b18Aaron

i just pulled my core support and after that my temp. gauge on my cluster will go to half for like 5 minutes then goes past the "H" after that even with the heater on full blast. i checked the engine and it didn't seem hot i even checked the radiator fluid and its full. could it be the thermostat? or a senser of some kind. i need help and any would be appreciated

RICKSAUTOMOTIVE

core support as in radiator core support? or the heater core? radiator core? full of coolant....could be a bad thermostat, temp sensor, fan switch, bleed the coolant system...did you investigate that stuff?

b18Aaron

yeah the radiator core support. and i have checked those yet. how would i check the thermostat? temp sensor or fan switch? i have a gsr in a 92 civic

RICKSAUTOMOTIVE

fan switch..run the car and stand next to it. watch the temp very close. the fans should kick on. the fan switch is good. if they dont come on by mid temp. the switch should just be replaced. also check the radiator fan relay if the fans dont come on. temp sensor i'm not sure, maybe a resistance test but i would just replace it. its a switch that is important and i believe in preventive maintenance. thermostat...while running the car waiting for the fans to kick on, check the radiator hoses. they should both be warm after it opens (the thermostat). you will hear the idle drop a little when the thermostat opens. and both radiator hoses should be hot to the same temperature. if not replace the thermostat. and bleed the system anytime you mess with the coolant system.

Shade93

Close to the same thing happened to me. Does the temperature slowly go back down while driving?

b18Aaron

where is the fan switch? also i checked the radiator fluid when i got home and it was REALLY low

b18Aaron

yes it will go over the h then go down under it a little. what did you do to fix it?

RICKSAUTOMOTIVE

we need to know what year and model your car is because the fan switch may be in different locations. some are in the radiator and some are in the thermostat housing. if your temp goes dows as you drive of even as you drive faster its because more air is passing through the radiator cooling the temp more efficiently. this is what the fans do---they pull air through the radiator while youre sitting idle.
the low coolant could be from a coolant leak or a blown head gasket.. the block tester will help determine if you have a blown head gasket (i.e. exhaust gasses in your coolant system).

b18Aaron

definatly not a blown head gasket cause when i was refilling the fluid it didn't bubble up

RICKSAUTOMOTIVE

have you checked anywhere for coolant leaks? its going somewhere to escape the coolant system then. maybe the water pump is leaking???

fleabag

What does one do if the car is within temperature according to the OBD-II scanner but the temp on the gauge cluster is off? (it's related to the OP's question)

b18Aaron

ive checked for leaks and the only one i can find is right under the radiator but it like drips once every five minutes. and theres no leaks in my water pump

b18Aaron

also if i had to get a new radiator would i have to get a honda civic one or a gsr one? and i like my little one

RICKSAUTOMOTIVE

just replace it with the one you have then. what ever its out of then just get a replacement one for the car you took that one from

b18Aaron

well i dont know what car its out of cause i bought it with it in it..

b18Aaron

oh yeah i drove it today and it stayed at half awhile and it barely went above after driving for about ten minutes

JDMPanda503

replace the radiator.

b18Aaron

but if i do that do i get a civic radiator or a gsr one?

RICKSAUTOMOTIVE

go to an autozone and ask to see the radiators. measure them up and use the one like you have. unless you can see an oem number on it..if you can post it up here

fleabag

Pressure test the radiator at least?? How do we know the OP's temperature sensor isn't just lying to him?

b18Aaron

how do i pressure test it then? and is there any way i can fix the leak? cause i had to refill it this morning (it wasn't REALLY low but it needed some) and i think just to be safe and because i already have one im going to replace the thermostat. and replace the fan switch cause i waited for it to idle and it doesn't turn on. Anyone know how to replace the switch or where its at? pictures would help

b18Aaron

it stayed at or slightly above half today. but when i looked under my car where it had sat for three hours there was a small (4x4) puddle and i touched it and it was certaininly antifreeze. but it was anywhere near my radiator it was under the lower radiator hose

RICKSAUTOMOTIVE

sounds like a lower radiator hose or the radiator is leaking. defiantely pressure test the radiator. i would pull itout and take it to a radiator shop for pressure testing. coolant pressure testing the system wont do any good since you got a leak. it might help find the leak but if its the radiator on the last straw then pressure testing might destroy the last straw of the radiator. i'll post a pic of the fan switch. hope you see it before it gets removed

b18Aaron

um i have a feeling its the head gasket cause i just researched a whole bunch and my car smokes white a little when i get on it, and it has a funny smell when i put my heaters on. also my overflow resivor is always empty..

RICKSAUTOMOTIVE

pics of a 1995 civic coupe 1.5 liter non vtec 16 valve engine. you didnt specify your car so i chose one at random