CRX no heat, rad smoking
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From: Illinois
CRX no heat, rad smoking
Well, I'm back again. 91 crx si zc.
A few months ago I changed the rad out and put in new hoses. As the weather got colder and colder I realized I didn't have heat. I've bled the system so many times now and it isn't even warm air. The car doesn't overheat.
Few days ago I broke the bleed screw and went about fixing it. While I was bleeding the car in the shop the rad fan did turn on and the bleed screw was throwing out tons of white steam/coolant( i wasn't sure which one and didn't feel like sniffing it because it was hot enough to burn my hand, which it did). I didn't get to finish the bleeding because I had to go back to school. Drove the car with no problems. Get home and now the radiator is smoking.
Problem is (sorry for that mini story up there) that the rad cap isn't hot and the smoke from the rad is coming from the fins. It is coolant because I can smell it. Car isn't overheating, but the smoke is noticeable. Still don't have heat btw and it's 14 degrees out. Oh and the rad fan isn't kicking on anymore.
Any idea how to go about stopping the radiator from burning that anti freeze? Could it be because I eyeballed my 50/50 ratio and used too much of one?
A few months ago I changed the rad out and put in new hoses. As the weather got colder and colder I realized I didn't have heat. I've bled the system so many times now and it isn't even warm air. The car doesn't overheat.
Few days ago I broke the bleed screw and went about fixing it. While I was bleeding the car in the shop the rad fan did turn on and the bleed screw was throwing out tons of white steam/coolant( i wasn't sure which one and didn't feel like sniffing it because it was hot enough to burn my hand, which it did). I didn't get to finish the bleeding because I had to go back to school. Drove the car with no problems. Get home and now the radiator is smoking.
Problem is (sorry for that mini story up there) that the rad cap isn't hot and the smoke from the rad is coming from the fins. It is coolant because I can smell it. Car isn't overheating, but the smoke is noticeable. Still don't have heat btw and it's 14 degrees out. Oh and the rad fan isn't kicking on anymore.
Any idea how to go about stopping the radiator from burning that anti freeze? Could it be because I eyeballed my 50/50 ratio and used too much of one?
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Re: CRX no heat, rad smoking
How did you bleed the car? Jack up the front of the car take the rad cap off and let the car run for a good 10-15 mins with the heat on blast. Sounds like you have a lot of air in the system. You could also have a clog somewhere in the system.
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From: Illinois
Re: CRX no heat, rad smoking
yea jacked the car up. Let it warm up with cap off. Coolant came to the top and ran off. Let it do that for maybe 10 minutes and set it down and opened the screw on the upper hose housing. Coolant shot out in a steady stream. Still no heat and fan still not kicking on. It is 18deg F so maybe it just won't.
The rad is still smoking quite a bit.
My teacher at the school/shop I go to used sealent on the housing when we put it back on so could that be causing the issue?
The rad is still smoking quite a bit.
My teacher at the school/shop I go to used sealent on the housing when we put it back on so could that be causing the issue?
Re: CRX no heat, rad smoking
If you have steam coming from the fins of the radiator, then there is a potential pin-hole leak somewhere in the radiator. Drive it for a while to make sure it isn't residual coolant that spilled when you changed it out. If you aren't getting heat, try back flushing your heater core.
One other factor: I remember driving my civic at highway speeds when it was 10 degrees out. I watched my temp gauge slowly go down to almost cold and I lost my heater. These motors aren't very big but they have big radiators, sometimes it's hard to keep them warm in very cold conditions.
One other factor: I remember driving my civic at highway speeds when it was 10 degrees out. I watched my temp gauge slowly go down to almost cold and I lost my heater. These motors aren't very big but they have big radiators, sometimes it's hard to keep them warm in very cold conditions.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jan 2012
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From: Illinois
Re: CRX no heat, rad smoking
If I have a leak in a new rad I'll be pissed. Could you link me to how I back flush the heater core? And what should I do if I find a leak?
It could be just left over coolant though. I spilled quite a bit. I'll have to endure a long cold drive to burn it out.
EDIT: I've been bleeding it so much. So cold out. I open the screw and coolant shoots out, but then it just stops. Eventually coolant comes back out but very little and lots of little air bubbles. Any faster way around this? I did run it with the cap off and jacked, but maybe not high enough?
The rad is still smoking and it smells like coolant. I don't see any leaks when it is warming up, or sitting there. The fins are extremely hot as well.
It could be just left over coolant though. I spilled quite a bit. I'll have to endure a long cold drive to burn it out.
EDIT: I've been bleeding it so much. So cold out. I open the screw and coolant shoots out, but then it just stops. Eventually coolant comes back out but very little and lots of little air bubbles. Any faster way around this? I did run it with the cap off and jacked, but maybe not high enough?
The rad is still smoking and it smells like coolant. I don't see any leaks when it is warming up, or sitting there. The fins are extremely hot as well.
Last edited by Burningrambo; Nov 24, 2013 at 02:50 PM.
Re: CRX no heat, rad smoking
If you have steam coming from the fins of the radiator, then there is a potential pin-hole leak somewhere in the radiator. Drive it for a while to make sure it isn't residual coolant that spilled when you changed it out. If you aren't getting heat, try back flushing your heater core.
One other factor: I remember driving my civic at highway speeds when it was 10 degrees out. I watched my temp gauge slowly go down to almost cold and I lost my heater. These motors aren't very big but they have big radiators, sometimes it's hard to keep them warm in very cold conditions.
One other factor: I remember driving my civic at highway speeds when it was 10 degrees out. I watched my temp gauge slowly go down to almost cold and I lost my heater. These motors aren't very big but they have big radiators, sometimes it's hard to keep them warm in very cold conditions.
Try using radiator flush. Coolant breaks down over time and can cause clogging with the gunk it leaves behind. Could potentially have clogged your heater tubes or something. Maybe pull them off and look at em.
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From: n.c.
Re: CRX no heat, rad smoking
if your car is parked and running and your heat never works wouldnt that mean you need a new heater core?
just find it odd that it hasnt been mentioned in this entire thread.
my fan rarely comes on, once during the summer after a ride I popped my hood for something and it came on and I was thrilled... so dont be shocked if it doesnt come on during the winter.
just find it odd that it hasnt been mentioned in this entire thread.
my fan rarely comes on, once during the summer after a ride I popped my hood for something and it came on and I was thrilled... so dont be shocked if it doesnt come on during the winter.
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Re: CRX no heat, rad smoking
if your car is parked and running and your heat never works wouldnt that mean you need a new heater core?
just find it odd that it hasnt been mentioned in this entire thread.
my fan rarely comes on, once during the summer after a ride I popped my hood for something and it came on and I was thrilled... so dont be shocked if it doesnt come on during the winter.
just find it odd that it hasnt been mentioned in this entire thread.
my fan rarely comes on, once during the summer after a ride I popped my hood for something and it came on and I was thrilled... so dont be shocked if it doesnt come on during the winter.
Re: CRX no heat, rad smoking
Different forum, but same website:
https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-civic-del-sol-1992-2000-1/how-fix-your-heater-blowing-cold-takes-forever-warm-up-3007254/
Hope it helps. Credits to OP of course.
https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-civic-del-sol-1992-2000-1/how-fix-your-heater-blowing-cold-takes-forever-warm-up-3007254/
Hope it helps. Credits to OP of course.
I've literally seen this thread pop up at least 5 times in the past week, figured I'd post this thread once and point people here instead of posting over and over.
Several possibilities, starting with the most common/easiest to fix:
1. You have air bubbles in your cooling system
Sometimes accompanied by your temperature gauge reading hot randomly.
Solution: Bleed the cooling system. This is my method, I'm sure there's a more "official" method which RonJ has posted, you'll have to search for that. EDIT: Found it for you https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-civic-del-sol-1992-2000-1/98-civic-ex-problem-my-heat-please-help-i-need-car-3006708/
A. When the car is cold, jack the front end up for best results. Remove the radiator cap, fill the radiator up with prediluted 50/50 coolant or mixture of your choice. I'd recommend against plain water.
B. Start the car with the cap off, turn the heater to hot and fan all the way up.
C. Watch as bubbles come out of the radiator, also squeeze the upper and lower radiator hose over and over, then do the same to the two heater hoses coming out of the firewall from the heater core.
D. Add coolant as needed to keep the radiator full
E. After the car is completely warmed up, shut it off. Fill the overflow tank to the line and put the radiator cap back on. You're done! See if your heater works now.
2. Your thermostat is stuck
This is a very common cause of your problem. When your car is warmed up, feel the lower radiator hose. It should be warm/hot, not cold. Sometimes the car overheats when going uphill - another sign of a bad thermostat.
Solution: Replace the thermostat
*Remove the negative cable from your battery and take off the intake*
A. Drain the coolant into a bucket, animals like to drink it and it kills them, so don't just drain it on the street
. There should be a drain plug on the bottom of your radiator. Location varies between models.
B. Locate the lower radiator hose going to the thermostat. Take the clamp off and slide the hose off.
C. Using a 10mm wrench/socket, take off the ground on the housing, followed by the two bolts.
D. remove the cover, there's your thermostat! Make note of how the seal is arranged on your old one before transferring it to your new one. *I removed the upper radiator hose at this time and used a garden hose to flush the block and radiator*
E. Installation is the opposite of removal. Remember to put the negative cable back on. Follow above guide for bleeding your cooling system.
3. Your heater valve/cable is broken/stuck
The valve is located by the firewall on the passenger side. You should see a cable going to it coming out from the firewall. Turn the heat setting to cold, make a mental note of the position of the cable. Turn the heat to hot and look again. If it didn't change positions then it's probably something on the climate control end. Does the temperature **** feel like it's really hard to move? That would be an indication of this problem.
Solution: Replace the valve/fix the cable as needed.
4. Your heater core is plugged
Solution: You're going to have to replace it, or try flushing it out. I've never done this, but from what I've read you have to remove the dash to replace the heater core. To flush it, there's a video in this thread that shows you how: https://honda-tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3006708
5. Your headgasket is bad
This would be accompanied by overheating/white smoke. Not having heat is the least of your worries at this point. There are several headgasket writeups if you search.
If anyone has anything to add I'd be happy to edit my post to include them.
Several possibilities, starting with the most common/easiest to fix:
1. You have air bubbles in your cooling system
Sometimes accompanied by your temperature gauge reading hot randomly.
Solution: Bleed the cooling system. This is my method, I'm sure there's a more "official" method which RonJ has posted, you'll have to search for that. EDIT: Found it for you https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-civic-del-sol-1992-2000-1/98-civic-ex-problem-my-heat-please-help-i-need-car-3006708/
A. When the car is cold, jack the front end up for best results. Remove the radiator cap, fill the radiator up with prediluted 50/50 coolant or mixture of your choice. I'd recommend against plain water.
B. Start the car with the cap off, turn the heater to hot and fan all the way up.
C. Watch as bubbles come out of the radiator, also squeeze the upper and lower radiator hose over and over, then do the same to the two heater hoses coming out of the firewall from the heater core.
D. Add coolant as needed to keep the radiator full
E. After the car is completely warmed up, shut it off. Fill the overflow tank to the line and put the radiator cap back on. You're done! See if your heater works now.
2. Your thermostat is stuck
This is a very common cause of your problem. When your car is warmed up, feel the lower radiator hose. It should be warm/hot, not cold. Sometimes the car overheats when going uphill - another sign of a bad thermostat.
Solution: Replace the thermostat
*Remove the negative cable from your battery and take off the intake*
A. Drain the coolant into a bucket, animals like to drink it and it kills them, so don't just drain it on the street
. There should be a drain plug on the bottom of your radiator. Location varies between models.B. Locate the lower radiator hose going to the thermostat. Take the clamp off and slide the hose off.
C. Using a 10mm wrench/socket, take off the ground on the housing, followed by the two bolts.
D. remove the cover, there's your thermostat! Make note of how the seal is arranged on your old one before transferring it to your new one. *I removed the upper radiator hose at this time and used a garden hose to flush the block and radiator*
E. Installation is the opposite of removal. Remember to put the negative cable back on. Follow above guide for bleeding your cooling system.
3. Your heater valve/cable is broken/stuck
The valve is located by the firewall on the passenger side. You should see a cable going to it coming out from the firewall. Turn the heat setting to cold, make a mental note of the position of the cable. Turn the heat to hot and look again. If it didn't change positions then it's probably something on the climate control end. Does the temperature **** feel like it's really hard to move? That would be an indication of this problem.
Solution: Replace the valve/fix the cable as needed.
4. Your heater core is plugged
Solution: You're going to have to replace it, or try flushing it out. I've never done this, but from what I've read you have to remove the dash to replace the heater core. To flush it, there's a video in this thread that shows you how: https://honda-tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3006708
5. Your headgasket is bad
This would be accompanied by overheating/white smoke. Not having heat is the least of your worries at this point. There are several headgasket writeups if you search.
If anyone has anything to add I'd be happy to edit my post to include them.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 68
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From: Illinois
Re: CRX no heat, rad smoking
Thanks Freeman.
I'll try to flush the the heater core, just need to find a way to not freeze my *** off doing this.
I know i could just check by getting the car hot, but that's slow and cold.
Which of the hoses to the core are the the in?
I'll try to flush the the heater core, just need to find a way to not freeze my *** off doing this.
I know i could just check by getting the car hot, but that's slow and cold.
Which of the hoses to the core are the the in?
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,326
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From: n.c.
Re: CRX no heat, rad smoking
get one of those little cig lighter heaters, as long as you leave it on as the car warms up it can keep the car warm.
replacing heater core = removing entire dash..... which sounds like you won't be doing if its too cold for you..
replacing heater core = removing entire dash..... which sounds like you won't be doing if its too cold for you..
Re: CRX no heat, rad smoking
That's quite the idea. It isn't easy to replace the heater core. It's not real hard either, but it will take some time and it's not something you can do inside the car easily.
Thread Starter
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From: Illinois
Re: CRX no heat, rad smoking
So The heat works again... I feel like a complete idiot. While I was looking at the hoses to see where to pull them off of I see the valve that controls the coolant and a cable. Except they weren't connected. The climate control came off the valve and it was stuck closed.
Moved it over and hooked it back up and heat was there in seconds.
Thanks for all your help everyone and I guess I learned some helpful stuff to use later on. Now all I need is a new resistor pack so I don't have to roast at 3 or 4 fan speed.
Moved it over and hooked it back up and heat was there in seconds.
Thanks for all your help everyone and I guess I learned some helpful stuff to use later on. Now all I need is a new resistor pack so I don't have to roast at 3 or 4 fan speed.
Re: CRX no heat, rad smoking
So The heat works again... I feel like a complete idiot. While I was looking at the hoses to see where to pull them off of I see the valve that controls the coolant and a cable. Except they weren't connected. The climate control came off the valve and it was stuck closed.
Moved it over and hooked it back up and heat was there in seconds.
Thanks for all your help everyone and I guess I learned some helpful stuff to use later on. Now all I need is a new resistor pack so I don't have to roast at 3 or 4 fan speed.
Moved it over and hooked it back up and heat was there in seconds.
Thanks for all your help everyone and I guess I learned some helpful stuff to use later on. Now all I need is a new resistor pack so I don't have to roast at 3 or 4 fan speed.
Yeah, that little paper clip that holds it there can come undone. Guess it's not the first thing that comes to mind because we all assume it is working. Glad you've fixed it. Definitely replace the resister so you can get all the fans speeds.
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