'99 Civic EX

Has brand new radiator and hoses. Tuned up recently. Fairly new AC also. New radiator cap too.

When I use the AC, I get cold air from the vents and I can actually see the cold air coming out, has sweet smell. Frost builds around the vents. But the stranger thing is that a day or two later my car overheats and the top hose bursts and the neck under the radiator cap melts. This has happened twice and I have not used the AC since and it runs fine.

I want my AC back and mechanics keep telling me to replace the radiator. I did it twice and they say to do the same, I'm not going to do this once a week!

 

Mileage on the car?

Compression check?

Fan activating?

 

Your A/C should have nothing to do with the cooling system. If your radiator is blowing, your car may be overheating due to the fan not coming on, or aggravating a blown HG.

I agree with the above advice in that maybe you should try a compression test and try verifying that the A/C fan comes on.

 

Mileage is ~197K

Compression check was done after 2nd install and I was told it was fine.

Fan activates.

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Also, my temp meter is at the 1/2 mark now after the first blow, it used to be at or below the 1/4 mark.

There might be some electrical problems because I had noob Circuity City install my alarm system, which has to stay off now because it will go off when I want to disarm it. When I went to CC to get it fixed (lifetime warranty) they asked for the instructions manual. I gave it to them and they said they can't fix it because there is no info in it on how to. What a rip off. (Crystal Lake, IL CC btw)

 

Ewww........ that sounds sketchy to me. Talk to a manager. Get the car checked out at a dealer and make sure they know that if they screwed something up, they're going to pay for it.

 

Have you replaced the water pump since you have had the car?

It may or may not have anything to do with the overheating problem, but at that mileage it would be best to replace that along with the timing belt since its off.

 

Just my imput. Not sure if it will help or not.

I'd flush out the anti freeze/coolent system and check the thermostat.

 

yeah i would check the thermostat....

a/c fans comming on?

radiator fan comming on?

 

Timing belt, thermostat and head gasket was replaced about 10K miles ago. System was flushed at time of both radiator replacements. All the fans come on. In addition the thermostat was replaced twice because the first one locked up.

I can't get any warranty service because I had a friend do the work and he moved out of state. So I'm screwed there. I trust him because he's been doing this for a long time, but that doesn't always mean he's all that good I guess.

I do get a check engine light that comes on having to do with an O2 sensor. Haven't replaced it because I'm told it's from the Ingen air intake.

The car also hesitates from time to time when I accelerate. Used some recommended fuel cleaner and it's a lil better.

My baby's dieing and she shouldn't be!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by civicluver &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Timing belt, thermostat and head gasket was replaced about 10K miles ago. System was flushed at time of both radiator replacements. All the fans come on. In addition the thermostat was replaced twice because the first one locked up.

I can't get any warranty service because I had a friend do the work and he moved out of state. So I'm screwed there. I trust him because he's been doing this for a long time, but that doesn't always mean he's all that good I guess.

I do get a check engine light that comes on having to do with an O2 sensor. Haven't replaced it because I'm told it's from the Ingen air intake.

The car also hesitates from time to time when I accelerate. Used some recommended fuel cleaner and it's a lil better.

My baby's dieing and she shouldn't be!</TD></TR></TABLE>

when you say that the fans are coming on, how are checking? and are they coming on when the a/c is on? how about when it's off?

this sounds like a fan or switch problem.

 

clogged heater core?

 

AC Fan - Last checked before radiator blew for the 2nd time. Never turned the AC on again. It did turn on here and there. Not constant.

Rad. Fan - Turns on after revving the engine for a little bit and I can hear it turn on when I idle while on the road.

How/where do I find/check this switch and heater core?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by civicluver &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">AC Fan - Last checked before radiator blew for the 2nd time. Never turned the AC on again. It did turn on here and there. Not constant.

Rad. Fan - Turns on after revving the engine for a little bit and I can hear it turn on when I idle while on the road.

How/where do I find/check this switch and heater core?</TD></TR></TABLE>

hmmm...your fan should be running constant when the a/c is on, both the condensor and the radiator fan.

and you shouldn't have to rev for the radiator fan to turn on. your problem lies in the fans, temp switch, or the relay.

 

Thanks much guys! I'll have them checked out.