hey, i have a 93 hatch and it is a bugger to get the coolant to circulate through the engine for it to not overheat when the thermostate is out.

when i put a new thermostate in it would not circulate and it will overhead if you drive it for 3-10 minutes.

i bleed it so all that is coming out is coolant but it still does it.
(it is also surging since i tryed to fix this problem)

i was told it could be the waterpump.
or the holes in the block could be plugged from a old head gasket
(previous owner installed)

does anyone have suggestions or previous experience with this problem.

thanks alot!

 

First of all if it's surging you didn't fix the problem.

The reason it's surging is because you've got air in the cooling system still. The engine uses temperature of the coolant running through the IACV to sense what RPM it needs to idle at. When you get air in the system it is unable to read correctly.

Are you sure you installed the thermostat correctly? Did you first flush the system out before installing the new thermostat? Did you use Honda/Acura Type II coolant? Are you sure you know what you're doing?

 

Have you tried a coolant flush. Prestone makes a flush fluid. And you can do it a couple times till it cleans up the system. I did it twice and I had rust and gunk coming out. Now it doesn't over heat

 

flushes - yes
installed correctly - yes
honda fluid - no

there is a bleed screw coming off the head with a hose going to the radiator .. i opened that a bit and all tjhat was comnig out for awhile was coolant.

another thing i have to add. the hose going from the radiator to the thermostat does not heat up. i was told it should if prestone is going through it.

and im not a professional .. that is all i have to say.

 

Are you sure you flushed it correctly?

When I flush mine I always remove the upper radiator hose and run the garden hose through the radiator and let it circulate through the radiator, engine, heater core, then back out through the upper radiator hose. After I see clean and clear water coming out I then put in my flushing chemical and run it through for about 10-15 minutes. After that I flush it out with the hose again, then let it run again for 10-15 minutes. After that I flush it out once more, drain the system, then start refilling with coolant. Your best bet is to leave the upper radiator hose off when flushing, this way that you're pushing all the air out of the system too. When I started filling mine back up with coolant I left the upper radiator hose off until I saw pure coolant coming out, not just water. Then I put the hose back on and let it bleed through the screw for a good 10 minutes just to make sure it had bled properly. Mine surged until all the air was out of the system, and after that I never had a problem with it surging again.

Are you sure you installed the thermostat correctly? If you did, which way did you face the pin?

If the hose from the radiator to the thermostat does not heat up then either your thermostat is stuck open or you've got a restriction in the radiator or hose. The upper radiator hose will start getting hot once the thermostat is open all the way and the car reaches operating temperature.

 

its the bottom radiator hose thats not heating up. and the pin is facing towards myself when i put it in.

 

like. it is flate and the "bulge" is on the other side .. the inside of the thermostate. if you know what i mean.

 

flat*

 

You have air in the system you need to open the rad cap start the car and let it run until the tstat opens the cooling fan should come on at this time. once this happens add more coolant and re install the rad cap. There is a funnel kit made for this job and makes things a lot less messy. here is what I am talking about. Make sure you get one that will fit the honda rad neck.
http://www.amazon.com/Lisle-22150-Sp.../dp/B0002SR6WK

 

The pin should be facing straight up and the gasket has a notch in it for the pin also.

If you replaced the thermostat properly and flushed the system and it still overheats you've got a bigger issue. It's possible that the head gasket is blown or the water pump is not circulating the coolant properly or you've got something plugging the system up (radiator core corroded, etc.).

 

I doubt it's your head gasket, Try this. Open your radiator cap and let the coolant run. then rev it and if coolant does not shoot out as the revs get higher then your water pump is a piece of poo, now the reason i don't understand is it shouldn't overheat without a thermostat, but try this first.