bracono

I have an automatic 89 honda accord lx, carb. I just put on a new head gasket, new water pump, new thermostat, new radiator fan temp switch, and an ignition coil. I have the same problem now that i think caused the gasket to blow: the radiator fans don't switch on (could be the motor I guess) but what gets me is that the coolant never moves. When I fill it, it flows through to the block, but when the car overheats, I can take the radiator cap off and the coolant there is cold. Plus the top radiator hose never seems to have anything flowing through it. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Also, did I mention that I am not loosing any fluids out of anywhere and everytime I drained the coolant during this process (3 times, I'm a glutton for coolant drains) the coolant came out clean; no oil, no grime. ITS JUST NOT MOVING! I also filled with the bleeder open and ran it with the heat on full. I am going to run it with AC on to see if the fans kick on.

Correction, the fans do come on with the AC, but only with the AC and coolant does not appear to be moving. Also getting erratic readings on my instrument panel. Thank you in advance for ANY help.

i]Modified by bracono at 9:17 PM 1/23/2007[/i]


Modified by bracono at 12:22 PM 1/25/2007


Modified by bracono at 12:57 PM 1/26/2007

hondadude

when the T-stat opens is when you'll see the movement of the coolant in the radiator.
If you are getting flaky temp readings on the dash gauge, you might want to test the temp sender/wire connector/gauge.
you really need to find out the 'true' temp and if the fans are really not cycling at the right time.
I think the temp switch should turn them on around 200-210 degrees.
try jumpering the switch connector at the lower passenger side of the radiator.
The fans should then run when the key is on.

bracono

Thanks, jumping the switch is my next move. I put a new one in but it could be bad. I took out the T-stat and ran it- the movement was fine then. The fans still did not come on though unless the A/C was running. With the ac running the temp gauge stayed around 50%. When I turned off the ac, the fams quit cycling and the temp rose, much slower, to near the red mark.

When searching past posts I found some people who swore only Honda T-stats would work properly. Any truth to this?


Modified by bracono at 7:22 PM 1/26/2007

hondadude

Stant brand Tstats are good products, Throw the T-stat in a pot of boiling water[185-190 degrees] it should open. The only other thing I could think of to cause the overheat[don't shoot the messenger] would be a cracked head.
Was it pressure tested when it was off for the headgasket replacement?
You can test the temp switch in a pot of water and see that it conducts by the boiling point.
the temp sending unit for the guage can be OHM tested if you have a meter.
more than 145 ohms at cold[room] temp then at full temp 212 degrees F, 35-45 ohms.

Edit; you do have good radiator flow? When you took the T-stat out did the radiator neck over flow quickly?

bracono

When I removed the t-stat the the flow was good, as far as I could tell, and it did not overflow at all. It was seemed to be moving through the radiator very well.

I was, and still am, worried about a cracked head too. It was running a little rough but I changed the plug wires and everything smoothed out. Also, there isn't white smoke coming out my exhaust like it was before I changed the gasket and the oil looks really healthy, no chocolate milk tint. Thanks again for the advice. I don't have an ohm meter, just a circuit tester and test leads. I'll be checking the thermostat tomorrow.