1996 honda accord lx
230,000 miles
2.2 4cyl

Is it normal for the temp gauge to rise at idle in these hotter summer months with the ac on full blast?

Usually my temp gauge stays at the halfway mark of cold and halfway. Lately, it will rise to the halfway mark when it's hotter outside and only when the ac is on full blast. As soon as I take off, it goes back to "normal".

I've replaced:
Thermostat
Thermostat gasket
Radiator cap
Thermo switch
Known good driver fan
Relay functions fine
Both fans come on when ac is on full blast

In the past 4 years of owning the car, it hasn't went up ever but I'm hearing temp gauges can go up bc of full max ac, idle and hot days.

 

In my experience the factory temp gauge is junk. The only way to get an accurate read on the temp is with an aftermarket gauge.

 

wen u use the ac the condenser gets hot which is near radiator...perhaps ur radiator is blocked....either internally or externally


Posted from Honda-tech.com App for Android

 

make sure both fans are running together at all times when they come on


Posted from Honda-tech.com App for Android

 

I was in a fender bender right before all this happened. Guy literally backed right into me at a stop light. Needless to say he was in a HUGE truck. I thought I only had cosmetic damage. Now I'm seeing it was the radiator that took the hit.

 

you may have blown the fan relay if the fan is being stopped from moving then this will blow the fuse or relay.

 

The fans work fine. I'm thinking that the radiator is bent or damaged from the wreck. For a new radiator + install it is going to be $165

 

replace it yourself its easy


Posted from Honda-tech.com App for Android