1992 Accord LX automatic...

I noticed steam coming from under the hood at a stop light this morning and pulled over to investigate. The temp gage was pegged, but had gone down in the safe zone by the time I pulled out of traffic. The car was running as smooth as ever, so I wasn't too concerned about the headgasket etc.

I popped the hood, and although it was still kind of dark I could see that the steam appeared to coming from an area between the end of the head and the tranny and was under high pressure. The steam seemed to be shooting up, and from what I could tell, wasn't coming from the large hose that runs over this area.

I let it cool down, bought a gallon of water from the store who's lot I was in, topped the radiator off, then continued about 5 more miles to work, shutting the engine down at stoplights. The temp remained normal the rest of the way to work, and the car ran fine, so again, not real concerned about the head. When I got to work I popped the hood again and there were no signs of the blow-out; everything appeared to be normal. Of course I'm at work and haven't had time to examine anything further.

My questions:
1) Are there any small coolant lines that run low across the top of the transmission near the block?
2) Is it possible that the coolant runs through the autotrans in these cars? Never heard of a water-cooled transmission, but I suppose it's possible...
3) Some vehicles have freeze plugs on the block inside the bell housing, please tell me Hondas don't...

Any other ideas?

 

There are two engine coolant temperature sensors (EGT) screwed into the head under the distributor just above the transmission if that is the same area that you are talking about....it could be one of those.

 

Hmm, thanks, yea that's the area, so strong possibility. That might also explain the erratic behavior of the temp gauge during the initial episode... did I mention that? It went down from the pegged position then up a couple of times, between the time I pulled out of traffic and across the parking lot.

 

It could very well explain that problem. It may have blown the seal around the sensor wire and the fitting shorting out the sensor????? They are a bit of a pain in the **** to get at good look at without a mechanics mirror or removing some of the top half of the engine compartment.... Intake tube, lower rad hose..etc. etc.