It only overheats in idle, never overheats when driving or on the highway going 70.

Car has 90k on the motor, so I will be changing the whole timing belt/waterpump soon... Im about to change the thermo because I believe its getting stuck.

If Im in idle, in park... and I see it start to slowly overheat...if I put my foot on the gas a little and rev the engine....the temperature guage starts to slowly go down.

Im going to change the thermo now, anything else it could be?

 

Just got done changing the thermo, and kept adding coolant to the radiator while bleeding it, and guess what

Car was on for 20 mins and didnt even BUDGE to overheat! I think I fixed the problem.

But I am not convinced yet 100% because this car wacks out sometimes.

Now I need:

-Timing Belt
-Waterpump
-All belts needed
-Driver side motor mount.

and I need to fix why my car is not starting sometimes.

 

ya your thermostat was just getting stuck is all. Cheap fix!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by krisfnbz &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

and I need to fix why my car is not starting sometimes.</TD></TR></TABLE>

prob the fuel pump relay, my old 92 did it, you can keep turning the key on and off til you here it click on and it starts.

 

Is the fuel pump relay the same as the main relay under the driver side dash right by the hood latch.

 

Was the fan not coming on while you sat at idle?

 

might want to get radiator flushed too... could be poor circulation and make sure the fans coming on...

 

yeah the fan was coming on...... so it wasnt the fan.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by krisfnbz &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Is the fuel pump relay the same as the main relay under the driver side dash right by the hood latch.</TD></TR></TABLE>

yes

 

cool thanks!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RonJ@HT &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

yes</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

Okay so I changed the thermo like 2 weeks ago and today is just started over heating again. I am changing the waterpump this week, along with the timing belt and etc....however...when the car overheats it does the same thing as before. It only overheats in idle, or when I am in traffic moving really slow.

If I am in idle, and it starts to go up... if I rev the engine a little it slowly goes down.

Its either the coolant has bad circulation somehow, water pump, or somethnig really bad like a blown head gasket, or cracked block.

Car has 90k original miles, and is a 1 owner before me.

Errrrr this is a pain!!!

 

Does the radiator fan run when the engine is hot?

 

yeah I think the fans are coming on.

 

If the radiator fan doesn't turn on, thats your problem, if it is then you will need a new radiator.

 

You NEED to know for sure that those fans are running! But I can see how it could be the water pump too. GL!

 

typically if I start my car and let it sit in idle from a cold start, about how long does it take for both fans to kick on? What is the sequence so I can check it tomorrow morning. I believe I do have 2 fans.

 

ones for ac, the otheres for the radiator, check the radiator fins, are most of the fins bent? if so just get a new radiator. just let it sit idle, if your car overheats without the fan turning on once, then its not working properly. If it turns on and still overheats, its the radiator.

 

Okay I will check that out. I just cant imagine that my head gasket or something serious would be blown. Just cant see that from a 90k civic with all original motor 1 owner before me.

 

Try the radiator fan swith as well. This happended to me and saved me some $$. If it not working your fan will not come on at the appropriate time. Also make sure the relay is good as well.

 

is the fan relay the same as the main relay(under the dash on drivers side), or is that different?