Ok this may be long but I need some help or something :-P


The story is the guy that had this 93 civic dx before me blew the headgasket. He had it replaced along with a new water pump, timing belt, alternator, battery, radiator etc. This was about a month ago.

I drove it around last night. All was fine! I drove it about 50 some miles and mostly city driving.

Today I drove it on a 3.5 hour trip going between 75mph-85mph. The Temp gauge needle stayed at about 25%. Then soon as I pulled off the interstate and sat at a light for 4 minutes the temp gauge jumped all the way up to above H!!!! I immediately pulled over and shut the engine off. Opened the hood.... and nothing. No steam no smoke. I could touch the radiator cap with my fingers for about 3-4 secs and then it got a little warm. Opened the radiator cap and no steam. Opened the oil cap and no steam. But I did notice that the radiator reserve canister was way way above max, almost near the top and that some had sprayed out the top.

I let the car cool and drove about another 8 miles with a few lights and the gauge stayed at 25% again. I pulled into the parking space and the needle again climbed to about 75% and then slowly crept to H. I left the car running and poped the hood and the radiator cap was cool to the touch and no smoke or steam coming from the oil cap. Pulled the dipstick and the oil level was between the two dots.

The radiator fan runs and everything looks fine. Anyone have any clues? Where does the temp gauge measure from? Whats the problem!!! ahhhh

Thanks All

BTW the cluster may be bad because I replaced the VSS and it made the speedometer start working but then it craped out last night late. And then today it started working once I hit 60mph and then it never stopped working all the way to Kentucky and still is currently working. So maybe the cluster is bad? But I dont think so with antifreeze sprayin a little out of the reserve tank. Just extra INFO.

 

are the fins on your radiator all mesh up? If this is so, air coming from your fan is insufficient to cool down your radiator.

 

 

The radiator is brand new...

 

change the thermostat
it is getting stuck
thats why when you get off the highway, less air it overheats automatically
As long as your fans turn on, it is the thermostat
easy 10 dollar fix

 

Is it still the thermostat if the reserve canister is way above max now, it sprayed a little... and if I remember correctly. The top hose was hot and the bottom was cold.