92 Accord - Low Operating Tempature Question

Hi, have a 92 Accord two door LX standard shift. I had been pulling
the battery to charge it when I laid a box wrench near the crack
between the radiator and the condenser to put it down for a sec. Got
lucky and the box wrench fell down inbetween, if you look at your own,
you'd never think it was an unsafe place, nither did I. Anyway it
happened and down at the bottom, the box wrench touched the radiator on
one side and the condensor on the other. It took me a week or two and
a bunch of tries to get it out, finally did, but had driven with things
this way over that time, couldn't really avoid it.

It's winter where I'm at, but during that period and ever since, the
car's temperature guage runs low. Low at the bottom most mark and the
first quarter. Only a couple of times have I seen it reach the half
way mark, but have then watched it go back down overtime at highway
speeds and 30 minutes of travel. I've seen it climb upto a quarter and
then drop back down to that lowest mark too. This car has always been
at the half way mark and no more under normal operating temperature and
it was only after this box wrench incident did things change. In the
end coincidence or not, looking into it, considering the thermostat and
just getting started. Wondered most about if a piece of steel touching
the condensor and radiator if that would make something bad happen.

thanks,

jdc

 

I am wondering if perhaps your fan is on all the time?

If so, it could be that, while you were trying to get your wrench back,
you somehow shorted some wires together. I'd check the wires to your
thermoswitch.

Btw, invest in a strong magnet on a stick for next time

Remco

 

Thanks for the reply, maybe that fan is staying on. Magnet- could have
used one at the time, and a modified hooked coat hanger did the trick.


jdc

 

if the fan is not on then

does your honda vin begin with a J or 1?
1 - made in USA and most likely your thermostat is stuck open (it is
designed this way - fail safe). it is the easiest thermostat replacement i
have ever done

so far all of our honda accords that made in USA have failed thermostat (one
of them is the 92) and right handside low beam.

 

Yes, it was made in the usa, and local dealer has thermostats for $19.
Checking things over today from shop manual troubleshooting info-
fans/hoses/hose temperatures/wire connections, etc. If the thermostat
is the cause, would be a welcome cheap fix. Thanks for the post.

jdc