bmg_customz

Hey guys, as the title states, I have a 95 hatch with a D16A6 from a 91 CRX si in it. the problem that I am having is that the dang thing just doesn't seem to heat up too well. I just changed the coolant and put a 195 degree thermostat in it. Even with cardboard in front of the radiator (keep in mind I am in Alaska) at 20 degree outside temp, it still only heats up about 1/3 of the way on the gauge and the heat doesn't blow too warm. This really sucks at 40-50 below zero!!! I know that I need to flush my heater core to help with the air, but any other ideas to help warm things up would be appreciated.

Thanks guys!!

Bill

lazlong

Get the whole coolant system flushed. In the lower 48 it costs $50-100 for the flush, don't know about the price in Alaska.

apexi_rsx

buy a turbo kit and a turbo with coolant lines then run the coolant lines to the turbo that will help heat that coolant up in no time. lol they do make block heaters for our honda i dont know if it would help at all. as he said above i would try a flush. running rich will also keep the car running cooler if it was a leaner mixture it would probably heat up more too. which im sure if its not getting to normal operating temp it is running rich.

Dioxine

Lolz at the turbo comment. And i agree, somethings not right if its not warming up (ect, over rich conditions). Also another thought, does your radiator fan stay on all the time? And try not running the heater from the get go so that coolant isnt going through the heater core until it has a chance to warm up. I would assume though that a clogged radiator would cause overheating conditions, not under.

Former User

Bleed the cooling system.

bmg_customz

lazlong---I called the local radiator shop and they quoted me $350-$450 plus coolant!!!! I am gonna make a couple more calls today though because my buddy said he paid $100 to get his done at Mobil 1.

apexi_rsx---I love the turbo idea!!


Dioxine---I don't think the radiator fan hasn't come on since summer...lol. But if I turn off the heater, or use re-circ, it does heat up faster/more.

Thanks for the replies guys!!

apexi_rsx

they do sell prestone radiator flush that breaks down rust and corrosion you run it for like 500 miles or a few hundred getting the block hot and circulating make sure to have the heater on when doing this so it can run through the heater core. usually i also pre flush with water by filling it from the top and let it drain from the bottom do it with the car running let it get hot and will circulate through the block then fill it with the flush and drive around enough to get the block warm and circulating throughout. then drain and refill with coolant. cost u a fraction of the cost. being its freezing there unless u have a garage with some kind of temp control you will have to do this all in one day and make it a lil road trip..goodluck

lazlong

^^ Yeah. Basically that's all their doing at the mechanics, just with a machine that re-circulates it a couple of times.

Definitely get another quote, that's too much. Knowing everything's harder in Alaska I would still think it wouldn't be more than $150.

nealnanoHX

My 98 coupe does not like to warm up either and I live in Arizona. I can drive over 30 miles on the freeway and may temp gauge will hardly move.
This is a sign of a stuck open thermostat, replace it. I need to replace mine just have been lazy.

lazlong

^^ From post #1: "I just changed the coolant and put a 195 degree thermostat in it."

Former User

When the engine is at full operating temperature, the temp gauge in the cluster should read about 1/3, so that's fine. If there's some air trapped in the heater core, the heater will not work well. Try bleeding the system before doing an expensive flush of the cooling system.

Bleeding the DA16 (steps 2-5 are not relevant to bleeding):

carbon fiber coupe

iTrader: (2)

i just got done dealing with the same thing....
i changed the thermo, ran a air chuck through the entire system and replaced the fluid and works fine now

Dioxine

I was just part of a thread where the guy was having the same problem. This solved it, i would take his advice.

bmg_customz

I'm gonna flush the system tonight and I will make sure to bleed it too. I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks for all the suggestions!!