Hey guys, first time poster here.

I apologize if this thread is in the wrong place...

I'm in a predicament. I bought my '98 Accord (v6, 2door, 180k miles) last November, and it has given me no problems until now. This started a few days ago when the temp gauge displayed a tad under half (normal). I flipped the heater on, and nothing. The next night, my temp gauge shot way up close to the "H". Still no heat. Now, today I started to drive and the temp gauge shot up pretty much touching the H, still no heat coming out of my vents.

Its very odd because the gauge will literally hop around between normal and very hot. All the fans are working. I havent gotten a chance to check the radiator fluid as i dont want to open the tank while my car is still hot.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

Check coolant level In the rad....replace t-stat, bleeed coolant. See what you have from there.

 

If coolant reservoir is empty and coolant in radiator low, there is a leak somewhere that will need be located and repaired. You'll need to have a pressurized coolant system leak test performed on cold engine.

good luck

 

I'm thinking that you just might have a faulty coolant temp sensor..

What do you think TexasHonda ?

 

Does it go up real high when the car idles and then go back down when you rev the engine or drive at speed? If so your coolant is low and probably not enough to go through the heater core. Check your coolant soon, you don't want to warp your head by overheating.

 

This might be explained by air in the cooling system. Hondas do not like any air pockets, it can make the temperature gauge flaky like that.

Remember it IS possible for the overflow tank to be full while the actual radiator is low. When it's cool check it out.

 

hey guys, thanks for the responses, dead on! so I refilled my coolant and low and behold my temp returned to normal. Though, there is now coolant on my driveway. When looking @ the car head on, its coming from the left-middle side of the radiator. I cannot seem to locate the leak. Any ideas on where to start? i really dont want to spend 500 bucks on parts and labor for a new radiator if its a simple 20$ hose. Let me know what you guys think.

Thanks again on the quick responses!

 

$500, where are you buying stuff. I just went to Amazon and found a radiator that fits your car for $60 to $100. I recently put a radiator in my sister's Accord in about an hour.

 

Based upon the description, sounds like the rad is leaking, got any pic's?

As stated, I bet you can find the parts and DIY for way less than $500. Not that bad of a job....while there you might as well replace the rad hoses, if an auto trans-buy a few feet of trans cooler hose and replace the sections going to the rad...then might as well throw a t-stat in it.

 

I will post a few pics tomorrow. Reluctant to drive the car. Hoping its just a hose but I can't locate it. Thanks for the responses.