I have a 1997 Honda Civic HX auto. Since I've purchased my car almost a year ago, the water temp gauge always reads low. On a hot day, the highest it will go is about 1/4 way when it should be around 1/2 way. When it's cold, ie in the morning, it will stay cold for a while until the car warms up.

I posted this problem a while back, and everyone said thermostat is stuck open. So I finally got around to changing the thermostat and I started the car and let it idle for about 10-15 minutes, added coolant as needed, but the gauge still shows the same thing.

Does this seem low or is it ok?

 

seems fine to me man. Mine has never gone any higher then that

 

Thats fine

 

It's fine. From the factory, those things are all over the place (meaning the read from middle to low usually). I pulled one gauge in my ek and eg apart to check them and then pulled the needle to set them in the middle (when temps matched coolant). It worked but was a pain in the ***, and you usually ruin the damn needle/gauge making this work. Honda dealers have expensive machines that can re-calibrate these needles at a pretty hefty price tag. So, stick with it being low .

 

Every honda I've been in has always been a lilll bit below middle.
shrug

 

normal