1997 Honda Civic My car is overheating

Tiny
HM51772
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 HONDA CIVIC
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 160,000 MILES
Hi,
I have a 1997 Honda Civic, 2 door, DX, automatic (160,000 miles). For the past few months its been overheating and the temperature gauge starts fluctuating, goes over the half way mark towards the redline, but then when I start driving, it goes back down to the middle, then when I stop at a red light for a minute the temp goes back up. The only thing I do in situations like this is pull over and refill the radiator. I have noticed that when the car is overheating the coolant seems to get low in the radiator and keeps filling the overflow tank. Why does the radiator show low coolant? And why is it dumping it back in the overfill tank when I’m driving. This is what i`ve done on the car:
Regular oil changes
Transmission flushed 3-4 times for the life of the car
Timing belt & water pump recently replaced
Radiator Cap recently replaced
Thermostat Recently replaced
Radiator Hoses Recently replaced
Radiator has no leaks ( I don’t see a puddle on the ground)
There is no white smoke coming out of my car’s exhaust
Why is my car still overheating? Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Monday, September 27th, 2010 AT 12:30 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
PITCREW94
  • MEMBER
  • 18 POSTS
Have you change your Timming Belt? If yes, Did you replace your Water Pump? Is the Engine Oil low?
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Monday, September 27th, 2010 AT 1:09 PM
Tiny
HM51772
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Yes, I have listed all the work I did on my car to resolve this issue and timing belt and water pump was replaced. Please read the list of things i've already tried.
Oh yes, the radiator fan works too.

But its still heating up. HELP!
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Monday, September 27th, 2010 AT 1:58 PM
Tiny
HM51772
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I just wanted to add that my Honda Civic OVERHEATED AGAIN yesterday evening while driving home from work, but this time it just went crazy. Normally, when the temperature goes above half, I pull over and refill the coolant in the radiator and that keeps the temperature below half for a few days. But it DIDN'T work yesterday, the temp kept going up and reached the red line. I pulled over, called AAA and got the car towed to an auto shop. I'm getting the Head Gasket and Radiator replaced now, and its costing me $500. I'm hoping that will take care of this.
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Thursday, September 30th, 2010 AT 8:35 AM
Tiny
PITCREW94
  • MEMBER
  • 18 POSTS
If it's the head gasket, The oil is mix with coolant. The oil will look like Chocalate milk.
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Thursday, September 30th, 2010 AT 10:48 PM
Tiny
HM51772
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Looks like the new Headgasket and radiator did the trick. I`ve been driving it for 3 weeks not and its not overheating.
Finally!
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Thursday, October 14th, 2010 AT 2:13 PM

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