So my 1996 Accord LX 2.2 Non-VTEC Automatic ever since I have bought it, it has never fully gotten to temperature. If I'm in traffic where every car I have ever had, has gotten even slightly hot, or on the highway the same. But this Accord never actually goes to the half way mark. Is my temperature gauge broken or something? Because when I start it in the morning it reads right and goes up slowly like it should.

 

An OEM thermostt may help.

I noticed on my 94 EX that a replacement thermostat was slightly cooler (on dash temp gauge) than previous thermostat. However temp measurements w/ IR gauge show very close to spec. My temp gauge maxes out very close to your position in photo.

good luck

 

Keep in mind that since the implementation of OBD-II (which I believe includes the 1996 Accord), virtually every car uses a gauge slaved to the OBD-II system. Said another way, your gauge is pretty much a glorified idiot light, and what is displayed is only vaugely accurate. If your gauge gets to its normal maximum withing say five minutes of driving, then there is nothing wrong with the operation of your thermostat, note, this isn't to say it is the correct heat range for your car.

Since the advent of OBD-II slaved gauges, I have only twice seen a temperature gauge indicate any deviation from where it normally points; the first time was when the vehicle I was driving was over taxed driving on some very steep mountain roads and it was near to overheating (the gauge went from "normal" to "hot" in about five seconds), and the second time was when the thermostat in another vehicle failed in the open position (the gauge would take nearly 20 minutes to get up to its "normal" position).

Long story short, your car sounds like it is operating properly.

 

I owned 2 5th gen accords, both of their temperature gauges read about where yours is for normally operating temps.

And as shipo said, there can be a huge fluctuation in temperature and the factory gauge won't move at all. I have an aftermarket digital gauge in my rx7, and the temperature can fluctuate 40 degrees without the factory gauge moving.

 

At normal operating temperature, that is where the gauge sits for a 5th generation Accord (94-97).

However, the gauge is not slaved to the OBD-II system. There is a single wire from the engine coolant temperature sending unit that controls the gauge needle movement. This is a description of how it works: The engine coolant temperature (ECT) gauge has two intersecting coils wound around a permanent magnet rotor. Voltage applied to the coils generates a magnetic field. The magnetic field, controlled by the engine coolant temperature (ECT) sending unit, causes the rotor to rotate and the gauge needle to move. As the resistance in the sending unit varies, current through the gauge coils changes, pulling the gauge needle toward the coil with the stronger magnetic field. The temperature gauge circuit for the 94-95 (OBD-I) vs. 96-97 (OBD-II) is virtually the same.

For 6th generation Accord (98-02; OBD-II):
1998-99 Accord: Engine coolant temperature signal is from coolant temperature gauge sending unit.
2000-02 Accord: Engine coolant temperature signal is from PCM.

 

Here's my F22B1 ... just changed the thermostat today -- Honda 19301-PAA-306 (78C threshold). I logged into the forum to post my concern thinking maybe the temperature sensor is getting old -- but I am relieved to hear this is normal operating temp for our cars

 

Looks normal to me.

 

Correct temp sensor is 90C (194F). Car will use more fuel at lower operating temp.

good luck

 

Then why is the 19301-PAA-306, which seems to be the current part number for many of the engines, a 78C thermostat?

 

I was going from memory of my shop manual. On the road w/o manuals. However, when I searched Honda parts menu, it did not specify the temp setting of thermostat. I recall seeing 90C stamped on my thermostat (94 EX). I don't think the LX would be any different.

When I checked RockAuto parts, they offer 170F and 195F thermostats (not OEM).

Hopefully someone else knows definitively.

good luck