So ever since I pulled my em1 out of storage its hasnt been warming up properly. It gets to the "cold" line on the gauge and just sits there. With this happening vtec wont engage, I call it economy mode! lol.

Another thing, if I let the car sit and just idle for a while, it will creep up to about 1/4 up the temp gauge, then vtec will engage.

Now I do live in MN and the temps have been pretty frigid here, but it started doing this when the temp was still about 50-60 degrees.

Anyone ever ran into this? Sticking thermostat perhaps?

 

Replace the thermostat. I recently had the same problem for my 97 Civic. An internal rubber seal came loose and was holding the thermostat open.

 

I was thinking that would be the first shot at fixing this.

 

Thanks for your help!

 

Yeah definitley the thermostat. Under $20 at your Honda dealer, comes with a new gasket.

 

also, make sure to go with the oem thermostat, they are superior and made to handle the high pressure of a Honda cooling system giving a life of 10 years plus