Hi guys.

I have a UK 2000 plate Accord 2L SE Exec.

While driving on Friday evening I noticed the temp start to drop quite quickly on the gauge. (it was freezing outside lol) I turned the heaters off and the temp went back up. but not to the point it normally does. (always sit constant just below halfway)
Over the weekend I have done a couple of really small trips and engine seems to take slightly longer to warm up and doesn't seem to get to the same point, it sits a couple of clicks below - between 1/4 and half. Strange thing is car drives great. This morning I noticed a sweet smell from the exhaust which has me worried. Also checked the coolant reservoir and that is on min level, is this normal?

Just spoke to Honda and they think head gasket due to smell from exhaust. (If so car is a write off as not worth enough to repair) I'm just confused as the car has always had constant temp when running. If coolant leak I would have thought temp would go up. His response was that the temp sender unit could have failed as well???

Clutching at straws here...

I would be grateful for any pointers.

 

If its the head gasket you will have oil in the anti-freeze. So check your fluids and that will tell you right there if its the head gasket or something else.

 

Head gasket failure can manifest itself in many directions not just oil in antifreeze. You can have antifreeze in the oil, exhaust gases in the antifree, loss of compression between 2 adjacent cylinders or outwards, etc. Recommend getting a leak down test for starters and then pressure testing the cooling system.

 

Wow....

How about just putting a new t-stat in the car and see what you have from there ? .

OE stats are the best IMHO.

Too much "gloom and doom" going on here,,,,,

 

Agreed, check to make sure coolant system is full and bled off. Then make sure you thermostat is actually present and in good working condition.