1994 Honda Accord Cooling system failure

MBRYANT42

MEMBER
1994 HONDA ACCORD

Engine problem
1994 Honda Accord 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 200K miles

For a couple months my radiator was leaking a little. I kept it filled and even used some stop leak in it, but never had the money to take it to a professional to get it looked at. I was driving it a few days ago and suddenly the thermostat shot from warm to super hot. I pulled over and popped the hood to add some water thinking that was the problem. Well, the water poured right out from below the car. I towed the car home and climbed under it today to see if I could discover the problem. I saw no holes, no obvious gashes or tears in anything so I put water in to see where it was leaking from. It seems to be coming from near the oil pan. It could be leaking from somewhere else and just dripping down around the oil pan, but I don't know enough to diagnose the problem myself. I am a shadetree mechanic and can fix most basic things, but I don't know what to do or where to go from here.

1 Reply

BRUCE HUNT

MECHANIC
3,753 POSTS

I would bet that you have lost the seal on the water pump. That is located behind the belts and connected to the timing belt under the timing cover. That is the most likely culprit.

The leak in the radiator is also another issue. It's leaking fails to allow the cooling system to work effectively. The system is designed to run under pressure and the leak in the radiator does not allow it to pressurize.