My car is overheating during normal driving, moments after it has been turned on....

Any Ideas on where to start?

Plenty of fluid in the radiator...so the obvious is covered....

TIA

 

Thermostat?

 

I dunno because if I'm at a light, the temp doesn't fluxuate...

 

If your thermostat is bad, it shouldn't cause your temp to fluctuate at all. It should either stay very cool or overheat quickly. It sounds to me like your thermostat is not opening. Hope that helps.

 

Actually.. if the t-stat is not opening it would make the temp guage fluctuate.. But I would guess that would all depend on the location of the coolant temp sending unit
and also the ambient air temperature...
Being that it is August you shouldn't see as much as a fluctuation as you would in the winter months.. so , don't rule out the t-stat yet....

 

Ok...I'll check that tommarrow.....

couple things...
1. just put new plugs in...although I don't see how that would affect it..they are colder than stock....
2. Car is about due for a new water pump...75k miles on it now

 

didn't think so...but it was wierd how the problem started up right after I installed em....

I'll check out the thermo tommarrow..and I need to flush my coolent anyway...nows a good time...I'll let you know how it turns out.

What are some signs that the water pump is going bad?

 

BTW car is fine while driving, but overheats when stopped at lights

 

I planned on changing it this month...but I didn't want to do it right now....

I'll check the other things first w/ my fingers crossed

 

 

Is your electric fan commin on? Either the fan/fan switch or thermostat is bad.

 

mileage tells me your waterpump is still the factory OEM..
If the waterpump is bad, you would definately notice a considerable noise..
Check the radiator for any debris in the elements..
Make sure the cooling fan is working properly..
And for ***** and giggles, replace the t-stat.. : )

 

is the fan turning on at a stop?

 

hmm I'll get back to ya on that, to tired to go drive right now...

How much do thermostats run anyway?

 

Ok update time.....checked the fan, thermostat, water pump all seem to check out...however the fluid in the radiator had dropped considerably topped it off and the car is fine...now the big question...

Where is the coolant going...no leaks, so I must be burning it....

Headgasket?

How can I check the headgasket besides a compression test?

 

Thats it, compression check. But don't get upset, if you blew it out, then it's time to get that "SUPER TURBO REBUILD" that everyone wants to be able to afford. good luck finding out what is wrong.

 

compression test goes down tommarrow...I'll keep you guys posted

 

So what is the deal after the compression test?
I am having some colling trouble myself, I am thinking headgasket as well.

 

Compression test is inaccurate for coolant leak problems, don't go there..

If you have followed the above and still have not come up w/ an answer..

Do a visual check for a a coolant/oil leak at the headgasket, concentrate on the intake side of the head..

You can do a coolant pressure check as well, this will identify a problem more accurately than a compression test, but may also create more of a leak as well if not done carefully....

 

I had a very similar problem. I have a GSR in my 92 Hatch and i kept the original radiator. Well,.. It began to overheat just as you describe. I replaced the thermo with a 20 degree colder one but that didnt help either. I did a pressure test and it was fine so i ended up just replacing the radiotor with an OEM Del Sol VTEC replacement from Radiators.COM. it's a dual core unit with metal endcaps (as opposed to the shitty plastic ones from Honda).

That fixed the problem completely. No more overheating. Extended 90+MPH runs in 90 degree weather and the temperature gauge doesn't even move. The old radiator must have been badly clogged.

The best thing is that the replacement rad only cost me $130.

Good Luck!

Mike

 

do you have a repair manual for your car?
I just recently told my girl to check leaks on the headers. Her Mazda 323 was overheating after a few hours of driving. I told her I'd get to it. Try to check it. I have an '88 supra T, which was overheating like heck, until we found out that one, the radiator hose was no good, two, the head gasket was practically blasted, then the bad thing happened, I found out that my whole block was mixing oil and water, this was because my whole block needed to be rebuilt. My parents ended up paying for it, to be rebuilt in my uncle's machine shop. There goes $1,500...

All I'm saying is, before it gets worse, get it diagnosed.
It could be, the radiator, bad thermostat, blown head gasket, etc.