Looked through info on overheating after my CRX started to a couple of days ago. The fans work fine and we thought it might be the thermostat, but when we removed the housing it turned out there isn't one in the car. Does that mean it has to be the water pump? What else should I look for?

Thx

 

id check the water pump but that is just me

 

if not the waterpump then i suspect a blown head gasket.

 

yeh sounds about right

 

Or poor circulation ie blocked radiator, or low coolant levels.

 

Read in another thread that you should be able to look down in the radiator and see the coolant moving when the car's running. We didn't see any and the radiator is brand new. The old one was cracked and the guys we bought it from installed the new one the day we bought it. They filled it up with coolant, but now that I think about it doesn't seem like they checked anything just put a jug and a half in. Would that not be enough? It made it back to Northeast OK from Dallas just fine. It's my Autox car so its not driven everyday tho. It was fine the few times we drove it before yesterday.

The motor was rebuilt less than 1k miles ago so I don't think its the head gasket.

 

WTF!!! We put in an OE thermostat and fuel filter. Went to start the car and nothing but a electric whizzing sound. The motor should crank over without either of those right? We couldn't see any wires loose.

 

Most cars overheat without a thermostat. the coolant will be flowing fast enough that the coolant doesnt have enough time to absorb any heat.

Your car isnt starting because you probably bumped the starter's wires, or you failed to check teh ground wire that is attached to the back of the thermostat housing.

Hondas can be very picky about how they function when their grounds have been disturbed or altered.

 

Also, a bad waterpump will leak through its housing's peep hole.

This peep hole is to make sure the cooling system doesnt get over pressurized, wther from a clog, or from getting super hot and boiling, causing coolant expansion


I suggest turning the steering wheel all the way to the left, putting the tranny into neutral, and using a breaker bar and socket to turn the motor over.

Remove the spark plugs to make it easier.

Listen for any grinding noises, or weird instances of hard to turn. A bad waterpump can sometimes seize, or get off axis and start grinding into itself

 

Got the car started again, let it idle for about 5 min. The radiator and hoes that goes to the thermostat remained cool to the touch and the temp gauge stayed at mid. We're bout to go drive it around the block.


*Edit*
Yep not the thermostat. The car started to overheat again down the street. Again the hoes was cool. Does this mean water pump or clogged hoes?

 

Well the hose that has coolant exiting the radiator should be cooler to touch than the hose with water exiting the block.

I'd say it's a flow issue, caused by either a blockage or a bad waterpump.

 

Yeah by cool I mean you can leave your hands wrapped around it for as long as you want lol.