1989 Accord DX Coolant Leak

Discussion in 'Accord' started by Guest, Aug 3, 2006.

  1. Guest

    Guest Guest

    I came home today after driving and had coolant in the driveway
    originating from the left side front dripping near the oil pan bolt. I
    put the car on ramps and tried to find the leak. The leak does not
    occur when the car is running, only after you shut it off (which is
    common for a water pump). I saw some fluid leaking from the pipe that
    goes into the back of the water pump which is sealed with an o-ring.
    Has anyone ever seen this seal go? The car has 160,000 miles. It could
    be the water pump but it doesn’t look like it is weeping from there but
    it is hard to tell. The pipe that comes from the water pump has other
    pipes connected to it, but it doesn’t look like they are leaking. It
    looks impossible to get at the pipe that comes out of the back of the
    water pump. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I plan on taking the
    shroud off so that I can get a better look at where the leak is.
     
    Guest, Aug 3, 2006
    #1
  2. Guest

    TeGGeR® Guest



    That's the thermostat-to-water-pump pipe.




    Yes. Due to either
    1) neglected coolant changes, or
    2) rust, or
    3) age drying out the O-rings.

    #1 and #3 are most common.




    Those hoses feed certain engine controls. They don't usually leak. At least
    not catastrophically.




    Do that. The pipe can be removed once you take off the thermostat housing.
     
    TeGGeR®, Aug 3, 2006
    #2
  3. Guest

    Guest Guest

    The pipe doesn't seem to go to the thermostat housing, it looks like it
    connects to the lower radiator hose. How is the o-ring held in, it looks like
    the bolt that holds the pipe in place is the only clamp? I looked at an
    exploded view on a honda parts site.
     
    Guest, Aug 3, 2006
    #3
  4. Guest

    TeGGeR® Guest



    You are not checking carefully enough. The lower rad hose terminates at the
    thermostat housing.
     
    TeGGeR®, Aug 3, 2006
    #4
  5. Guest

    jim beam Guest

    that is the thermostat housing. honda have it on the return, not the
    feed like most other manufacturers.
    it's held in by the thermostat housing being positioned correctly. the
    only thing that's sealing it is the o-ring.
     
    jim beam, Aug 3, 2006
    #5
  6. Guest

    Matt Ion Guest

    It does? UPPER rad hose goes directly to the 'stat housing on my 3gee Accord...
     
    Matt Ion, Aug 3, 2006
    #6
  7. Guest

    TeGGeR® Guest


    Check again. Follow the lower hose carefully to its connection at the
    engine.

    The engine end of the upper hose only looks like a thermostat housing. It's
    not.
     
    TeGGeR®, Aug 3, 2006
    #7
  8. Guest

    Guest Guest

    The pipe that goes to the back of the water pump on the carb version of the
    1989 Accord DX goes to the lower radiator hose. I verified it on the car and
    in the factory service manual. I spoke to a local honda dealer to see if they
    have the o-ring, and he said that it common for the pipes to corrode and leak.
    Is it common? From what I can see, the pipe looks ok, with a little surface
    rust. He suggested that I purchase a new pipe.
     
    Guest, Aug 3, 2006
    #8
  9. Guest

    TeGGeR® Guest



    The thermostat housing is the big aluminum thing between that pipe and the
    lower rad hose. It must be removed in order to replace the pipe.




    So long as you can find O-rings that are the right size and of a material
    that is compatible with antifreeze, you can just replace the O-rings. That
    presupposes that the pipe will be in sufficiently good condition to reuse.

    My general advice when it comes to cooling system components is not to
    skimp. Too much risk to the engine from skimping. I'd be inlcined to get a
    whole new pipe, myself.

    By the way, make sure the seats in both the water pump and the thermostat
    housing are clean and smooth when you perform the service, and lube the new
    O-rings with antifreeze prior to installation.
     
    TeGGeR®, Aug 4, 2006
    #9
  10. Guest

    Matt Ion Guest

    I don't need to check it - I've changed the 'stat on this car twice, once when
    the one it came with died, and once when the "fail-safe" unit I replaced it with
    failed CLOSED (grumble grumble)... trust me, the upper rad hose connects to the
    thermostat housing.

    The lower hose, BTW, connects to a pipe that runs along the back of the engine
    under the intake manifold, and feeds the water pump.

    My previous Accord was the same. First one, I couldn't say, because it never in
    over 300,000km had a problem with the cooling system.

    I'll go take pictures, if you like...
     
    Matt Ion, Aug 4, 2006
    #10
  11. Guest

    Matt Ion Guest

    There is no "big aluminum thing" on the lower rad hose on the carb'd 3geez. The
    hose clamps directly onto the pipe. The thermostat housing is diretly behind
    and exactly level with the distributor on these cars.
     
    Matt Ion, Aug 4, 2006
    #11
  12. Guest

    TeGGeR® Guest


    No, I believe you. It's just that the lower hose position is universal
    these days, and many people seem to think their thermostat is in the upper
    hose when it's not. Guess yours must have been the last of the old style.
    And wasn't '89 the last year for a carb in North America?
     
    TeGGeR®, Aug 4, 2006
    #12
  13. Guest

    Matt Ion Guest

    Probably... AFAIK, Honda introduce EFI to the NA Accord with the 3geez (86-89),
    so I wouldn't be surprised if carbs were simply phased out through that series.

    In any case... there's a tidbit for your FAQ: thermostat housing is at the end
    of the UPPER rad hose on carb'd 3gee Accords (and probably carb'd versions
    before that as well).
     
    Matt Ion, Aug 5, 2006
    #13
  14. Guest

    nm5k Guest

    Pretty close I think. I know my 89 accord is the last year for carbs
    in the accord. Starting 1990, all accords were EFI. They did sell the
    EFI version for 86-89, but added the "i" to the name. IE: the accord LX
    EFI
    version was the LXi. Or I think anyway.. Mine is just a regular LX, so
    it's got the 2bbl carb.
    MK
     
    nm5k, Aug 6, 2006
    #14
  15. Guest

    Guest Guest

    Getting back to the original problem of the coolant leak, it turned out to be a
    pin-hole leak in the metal water pipe that comes from the water pump. It does go
    from the water pump to the lower radiator hose. On the 1989, the thermostat is in
    the upper radiator hose. I ordered a new part. Thanks for all the help.
     
    Guest, Aug 6, 2006
    #15
  16. Guest

    Matt Ion Guest

    Yeah, TeGGer, told ya so :p Nyah!

    Just kidding :)
     
    Matt Ion, Aug 10, 2006
    #16
  17. Guest

    TeGGeR® Guest



    You're a meanie. I'm telling Mom on you. :mad:
     
    TeGGeR®, Aug 10, 2006
    #17
  18. Guest

    Matt Ion Guest

    Mom always did like you best. :'(
     
    Matt Ion, Aug 13, 2006
    #18
  19. Guest

    TeGGeR® Guest


    That's because *I* took out the garbage when I was told to, unlike you...
     
    TeGGeR®, Aug 13, 2006
    #19
  20. Guest

    Matt Ion Guest

    Yeah, well *I* wasn't the one who let her buy a f... f.... F*RD.
     
    Matt Ion, Aug 13, 2006
    #20
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