Is my car screwed?

I was told last week by my mechanic that my 94 Accord EX (4-cyl.) has a
lower radiator hose that has a slow leak. I've been topping off the radiator
every morning while waiting for payday to have it fixed. Meanwhile, last
night my husband used my car. This morning I forgot to check the radiator,
took off in it and noticed the A/C was on (!!!!!), the heater wouldn't work
and about 1 mile up the road the needle started climbing. I pulled off the
road that second. Since he'd also left his truck keys in my car, he couldn't
bring me any water so I had no choice but to turn off the motor, let it cool
down and carefully limp home without it going into the red. (It came close,
but didn't.)

I'm wondering, even after filling the radiator, why won't my heater work?
Also, God only knows how long he drove it last night overheated....
:-( How do I find out if my block's cracked, head's warped, or some other
godawful thing? It will be at the mechanic's next week, but meanwhile is
there any way to tell if something's seriously screwed?

 

If it's really bad it will let you know soon. If it is not so bad, it
could drive for quite a while before anything bad happens. No real way
to tell, without pulling off pieces of the engine and inspecting. No
point.

It sounds like the thermostat or heater valve is now stuck and won't
allow the heater to work.

By the way, if there is no coolant in the area of the sensor, you're
temp gauge doesn't read accurately. It "could" have gotten a lot
hotter than you're thinking.

I pegged my Integra at the hot end of the gauge though, due to a water
pump leak, and didn't hurt the engine. It went for another 85,000
miles before trade-in.

Good luck.

 

You might be overheating now because an air bubble might be present in
the system somehwere because it was allowed to run low.
The heater will then also not work properly because the coolant
basically doesn't ciculate.

Try this: refill it, start the car but leave the radiator cap off. Let
it run for 15 minutes or so, keeping your eye on the temperature
because you don't want it to overheat. When you see the coolant level
drop, add more.
You may note some burbing from the radiator - this is when some of the
air comes out and your signal to add more coolant.
Be careful refilling from the radiator not getting burned.

You may have not done any damage - if it acts normally, it is probably
just fine.

Remco

 

First off, use antifreeze diluted with distilled (or at least R.O.
water). Don't put tap water (a.k.a. Hondacide) in your rad. Keep the
reservoir fairly full as well as the rad. Air that burps out will be
replaced by the stuff in the reservoir overnight, assuming the leak
isn't too bad, and the rad cap is working correctly. The reservoir is
your friend.

'Curly'

 

Good point. Check your car manual for an "air bleed" procedure. You
may need to open a small valve and let out air until some coolant
starts escaping.

 

Just another reason why it pays to maintain your car properly and fix things
as they need repair.

 

It's pretty simple. The air bleed screw is usually by the thermostat
housing. It's a nut with a little hole extending in the middle.
Just put something under it to catch the coolant. Drain it until
it comes out without air, and refill. It might need to be filled
more than once.

 

The lower rad hose in my '95 Integra GS-R blew and I limped home about
two miles. You'll know if it's toasted. Coolant will leak like
crazy if there's a crack or warp. It was fine for another 20K miles
when the radiator tank cracked. Of course lack of coolant doesn't
cause radiator damage. Then it was stolen, but that's another
story.

 

You have a air pocket. The heater is usually difficult to get all the air
out of right away. after doing the air bleed system try this: With the rad
cap off start the car let it get warm, turn the heater on high and to vent
so you can feel it.. Goose the throttle several times, a higher RPM
(1500-2500) encourages the coolant to flow. Keep an eye on the temperature,
if it gets too warm, turn it off, let it cool off. eventually, you can coax
the air out of the heater.

 

This worked. Car runs fine, heater works. I'm still concerned, but for now
it looks ok.

Thank you all!!!!!!!

 

Did you see the part about not having any money until the next payday? No
car within a three-county radius has been maintained more conscienciously
than this one. That hose is only a year or two old; it should have been
fine.
I think the real lesson here is, don't let other people use your car. They
can't possibly give a damn about it to the extent that you do.

 

Typically,
The male cares for the car as much as he does the woman....
(but don't let my wife hear me saying that)

Pars

 

Pay no attention. The Honda newsgroup is more than a little less
hospitable than other car groups, at times. You want a cheerful group
that knows its stuff, buy a Maxima and hang out there!!

 

heh... the g/f can leave. im keepin my 98 cx hatch!

 

I guess your g/f doesn't hang out in this new group...

As for me, the ex-wife is out, the '94 hatch stayed.

 

Oh that's cool. I'm just a bit anal about my car and kinda defensive right
now. I'll be ok.... eventually.

 

AMEN.


--

"This notion that the United States is getting ready
to attack Iran is simply ridiculous. Having said that,
all options are on the table,"
George Bush, Feb 22 2005

http://www.quantumphilosophy.net/files/clips/TimRyan_Medium.mov

http://www.bushflash.com/thanks.html
http://www.worldmessenger.20m.com/weapons.html#wms
WHY IRAQ?: http://www.angelfire.com/creep/gwbush/remindus.html
http://www.toostupidtobepresident.com/shockwave/chickenhawks.htm

"Bubba got a BJ, BU$H screwed us all!" - Slim

 

After a few margaritas or after the PMS subsides???? ;-) LOL!!!!

--

"This notion that the United States is getting ready
to attack Iran is simply ridiculous. Having said that,
all options are on the table,"
George Bush, Feb 22 2005

http://www.quantumphilosophy.net/files/clips/TimRyan_Medium.mov

http://www.bushflash.com/thanks.html
http://www.worldmessenger.20m.com/weapons.html#wms
WHY IRAQ?: http://www.angelfire.com/creep/gwbush/remindus.html
http://www.toostupidtobepresident.com/shockwave/chickenhawks.htm

"Bubba got a BJ, BU$H screwed us all!" - Slim

 

<< After a few margaritas or after the PMS subsides???? ;-) LOL!!!! >>

Post-MS, actually, but yeah... I think you're on to something. ;-)

 

Don't apologize. I had the exact same thought when I read that smug,
less-than-helpful comment.

MT