So I have a 97 Honda Accord 2.2L V-Tech, I just changed out my radiator about 2 months ago, and the thermostat as well. Well, ever since then I have been noticing that my temp. gauge rises when i idle, but then when i gas it, it will drop down. It doesnt happen all the time, about every 2 weeks or so, depends how much i drive the car. So i was wondering if anyone knows why this would be happing, and what can i do to fix it? Thanks

 

Is the coolant level staying consistant-full? and there is no trapped air in the system.

Check the cooling fans, one check, assuming ac works, with the ac on and car running do BOTH fans run?

 

When the engine is cold, remove the radiator cap and check that the radiator is full of coolant.

 

When it's cold, squeeze the radiator hoses. You can hear the difference (sloshing sound) if there's air trapped in there. The air will not necessarily be located in the radiator. Use the bleed valve at the thermostat housing if necessary.

 

Poorman - Well the coolant is staying full. The fans do run with and without the a/c on.
I tryed to bleed the system to see if i can let the air out, i open the valve with the radiator cap on and nothing came out, until i removed the car and it start to come out of the valve.

 

When you opened the bleeder..Was the car running? Was the heat set to max?

Good to know both fans run, while car is on, both when the ac is on and off.....so we can rule those out.

Trying to figure out, is there air in the system, could the t-stat be sticking (know it is new but seen strange things before) or is the "flow" being restricted by something.

 

I used to have a 98 and it would have been difficult to get the thermostat in backwards or upside-down. Still...??

The T-stat gasket has a slit around the inside, so it fits over both sides of the outer flange of the T-stat. Mind the little cut-out for the loose rattle-pin. That pin has to be at the top - should be a recess in the housing where that fits.