i have a 86 crx dx and theres an overheating problem. it will warm up and the fan will come on where its supposed to(around half way) then ill drive it around for about 10 mins and right when i think it wont overheat, it starts to. the temp just keeps climing and the fan never comes on. now sometimes it will but the rpms with shoot up as it comes on example- fan switches on because thermostat opens and rpms shoot up to 2000 until the engine cools a little then rpms go back down when fan shuts off. this used to happen with just about anything- turning on the lights, heater, a/c fan..ect.
now i thought it was a problem with the cooling system like clogged radiator..corroded impellers in water pump...so first things first i looked at fan and relay switch, all works fine, is getting proper voltage. i replaced radiator cap because it was leaking. i rodded the radiator and ran some muric acid through it to dissolve anything that was plugging up. and its not any of that, after i did each step it would still do the same overheating problem(work for about 30 mins idling then 10 mins running and then overheat) so then im like what the **** and i looked at the water pump..took it out it doesnt look like anything is wrong with it but i replaced it anyways (even though i didnt do that when i changed the timing belt 6 months ago) and its STILL overheating..so it cant be the cooling system right? everything has been changed or fixed or replaced. i even replaced the fuel pump. so im thinking its an electrical problem. ive even taken it to the honda dealership...bad experience they said it ran fine and replaced my thermostat. come to find out i get it home, its still overheating, the thermostat that was supposedly replaced was not and my amp was stolen...my 800 watt bazooka amp. so i march back up there, they end up paying for the amp because it was their responsibility but insist the thermo. was new. but i know it wasnt, it didnt even look new. so i replaced it with one from kragens. and it still overheats, i have no clue whats wrong or even where to start. any suggestions, help, or possibly answers will help out alot! im so frustrated and im tired of spending money...... thanks
joe

 

radiator get a new or a junk jard one

 

he radiator is fine though, water flows freely so it cant be that... im getting hot water through all the rad hoses so i know thats ok

 

Even if the radiator flows, doesn't mean it's cooling very effeciently. And the increase in rpm with increased electrical load is normal.

 

did u mention the thermostat in ur post..bad eyes

 

yea it was mentioned, works fine , and it seems even if the jump in rpms is because of increased electrical load..it seems its a bit extreme, i can see maybe 500 rpms increase but not a jump from 950 to 2000


[Modified by brandCRX, 9:04 PM 2/18/2002]

 

Wire your fan to come on when the car does and see what happens

 

hmm ill try that. get back to this soon

 

when was the last time you replaced the head gasket? i had overheating problems and it turned out that the headgasket was bad. try replacing the headgasket. good luck