95 honda civic lx overheating?

Question

yesterday i drove my honda civic on road, it got overheating. the coolant came out like steam and boiled water from the cap of reservoir. the temperature gauge hit the red zone. I added some coolant and drove the car again. the temperature hit red again. however if i turn on the air flow in the car, the temperature can keep normal, but the blow is very hot. I thought the fan of the radiator was not working. that might because the thermostat of the fan. do anybody have another idea? thanks

the upper hose of the radiator was very hot, but the lower one was just warm.

i changed thermostat and the temperature goes well. when i opened the house i can see the coolant can not flow through the thermostat. right after i change it, i can feel the upper and lower hose have the same temperature. and the tempeture gauge hit just 1 third of all. but i can not get my fan working, do you think that because the temperature is not high enough or the fan switch and the relay need to be changed? how can i check the fan is ok ?

Answer 1

Sounds like the thermostat, or possibly the water pump are malfuctioning, just replace the thermostat any ways since its cheap and ez. As for the water pump start the car cold, open the radiator cap wait for the car to warm up and look in to your radiator, you should see a river flowing, if not your pump is bad.

Answer 2

What you've listed are possibilities. Don't let your temperature gauge into the red, you'll do damage to the engine, possibly warping heads.

You may have a damaged head gasket. Do a compression check to be sure. Also check to see if the coolant went into the crankcase. Pull out your oil dipstick. If the mixture looks like chocolate milk, you may have a damaged head gasket or cracked heads. The fact that you were able to cool down the car by turning on the heater would indicate you may have prevented this from happening though.

The most likely cause of the fans on the radiator not working is the Cooling fan's Relay Switch not working, but it could also be the cooling fan's motor themselves. Typically if the fan's aren't working you won't see it overheat if you're driving on the highways when there is a high rate of air flow through the radiator, and it will typically overheat when you are at stop lights or in heavy traffic where there isn't as much air flow.

The other possibilitiy of it overheating is you have a bad radiator cap not holding pressure, or a clogged radiator itself.

With the additional information of knowing that the lower radiator hose is at a lower temperature, I'd have to revise my earlier statement and say that it is likely that your thermostat is stuck in the closed position and not allowing coolant to circulate appropriately. Changing out the thermostat would likely solve your problem.

Both items (relay switch and radiator cap) are typically about $10 each, replace to be on the safe side.

Answer 3

Your last car had over 220k on it? Even if it overheats from now and then, it still is a high amount of miles for that engine to be running! I'd honestly go for the Honda as long as you don't have plans on going all "Fast n Furious" on it. As it sits in the stock state, it is an extremely reliable and efficient car. As for the Acura, for the overheating... look into a new water pump, or if the car still has the stock radiator... build up in the radiator will slow down fluid as well as keep it from being cooled. Try a radiator flush BEFORE looking at buying anything else. If all else fails... 160 degree thermostat should do the trick.

Answer 4

well there um i hate to say it but with out looking at it putting your temp in the red u could of fried something in motor.... dont do that .... bad bad... sounds like theres either not enough fluid in the radiator or maybe u have a hole in the radiator and the fluid is leaking out b there for u need a new radiator but if none of that is happeing then there could be something jamming the fluid flow from the radiator.... but do not drive that car anymore..... get it fixed immediatly