engine overheating

[rly1]

Hi!
my car is having problem with the coolant. I was driving and the temp gauge suddenly raised to the red zone, I stopped the car and coolant was splashing with fumes. I thought it was leaking from above the headlights area cos it was wet of coolant there. I took it to ultra tune and they diagnozed that the thermostat(not sure if it is was what he meant)is not working, hence coolant not circulating to cool down the engine, they quoted me for 250 because they said my CIVIC hatch 89 has the thermostat at the back where most cars have it at the front and labour would then be more expensive.
what do u guys think?

[makaland]

I got my car serviced at ultra tune, i own a 3rd gen prelude. Dun really trust them too much. Car broke down alternator was gone, after i just got it reconed 4 months prior at ultra tune. Was under warrenty. Turned out to be a bolt that was loose which didnt allow the . As soon as i got my car, it was stalling lyk nething. couldnt even drive it. Was so cut! this is the knox city ultratune btw.
I wouldnt trust them......

[civiceg9]

a Honda thermostat is only $80 buck the most
or u can get one of those generic ones for $30.
Just do it yourself if you can is pretty simple to do

[rly1]

is it really at the back? and does it really have anything to do with coolant circulating to cool down engine?
the thing is that I didn't hear it properly on the phone, it sounded like "thermostat" but not sure

[bennjamin]

i thought , when a thermostat ( a honda one) dies , it locks in the "open" position ( not closed like most others) -so that water still circulates thru the block + radiator etc. That shouldnt lead to overheating.....it just means your car takes quite abit longer to warm up. (unless, in this time you drive very hard).


I think , the problem lies some where else - maybe a busted radiator hose ?

[2MPRSS]

i had this problem be4,it was my thermostat,bu then after i blew my head gasget 2 times becoz i found out my radiator wasnt working 100% only 50% because it look like sumthing really hot melted on top of it and damaged it really bad,i say check ur dun be lazy and have a good look at ur radiator it could save a head gasget costing u around $900

[bumography]

thats odd
my mates mate has a civic like yours, and he replaced the thermostat inc. labour for around $100

How can the thermostat be at the back?
just behind the engine is maybe what he meant?

this mechanic changed my thermostat in like 30 minutes :|

[flipmods]

i thought , when a thermostat ( a honda one) dies , it locks in the "open" position ( not closed like most others) -so that water still circulates thru the block + radiator etc. That shouldnt lead to overheating.....it just means your car takes quite abit longer to warm up. (unless, in this time you drive very hard).


I think , the problem lies some where else - maybe a busted radiator hose ?No majority of the times the thermostat gets stuck closed and all theremostats are the same they are closed and will open with the rise in coolant temperature.

Are you 100% it is the thermostat as I had to replace my fan thermo switch last night on my prelude cause the fan didn't turn on at around 80 degrees. But in most cases it is the Thermostat.
That price is way too expensive. do it yourself. it is just two 10mm bolts at the housing at the end of your top radiator hose and a new one cost $30 at the local parts shop. You can't go wrong as long as you put the thermostat the right way round with the spring on the engine side not the housing side, also make sure it is not upside down. Just follow the instructions. Very basic job.

[JR Performance]

That price seems a little expensive but if you are not confident doing it yourself then maybe get another quote or bite the bullet and get it done. In terms of the thermostat when they fail they usally stay shut, not allowing coolant flow resulting in the head tempreture rising with-out stopping until you shut the motor off.

[pillow]

you may have air in your coolant, try bleeding it. I had my intake manifold off and I had to bleed my coolant as the temp went straight up. After bleeding, no temp problems.

[rly1]

thanks for ur infos, I'll consider what I can do

[rly1]

also, to people that lives in Melbourne, do u guys have any good mechanic to introduce me, one that is relatively close to Richmond?
bcos I tend to believe most of the mechanics r ripping me off...

[wynode]

No majority of the times the thermostat gets stuck closed and all theremostats are the same they are closed and will open with the rise in coolant temperature.


All you Vtir teg owner who have had his problem must stop to apriciate the quality of your honda, yes your 10 yr old thermostat shat itself but it has in a way that it dindt overheat your engine. 90% of honda thermostats iv ever seen seize or become faulty have done so in the open state thus allowing coolant to flow, most other manufacture and non genuine thermostate seize in the closed state which = no coolant flow and an overheating engine which = posible engine damage. thats why I love genuine Honda thermostats, there worth every penny IMO.

[ECU-MAN]

civic therostat isnt really that hard to change, most hondas have a coolant bleed nipple on the thermostat housing to bleed all air out when filling up the cooling system. I dont even think a dealer would slug you that much, but it is true what they told you about the operation of the thermostat

[rly1]

my car used to idle ok, as in not raise in temp but if I leave the engine on for more 10mns, it starts overheating?
any diagnosis, anyone?
I was thinking maybe the fan cos I've never seen it turn on

[wynode]

my car used to idle ok, as in not raise in temp but if I leave the engine on for more 10mns, it starts overheating?
any diagnosis, anyone?
I was thinking maybe the fan cos I've never seen it turn on
That sounds like your thermo fan.

Does it heat up in traffic and then cool down once you start driving? If so.....most likely your thermo fan.

[rly1]

yep, used to be like that but after I got it back from ultra tune, seems like it doesn't cool down during driving anymore, it just stays a bit under the middle and if I leave the engine on for more than 10 mns, it start raisingto the red line

[flipmods]

If your fan doesn't go on after the temp goes over the halfway line then bridge out the temp switch plug after unpluging it. If your fan comes on then you will need a new temp switch. Good luck.

[EuroAccord13]

also, to people that lives in Melbourne, do u guys have any good mechanic to introduce me, one that is relatively close to Richmond?
bcos I tend to believe most of the mechanics r ripping me off...

Is Thornbury too far for u? Drop by Technik Tuning and talk to them, personal friends of mine, tell them Nick sent u... :)

[rly1]

Is Thornbury too far for u? Drop by Technik Tuning and talk to them, personal friends of mine, tell them Nick sent u... :)
thanks! can u also give me their full adress, no doubt they are good but r they expensive? I'm looking for general services and check up at good price with work guaranteed cos most of mechanics, they say they did this or that but they do nothing.

[EuroAccord13]

You Have PM :)

[rly1]

I've seen the fan turned on today while driving, so I don't think it would be the fan motor anymore, my car wasn't particularly hot in temp and I think it should be the temp switch, what u guys think? also how much for a new temp switch including labour? thx

[Weq]

ive got a temp switch. its a 5 minute job to change.