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#1
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93 civic temp gauge is rising - please help
I have been having a problem with my Honda Civic DX for the past few
months, since the spring weather got warm. My usual commute was about 40 miles highway (65 to 70 mph), then about 5 miles of stop-and-go traffic in town. Once I got into town, and sat at a stop light, my temp gauge will start to climb either while I was stopped or when I accelerated. Turning the heat on full-blast would cause the temp gauge to fall back to its "normal" position. I have also found that if I leave the heat vents in the open position while driving, the temp gauge will stay at its "normal" position (but this is not fun in the summer). As I stated, I first noticed this problem in the spring, and I am guessing it is because I had turned the heat down lower than it was set in the winter months (I live in Pennsylvania). Outside ambient temprature also seems to have an effect on the situation; the only time the temp gauge has risen when I was not doing long distance driving (I was just running down to the conveinence store 2 mi from my place) was thus: I had the heat vents closed, and was stopped at a stop light (one with a particularly long cycle). I accelerated when it went green, making a left turn going up hill. The temp gauge shot up. I turned the heat on full-blast, and it wen back to its "normal" position. This was on a rather hot July day. My car is currently spending the night at the local dealership. They had it all day today, and could not even duplicate the inital problem: they can't get the temp gauge to rise past its "normal" position. They are going to keep it another day to try to solve the mystery. They reported to me 3 things: 1) the fans are coming on, 2) the pressure for the cooling system checks out ok and 3) the coolant was low (whether this was in the resivor or radiator I am not certain, but will ask tomorrow when I call them). Let me give a bit more background about the car. She is a 93 Civic DX automatic. I bought her in 2003 when she had 100k miles on her. The timing belt was new, and the water pump was replaced shortly after I purchased her (someone had installed it incorrectly, leading to a coolant leak). I have had the car in for services 2x since then, both times with a trusted mechanic/dealership: the first service was at 105k, and the second at 120k (last October). The car currently has about 132k on her. The oil was last changed (and fluids checked and topped off) in May. Since the middle of May, my commute has been severely cut (I teach, so I am off in the summer), so I am not putting many miles on the car right now, just short trips around town; this past schoolyear, I was putting between 80 and 100 miles per day on her. I have done some reading up about similar problems others have experienced with their Hondas, and came up with a few possibilities: a plugged rad, a blown head gasket, a bad thermostat, and a timing belt and water pump that need replaced. I am hoping maybe someone will read this post, and have other ideas about what is going on with my car, or maybe someone who has experienced the same problem can post something helpful. The mechanic at the dealership seemed to think replacing the thermostat would help, as he has seen a similar problem in another Honda before, and that seemed to cure it; but I don't think that explains why the coolant would be low. |
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93 civic temp gauge is rising - please help
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#3
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93 civic temp gauge is rising - please help
> wrote in message oups.com... >I have been having a problem with my Honda Civic DX for the >past few > months, since the spring weather got warm. My usual > commute was about > 40 miles highway (65 to 70 mph), then about 5 miles of > stop-and-go > traffic in town. Once I got into town, and sat at a stop > light, my > temp gauge will start to climb either while I was stopped > or when I > accelerated. Turning the heat on full-blast would cause > the temp gauge > to fall back to its "normal" position. I have also found > that if I > leave the heat vents in the open position while driving, > the temp gauge > will stay at its "normal" position (but this is not fun in > the summer). > As I stated, I first noticed this problem in the spring, > and I am > guessing it is because I had turned the heat down lower > than it was set > in the winter months (I live in Pennsylvania). > > Outside ambient temprature also seems to have an effect on > the > situation; the only time the temp gauge has risen when I > was not doing > long distance driving (I was just running down to the > conveinence store > 2 mi from my place) was thus: I had the heat vents > closed, and was > stopped at a stop light (one with a particularly long > cycle). I > accelerated when it went green, making a left turn going > up hill. The > temp gauge shot up. I turned the heat on full-blast, and > it wen back > to its "normal" position. This was on a rather hot July > day. > > My car is currently spending the night at the local > dealership. They > had it all day today, and could not even duplicate the > inital problem: > they can't get the temp gauge to rise past its "normal" > position. They > are going to keep it another day to try to solve the > mystery. They > reported to me 3 things: 1) the fans are coming on, 2) > the pressure > for the cooling system checks out ok and 3) the coolant > was low > (whether this was in the resivor or radiator I am not > certain, but will > ask tomorrow when I call them). > > Let me give a bit more background about the car. She is a > 93 Civic DX > automatic. I bought her in 2003 when she had 100k miles > on her. The > timing belt was new, and the water pump was replaced > shortly after I > purchased her (someone had installed it incorrectly, > leading to a > coolant leak). I have had the car in for services 2x > since then, both > times with a trusted mechanic/dealership: the first > service was at > 105k, and the second at 120k (last October). The car > currently has > about 132k on her. The oil was last changed (and fluids > checked and > topped off) in May. Since the middle of May, my commute > has been > severely cut (I teach, so I am off in the summer), so I am > not putting > many miles on the car right now, just short trips around > town; this > past schoolyear, I was putting between 80 and 100 miles > per day on her. > > I have done some reading up about similar problems others > have > experienced with their Hondas, and came up with a few > possibilities: a > plugged rad, a blown head gasket, a bad thermostat, and a > timing belt > and water pump that need replaced. I am hoping maybe > someone will read > this post, and have other ideas about what is going on > with my car, or > maybe someone who has experienced the same problem can > post something > helpful. The mechanic at the dealership seemed to think > replacing the > thermostat would help, as he has seen a similar problem in > another > Honda before, and that seemed to cure it; Give them a tad more credit: Thermostats do fail, and your car is old enough for it to do so. Failure most certainly does typically cause overheating. Replacing it is inexpensive and also preventative. > but I don't think that > explains why the coolant would be low. Right, that may be just normal consumption of coolant. A little is lost from the cooling system over time and between coolant changes. Do not let the temperature gage climb into the red zone. Pull over if you must and let the car cool down. Overheating the engine can cause more expensive damage. That the system passed a pressure test is a good sign. You might also inquire about the dealer testing the coolant chemistry for combustion gases. This too is a tipoff that a head gasket etc. has failed. You've done good research. I know there are many sites that discuss head gasket breaches. Read them carefully and look for the symptoms, since it's about the worst case scenario here. Hopefully it is just the thermostat. In the alternative, the radiator may indeed be partly clogged or require a good cleaning. Updates are welcome, to help others. |
#5
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93 civic temp gauge is rising - please help
Elle wrote: > > wrote in message > oups.com... > >I have been having a problem with my Honda Civic DX for the > >past few > > months, since the spring weather got warm. My usual > > commute was about > > 40 miles highway (65 to 70 mph), then about 5 miles of > > stop-and-go > > traffic in town. Once I got into town, and sat at a stop > > light, my > > temp gauge will start to climb either while I was stopped > > or when I > > accelerated. Turning the heat on full-blast would cause > > the temp gauge > > to fall back to its "normal" position. I have also found > > that if I > > leave the heat vents in the open position while driving, > > the temp gauge > > will stay at its "normal" position (but this is not fun in > > the summer). > > As I stated, I first noticed this problem in the spring, > > and I am > > guessing it is because I had turned the heat down lower > > than it was set > > in the winter months (I live in Pennsylvania). > > > > Outside ambient temprature also seems to have an effect on > > the > > situation; the only time the temp gauge has risen when I > > was not doing > > long distance driving (I was just running down to the > > conveinence store > > 2 mi from my place) was thus: I had the heat vents > > closed, and was > > stopped at a stop light (one with a particularly long > > cycle). I > > accelerated when it went green, making a left turn going > > up hill. The > > temp gauge shot up. I turned the heat on full-blast, and > > it wen back > > to its "normal" position. This was on a rather hot July > > day. > > > > My car is currently spending the night at the local > > dealership. They > > had it all day today, and could not even duplicate the > > inital problem: > > they can't get the temp gauge to rise past its "normal" > > position. They > > are going to keep it another day to try to solve the > > mystery. They > > reported to me 3 things: 1) the fans are coming on, 2) > > the pressure > > for the cooling system checks out ok and 3) the coolant > > was low > > (whether this was in the resivor or radiator I am not > > certain, but will > > ask tomorrow when I call them). > > > > Let me give a bit more background about the car. She is a > > 93 Civic DX > > automatic. I bought her in 2003 when she had 100k miles > > on her. The > > timing belt was new, and the water pump was replaced > > shortly after I > > purchased her (someone had installed it incorrectly, > > leading to a > > coolant leak). I have had the car in for services 2x > > since then, both > > times with a trusted mechanic/dealership: the first > > service was at > > 105k, and the second at 120k (last October). The car > > currently has > > about 132k on her. The oil was last changed (and fluids > > checked and > > topped off) in May. Since the middle of May, my commute > > has been > > severely cut (I teach, so I am off in the summer), so I am > > not putting > > many miles on the car right now, just short trips around > > town; this > > past schoolyear, I was putting between 80 and 100 miles > > per day on her. > > > > I have done some reading up about similar problems others > > have > > experienced with their Hondas, and came up with a few > > possibilities: a > > plugged rad, a blown head gasket, a bad thermostat, and a > > timing belt > > and water pump that need replaced. I am hoping maybe > > someone will read > > this post, and have other ideas about what is going on > > with my car, or > > maybe someone who has experienced the same problem can > > post something > > helpful. The mechanic at the dealership seemed to think > > replacing the > > thermostat would help, as he has seen a similar problem in > > another > > Honda before, and that seemed to cure it; > > Give them a tad more credit: Thermostats do fail, and your > car is old enough for it to do so. Failure most certainly > does typically cause overheating. Replacing it is > inexpensive and also preventative. > > > but I don't think that > > explains why the coolant would be low. > > Right, that may be just normal consumption of coolant. A > little is lost from the cooling system over time and between > coolant changes. > > Do not let the temperature gage climb into the red zone. > Pull over if you must and let the car cool down. Overheating > the engine can cause more expensive damage. > > That the system passed a pressure test is a good sign. You > might also inquire about the dealer testing the coolant > chemistry for combustion gases. This too is a tipoff that a > head gasket etc. has failed. > > You've done good research. I know there are many sites that > discuss head gasket breaches. Read them carefully and look > for the symptoms, since it's about the worst case scenario > here. > > Hopefully it is just the thermostat. In the alternative, the > radiator may indeed be partly clogged or require a good > cleaning. > > Updates are welcome, to help others. Thank you so much, this helps to clarify why the coolant would be low and the thermostat not working. I will definately update over the next few days. |
#6
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93 civic temp gauge is rising - please help
wrote:
> Elle wrote: > > > wrote in message > > oups.com... > > >I have been having a problem with my Honda Civic DX for the > > >past few > > > months, since the spring weather got warm. My usual > > > commute was about > > > 40 miles highway (65 to 70 mph), then about 5 miles of > > > stop-and-go > > > traffic in town. Once I got into town, and sat at a stop > > > light, my > > > temp gauge will start to climb either while I was stopped > > > or when I > > > accelerated. Turning the heat on full-blast would cause > > > the temp gauge > > > to fall back to its "normal" position. I have also found > > > that if I > > > leave the heat vents in the open position while driving, > > > the temp gauge > > > will stay at its "normal" position (but this is not fun in > > > the summer). > > > As I stated, I first noticed this problem in the spring, > > > and I am > > > guessing it is because I had turned the heat down lower > > > than it was set > > > in the winter months (I live in Pennsylvania). > > > > > > Outside ambient temprature also seems to have an effect on > > > the > > > situation; the only time the temp gauge has risen when I > > > was not doing > > > long distance driving (I was just running down to the > > > conveinence store > > > 2 mi from my place) was thus: I had the heat vents > > > closed, and was > > > stopped at a stop light (one with a particularly long > > > cycle). I > > > accelerated when it went green, making a left turn going > > > up hill. The > > > temp gauge shot up. I turned the heat on full-blast, and > > > it wen back > > > to its "normal" position. This was on a rather hot July > > > day. > > > > > > My car is currently spending the night at the local > > > dealership. They > > > had it all day today, and could not even duplicate the > > > inital problem: > > > they can't get the temp gauge to rise past its "normal" > > > position. They > > > are going to keep it another day to try to solve the > > > mystery. They > > > reported to me 3 things: 1) the fans are coming on, 2) > > > the pressure > > > for the cooling system checks out ok and 3) the coolant > > > was low > > > (whether this was in the resivor or radiator I am not > > > certain, but will > > > ask tomorrow when I call them). > > > > > > Let me give a bit more background about the car. She is a > > > 93 Civic DX > > > automatic. I bought her in 2003 when she had 100k miles > > > on her. The > > > timing belt was new, and the water pump was replaced > > > shortly after I > > > purchased her (someone had installed it incorrectly, > > > leading to a > > > coolant leak). I have had the car in for services 2x > > > since then, both > > > times with a trusted mechanic/dealership: the first > > > service was at > > > 105k, and the second at 120k (last October). The car > > > currently has > > > about 132k on her. The oil was last changed (and fluids > > > checked and > > > topped off) in May. Since the middle of May, my commute > > > has been > > > severely cut (I teach, so I am off in the summer), so I am > > > not putting > > > many miles on the car right now, just short trips around > > > town; this > > > past schoolyear, I was putting between 80 and 100 miles > > > per day on her. > > > > > > I have done some reading up about similar problems others > > > have > > > experienced with their Hondas, and came up with a few > > > possibilities: a > > > plugged rad, a blown head gasket, a bad thermostat, and a > > > timing belt > > > and water pump that need replaced. I am hoping maybe > > > someone will read > > > this post, and have other ideas about what is going on > > > with my car, or > > > maybe someone who has experienced the same problem can > > > post something > > > helpful. The mechanic at the dealership seemed to think > > > replacing the > > > thermostat would help, as he has seen a similar problem in > > > another > > > Honda before, and that seemed to cure it; > > > > Give them a tad more credit: Thermostats do fail, and your > > car is old enough for it to do so. Failure most certainly > > does typically cause overheating. Replacing it is > > inexpensive and also preventative. > > > > > but I don't think that > > > explains why the coolant would be low. > > > > Right, that may be just normal consumption of coolant. A > > little is lost from the cooling system over time and between > > coolant changes. > > > > Do not let the temperature gage climb into the red zone. > > Pull over if you must and let the car cool down. Overheating > > the engine can cause more expensive damage. > > > > That the system passed a pressure test is a good sign. You > > might also inquire about the dealer testing the coolant > > chemistry for combustion gases. This too is a tipoff that a > > head gasket etc. has failed. > > > > You've done good research. I know there are many sites that > > discuss head gasket breaches. Read them carefully and look > > for the symptoms, since it's about the worst case scenario > > here. > > > > Hopefully it is just the thermostat. In the alternative, the > > radiator may indeed be partly clogged or require a good > > cleaning. > > > > Updates are welcome, to help others. > > Thank you so much, this helps to clarify why the coolant would be low > and the thermostat not working. I will definately update over the next > few days. Just a quick update - I called the mechanic to confirm that the TB/WP were replaced at 100K 3 yrs ago. I asked him if it could be a plugged rad or blown head gasket. He said if it was either condition, the car would be overheating while I was driving (which it has never done). I asked him about the coolant, and he said it was about a quart low yesterday when I brought it in, and confirmed that I should periodically check the coolant levels from the radiator rather than the resivor (which I learned yesterday). I also wanted to re-post a very useful link I found on this forum last night: https://techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/logon.asp From "Owners Manuals" on the left-hand column you can access PDF manuals; I've found this to be especially useful, since my manual is in the glovebox at the moment. |
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