NEED SOME TROUBLE SHOOTING HELP

sumodesignssumodesigns New Wagonist
in Engine & Drivetrain
Hey guys, I just picked up an 89 wagon, it had a frozen alternator and cracked radiator. I fixed the alternator and changed out the radiator, hoses and thermostat. I did a compression check (all good) and bled that radiator according to Chilton manual. Checked the fan and it is working properly.

The problem I am having is it will sometimes run very hot to the point of overheating. I only notice it when the car is going up an incline or driving on the freeway over 55mph. When I am on the freeway, it doesn't start overheating for a good 30 miles, when I notice that the temp gauge started to rapidly rise I started to pull over, but noticed that when I was less than 55mph the temp goes down. So I drove it farther, it didn't start going up again till about 5 miles from my house. I did the same thing, I put it on neutral and coasted for about 1/8th mile, then the temp went down. I finally get off the freeway and went through stop and go traffic, and the temp never went up.

So I was wondering if anyone can suggest a reason for this, a solution or something I can do to fix it.

Thanks for all your inputs!

Comments

  • JDMshuttleJDMshuttle Senior Wagonist
    i think you should put a colder opening theromostat like a 160 its not like we get that cold in socal and run some RED LINE water wetter i tink that might work also check your tenp sending unit i might be getting old
  • quartersquarters Council Member
    thermostat. even though you got a new one it doesn't seem to be working correctly for your application. pain in the ass, i know... i've been. my car was the opposite problem, it would take FOREVER to warm up. in the winter it would hardly warm up at all! I had to put a chunk of black painted cardboard across the bumper opening.
  • marc-111marc-111 Wagonist
    i think its your water pump
  • sumodesignssumodesigns New Wagonist
    The thoughts I have are:

    1. headgasket (compression check was good though)
    2. waterpump
    3. thermostat (changed)
    4. S.O.L.
  • SiWagonSiWagon Council Member
    How did you test the fan?
  • heraldhamsterheraldhamster Wagonist
    I'm with quarters, and not trying to be rude but we've all done something similar... is the thermostat installed correctly by direction and the weephole up?

    just a thought.
  • sumodesignssumodesigns New Wagonist
    SiWagon wrote:
    How did you test the fan?

    I tested it with a 9volt battery, and also it kicks in when the cars at idle.
  • sumodesignssumodesigns New Wagonist
    heraldhamster wrote:
    I'm with quarters, and not trying to be rude but we've all done something similar... is the thermostat installed correctly by direction and the weephole up?

    just a thought.

    I installed the thermostat correctly. I have a feeling the water pump is going out or head gasket.
  • KahunaKahuna familEE
    I'm having the same problems, It didn't start doing it until I had to pull the fan off to try to fit my header in there. Then it started doing it. But the fans are kicking on accordingly. I do have a light mist of oil over the bottom half of my motor, so I think the radiator may have air in it, or the head gasket is leaking.
  • HaydzHaydz Moderator
    You are both explaining classic radiator airlock. Bleed the air out of your cooling system. At least thats where i'd start.
  • KahunaKahuna familEE
    Thats what I was thinking, but how do you do it? I've never worked on a car that didn't have one. Could you explain how to do it, please?
  • sumodesignssumodesigns New Wagonist
    Theres a bleeder valve at the upper radiator hose next to the head. I bleed mine till it flowed coolant consistantly. I will try to bleed it again this weekend.
  • KahunaKahuna familEE
    I know where it is at, I just didn't know how to use it.
  • pas_wagovanpas_wagovan Wagonist
    it may be a flow prob. do you have ac? if so is the condensor in front of the radiator dirty? or it may be water pump. when do you need your next timing belt?
  • sumodesignssumodesigns New Wagonist
    I think it is waterpump too, I squeezed the upper radiator hose while the car is on and I don't feel it pulsating. I did the same with my 90 civic hatchback and theres a definate difference.
  • ragenasianragenasian Moderator
    This thread is bringing back bad memories for me. I was having overheating problems in my 1991 hatch. I found out I had a bad headgasket so we pulled the motor. I dumped a lot of money into the motor with all new parts, timing belt, water pump, port and polish, FPR, you name it I am pretty sure I bought it. Once we got it all back together go figure I was having the same problem. I put a nice full copper headgasket on it also. It came down to the head being every so slightly warped. Got it shaved and that fixed everything. I don't think this is your problem but I thought I would share my dumb story anyway.

    It could only be so many things but my luck it is always the last thing that fixes it. You could always jack the car up so that the radiator is the highest part of the motor. However the little bleeder valve worked good for me too. If you are going to put a new water pump on it don't skimp out and only do the water pump. It will save you headache later.
  • quartersquarters Council Member
    someone on this board is going to be right on this one. my money is on air lock or different thermostat. if it's the water pump, i will admit defeat.
  • sumodesignssumodesigns New Wagonist
    Well hopefully I will have an answer after this weekend! I am going to take it a friend of mine that is a Honda mechianic at a honda dealership here in SD. He is going to bleed the radiator. But talking to him on the phone, and with the over 200K milage thats on the car, he says it might be head gasket or waterpump.
  • quartersquarters Council Member
    bumber. let us know how this one ends.
  • sic944tsic944t Wagonist
    i dont really see how it could be a water pump as long as the thing spins freely ( if it didnt you would pop your timing belt) it is going to pump umless it somehow split the propeller from the shaft which i dont really think could ever happen and i think you would experience coolant loss on a headgastket every one ive seen does ...
  • heraldhamsterheraldhamster Wagonist
    Kahuna wrote:
    I know where it is at, I just didn't know how to use it.

    after the engine is stone cold, open the bleeder valve, remove radiator cap, fill to full in radiator and check overflow tank, fill to full mark. run engine for a minute or two to distribute fluid. check level again in radiator and fill till the bleeder overflows (as sumodesigns said) close the bleeder valve first then fill to full in radiator.
    check the overflow tank level and run it on the freeway for twenty/thirty minutes. check the levels, add as needed, if at all.

    if I've mis-stated any of this somebody fix me, it's been a while since I did this.

    ...jm.
  • sumodesignssumodesigns New Wagonist
    Alright guys heres the scoop on my wagon problem.

    Took it in to my honda mechanic friend, he did some test, and found that there were a couple of issues.

    1. There are oil droplets in the radiator, leaking headgasket.
    2. Flow pressure through the radiator when under a load is very low, water pump. Also if you listen very carefully to my engine on the waterpump side u can here it (bad news).

    He says, if I am changing out the motor he recommends to just change the waterpump for now and since the headgasket is only leaking ever so slightly, he just said to watch the oil level.

    Hopefully this will help others out.
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