doomi

Just a picked up a 2000 Civic Si on Monday, and this will be my first time owning or wrenching on a Honda besides motorcycles and atv's. So I'm just learning and have a question.


When I drive it the temp gauge needle stays at the resting point for pretty much the whole time. I drive 30 minutes to work and at the very end the needle inches to the bottom of where the gauge starts. It never gets into the warm zone.

I get pretty solid heat, have no damp carpet, and the upper and lower radiator hoses are hot and hard after I drive... So the cooling system is getting pressure.

I'm already planning to change timing belt and alternator belt this weekend, so I'll go ahead and throw a new thermostat in while I'm at it. Should I do the temp sensor as well, or is this probably an issue with the gauge? I do know the cluster is not original to the car as it isn't an Si cluster (sucks to not know how many miles it has). I'll eventually replace it with an Si cluster but I'd rather take care of any mechanical issues before aesthetic.

Thanks in advance for any input!

Mr Ohms

It may be your temp gauge.

I have an Si cluster. PM me if you are interested.

Patryk_98

It sounds like your thermostat is stuck on open mine was stuck on close when I had overheating problems :s

doomi

If it was stuck open would I still get pressure in the system and hot hoses? I hope that's the issue because that's a cheap easy fix.

Edit: pm'ed you Mr Ohms

Starretty

Thermostat

Mr Ohms

PMed you back.

HondaPartsHero

Test and make sure your temp sensor is plugged up and works

doomi

Cool. I keep reading that these things prefer an oem t-stat so I'll run by the dealership tomorrow.

Thanks for the replies!

Edit: you guys both posted while I wasn't paying attention.

Thanks for the info HondaPartsHero, I was looking for a way to test it.

hmong337

I have the same issue with my 95 sedan. I changed the thermostat with an OEM unit, changed the rad, and did a water pump. The issue still persists but I know my car is running perfect.

I'm suspecting my issue is with the gauge itself. The mechanic who did my waterpump/timing belt said the same thing too.

doomi

I would check it as HondaPartsHero recommended.
Just takes a few minutes. Mine ended up being the thermostat.

speedjunkie_g35

My gauge might raise a quarter inch or less from resting point to normal temp when it is 50 degrees or below. It is partially because of the dual core radiator I installed but it gets up to temp within a matter of 4 miles or less and not reving more than 3k'ish. Temps above 50 it will usually get to where the needle is just barely over the bottom of the temp. symbol. In my experience our temp gauges needles don't gradually raise with the temp. It seems to more or less jump to different spots on the gauge. By the time your overheating and have problems it is too late.

If your getting a good amount of heat by the time you get to work, I think your good. It is just the fact that our gauges(all of them) are not known to be the most accurate.