Honda Accord (1990 - 2002) Includes 1997 - 1999 Acura CL

Temp gauge at 3/4 mark when highway driving

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Old Jun 4, 2009 | 11:48 PM
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Paulie10's Avatar
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Default Temp gauge at 3/4 mark when highway driving

The temp gauge started running at the 3/4 mark (or slightly higher) recently.
I can drive it all day in city driving and the gauge stays at the 1/4 mark or drive it on the highway in the morning and it stays at 1/4 too. It's when I'm driving home from work, when it's hotter outside that the problem arises.
I replaced the thermostat with a 180-190 one which did not solve the problem so I bleed the coolant system and that seemed to help. The gauge was at the 1/4 mark for two days on the highway so I thought the problem was fixed. Yesterday afternoon the needle went up to the 3/4 mark again.
The gauge didn't jump up to that point but gradually increased. The gauge remained steady did not go a high as it had in the past and never went beyond the 3/4 mark as it had in the past.
Someone suggested putting in a 170 degree thermostat. The problem started when I noticed that I had a small leak in the radiator so I put in some of that liquid radiator sealer.
Could it be a partially blocked radiator, or something more serious like the water pump or main gasket? Thoughts?
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Old Jun 8, 2009 | 06:01 PM
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Default Re: Temp gauge at 3/4 mark when highway driving

I am having the same problem. i still can't figure it out. i took out the thermostat since its hot out and let the coolant flow steady. no more rising temp gauge. the only downside is that the temp gauge wont go up until you drive it for a few minutes. so warming up would take longer.
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Old Jun 8, 2009 | 06:12 PM
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Default Re: Temp gauge at 3/4 mark when highway driving

to the best of my knowledge, the car shouldnt be running at 1/4 anyway.. its supposed to be somewhere just under the half mark for normal operation...
I have no experience with those fix-a-leak products, but It is very possible that something important got blocked up..

What antifreeze/water mix are you using? I would try more water less antifreeze for some additional cooling ability..
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Old Jun 12, 2009 | 04:19 AM
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Default Re: Temp gauge at 3/4 mark when highway driving

I have a 95 and it has always ran at 1/4 and ive owned my car for almost 10 yrs. I had your problem a few yrs ago and changed the thermostat and it fixed the problem, havent had an issue since.
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Old Jun 13, 2009 | 12:00 PM
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Default Re: Temp gauge at 3/4 mark when highway driving

Yeah my 98 has run at 1/4 mark for nearly all its life.
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Old Jun 13, 2009 | 03:01 PM
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Default Re: Temp gauge at 3/4 mark when highway driving

hmmm, odd, i wonder if my JDM spec accord has a different thermostat then with the f20b2 engine.. higher compression maybe a bit more heat...

and dont chime in saying I dont have a JDM spec accord because I do... chasis designation CD4.. F20B2 (non vtec sohc) engine...

but yea, only time I ever saw my gague stay at quarter I was having alternator problems, and only time it got up over half, I had a thermostat problem and by extension overheating
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Old Jun 13, 2009 | 03:17 PM
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Default Re: Temp gauge at 3/4 mark when highway driving

Originally Posted by Paulie10
The temp gauge started running at the 3/4 mark (or slightly higher) recently.
I can drive it all day in city driving and the gauge stays at the 1/4 mark or drive it on the highway in the morning and it stays at 1/4 too. It's when I'm driving home from work, when it's hotter outside that the problem arises.
I replaced the thermostat with a 180-190 one which did not solve the problem so I bleed the coolant system and that seemed to help. The gauge was at the 1/4 mark for two days on the highway so I thought the problem was fixed. Yesterday afternoon the needle went up to the 3/4 mark again.
The gauge didn't jump up to that point but gradually increased. The gauge remained steady did not go a high as it had in the past and never went beyond the 3/4 mark as it had in the past.
Someone suggested putting in a 170 degree thermostat. The problem started when I noticed that I had a small leak in the radiator so I put in some of that liquid radiator sealer.
Could it be a partially blocked radiator, or something more serious like the water pump or main gasket? Thoughts?
Try more of a 3:2 mixture of water and antifreeze.
Why the **** would you pour something in your radiator? Wherever the coolant goes... that crap probably went to aswell. GG.
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