I have a 94 vtec. I just replaced the radiator and moved to a civic halfsize with a slim fan and what not. The fan is wired correctly and turns on fine. I have an overheating problem. I searched and read several threads and alot of them lead to bad grounds. I checked the ground on the front radiator support right by the radiator overflow resevoir, the one on the right side of the valve cover, the one on the driverside motor mount. I also cleaned off the ECT switches and sensors on the right side of the head cause they were dirty cause I have a small camseal leak which is infamous on h22s.After I did that it seemed to work perfectly. The temp gauge would stay in the middle and the fan would come on twice and it would stay in the middle. Which is what its supposed to do. But then a day or so later it started to do it again. It seems like as soon as the fan comes on the gauge goes up to clicks and then the fan turns off and they go down to clicks. Any other ideas or advice is greatly appreciated. I am almost 100% sure though that this is electrical.

EDIT** I also forgot to add that I unscrewed a ground and cleaned it off as well that is right behind the ECT switches on the rightside of the head.

My theory is that when the fan turns on something electrical is tripping out the sensor causing it to go up. But when the fan is off it goes back down.

Cliff notes:
What other grounds should I check besides valve cover, motor mount and radiator support?

 

there is a major ground that goes the thermo housing. not sure if that could cause it.

 

Okay thanks, I will check that out.

Anyone else have ideas?


Modified by roller3804 at 6:10 PM 12/18/2006

 

bump for help.

 

no one?

 

Update**
I figured out that if I turn on my lights the temp gauge goes up. Even though the fans are not on and the car is not overheating. When I turn the lights off the gauge goes back down. It has to be something electrical!
any ideas??

 

There's about 10-20 little grounds all over the chassis that are for the gauges, interior lights, headlights, turn signals, etc that you could check.

Did you clean and sand the other major grounds when you checked them? I like to sand em down and spray carb cleaner into the bolt threads on both ends just to make sure.

 

I sanded the one down on the radiator support and the one on the valve cover. Do you happen to know where any of these grounds are? I can think of like 5.. haha

 

I think there's 3 behind the radio on the side of the 'tranny tunnel' thing, 1 right below the trunk on the inside, one to the left of the rear seats behind the plastic panel, i think on is under the center console, and theres big white harnesses with about 5-6 black ground wires going into it bolted to the frame right behind each headlight.....all I can think of offhand.

 

awesome I will check all of those out. thanks!