The next time it overheats, pop the hoold and look at the coolant overflow
tank. If it looks like it's boiling, you've blown a head gasket.

I had the exact same symptons. I tried all the easy fixes. It was the
Headgasket. This was a Civic. Repair was about $800.

G-Man



"celliot75" <craigelliot75@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1181584298.215604.225410@h2g2000hsg.googlegro ups.com...
> Hi Guys,
>
> You've helped me in the past, hope I can get your advice on my current
> problem. I have a 1996 honda accord LX that runs hot when I'm in stop
> and go traffic. On a straight away, the engine cools back down to the
> proper level. Also, when I'm stopped for awhile and the engine starts
> to over-heat....I noticed that the A/C would stop blowing cold air
> also ( could this be a switch problem of some sort, with the A/C
> fan). Right now I only drive the vehicle short distances, if its a
> situation where it begins to over-heat, I turn the car off until it's
> time to go again. Thank you in advace for any help you can provide
> me.
>
> --Craig
>

 

jim beam <spamvortex@bad.example.net> wrote in
news:yfSdnbOVudERNvPbnZ2dnUVZ_u_inZ2d@speakeasy.ne t:

> mred wrote:
>>
>> And yes , the impellers do get worn.
>
> how? they don't touch anything.

They touch WATER.(coolant)

Water wears away rock,changes it to sand.
water jets can cut through tough materials very quickly.
Plastic is relatively soft,and degrades with age.
Also,there's more than just coolant circulating inside a engine's cooling
system.(particulates,rust....)

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

 

jim beam <spamvortex@bad.example.net> wrote in
news:yfSdnbOVudERNvPbnZ2dnUVZ_u_inZ2d@speakeasy.ne t:

> mred wrote:
>>
>> And yes , the impellers do get worn.
>
> how? they don't touch anything.

They touch WATER.(coolant)

Water wears away rock,changes it to sand.
water jets can cut through tough materials very quickly.
Plastic is relatively soft,and degrades with age.
Also,there's more than just coolant circulating inside a engine's cooling
system.(particulates,rust....)

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

 

celliot75 wrote:

>
> I did notice something else when stopped for an extended period of
> time. I noticed when stopped and the A/C starts to blow lukewarm air,
> I can also hear either the A/C compressor or one of the Fans kicking
> on and off....RPM meter goes up and down during this period, but it
> eventually goes back to normal. I have now stopped driving the
> vehicle until I get it fixed, I will be changing the TS (OEM as
> suggested) and monitoring the radiator fluid levels. On checking the
> fans, should the radiator fan kick in, when the TS opens? Any
> suggestions on clues I should look for when checking out the fans?
> Thanks again for all your help, this string as been very fullfilling
> with knowledge.

The radiator fans operate independently of the TS. They should fire up when
the Rad is hot. If the temp is going up, the fans should definitely be
running.

 

celliot75 wrote:

>
> I did notice something else when stopped for an extended period of
> time. I noticed when stopped and the A/C starts to blow lukewarm air,
> I can also hear either the A/C compressor or one of the Fans kicking
> on and off....RPM meter goes up and down during this period, but it
> eventually goes back to normal. I have now stopped driving the
> vehicle until I get it fixed, I will be changing the TS (OEM as
> suggested) and monitoring the radiator fluid levels. On checking the
> fans, should the radiator fan kick in, when the TS opens? Any
> suggestions on clues I should look for when checking out the fans?
> Thanks again for all your help, this string as been very fullfilling
> with knowledge.

The radiator fans operate independently of the TS. They should fire up when
the Rad is hot. If the temp is going up, the fans should definitely be
running.

 

Jim Yanik wrote:
> jim beam <spamvortex@bad.example.net> wrote in
> news:yfSdnbOVudERNvPbnZ2dnUVZ_u_inZ2d@speakeasy.ne t:
>
>> mred wrote:
>>> And yes , the impellers do get worn.
>> how? they don't touch anything.
>
> They touch WATER.(coolant)
>
> Water wears away rock,changes it to sand.

no, particulates wear away rock.

> water jets can cut through tough materials very quickly.

and they're typically used in conjunction with abrasive powder when
cutting metals. at 60,000psi.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_jet_cutter

this is not the case with a vehicle impeller.


> Plastic is relatively soft,and degrades with age.

impellers on a honda are not plastic. nor are the casings.


> Also,there's more than just coolant circulating inside a engine's cooling
> system.(particulates,rust....)

there can be from time to time, but they don't continually circulate,
they settle in places like radiators and the lower channel of the
cylinder block.


bottom line, i've seen a whole bunch of honda water pumps, and none
evidenced any wear. including the 305k mile one off my old crx. that's
305k miles on the original water pump from new. it died by bearing/seal
failure, not impeller wear.

 

Jim Yanik wrote:
> jim beam <spamvortex@bad.example.net> wrote in
> news:yfSdnbOVudERNvPbnZ2dnUVZ_u_inZ2d@speakeasy.ne t:
>
>> mred wrote:
>>> And yes , the impellers do get worn.
>> how? they don't touch anything.
>
> They touch WATER.(coolant)
>
> Water wears away rock,changes it to sand.

no, particulates wear away rock.

> water jets can cut through tough materials very quickly.

and they're typically used in conjunction with abrasive powder when
cutting metals. at 60,000psi.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_jet_cutter

this is not the case with a vehicle impeller.


> Plastic is relatively soft,and degrades with age.

impellers on a honda are not plastic. nor are the casings.


> Also,there's more than just coolant circulating inside a engine's cooling
> system.(particulates,rust....)

there can be from time to time, but they don't continually circulate,
they settle in places like radiators and the lower channel of the
cylinder block.


bottom line, i've seen a whole bunch of honda water pumps, and none
evidenced any wear. including the 305k mile one off my old crx. that's
305k miles on the original water pump from new. it died by bearing/seal
failure, not impeller wear.

 

Jim Yanik wrote:
> jim beam <spamvortex@bad.example.net> wrote in
> news:yfSdnbOVudERNvPbnZ2dnUVZ_u_inZ2d@speakeasy.ne t:
>
>> mred wrote:
>>> And yes , the impellers do get worn.
>> how? they don't touch anything.
>
> They touch WATER.(coolant)
>
> Water wears away rock,changes it to sand.

no, particulates wear away rock.

> water jets can cut through tough materials very quickly.

and they're typically used in conjunction with abrasive powder when
cutting metals. at 60,000psi.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_jet_cutter

this is not the case with a vehicle impeller.


> Plastic is relatively soft,and degrades with age.

impellers on a honda are not plastic. nor are the casings.


> Also,there's more than just coolant circulating inside a engine's cooling
> system.(particulates,rust....)

there can be from time to time, but they don't continually circulate,
they settle in places like radiators and the lower channel of the
cylinder block.


bottom line, i've seen a whole bunch of honda water pumps, and none
evidenced any wear. including the 305k mile one off my old crx. that's
305k miles on the original water pump from new. it died by bearing/seal
failure, not impeller wear.

 

On Jun 12, 8:59 pm, jim beam <spamvor...@bad.example.net> wrote:
> Jim Yanik wrote:
> > jim beam <spamvor...@bad.example.net> wrote in
> >news:yfSdnbOVudERNvPbnZ2dnUVZ_u_inZ2d@speakeasy.n et:
>
> >> mred wrote:
> >>> And yes , the impellers do get worn.
> >> how? they don't touch anything.
>
> > They touch WATER.(coolant)
>
> > Water wears away rock,changes it to sand.
>
> no, particulates wear away rock.
>
> > water jets can cut through tough materials very quickly.
>
> and they're typically used in conjunction with abrasive powder when
> cutting metals. at 60,000psi.
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_jet_cutter
>
> this is not the case with a vehicle impeller.
>
> > Plastic is relatively soft,and degrades with age.
>
> impellers on a honda are not plastic. nor are the casings.
>
> > Also,there's more than just coolant circulating inside a engine's cooling
> > system.(particulates,rust....)
>
> there can be from time to time, but they don't continually circulate,
> they settle in places like radiators and the lower channel of the
> cylinder block.
>
> bottom line, i've seen a whole bunch of honda water pumps, and none
> evidenced any wear. including the 305k mile one off my old crx. that's
> 305k miles on the original water pump from new. it died by bearing/seal
> failure, not impeller wear.

Hi Guys,

Justed wanted to let everybody know that it was the fans......The
radiator fan was just busted (barely turning at all) and the condensor
fan would run for a moment then shut off.....if you take your hand and
slightly turn the blade, the motor would come on again....I also
changed my temperture switch while I was at it......Thank you all for
some very good responses....Allot of knowledge in this group.

--Craig

 

On Jun 12, 8:59 pm, jim beam <spamvor...@bad.example.net> wrote:
> Jim Yanik wrote:
> > jim beam <spamvor...@bad.example.net> wrote in
> >news:yfSdnbOVudERNvPbnZ2dnUVZ_u_inZ2d@speakeasy.n et:
>
> >> mred wrote:
> >>> And yes , the impellers do get worn.
> >> how? they don't touch anything.
>
> > They touch WATER.(coolant)
>
> > Water wears away rock,changes it to sand.
>
> no, particulates wear away rock.
>
> > water jets can cut through tough materials very quickly.
>
> and they're typically used in conjunction with abrasive powder when
> cutting metals. at 60,000psi.
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_jet_cutter
>
> this is not the case with a vehicle impeller.
>
> > Plastic is relatively soft,and degrades with age.
>
> impellers on a honda are not plastic. nor are the casings.
>
> > Also,there's more than just coolant circulating inside a engine's cooling
> > system.(particulates,rust....)
>
> there can be from time to time, but they don't continually circulate,
> they settle in places like radiators and the lower channel of the
> cylinder block.
>
> bottom line, i've seen a whole bunch of honda water pumps, and none
> evidenced any wear. including the 305k mile one off my old crx. that's
> 305k miles on the original water pump from new. it died by bearing/seal
> failure, not impeller wear.

Hi Guys,

Justed wanted to let everybody know that it was the fans......The
radiator fan was just busted (barely turning at all) and the condensor
fan would run for a moment then shut off.....if you take your hand and
slightly turn the blade, the motor would come on again....I also
changed my temperture switch while I was at it......Thank you all for
some very good responses....Allot of knowledge in this group.

--Craig

 

On Jun 12, 8:59 pm, jim beam <spamvor...@bad.example.net> wrote:
> Jim Yanik wrote:
> > jim beam <spamvor...@bad.example.net> wrote in
> >news:yfSdnbOVudERNvPbnZ2dnUVZ_u_inZ2d@speakeasy.n et:
>
> >> mred wrote:
> >>> And yes , the impellers do get worn.
> >> how? they don't touch anything.
>
> > They touch WATER.(coolant)
>
> > Water wears away rock,changes it to sand.
>
> no, particulates wear away rock.
>
> > water jets can cut through tough materials very quickly.
>
> and they're typically used in conjunction with abrasive powder when
> cutting metals. at 60,000psi.
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_jet_cutter
>
> this is not the case with a vehicle impeller.
>
> > Plastic is relatively soft,and degrades with age.
>
> impellers on a honda are not plastic. nor are the casings.
>
> > Also,there's more than just coolant circulating inside a engine's cooling
> > system.(particulates,rust....)
>
> there can be from time to time, but they don't continually circulate,
> they settle in places like radiators and the lower channel of the
> cylinder block.
>
> bottom line, i've seen a whole bunch of honda water pumps, and none
> evidenced any wear. including the 305k mile one off my old crx. that's
> 305k miles on the original water pump from new. it died by bearing/seal
> failure, not impeller wear.

Hi Guys,

Justed wanted to let everybody know that it was the fans......The
radiator fan was just busted (barely turning at all) and the condensor
fan would run for a moment then shut off.....if you take your hand and
slightly turn the blade, the motor would come on again....I also
changed my temperture switch while I was at it......Thank you all for
some very good responses....Allot of knowledge in this group.

--Craig

 

celliot75 wrote:
> On Jun 12, 8:59 pm, jim beam <spamvor...@bad.example.net> wrote:
>> Jim Yanik wrote:
>>> jim beam <spamvor...@bad.example.net> wrote in
>>> news:yfSdnbOVudERNvPbnZ2dnUVZ_u_inZ2d@speakeasy.ne t:
>>>> mred wrote:
>>>>> And yes , the impellers do get worn.
>>>> how? they don't touch anything.
>>> They touch WATER.(coolant)
>>> Water wears away rock,changes it to sand.
>> no, particulates wear away rock.
>>
>>> water jets can cut through tough materials very quickly.
>> and they're typically used in conjunction with abrasive powder when
>> cutting metals. at 60,000psi.
>>
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_jet_cutter
>>
>> this is not the case with a vehicle impeller.
>>
>>> Plastic is relatively soft,and degrades with age.
>> impellers on a honda are not plastic. nor are the casings.
>>
>>> Also,there's more than just coolant circulating inside a engine's cooling
>>> system.(particulates,rust....)
>> there can be from time to time, but they don't continually circulate,
>> they settle in places like radiators and the lower channel of the
>> cylinder block.
>>
>> bottom line, i've seen a whole bunch of honda water pumps, and none
>> evidenced any wear. including the 305k mile one off my old crx. that's
>> 305k miles on the original water pump from new. it died by bearing/seal
>> failure, not impeller wear.
>
> Hi Guys,
>
> Justed wanted to let everybody know that it was the fans......The
> radiator fan was just busted (barely turning at all) and the condensor
> fan would run for a moment then shut off.....if you take your hand and
> slightly turn the blade, the motor would come on again....I also
> changed my temperture switch while I was at it......Thank you all for
> some very good responses....Allot of knowledge in this group.
>
> --Craig
>
excellent that you took the time to follow up. it's a great help for
the archives.

 

celliot75 wrote:
> On Jun 12, 8:59 pm, jim beam <spamvor...@bad.example.net> wrote:
>> Jim Yanik wrote:
>>> jim beam <spamvor...@bad.example.net> wrote in
>>> news:yfSdnbOVudERNvPbnZ2dnUVZ_u_inZ2d@speakeasy.ne t:
>>>> mred wrote:
>>>>> And yes , the impellers do get worn.
>>>> how? they don't touch anything.
>>> They touch WATER.(coolant)
>>> Water wears away rock,changes it to sand.
>> no, particulates wear away rock.
>>
>>> water jets can cut through tough materials very quickly.
>> and they're typically used in conjunction with abrasive powder when
>> cutting metals. at 60,000psi.
>>
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_jet_cutter
>>
>> this is not the case with a vehicle impeller.
>>
>>> Plastic is relatively soft,and degrades with age.
>> impellers on a honda are not plastic. nor are the casings.
>>
>>> Also,there's more than just coolant circulating inside a engine's cooling
>>> system.(particulates,rust....)
>> there can be from time to time, but they don't continually circulate,
>> they settle in places like radiators and the lower channel of the
>> cylinder block.
>>
>> bottom line, i've seen a whole bunch of honda water pumps, and none
>> evidenced any wear. including the 305k mile one off my old crx. that's
>> 305k miles on the original water pump from new. it died by bearing/seal
>> failure, not impeller wear.
>
> Hi Guys,
>
> Justed wanted to let everybody know that it was the fans......The
> radiator fan was just busted (barely turning at all) and the condensor
> fan would run for a moment then shut off.....if you take your hand and
> slightly turn the blade, the motor would come on again....I also
> changed my temperture switch while I was at it......Thank you all for
> some very good responses....Allot of knowledge in this group.
>
> --Craig
>
excellent that you took the time to follow up. it's a great help for
the archives.

 

celliot75 wrote:
> On Jun 12, 8:59 pm, jim beam <spamvor...@bad.example.net> wrote:
>> Jim Yanik wrote:
>>> jim beam <spamvor...@bad.example.net> wrote in
>>> news:yfSdnbOVudERNvPbnZ2dnUVZ_u_inZ2d@speakeasy.ne t:
>>>> mred wrote:
>>>>> And yes , the impellers do get worn.
>>>> how? they don't touch anything.
>>> They touch WATER.(coolant)
>>> Water wears away rock,changes it to sand.
>> no, particulates wear away rock.
>>
>>> water jets can cut through tough materials very quickly.
>> and they're typically used in conjunction with abrasive powder when
>> cutting metals. at 60,000psi.
>>
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_jet_cutter
>>
>> this is not the case with a vehicle impeller.
>>
>>> Plastic is relatively soft,and degrades with age.
>> impellers on a honda are not plastic. nor are the casings.
>>
>>> Also,there's more than just coolant circulating inside a engine's cooling
>>> system.(particulates,rust....)
>> there can be from time to time, but they don't continually circulate,
>> they settle in places like radiators and the lower channel of the
>> cylinder block.
>>
>> bottom line, i've seen a whole bunch of honda water pumps, and none
>> evidenced any wear. including the 305k mile one off my old crx. that's
>> 305k miles on the original water pump from new. it died by bearing/seal
>> failure, not impeller wear.
>
> Hi Guys,
>
> Justed wanted to let everybody know that it was the fans......The
> radiator fan was just busted (barely turning at all) and the condensor
> fan would run for a moment then shut off.....if you take your hand and
> slightly turn the blade, the motor would come on again....I also
> changed my temperture switch while I was at it......Thank you all for
> some very good responses....Allot of knowledge in this group.
>
> --Craig
>
excellent that you took the time to follow up. it's a great help for
the archives.