92 Accord Running HOT? Also sometimes IDLE BOUNCE... Thermostat??

Hi

I have a 92 accord, 285,000 KM on it.

Just yesterday I noticed the smell of anti-freeze... soon later after
driving and coming to a stop I seen anti-freeze steam rising from the
hood.. I also noticed that when the car sits at idle the temp needle
rises above the H line.... but as soon as I drive it goes back to
normal.

Today I started my car and after about 5 minutes once warmed up (its
like -10 here now) the idle was bouncing from 800-2000 over and
over.... once I put in drive it went back to normal. The temp needle
was also rising above the H line... I started driving and everything
seems fine but the needle seems to lower and rise above the H
line.... after 20 minutes or so I came home and just let the car
idle, there was no longer an idle jump from 800-2000.....

Im confused.... could this be a temperature coolant sensor? or could
it be my thermostat? any help would be greatly appreciated!

-one other thing... since i bought the car this summer when I shut the
car off sometimes the fan kicks in.

 

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Cooling fan switches don't work if they are not immersed in coolant, so
top up the rad and fill the reservoir to the -MAX- mark, and add some
more the next time the engine is cool. You'll see the level has dropped
as the engine purges some air from the system and 'sips' it from the
reservoir.
Owner's manuals are often available from wrecking yards for about 1/3rd
of the dealer price.

'Curly'

 

I would check or replace the thermostat. sounds like it might be stuck
closed so hot coolant is only circulating in the engine bypassing the
radiator.

 

Today I drove it around looking for a thermostat at some auto part
stores around here... not one place has a thermostat for my car... but
anyways, while driving... after maybe an hour of stop and go... the
check engine light came on, and the car started to lose power... the
temp was also above the H line.... one more thing is I lost the heat
in my car today....

Im starting to think this is a coolant temp sensor, and maybe a
thermostat too because of the sudden heat loss....

What are your thoughts?

 

I would also like to add that for about 20 minutes the cars idle was
jumping from 1000-2200 rpm. Its done that yesterday and today once
the car got warm.

 

Bouncing idle is usually a big air leak.

With car full-warm and idle bouncing, remove air cleaner pipe from throttle
body. Cover LOWER port in the throttle body with your finger. Does bouncing
stop? Then Fast Idle Thermo Valve is stuck open.

 

Don't use an aftermarket thermostat. That's asking for even more trouble.
Use a dealer thermostat only. It's about $30.

Get the code behind the light and report it here.
http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/misc/3173_ICCR_E_14JAN03.pdf
(specifically page 15)

Replace thermostat and rad cap. With OEM only!

 

Im starting to think this is a coolant temp sensor, and maybe a

Why the rad cap too?

 

Because Rad Caps go bad, and when they do they allow the coolant to boil,
forcing it to the reservoir, and then to the ground. Not a good thing.
Should probably be replaced every few years as a matter of PM.

 

Specifically the vrious seals.

100% correct. A bad rad cap can sometimes be misdiagnosed as a blown head
gasket.

 

OK I just got off the phone with a local garage... they tell me my rad
is gone... they said what happen was it was low on coolant and thats
why the car ran hot and I had no heat... but I did top it up the first
thing that day... and it still ran hot.

For some reason I don't think it is my rad, because its not leaking or
anything. And I mean that doesn't explain my idle bouncing and it
makes more sense to me that my thermostat is gone.... considering one
day I had heat, the car would only get hot when it was idling, driving
it would cool down... then the next day I had NO heat, the car was
running hot for the hour or so i drove it, with no heat.... I'm
thinking the thermostat was stuck closed or open.

Do you think my rad is really no good? or could it still be a
thermostat?

 

Rads "go bad" in one of three ways:
1) Fins corrode and fall off,
2) core gets plugged with crud from neglect or wrong antifreeze,
3) tanks crack and leak.

If your garage can't identify these, you need a new garage.

Bouncing idle is an air leak or low coolant. If you have ascertained the
rad level is right up to the top, then the problem is most likely the
Fast Idle Thermo Valve having stuck open. This usually happens when
cooling systems are neglected.

Poor heater output combined with overheating at idle (fans working)
means your coolant circulation is poor. This is usually caused by low
coolant.

If the coolant repeatedly gets low in spite of your attempts at topping
it up, then you have possible:
1) blown head gasket,
2) bad rad cap,
3) failed connection between rad cap and overflow reservoir,
4) corroded water pump
5) external water leak.

You need a competent garage to look at this thing. Your problem should
be solvable in a half-hour.

 

Well thanks Tegger your great help...
Im going to take the car to another garage, I have an unkle that works
there. Maybe he will have some better advice for me then the previous
garage.