts right back up.possibly the starter?

 

where you located? if its a head gasket i might wanna buy it. i got one already but i like the integras. check out my 1990 GS 5-speed in my albums on my page

 

if your plates tell ur location.im all the way on the other coast.maryland here

 

yep i'm in cali but i have a house in south carolina too LOL like 8 hours away LOL damn i gotta take my car trailer if i was to get it LOL. what would you sell it for? how much? i hope you dont gotta sell it though

 

i dont know.i mean id have to get a another car 1st.ill be starting my job soon.as soon as i got something to drive.but i really dont want to sell it really.but i bought it on terms there was nothing wrong with it.

 

the terms suck since theres an issue. man if i was closer i would give you a hand so you dont gotta sell it. hopefully you can get the old owner to pay for it....but i doubt that. but then again my dad knows people that have gotte cars given to them. not new stuff but clean cars. my neighbor too. that guy just got a 4wd jeep cherekee. needed work but someone gave it to him. and i have people bringin cars in for vehicle checks. and they got the car for free. one was a lexus!! why cant i get that crap? LOL i have realized that all these people who give and get cars are involved in churches. wonder whats in their holy water... LOL

 

well my brothers dad has his own garage.hopefully this weekend when they all over there getting drunk ill take it over and have someone check over it.which some are mechanics.and ill find out whats wrong for sure.and then i can finally get working

 

yeah i used to drink and work on my cars too LOL not any more though i keep that at the bar LOL

 

haha.16 here.no drinking for me.hopefully i get this car running right tomorrow

 

i guess ill bring this topic up again.instead of making new.replaces water pump.thermo.still over heating.someone changed the water pump for me.i went for a drive.didnt even go 1/4 of a mile and the temp gauge was was on 3/4.so i pulled over popped the hood.there was coolant all over the place.didnt see any leaks, holes nothing.so i dont know what on earth it can be.any possible ideas?im to the point of selling it if i cant get it fixed.

 

pressure test the coolant system to see where its leaking from. if you cant see a leak but are losing pressure then you probably have head gasket issues.

 

well there is a tiny pin hole in the rad. but its been fixed and no longer leaks.and that was right up top.and even if it were that little hole it wouldnt have leaked around about 2cups of coolant in less then 1/4 mile driving normal.it had never leaked that much even before it was fixed

 

you have the radiator with the plastic top and bottoms? they crack and leak where the plastic meets the radiator rows and cooling fins pretty often. check it carefully. but coolant is escaping somewhere

 

yeah.thats where the leak was at.at the plastic piece.but like it hadnt been like this till i changed the water pump.i had driven it about 20miles and then parked it.and there wasnt any coolant anywhere