1992 honda civic ex

I need to know a question? I went for a spin on my car, it was the first
time i really turned on the heat in this year,all of a sudden my car
starts to over heat. I need to know why would this happen, give a little
advice on what it might of caused this to happen, it was runnig ok all the
time till last night.

 

When, if ever, was the thermostat last replaced?

If it was replaced, was OEM used?

 

I dont know because i bought the car a month ago and the person told me
that they had replaced the waterpump not long ago..

 

Okay. Here's my recommendation:

First, with the car COMPLETELY cold (like after it's been sitting
overnight), take off the radiator cap and check the level of coolant in the
radiator. (If you do not let it cool, the system will be under pressure, and
removing the cap is dangerous.) Then start the car and let it reach normal
operating temperature on the temperature gage. Turn off. Check the level of
coolant in the reservoir. It should be up to the maximum line. If not, fill
to the maximum line.

Repeat these checks in a day or so. If the levels go down significantly,
then there may be a leak somewhere. If the levels stay pretty steady, then I
would start by replacing the thermostat. Buy an OEM one from a Honda dealer
or independent shop dedicated to OEM Honda parts. They are only around $20.

This is a do-it-yourself job if you're at all handy. Free online manuals are
available.

 

Thank you for the info, i have been doing some research my self on the net
i will check all these little things before i go spend lots of money on a
mechanic that is certainly gona lie to me because thats how they make a
living, thank you again.

 

if its low? what then?

the OP doesnt know how well the thing was refilled, or what with. sucks.
for all we know, it could been filled with tap water, or tap water and
regular prestone.

i would ASSume the water pump replaceing person refilled with the wrong
stuff, and with the heater off. turning on the heater likely made the
level drop.

if it was my car, id do a complete drain/refill with the heater ON using
a 50/50 mix of prestone orange dexcool/distilled water. including
flushing/replacing the stuff in the overflow.

THEN id follow the rest of these steps...

 

Sure. But it's not supposed to be low. If it is, that's arguably a first
suggestion of what's amiss. I'm urging collection of data to help with
diagnosis. In this instance, I think having a benchmark is very helpful.
Checking levels doesn't take any serious time.

I agree it's reasonable to suspect a connection between the car's problem
and the water pump replacement job. I'm not ready to /assert/ such a
connection yet, though.

a 50/50 mix of prestone orange dexcool/distilled water. including

The cooling system could have a leak. So I suggest checking for indications
of these, first. If there's no leak, and if the OP has the necessary time,
inclination, and money, I would ultimately push for a full coolant change as
well, doing what you say above, though noting that using OEM coolant is
certainly fine, too. (For the OP: Like Mike, I use the orange Dexcool. I
have a 91 Civic.)

I'm just hoping he doesn't have, in I guess the worst case, a blown
headgasket or the beginnings of one.

 

If i have the begining of a blown headgasket then i will see oil in the
antifreeze correct? and if its an average on how much it's normally cost?

 

Oil in the antifreeze, antifreeze in the oil, consumption of anti-freeze
(and so lowering levels in the reservoir) and more can all be signs of a
blown head gasket, yes. Googling yields a lot of ways to check for symptoms.

Do not drive the car if it's seriously overheating. Keep a jug of 50/50
distilled water/coolant with you. Driving while overheated can do much more
damage, as you may know. E.g. warped cylinder head.

 

symptoms are usually:

oil in the coolant, coolant in the oil, extreme loss of coolant or
extreme coolant pressure.

 

Turning the heater on had likely dropped the coolant and the thermostat
isn't opening. If you don't bleed it now, the coolant could boil and
eventually flush the coolant out thru the reservoir.

Also, look for small, but constant, bubbles with the filler neck open.