pityocamptes

Its been about 30-40's (degrees) at night in the morning lately. I noticed last night while driving a few miles that the vehicle was not heating up at all. Turned on the heater control and air was mild at best. Got home, after driving about 4-5 miles, and vehicle was barely about 1/4 way up the temp gauge. Hoses were warm - bottom and top, and both were also soft / felt like no pressure.

Not sure if the cap is bad, looked at it and it seemed fine. Replaced the cap this morning. Thermostat is less than a year old. Weird... will see if the new cap makes a difference. No blown head gasket (before anyone chimes in), no water in oil, runs great...

testify

Your thermostat is stuck open.

White_EG1

pityocamptes

Damn!!! Just did it too only a few months ago... shitty after market parts...

TomCat39

Thermostats are one of the ones that non OEM always seem to have problems. I see this time and time again on here and it's always non OEM thermostats that cause grief.

pityocamptes

Thanks. Been a while, can't remember if I need any RTV sealer if the rubber gasket is fine? It's (thermostat) behind the engine near the intake, right?

turbohatch96y7

iTrader: (15)

Had a thermo stuck open once and caused the motor to overheat too

TomCat39

On the 92-95 the manual doesn't call for any Hondabond. I just replaced my wife's thermostat (yes behind the dizzy on the intake side) as her's was leaking a little. I had to wire brush the mating surface to clean off the build up of dried coolant.

Also note, the torque on those bolts is very little. The 5th gen is 7 ft-lbs. I did 10 as my inch pound wrench's lowest setting is 120 inch pounds.

Fixed the leak and the car is doing fine.

Don't forget to burp the car properly. Raising the nose of the car helps and is not in the manual.

And since you are there, you should unbolt the ground on the thermostat housing and clean up any corrosion with a wire brush and put it back on. Just a good thing to do since you are working right there.

09chaplak

When I replaced mine a little while ago I hadn't put an RTV on the metal contact points and it starting leaking a tad bit. I took it apart again and added a little around the sides which fixed the leak. Probably not a bad idea if you have some.