|
|
'96 Honda Accord (110k miles) - Idling Overheat
|
|
|
| |
|
|
MojoJaguars
New User
Sep 15, 2011, 7:38 PM
Post #1 of 4
(2934 views)
|
|
'96 Honda Accord (110k miles) - Idling Overheat
|
Sign In
|
|
Hey guys, had a problem when driving back on the highway today. Hit some thick traffic just south of downtown Miami and lo and behold, as traffic scoots along my A/C begins to run hot. I look up and hey - the temperature needle is at 3/4 heat. Not good, so I manage to pull off within 5 minutes and let the car sit. I start up again and take some back roads to avoid the heavy traffic because I wanna get home, and hey - when moving (I was cruising at 50 on some of the roads) the temperature stays stable. Only seemed to go up when idle or slowing down - giving it gas stabilized the temp.
I've done a little internet research here and seen that this is a common problem, but the various descriptions are confusing so I'm gonna post my individual details. There was none of the tell-tale white smoke of a blown head gasket (pretty much my worst financial nightmare here if that's the case) but I know that's only one of a plethora of systems. Being the type to miss the little details when facing a problem, I neglected to listen for the fan as I freaked over the temperature going up, so I'm speculating about the radiator fan being the problem here (especially in light of the idling causing the temperature gauge to spike.) I'm no mechanic myself, so while I did pop the hood and nothing seemed really out of place, there's any number of things that likely could have missed my glance.
Nearest Honda dealer is 15 minutes from my place (they are seriously in short supply for a city like Miami) and I'm hesitant to go there both because of the age of my car and the fact that I don't want to drive it any more than absolutely necessary with the overheat problem. Additionally if it'll help, I got the car a pretty thorough inspection with a mechanic I trust very well (not in Miami, so he's out of the question here unfortunately) and no engine or cooling problem was reported there; just a brake issue that was promptly fixed. Never had a cooling problem before with the car throughout its life.
I'm hoping to all heavens that it's not the head gasket going, but I'm no master at cars here - with those symptoms that I mentioned, what's your all take on things?
If you need any more info, I'll try to provide what I can, but I summarized the situation as best I could up there. Thanks for anything you all got, guys.
|
|
| |
|
|
Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 16, 2011, 3:16 AM
Post #2 of 4
(2906 views)
|
|
Re: '96 Honda Accord (110k miles) - Idling Overheat
|
Sign In
|
|
You won't magically find your answer on the Internet without actually doing some testing. Start out with a cooling system pressure test and determine if you are losing any coolant which you likely are.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
|
|
| |
|
|
Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 16, 2011, 4:54 AM
Post #3 of 4
(2897 views)
|
|
Re: '96 Honda Accord (110k miles) - Idling Overheat
|
Sign In
|
|
If it is running hot at idle and the AC blows warm air, make sure your cooling fans are running. Not uncommon for a cooling fan motor to go out on those. If the cooling fan isn't running when it is getting a little warm or when you have the AC on, smack the motor with a broom handle. If the fan starts turning, replace the motor.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
|
|
| |
|
|
Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 16, 2011, 12:16 PM
Post #4 of 4
(2887 views)
|
|
Re: '96 Honda Accord (110k miles) - Idling Overheat
|
Sign In
|
|
Now i I paid more attention to what he said, I think you're right DS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
|
|
| |
|
Auto Repair Home
SEARCH
WHO'S 
LOG 
Drive Shaft Repair
2006 Toyoto Camry XLE Driver Side Electric Window Trouble
Grounding Cable, 2017 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk
equipment
Howdy
