I have a 93 accord lx and when its idling without the heat on the needle shoots up to about 3/4. Once I start to drive with the heat on it lowers. (obviously) I have checked the fluids and the radiator for leaks and nothing seems to help. It also overheats while driving but as soon as I put the heat on it lowers back down.

Any advice...help...comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

is your radiator fan working? does it turn on when it hits operating temperature?

 

Yeah the fan turns on and works....could it be that the radiator needs to be flushed or rinsed off?

 

If it doesn't go into the red zone, then it isn't over heating. If it is only going to 3/4 of the full operating temperature range, then you still have another 25% to go.

To keep your temp lower, change the coolant and run a cooling system cleaner throughout your engine and radiator.

It's perfectly normal though.

 

I guess it's normal then....but I still don't see why it would spike so high

 

Replace the thermostat with honda oem and the needle will drop.

 

Thanks for all of the responses

 

water pump could be on the fritz

 

Replace the thermostat with a stock honda t-stat and flush the coolant system. Then you should be fine. How many miles are on your car, and have you ever had a timing belt put on it?

 

stock thermostat, make sure you're running the correct coolant (although the chances of that making a big difference are small) and make sure you burp the cooling system when you're done. there's a little plug somewhere for exactly that purpose, i can't remember where tho.

 

I have about 125,xxx on it and i just replaced the heater hose cause it was broke......nothing is leaking anymore but i definately think it's time for a timing belt though