1994 Honda Accord overheating

Tiny
UTHNKUNOME27
  • MEMBER
  • 1994 HONDA ACCORD
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 150,000 MILES
Long story made short, I bought a honda accord for my brother n law for his 16th birthday. The car was driven daily by my friend and it has ran hot before but it was supposivly fixed. I bought the car and gave it to my brother n law on his birthday. He drove his firiends around for a while here and there in the country and it was fine. We always kept the air on while going down the road cause the previous owner said he done it just incase it wanted to over heat. I never had a problem with it the 2 months I had it before the birthday. My father n law drove it around for a month or so here and there and it was fine. One day he turned the air off and it tried to over heat and since that day, it always over heats when they drive it. It has a new radiator, new a/c fan, new thermostat ( one that is "stick proof"), new coolant.
Is there anything that we can do to test if the head gasket is blown or the head is damaged. To my knowlege the fans are coming on like they are supposed to so that should eliminate the relays or switches shouldnt it. My brain is hurting from brainstorming on this issue. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
Saturday, August 7th, 2010 AT 7:37 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Hi uthnkunome27,

When the overheating occurs, does the fans come on when A/C is not used?

When A/C is used, is it overheating as well?

Was the coolant level in radiator checked?

Is the coolant level in recovery tank constant?

Does the overheating occur only at a stop or under all driving conditions?
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Sunday, August 8th, 2010 AT 1:06 AM
Tiny
UTHNKUNOME27
  • MEMBER
  • 43 POSTS
When the overheating occurs, does the fans come on when A/C is not used? Yes, they straight wired it to make sure it comes off.

When A/C is used, is it overheating as well? Now it does. When I had it, it was fine and never overheated.

Was the coolant level in radiator checked? Yes

Is the coolant level in recovery tank constant? Yes and when it tries to run hot it is coming out of the tank with steam and coolant itself.

Does the overheating occur only at a stop or under all driving conditions? At first it was at a stop, now they said it does it traveling down the road.

My father n law said that it was pretty much blowing exhaust through the overflow. This is pretty much a sign that the head is messed up right?
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Sunday, August 8th, 2010 AT 8:13 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
From the symptoms and answer, I don't think the coolant level in the radiator is correct.

When engine is cold, remove the radiator cap and check the coolant level. If the level is low and the recovery tank always overflows, the head gasket is bad.
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Sunday, August 8th, 2010 AT 9:10 AM

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