why would a car overheat with the rad cap on but not when the cap is loose? I have already replaced the fan, fan switch, and thermostat and bleed the system. Fans are working, but when i was at idle the temp shot up once till i started moving, then stay at a good level. So i rebleed the system. Not sure if that will help or not before it ran great for about 3 hours of driving, i drive my car all day for work. The top hose is very hot bottom hose is hot(not as hot) i have a 98 lx with a 1.6 stock
over heat issue
- Thread starter guynlidia2006
- Start date
Ok so now i have the cap on tight and the fans running all the time and it is running at a normal temp. I really want it to be 100% right. I jumped the fan switch so it runs all the time. The fan was cutting on and off but it didnt seem to be enough to keep the temp in line. Tomorrow i am gonna remove the radiator and flush it out with a hose and put fresh coolant. Yesterday I replaced the thermostat and put back only water to whatever coolant was left in there. It has some coolant just not sure of the mix. I want to get this correct before i buy more coolant. Already spent like 30bucks in coolant the last 3 weeks trying to get this right. I hate the fact that my fan runs 100% of the time. I figure maybe my rad is clogged from the issues i have been having. I do not think it is the headgasket, no white smoke, no cross contamination, no oil loss. So I'll get this right, i love this lil car, 144,792 miles and running great except for this prob. When it ran hot it was so brief. i cut it off before it reached the hot....
when in idle, do the fans turn on?
yeah i was thinking that also... i'll probally change it just in case and see
well i just realized something, the above theory is wrong. because the fan is getting power. the fan switch completes the ground thus completing the circuit so it turns on and that switch is new. so I bled the system and the fan turns on and off but the temp spikes every now and then, but if i ground the fan switch it runs all the time and the temp is normal... i want it to work right
Go ahead and try flushing the system. You don't need to remove the radiator; you can either remove a hose and flush away, or buy a flush kit from and auto parts store (less than $5) that comes with a T-fitting and garden hose adapter, which makes things very easy. I've done it on my brothers Civic and on a 240sx.
After you're done, fill with premixed 50/50 coolant, or mix your own, but use distilled water and not tap water.\
If you're still having problems after that, let us know. There was a similar problem on my mother's Mercury Villager, and we ended up replacing the radiator, which fixed it.
i finally figured out what it was. one of the heater hoses has a small hole on the bottom of it and it would let air in then the fans would stop working.. once i replaced the hose problem fixed. All i have left to do is replace another hose i dont like the looks of, timing belt job and oil pan gasket
:96civicej8
New Member
can anyone help me out i have a 96 honda civic ex vtec and i drove today to the machinc to get some welding done and all of a sudden i see smoke coming from my hood and the temp on the car is high i stop and open the hood and clear smoke comes not alot so i check the radiator and its empty i add water and turn the heat on and it doesnt work i run cold water on the header it cools down i dont know whats happeing wen i arived at the machinic he she i might of blown a head gasket.. and when i drvoe it there it shounded dry and the engine wanted to shut off and shound close to a suburu and when i turn on the car a dry nosie comes up for half a sec and goes away i think i might of for got to add motor oil but i had put a whole bottle 4days ago any idea HELP!!! please b4 i let 900 go down the drain ..