This thread pertains to a cooling mishap I am now unfortunately experiencing. About a week ago, I get in my car and drive to work. Its about 25 degrees Farenheit, so its a cold one, and my heat won't work. My temp gauge is on the middle notch between C and H. So, I assume it is possibly electrical. A few days ago it continues, and now it gets surges of hot air then turns cold again...ice cold. So, I've established that coolant isn't passing efficiently somewhere, and when it does, its in short spurts, resulting in a short amount of heat. So today, I changed my thermostat, added coolant, since my rad leaks. Now, I'm most likely going to buy a Fluidyne since this is an H22 Civic about to undergo FI in a few weeks, but I want to make sure it will fix the problem. The guys at Hybridynamics tell me that the coolant flows through the engine, to the thermostat, through the bottom of the rad, out the top of the rad, back into the head. The only reason I'm confused on this, is that my top hose is always way hot, and my bottom one is always ice cold. So, is vacuum sucking the coolant into the head? I thought it had to be pumped via the water pump. And if it isn't my thermostat, and the hose from the thermostat to the rad is always cold, even after the car has been running, WTF is the problem? Please help soon, I like my car...

Thanks,
Rob

 

sounds like a heater core problem, maybe trash, disconnect the hoses to it and blow compressed air through it should blow through pretty easily.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by schardbody &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">sounds like a heater core problem, maybe trash, disconnect the hoses to it and blow compressed air through it should blow through pretty easily.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Not the heater core. My guess at first, but the car actually started overheating at one point, something that has nothing to do with the heater core. Thanks for the input though.

 

what the hell are you talking about. a restricted heater core wont cause it to undercool or overcool. it just lets the coolant flow past the blower so you get hot air. im done with this

 

I always though it flowed into the top and out the bottom. I could be wrong.

It might be an air bubble somewhere or debris. Flush?

 

the hot coolant comes from the thermostat housing hose dont think about top or bottom. the coolant goes motor, out the thermostat into radiator, out bottom of radiator and back into block.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by schardbody &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">the hot coolant comes from the thermostat housing hose dont think about top or bottom. the coolant goes motor, out the thermostat into radiator, out bottom of radiator and back into block.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thermostat &gt; Bottom of Radiator &gt; Out Bottom of Radiator???

And you don't need to get all hissy, I was just saying that we could check off the heater core. I wasn't misunderstanding you, I was just saying, I wasn't sure if it was vital for engine cooling, in other words...if a hose to or from the core was plugged, would it cause cooling issues, and the answer is no. My car has overheated, so we're away from the heater core.

1. Would a new radiator 'most likely' fix my situation?
2. Is the stock Toyo H22 rad probably broken inside causing coolant to also become blocked?
3. And what is the definite direction of coolant travel? I know you said about it, but I'm still a little shaky on the direction.

 

Should flow in "hot" and out "cold"

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by old man neri &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Should flow in "hot" and out "cold"</TD></TR></TABLE>

Explain...

Bump...

 

ok, hot coolant inside the block circulating via the water pump, thermostat opens and hot coolant flows into the TOP of the radiator as the cooled coolant thats in the radiator rushes into the bottom of the block until it hits the thermostat and causes it to close. the part about the heater core that you are misunderstanding is that it wont cause it to overheat or overcool. if everything else is good (which im guessing it is if your gauge is in the operating range) a blocked heater core or hose leading to it will cause no heat. i might just totally be missing the question, but i thought it was "why do i not have heater". im not trying to be a dick, im just trying to get the point across.

 

ok, i re-read the original post, and you are infact looking to fix the heater, which replacing the radiator isnt going to fix. if the gauge reads in the operating range and is accurate then the problem is definately a blockage somewhere in the heater hose/core.

 

Check you thermostat??

Air in your coolant system??

Check those 2, give it a good flush.

 

i dont think his problem is the car not warming up, or the car overheating. atleast thats not what i gathered.

 

obviously, he says it warms up. But it is more then likely coolant system related, and those are the 2 no brainers.


Like your earlier post said, it could be blockage...and a FLUSH may, I dunno know...FLUSH it out?

 

The heat doesn't work, and I dont care. But it overheats. The needle sat on the H today...with the thermostat out!!!

So, I put a new Fluidyne in today, since I'll need it eventually anyways. And, I removed the thermostat. My only guess is a water pump that is stripped/broken propeller or a bad head gasket. It could be a blockage in the coolant passages also.

But, explain how sometimes I get hot heat, but then it gets cold in like a minute. Forget about the heater core hoses. Even if they were blocked, my car wouldn't overheat.

This is why its a complete mystery. Its kind of confusing to explain all of the details. But, I've even stumped the mechanics at Hybridynamics, who usually have a legit answer for everything. I even called Honda, and the service supervisor says a water pump malfunction. But remember this: if the water pump broke, it would lock up, breaking my timing belt, which it hasn't. So I assume maybe a proken propeller?

OMG, I'll tear down the water pump and let you guys know. In the mean time, keep throwing out suggestions. Thanks guys for your help.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by O RLY &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> But remember this: if the water pump broke, it would lock up, breaking my timing belt, which it hasn't. So I assume maybe a proken propeller?

OMG, I'll tear down the water pump and let you guys know. In the mean time, keep throwing out suggestions. Thanks guys for your help.</TD></TR></TABLE>

The impeller blades could be slipping on the shaft intermittantly. Not to sure how that thing is designed. Are you also sure it is over heating? Not a bad sensor/connection?

 

Nah, its overheating...at one point the valve cover was way hotter than usual...and I drove it for 10 min.

And yes, that's exactly where I'm going with the water pump. Just spinning seldomly.

 

see i thought the problem was the heater the whole time. im with you in a way. i bet your "impeller" on the water pump is wore out and only circulating coolant through the heater core at high rpms, causing your speratic heat. definately check that out.

 

Make sure you flush the hell of out of that system in the process.

 

If this works, I'll be happier than little boy on Christmas Day.

And if it doesn't, I break ****...don't worry I'll tak photos...

 

good luck

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by O RLY &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If this works, I'll be happier than little boy on Christmas Day.

And if it doesn't, I break ****...don't worry I'll tak photos...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Just weld some fins on your block and head, throw in a fan, and BINGO, your engine is now air cooled, no more worries...

Cheers and good luck.

 

i had the problem too. Bleeding the system fixed it for me. If you don't bleed it, you only get patches of air that passes through the heater core; not doing anything. Then when the coolant actually flows through it, you'll get your surges of hot air. My temp guage would spike also, when there was an air pocket at the sending unit, but once the water flowed by, it went back down.

 

Problem fixed...it couldn't be any more weird. I put the Fluidyne in earlier and fill with coolant...start the car and refill. Drive it, still sucks.

Go over to my friends, we manage to stick more coolant in, and more coolant in, and more coolant in, it finally runs perfect. I just can't believe it was something as stupid as low coolant. I had a shitload in there from earlier.

Oh well...sorry I drove everyone crazy trying to think of an answer for this. Best thing is I fixed it. Wanna thank all you guys for your help though.

Thanks,
Rob

 

must of been an air pocket like someone said. good job.