'90 Honda Civic cooling problem, DIY radiator installation questions

I live in Hawaii, where there is salt in the air, as well as humidity.
Could that be a reason for the corrosion?

 

I live in Hawaii, where there is salt in the air, as well as humidity.
Could that be a reason for the corrosion?

 

I live in Hawaii, where there is salt in the air, as well as humidity.
Could that be a reason for the corrosion?

 

Hi,

Yes the coolant was low. Very rusty colored, too. I checked it
yesterday before doing anything else. However, I still decided to go
and replace the radiator and thermostat. I wanted to replace the
radiator now as like I said, the whole front of it was pretty bad, all
the fins had disintegrated. And I'd rather not get stuck someplace
when it eventually goes bad. I put in a new thermostat as well, being
that I was in there, as well as new hoses.

 

Hi,

Yes the coolant was low. Very rusty colored, too. I checked it
yesterday before doing anything else. However, I still decided to go
and replace the radiator and thermostat. I wanted to replace the
radiator now as like I said, the whole front of it was pretty bad, all
the fins had disintegrated. And I'd rather not get stuck someplace
when it eventually goes bad. I put in a new thermostat as well, being
that I was in there, as well as new hoses.

 

Hi,

Yes the coolant was low. Very rusty colored, too. I checked it
yesterday before doing anything else. However, I still decided to go
and replace the radiator and thermostat. I wanted to replace the
radiator now as like I said, the whole front of it was pretty bad, all
the fins had disintegrated. And I'd rather not get stuck someplace
when it eventually goes bad. I put in a new thermostat as well, being
that I was in there, as well as new hoses.

 

Nope, fans come on. See above.

Ain't that the truth, I got nice and cut up putting the damn thing in!

Took me 12 hours to do it, including chasing down the parts,
lunch/dinner breaks, flushing and refilling. Damn tiring. My
legs/lower back hurt from stooping over the fenders and front end
working in the engine compartment!

I had a Haynes manual, which was just OK. I could have done the work
without it, I think. I'd much rather like an official Honda manual,
though don't know where to get one.

The damn A/C line hose got in the way of me putting in the driver's
side fan. I scratched up the fins a bit getting this fan in with the
tight clearances between the exhaust manifold, A/C line hose(s) and
the radiator. This shouldn't affect the functionality of the radiator,
should it? I also noticed that the A/C line hose is brushed up against
the shield on the exhaust manifold. The A/C line hose has a plastic
shield around it I am thinking that acts as a shield from the somewhat
hot manifold shield. I didn't notice the proximity of the hose to the
shield before, so I don't know if this is OK or not. Also, I didn't
notice/smell anything burning when I drove the car to work this
morning, so I have to assume it's OK. Thoughts on this?

So the car is running cool now, the temp gauge is 1/3, solid. It does
not move at all. Awesome! Stop-and-go or straight on the freeway,
everything's "cool". The fans are not coming on at all, 'though I
don't know if I hooked them up incorrectly or if the engine is not hot
enough for them to come on.

Thanks,
Chris

 

Nope, fans come on. See above.

Ain't that the truth, I got nice and cut up putting the damn thing in!

Took me 12 hours to do it, including chasing down the parts,
lunch/dinner breaks, flushing and refilling. Damn tiring. My
legs/lower back hurt from stooping over the fenders and front end
working in the engine compartment!

I had a Haynes manual, which was just OK. I could have done the work
without it, I think. I'd much rather like an official Honda manual,
though don't know where to get one.

The damn A/C line hose got in the way of me putting in the driver's
side fan. I scratched up the fins a bit getting this fan in with the
tight clearances between the exhaust manifold, A/C line hose(s) and
the radiator. This shouldn't affect the functionality of the radiator,
should it? I also noticed that the A/C line hose is brushed up against
the shield on the exhaust manifold. The A/C line hose has a plastic
shield around it I am thinking that acts as a shield from the somewhat
hot manifold shield. I didn't notice the proximity of the hose to the
shield before, so I don't know if this is OK or not. Also, I didn't
notice/smell anything burning when I drove the car to work this
morning, so I have to assume it's OK. Thoughts on this?

So the car is running cool now, the temp gauge is 1/3, solid. It does
not move at all. Awesome! Stop-and-go or straight on the freeway,
everything's "cool". The fans are not coming on at all, 'though I
don't know if I hooked them up incorrectly or if the engine is not hot
enough for them to come on.

Thanks,
Chris

 

Nope, fans come on. See above.

Ain't that the truth, I got nice and cut up putting the damn thing in!

Took me 12 hours to do it, including chasing down the parts,
lunch/dinner breaks, flushing and refilling. Damn tiring. My
legs/lower back hurt from stooping over the fenders and front end
working in the engine compartment!

I had a Haynes manual, which was just OK. I could have done the work
without it, I think. I'd much rather like an official Honda manual,
though don't know where to get one.

The damn A/C line hose got in the way of me putting in the driver's
side fan. I scratched up the fins a bit getting this fan in with the
tight clearances between the exhaust manifold, A/C line hose(s) and
the radiator. This shouldn't affect the functionality of the radiator,
should it? I also noticed that the A/C line hose is brushed up against
the shield on the exhaust manifold. The A/C line hose has a plastic
shield around it I am thinking that acts as a shield from the somewhat
hot manifold shield. I didn't notice the proximity of the hose to the
shield before, so I don't know if this is OK or not. Also, I didn't
notice/smell anything burning when I drove the car to work this
morning, so I have to assume it's OK. Thoughts on this?

So the car is running cool now, the temp gauge is 1/3, solid. It does
not move at all. Awesome! Stop-and-go or straight on the freeway,
everything's "cool". The fans are not coming on at all, 'though I
don't know if I hooked them up incorrectly or if the engine is not hot
enough for them to come on.

Thanks,
Chris

 

sounds like you are all set, to check the fan i think you can unplug
both of the wires going to the sullinoid in the rad and connect them
together which should turn on the fan, but that may be differant on
newer hondas

Andrew

 

sounds like you are all set, to check the fan i think you can unplug
both of the wires going to the sullinoid in the rad and connect them
together which should turn on the fan, but that may be differant on
newer hondas

Andrew

 

sounds like you are all set, to check the fan i think you can unplug
both of the wires going to the sullinoid in the rad and connect them
together which should turn on the fan, but that may be differant on
newer hondas

Andrew

 

(Seven) spake unto the masses in

Yup. When I was there in '85, it rained pretty much every day, usually at
night. I was also surprised at the amount of rust on the cars there, until
I realized it had to do with the salt sea air.

 

(Seven) spake unto the masses in

Yup. When I was there in '85, it rained pretty much every day, usually at
night. I was also surprised at the amount of rust on the cars there, until
I realized it had to do with the salt sea air.

 

(Seven) spake unto the masses in

Yup. When I was there in '85, it rained pretty much every day, usually at
night. I was also surprised at the amount of rust on the cars there, until
I realized it had to do with the salt sea air.

 

Official Honda service manuals are available at www.helminc.com

If you didn't gouge the coolant channels it should be OK. If the fins were
badly bent I'd have "combed" them back into approximate line. Did you not
read my tip on protecting the fins during installation with pieces of

No - it's not "OK". That "shield" is a sleeve where the hose should be
clamped in a bracket coming back off the front valance and over the
radiator. Either you're missing the bracket or missed what its purpose is
during reassembly.

Better check they're working... in your driveway, rather than downtown.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

Official Honda service manuals are available at www.helminc.com

If you didn't gouge the coolant channels it should be OK. If the fins were
badly bent I'd have "combed" them back into approximate line. Did you not
read my tip on protecting the fins during installation with pieces of

No - it's not "OK". That "shield" is a sleeve where the hose should be
clamped in a bracket coming back off the front valance and over the
radiator. Either you're missing the bracket or missed what its purpose is
during reassembly.

Better check they're working... in your driveway, rather than downtown.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

Official Honda service manuals are available at www.helminc.com

If you didn't gouge the coolant channels it should be OK. If the fins were
badly bent I'd have "combed" them back into approximate line. Did you not
read my tip on protecting the fins during installation with pieces of

No - it's not "OK". That "shield" is a sleeve where the hose should be
clamped in a bracket coming back off the front valance and over the
radiator. Either you're missing the bracket or missed what its purpose is
during reassembly.

Better check they're working... in your driveway, rather than downtown.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

Well, you must have been on the windward side of some island. The west
(lee)sides of the islands here are pretty arid/hot. Those who live
further west and away from the ocean actually have nice, older cars.
You'd be surprised at the number of "vintage" cars in really nice
shape (for those that take care of their rides).

Chris

 

Well, you must have been on the windward side of some island. The west
(lee)sides of the islands here are pretty arid/hot. Those who live
further west and away from the ocean actually have nice, older cars.
You'd be surprised at the number of "vintage" cars in really nice
shape (for those that take care of their rides).

Chris