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I guess I didn't thoroughly explain that the engine is HOT, you can feel the terrible heat coming from under the car and from the hood. it smells like something is HOT, but the gauge does not register a hot temperature. Also, It doesn't take any TIME for the gauge to start moving....within one minute it is already up to half way and the fans are already running. I have had this vehicle for two years and the fans NEVER came on before. it NEVER felt hot before, until about a month ago and then one day the top radiator hose sprung a leak and sprayed all inside the hood. When the hose was replaced, and the mechanic said it didn't look like the water was circulating when he squeezed the radiator hoses, he said the thermastat was probably sticking and replaced it. That is when the fans are on all the time until he tried spraying cold water and one went off. So he said the switch was working but he thought the thermostat spring was so tight that it wasn't doing it's job.
By the way thanks for answering so quickly as I am at home afraid to go out until I find out what to do.
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Temperature gauge remains at half position after only one block driving. Blowers come on. Coolant changed, hoses replaced, thermostat had melted rubber inside, thermostat was replaced with Honda brand, mechanic said the "spring" was too tight and replaced it with CarQuest brand with light wire spring and drilled holes on metal edge so water could flow thru. He found oil under the distributor cap but says the gaskets are okay. He also sprayed cold water on the fan switch and it shut off. I drove away from the shop, and the temp gauge again when to half position within 1 block and blower fans came on. I live about 2 miles from work and only go back and forth to work cause I'm afraid to ruin the engine. WHAT CAN IT BE???? and do you think the gaskets could be ruined as I drove the vehicle about40 miles twice before I noticed the problem that just started about 1 month ago after I had the front motor mount changed.
Answer -
I do NOT understand your question. You said that the temperature gage goes up to half way and then the cooling fans come on. This is perfectly normal.
Does the temperature gage go ABOVE half way or all the way up to HOT ?.
Whoever that mechanic is who replaced the thermostat and drilled holes along the sides of the thermostat should be taken out an SHOT.
You NEVER EVER replace a thermostat with any other temperature range than what the vehicle is designed to operate with.
You also NEVER EVER alter a thermostat, As you are defeating it's purpose.
Let me know who this mechanic is so I can warn others to stay away from this guy.
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autohelp
Answer -
What YEAR, MAKE, MODEL and CURRENT MILEAGE is on the vehicle ?.
What is the past repair history ?.
1993 HOnda Accord SE
I know the timing belt was replaced at about 65,000 before it needed a replacement. The air conditioning sytem was recharged about 3 years ago.
It is in very good condition interior and exterior and the maintenance receipts look like it was serviced regularly at the Honda Dealer. Looks like all Honda Parts were used before including oil, filters, etc.
Last year during the tune up, oil was found in the spark plugs so the seal was replaced on the top of the engine.
I do not see any leaks, the radiator does not leak, mechanic said it was not corroded.
The only other thing that I had done recently was the front motor mount was replaced and actually right after that i started having this HEAT problem. I have always kept an eye on my gauges while I drive so I know that it has never registered above half way since I have owned the vehicle.
I was told that the fuel filter was original and most things are original, including the thermostat.
I need to have the center exhaust pipe that runs the center part of the car replaced cause it has a hole (I am told) but I can't afford to do it all at once.
I hestiate to take to the Honda dealer cause they are so expensive.
The mechanic who worked on this problem is the president of the car racing club here and works on race cars, heavy equipment, small engines, every thing. Every one else loves his work so I just dont know how to tell him yet that the car isn't fixed. It just got it back yesterday.
Thank you again.
autohelp
AnswerI can't see any relation of a cooling problem developing after a motor mount was replaced but anything is possible. I keep records of all the ODD things that I have seen over the going on 25 years doing diagnostics on vehicles.
There is ONE thing that Keeps ringing a bell in the back of my head.
This is what I would like you to have performed on the vehicle:
1. Have all the spark plugs removed and inspected for signs of oil and or engine coolant residue appearing on one or more spark plugs. This is NOT easy seen and takes a seasoned automotive technician to be able to determine oil and or coolant contamination on the plugs.
2. Have the combustion chambers (cylinders) pressure tested to see if there are any signs of air bubbles appearing in the radiator cap access point after the vehicle has been running and is up to normal operating temperature. Again this is a time consuming test procedure and most auto techs do not want to take the TIME necessary to do a proper test procedure.
3. Even though you can physically see coolant flow in the radiator via the radiator cap access point after the engine reaches normal operating temperature What you can't see is if there is adequate coolant flow from the middle and lower chambers of the radiator.
4. I would have all of the above tests performed by a well seasoned auto tech who will take the necessary time to perform the tests correctly to see what the tests reveal.
5. If all of the tests are inconclusive and it were my vehicle, I would remove the radiator and flush out the cooling system at least 2 or 3 times so as to be absolutely positive that any or all normal engine debris has been flushed out of the cooling system and then I would purchase and install a BRAND NEW RADIATOR, Install the CORRECT thermostat of which is recommended by the manufacturer.
I did NOT say to have your radiator FLUSHED OUT, CLEANED and or SERVICED, I said install a NEW RADIATOR.
I have seen this radiator problem as over time the internal passages of the radiator tend to collapse after the engine is at normal operating temp thus restricting the normal coolant flow that should be occuring from the TOP, IDDLE and BOTTOM portions of the radiator.
This is what I would do if the vehicle was mine. But the choice is always the owners. I just hope you decide to do what I have suggested.
I do not have a staff of people helping me answer your questions, I do it all by my self, Therefore, Due to being retired and a 15 year old computer on a dial-up connection, I do my best to respond to questions within 3 to 4 hours due to the volume of questions I receive on a daily basis. If you require a faster response you can e-mail me directly at the below e-mail address as I check it more frequently.:
meperganfortis@msn.com
retired in New Mexico
autohelp
