1997 Honda Civic overheating not sure

Tiny
ANDYQ
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 HONDA CIVIC
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 133,520 MILES
I was at work and going to mcdonalds and suddenly hit a little speed bump and my raidator coolant started to leak I look underneath my car and saw the radiator drop so I tied it back up when I got back to the shop I wait alittle awhile onto I put some 50/50 anti freeze coolant and when I do the coolant leaks underneath the hood again. My radiator fan isnt moving, the radiator is leaking and after driving from work all the way home the car smells like it overheating, When I turn off the car the temperature drop from Hot to cold When I start the car it starts from Cold and 5 minutes later it will go all the way to max Hot.
Wednesday, August 26th, 2009 AT 1:24 AM

11 Replies

Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
Hi there,

The first thing you need to do is get the leak repaired and test the cooling system for any other problems, such as a faulty cap check that the fans come on when the temp reaches high, start here.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Wednesday, August 26th, 2009 AT 4:10 AM
Tiny
ANDYQ
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Yes I sealed the leak with jb weld it worked good but still the fan doesnt come on I also replaced a new thermostat
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Wednesday, August 26th, 2009 AT 6:40 PM
Tiny
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You will need to check the cooling van circuit, and the fan it self, I will have to look up the location of the sensor and I will advise when I have done this, I will have to wait till I get access to Mitchell 1 data later later to day, my time as I am in Aust I i won't have access till this evening.

Mark
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Wednesday, August 26th, 2009 AT 6:45 PM
Tiny
ANDYQ
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Hi, I replaced a new radiator, new thermostat, check the radiator fan fuses to
see if any are burn. The fuses are in good condition, So I put 50/50 anti freeze
coolant with the cap off and start the engine to let the coolant kick in
it started bubbling so I think thats good? But the radiator fan wasnt spinning
So I wait alittle bit and when the temperature gauge got to the middle between
cold and hot it still didnt spinning. I turn off the engine and took a speaker
wire connect it from my radiator fan to the +positive battery to see if it is
working. It spins and it works, Maybe its my sensor but im not sure.
2 hours later I was trying to get home my car wont start anymore -.-
all the wires are connect right, Fuses are good, new battery But when I got my key in the ignition it says Check battery and check water
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Thursday, August 27th, 2009 AT 8:50 PM
Tiny
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You may have a short that is draining the battery, check that the battery is charged up then check the alternator output, see if it is actually charging the battery.

Mark
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Thursday, August 27th, 2009 AT 9:28 PM
Tiny
ANDYQ
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Not battery I took it off and bring to advanced auto parts to do a checkup on it

(Battery test report)
Good battery
Voltage : 12.68v
Measured: 615 CCA
Rated: 435 CCA
Temperature: 75 F

its not my alternator also its working perfect. So I think it might be some loose wires around the starter or the starter itself cause when I put my keys in the ignition and turn it, It will say on D = Drive but it is on P = Park, And when I try to start the car it goes to P = park it will crank the engine but it will not start.
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Friday, August 28th, 2009 AT 5:47 PM
Tiny
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Now that it wont start, have you check for spark when cranking, checked that the injectors are pulsing, you can do this with a noid light or with a screwdriver held up to them or just hold them you should hear them click or even feel the click, you will need to see if there is fuel pressure, or just give the engine a short sniff of starter fluid, if it fires and then dies you will have a fuel problem.

Mark
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Saturday, August 29th, 2009 AT 5:52 AM
Tiny
ANDYQ
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1st Injector - no sparks
2nd Injector - no sparks
3rd Injector - little spark it shocked me really bad
4th Injector - no sparks

should I replace my distributor or just the wires/spark plugs
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Saturday, August 29th, 2009 AT 6:46 PM
Tiny
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HI there,

If you have power to the plugs. You say injectors, they will not shock you. The ignition system is firing, so I would be looking at distributor cap for cracks rotor & leads, also replace the plugs as if the injectors are firing the cylinder are still getting fuel so the plugs will be very fuel fouled by now.

Mark
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Saturday, August 29th, 2009 AT 8:06 PM
Tiny
ANDYQ
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I got the engine to start after I took off the old spark plugs and replace with new ones. But the engine seem weak it would stay on for 1 minute than shut off, I can smell gas when I check the exhaust there is white smoke coming out of it. So it can be missing coolant? After it shut down by itself I took the new spark plugs out and start the engine with the injectors and sparks plugs off There is water and gas shooting out the 2nd and 3rd plugs, The 1st and 4th one seem clean but the 2nd and 3rd one are wet. So probably water got into the header? Should I just keep starting the engine onto the water is all out than put the sparks plugs back in?
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Sunday, August 30th, 2009 AT 8:16 PM
Tiny
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I would say that you have blown a head gasket between 2 & 3 run the engine with the radiator cap off and check for bubbles, keep the tank full and pinch off the overflow.

Mark
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Sunday, August 30th, 2009 AT 9:05 PM

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