Hi guys,
I just bought a 95 civic DX hatchback today that has 117k on it, I have this problem where it will heat up and get close to overheating but if i turn the heater on it runs fine. I am thinking about changing the radiator and thermostat. Its and auto BTW.
Thanks for any help.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NewFoundGlory243 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hi guys,
I just bought a 95 civic DX hatchback today that has 117k on it, I have this problem where it will heat up and get close to overheating but if i turn the heater on it runs fine. I am thinking about changing the radiator and thermostat. Its and auto BTW.
Thanks for any help.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah bro that's a very common problem when it comes to old cars. After about 115k miles I had to change my radiator too. Don't know why the heat decreases after turning on the heater but try buying a new radiator and work from there. Keep us posted.

 

go to autozone and get a dual row one for about $80-100 its a good upgrade from the stock single row one

 

buy the thermostat first

if the problem goes away. u will save yourself 80-100 for a new radiator

 

just an fyi the temp cools down when you turn the heat on because the heater core draws heat from your coolant in turn cooling the temp of the coolant down as it passes through so you lower you temp by turning the heater on

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by komat &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">buy the thermostat first

if the problem goes away. u will save yourself 80-100 for a new radiator</TD></TR></TABLE>
yeah.. but sounds like a radiator prob.. and if the thermostat does not help.. and it has not already been dameged.. you will end up killing the piston rings and olie rings.. = bad compression and high olie use

 

thats why i am gonna just change them both now and save the trouble, thanks guys, for me being such a noob you guys a really nice, BTW i used to have a 91 Prelude but it died due to electrical issuses

 

could be your headgasket slowly blowing thats what happened with my 1993 DX with 83k on it

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Zeus Zore &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yeah.. but sounds like a radiator prob.. and if the thermostat does not help.. and it has not already been dameged.. you will end up killing the piston rings and olie rings.. = bad compression and high olie use</TD></TR></TABLE>

I dont really understand what your saying. So if he changes his thermostat then he risks his piston rings going bad?

Or do you mean that if he changes the thermostat when it wasn't actually the problem then there is a chance that the car will still heat up and mess up the piston rings?
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NewFoundGlory- Is your radiator fan even spinning when the car is heating up?

When you get your car started up and its warming up, feel both of the radiator hoses and if one hose is hot and the other isn't, then your thermostat might not be opening up.

Also check your coolant levels...

And... is there excessive amounts of water shooting out of the exhaust?

I just changed my thermostat too =P It's easy

 

Does your radiator fan turn on?

 

Radiator fans come on, both hoses are hot and no water out the exhaust, nor water on the dipstick or oil in the coolant, also coolant is full

 

are you low on oil or something

 

Sometimes a coolant flush is all you need. If your radiator is clogged it is possible to unclog it. Fresh coolant handles heat better than say if there is too much coolant and not enough water.

A thermostat controls minimum temperature and wont affect overheating unless it is stuck closed or not opening all the way. But it is just as likely to stick open and run your engine too cold. It's worth a shot, but it wouldn't be the first item I would suspect.

I hope it's not your waterpump.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by The-Beast &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

1: I dont really understand what your saying. So if he changes his thermostat then he risks his piston rings going bad?

2: Or do you mean that if he changes the thermostat when it wasn't actually the problem then there is a chance that the car will still heat up and mess up the piston rings?
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2end one..

 

you guys are really helpful, plenty of oil but i am gonna have it changed, the water pump and timing belt are gonna be changed soon as well. I sure hope all this work fixes it. LOL i am just happy to have a car that gets good mileage.

 

i had the same problem on my old shitty neon. i tried so many things, and nothing worked. then i gave up and bought my 98 hatch. then i got into the tuner world

 

Thanks for all your help guys, it was just a stuck thermostat.