I've owned my 97 accord lx for about 3 years now and I finally replaced the temp sender the other day and got the gauge working for the first time since I've owned it. It's warmed up here now and been in the mid 70's most days and what I've noticed is while driving slow thru town (around 30mph) and occasionally stopping at stop lights, my temp guage rises pretty close to the red. Out on the highway it's always just below the middle mark. Should I be concerned if it's already getting that high just in the 70's outside? What happens when it gets in the 90's and 100's? Is it just a gauge misreading or should I be concerned?

 

Thats not normal. Sounds like either one fan isnt working or both arent.

You will need to idle the car and when the gauge starts going above the middle point quickly look at the fans and note which ones, if any, arent working.

You could also be low on fluid.

 

I've checked and the fluid is full in the radiator and reservoir. I'll try what you suggested after school today. I don't know how long it's done this since the gauge has been inoperable all this time so I hope it hasn't screwed something up.

 

UPDATE: I let the gauge read just above the middle mark and only one fan was on at idle (as seen in the pic).

 

If you have a VOM, unhok the plug fo rthe fan. Then check the side going to the car for 12V. If you have 12V and the fan isnt woking. Then the fan needs repalced. If theres no 12V, then i would check the relay, see if it is working.

 

UPDATE: Thanks for the help ya'll, turned out to be a bad fan motor. Oreilly's had the entire housing for just a little more than just the motor, so I got that and hooked up, now everything works great. Thanks again!