Car overheating

JackHammer · 03-29-2003, 12:23 AM

My bro has a 97 ex auto Accord and it's been giving him one major problem. Whenever he is idling or is still in traffic, the temp gauge goes up tremendously. Smoke also comes out of the hood. The coolant is not leaking and fluid levels are all normal. Today I opened the hood while the car was idling and I saw smoke coming from the passenger side fan. I take it there is something wrong with the radiator because the radiator ste=s behind the fans? There was a funky smell. Kinda burnt smell but not quite. What could it be and can I fix it myself? Also, whenever he is moving the temp gauge drops to normal. I assume this is because moving air cooling the thermocouple.

johnnymk · 03-29-2003, 11:02 AM

Are the fans running?

~~Cantacuzene~~ · 03-29-2003, 11:27 AM

Soudns like the thermostat needs to be replaced.

look_ma · 03-29-2003, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cantacuzene
Soudns like the thermostat needs to be replaced.

rgr tht

Mungo · 03-29-2003, 04:10 PM

First of all check to see if the fans are running & if they are I would have the thermostat checked.

JackHammer · 03-29-2003, 10:09 PM

The fan runs only after the car has been turned off.

dave · 03-29-2003, 11:27 PM

Why don't you take it to a shop instead of driving it with the overheated engine and having us guess what the problem may be. Just my $.02.

Nanotech9 · 03-30-2003, 08:34 AM

ok, you've got "smoke" coming out from the fan area. The fans are behind teh radiator...

this leads me to believe that you've got some pin-hole leaks in the radiator - the coolant is evaporating or leakin in a mist form because its under preassure, and this is actually vapors, not smoke.

you quite possibly have a leak in your radiator that needs to be fixed.

Good luck.

JackHammer · 03-30-2003, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dave
Why don't you take it to a shop instead of driving it with the overheated engine and having us guess what the problem may be. Just my $.02.

I'll give you your $0.02. The only reason why I am asking you guys is so if I can fix this I will instead of taking it to a shop and paying hundreds and hundreds of dollars. Unlike some people I don't have greenbacks coming out of my rear end or wealthy parents throwing money at me. Make sense? Sheesh some people...

~~Cantacuzene~~ · 03-30-2003, 09:45 AM

The good news is that radiator repairs are relatively cheap and one of the more painless things that can go wrong under the hood.

johnnymk · 03-30-2003, 09:51 AM

There are two switches for the cooling system. The thermostat is the "switch" or relief valve which opens at a certain temperature. This is for the water cooling. THe other is a sensor which turns the fan on. I don't know what the temperature is set on Hondas to turn it on, but if the engine is overheating, it should turn on even with the car running.
You claimed that you are not losing any water. When are you checking it?
You can sometimes tell that the thermostat is working by looking into the radiator at the cap. If you see rapid movement, the thermostat has opened and is working. It may be opening too late, though.
If you are not losing any water, I doubt that pinholes is the culprit. Besides, if you had leaks, it would be under the car, especially while sitting and with the engine turned off. Is there any green antifreeze under the car?

TERRIBLETOM · 03-31-2003, 05:39 PM

If you have A/C turn it on, that will override all cooling sensors and turn on the cooling fans, if the compressor does come on the fans should also. Do you have a departure gauge, while the car is idling check and see where the gauge is at, if it goes up about 3/4 of the way and the fans do not come on that is also a problem. Where you say you hear the fans coming on when you shut the car off it sounds as if the fan motors themselves are good and the relays should also be in good condition. If when the vehicle is at an idle and the gauge does not go over half, I don't think you have a circulation problem. Check your fluid level in the radiator when it's cold and make sure it is full and watch it over the next few days in both the overflow tank and radiator.

thresher · 04-02-2003, 02:37 PM

Your radiator is not repairable, its plastic or at least every accord radiator from '95 up is. Unless you get EXTREMELY lucky and its a pinhole leak in the actual fins. The caps are plastic. I would run a leak test in the driveway and try running the heater to see if you can get the temp to dip at all by bypassing with the heater core. Also, that thermostat is definitely the main culprit along with the sensor by the fan switch: Common fail item and fortunately cheap. Good luck!

03-29-2003, 12:23 AM	#1
JackHammer Commander Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: The Toilet Capital of America Posts: 1,328	Car overheating My bro has a 97 ex auto Accord and it's been giving him one major problem. Whenever he is idling or is still in traffic, the temp gauge goes up tremendously. Smoke also comes out of the hood. The coolant is not leaking and fluid levels are all normal. Today I opened the hood while the car was idling and I saw smoke coming from the passenger side fan. I take it there is something wrong with the radiator because the radiator ste=s behind the fans? There was a funky smell. Kinda burnt smell but not quite. What could it be and can I fix it myself? Also, whenever he is moving the temp gauge drops to normal. I assume this is because moving air cooling the thermocouple. __________________ "I'm very sorry for your loss. Your mother was a terribly attractive woman." -Royal Tenebaum "Oh yeah. Oh yeah. I would do everything to her, I don't care what she looks like. I would wreck that chick." -Brian from the Family Guy after Peter asked him whether he would have sex with Lois.

03-30-2003, 08:34 AM	#8
Nanotech9 Vice Admiral Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Gone Wheeling! Posts: 4,409	ok, you've got "smoke" coming out from the fan area. The fans are behind teh radiator... this leads me to believe that you've got some pin-hole leaks in the radiator - the coolant is evaporating or leakin in a mist form because its under preassure, and this is actually vapors, not smoke. you quite possibly have a leak in your radiator that needs to be fixed. Good luck. __________________

04-02-2003, 02:37 PM	#13
thresher Commander Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: St.Augustine FL. Plymouth Rock is a newbie! Posts: 1,223	the bad news is that... Your radiator is not repairable, its plastic or at least every accord radiator from '95 up is. Unless you get EXTREMELY lucky and its a pinhole leak in the actual fins. The caps are plastic. I would run a leak test in the driveway and try running the heater to see if you can get the temp to dip at all by bypassing with the heater core. Also, that thermostat is definitely the main culprit along with the sensor by the fan switch: Common fail item and fortunately cheap. Good luck! __________________ Wait a second... you're telling me Sixpac Shakur is a CHICK?

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03-29-2003, 11:02 AM	#2
johnnymk Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: May 2000 Location: LEVITTOWN< PA> USA Posts: 13,621	Are the fans running?

03-29-2003, 11:27 AM	#3
~~Cantacuzene~~ Banned Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA Posts: 8,700	Soudns like the thermostat needs to be replaced.

03-29-2003, 04:10 PM	#5
Mungo Lieutenant Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: San Ramon, CA, USA Posts: 420	First of all check to see if the fans are running & if they are I would have the thermostat checked.

03-29-2003, 10:09 PM	#6
JackHammer Commander Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: The Toilet Capital of America Posts: 1,328	The fan runs only after the car has been turned off.

03-29-2003, 11:27 PM	#7
dave Lieutenant Join Date: May 2000 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 237	Why don't you take it to a shop instead of driving it with the overheated engine and having us guess what the problem may be. Just my $.02.

03-30-2003, 09:45 AM	#10
~~Cantacuzene~~ Banned Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA Posts: 8,700	The good news is that radiator repairs are relatively cheap and one of the more painless things that can go wrong under the hood.

03-30-2003, 09:51 AM	#11
johnnymk Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: May 2000 Location: LEVITTOWN< PA> USA Posts: 13,621	There are two switches for the cooling system. The thermostat is the "switch" or relief valve which opens at a certain temperature. This is for the water cooling. THe other is a sensor which turns the fan on. I don't know what the temperature is set on Hondas to turn it on, but if the engine is overheating, it should turn on even with the car running. You claimed that you are not losing any water. When are you checking it? You can sometimes tell that the thermostat is working by looking into the radiator at the cap. If you see rapid movement, the thermostat has opened and is working. It may be opening too late, though. If you are not losing any water, I doubt that pinholes is the culprit. Besides, if you had leaks, it would be under the car, especially while sitting and with the engine turned off. Is there any green antifreeze under the car?

03-31-2003, 05:39 PM	#12
TERRIBLETOM Commander Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,261	If you have A/C turn it on, that will override all cooling sensors and turn on the cooling fans, if the compressor does come on the fans should also. Do you have a departure gauge, while the car is idling check and see where the gauge is at, if it goes up about 3/4 of the way and the fans do not come on that is also a problem. Where you say you hear the fans coming on when you shut the car off it sounds as if the fan motors themselves are good and the relays should also be in good condition. If when the vehicle is at an idle and the gauge does not go over half, I don't think you have a circulation problem. Check your fluid level in the radiator when it's cold and make sure it is full and watch it over the next few days in both the overflow tank and radiator.

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