Car Overheating

1999 ACURA CL
158,000 MILES • 4 CYL • FWD • MANUAL
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SHELMS7
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overheating when in idle. When driving the temp gauge drops back down to normal. I had the thermostat replaced and the Cooling temp sensor replaced and it's still doing the same thing while in idle. Does anyone know what could possibly cause this? It's full of engine coolant and does not appear to have a leak anywhere.Both of my fans are coming on properly it appears.
Dec 9, 2010 at 10:52 PM
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KHLOW2008
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Have you checked for air trapped in cooling system?
Are the cooling fans turning in the correct direction?
Does turning on the heater reduces the overheating?
Have you checked the radiator for clogging?

Dec 10, 2010 at 7:28 PM
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JAMES1000
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Overheated while driving. Pulled over, small pool under vehicle, greenish, not oily.

Got thermostat replaced, hose as well. Transmission was replaced within last three years, and timing belt has been replaced twice previously.

Car still overheats. My mechanic believes it may be an engine problem.

Does the car have hope? I am afraid this is the end. The car overheated once about three years ago (and even then the temperature gauge didn't move much past the center, a smidgen). Since then the needle never moved past the midpoint of the temperature gauge until the overheating episode this week.

Very sad. This car has been a great car.
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:29 PM (Merged)
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SCGRANTURISMO
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Hello,

This sounds like it could be a problem with your vehicle's water pump. The water pump is used to circulate the coolant around the cooling system so it can take the heat that your vehicle's engine produces and move it to the outside air. Without the water pump, your coolant will sit idle and will eventually just boil away. There is a puddle of coolant under your vehicle, because when the water pump bearings fail, there is a hole designed into the pump, called a "weep hole", to let the coolant leak out so it doesn't reach the already failing bearing and cause the bearing to freeze up in place. Here are a few links below for you to go to:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/water-pump
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/symptoms-of-a-bad-water-pump
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/water-pump-replacement

Please go through these guides and get back to us with what you are able to find out.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:29 PM (Merged)
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JAMES1000
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Thank you. Unfortunately, this ended up being a blown head gasket. I had a new gasket, radiator installed. Car was like new for twenty miles. Now won't start! Hope it's a battery problem.
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:29 PM (Merged)
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STRAILER
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I would see if the engine turns over by hand, if the head gasket/cylinder head has had a problem it will fill a cylinder with coolant not allowing the engine to turn over. Here is a guide to help us:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/starter-not-working-repair

Please run down this guide and report back.
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:29 PM (Merged)
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JAMES1000
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Thanks for your help. Ended up being a part that causes the brake lights to stay on even when ignition turned off (for now!). The part was replaced so that the brake light will not be triggered. Fingers crossed.
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:29 PM (Merged)
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STRAILER
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Can I ask which part it was that fixed it?
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:29 PM (Merged)
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JAMES1000
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Hardware for brake pedal? Some part to allow for the brake lights to turn off.
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:29 PM (Merged)
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STRAILER
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Good to hear, please use 2CarPros anytime we are here to help.
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:29 PM (Merged)
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BRANDE
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Engine Cooling problem
1999 Acura CL 4 cyl Automatic 87,000 miles
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Hi,
I have gone through many answers and steps to try to get the right one, hopefully you may know. The car overheats and goes to the danger zone within 5 to 10 miles of driving time. My answers have been everything to just add coolant to blown head gasket. I have also been told it could ge the thermostat. Do you have any suggestions from your experience? I do not have alot of money and am afraid to be ripped off as I have been in the past.
Thank you.
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:29 PM (Merged)
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MHPAUTOS
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Hi there,

There is a number of things that will cause overheating,
1. Coolant loss due to internal or external leaks
2. Faulty thermostat.
3. Blocked radiator.
4. Cooling fans not working.
5. Failed water pump (will normally leak badly when failed)
6. Lack of adequate air flow due to restricted A/C (blocked) condenser. (least common)

So get these checked and you should be fine.

Mark (mhpautos)
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:29 PM (Merged)
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KHOOPER
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try to fill the radiator up, run it up to operating temperature, let it cool and check your antifreeze again. After making sure the cooling system is full, I would look for leaks and test drive, watching the temp gauge. I don't think the oil cap would have anything to do with the overheating, probably left off during an oil change, I done that before!
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:29 PM (Merged)
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WLYB
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The car overheated a few times and we towed it home. Needs a radiator and probably head gaskets, if not worse, but it will not start at all. It turns over okay and still wont fire with starting fluid. Still gonna check for spark after charging battery, but my question is is there any kind of reset i need to perform if i find no spark" ? And any other advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:29 PM (Merged)
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SATURNTECH9
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No reset I can think of do you have any codes in the computer?
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:29 PM (Merged)
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WLYB
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Dont have a reader and car is in driveway. Before overheat we got codes for multiple misfire and oxy sensor. I also checked piston position to rotor position and it looks good.
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:29 PM (Merged)
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SATURNTECH9
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Now it won't start so codes could have changed basic code readers are pretty cheap these days.Let's see if we have spark? Then what the actual fuel pressure is?
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:29 PM (Merged)
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WLYB
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will do. thank you and i will get back latter on progress. thanx again I appreciate all your help
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:29 PM (Merged)
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CARRISSA
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Engine Cooling problem
1998 Acura CL 4 cyl Automatic
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I would like to know why my car overheats when a/c is on. I have had radiator replaced last year.
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:29 PM (Merged)
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MHPAUTOS
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Hi there,

I would first be checking that the cooling fans are coming on, and then the thermostat is ok, start there.

Mark (mhpautos)
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:29 PM (Merged)
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SATURNTECH9
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Your welcome keep me posted.
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:29 PM (Merged)
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EXTECH
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Does the overheat occur only when in traffic with slow speeds, or does it also overheat on the highway?

Has the temp ever been elevated without the A/C on?

Keep in mind shedding the heat the A/C system collects can overwhelm a cooling system which may be compromised, and not working to it's fullest capability. This should not be the case however at highway speeds; the ram air on the condenser and radiator should be more than enough cooling.

C
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:29 PM (Merged)
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WLYB
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Yes, there is spark. HMMMMmm... so now i am really baffled
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:29 PM (Merged)
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MHPAUTOS
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can you re send that last post.

Mark
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:29 PM (Merged)
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SATURNTECH9
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I would check the compression next.
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:29 PM (Merged)
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ZAOPC22
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Well, get a kitchen thermometer an when the gauge shows overheating pull over open your hood and feel how hot the engine is and put the thermometer on the engine somewhere and check it should be less than boiling temp which is 212 degrees and look to make sure your fans are on and look at the coolant resivor is it over flowing or nothing in there? If there isn't any coolant then there might be a leak or if the coolant is spilling over you might have too much for the system and its boiling which means the mix isn't right or stuck thermostat. Check: Thermostat,hoses,rad. cap,radiator,electric fans,coolant mixture Check all those things out before you do a water pump job.Thanks David Newton if that helped please donate $5.00
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:29 PM (Merged)
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WLYB
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Okay, had a guy come check it out for me...$50. Needs to be tore down and heads checked. Guy said it would be cheaper to out a used engine in it. $1700 total. Poo. My question now is, Can I do the job without removing the engine? Because I am not equipped to do that. I also got a quote of $2400 minimum to replace gaskets. Please advise. Thank you
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:29 PM (Merged)
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WLYB
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Not advice on cost... advice on job difficulty
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:30 PM (Merged)
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MARINE_WIFE0126
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i replaced the thermostat, because it was froze open, now the car overheats in less than two miles, cant figure if the mechanic replaced the head gaskets wrong because it didnt start overheating until I let someone new work on my car.
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:30 PM (Merged)
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SATURNTECH9
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What size engine do you have?
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:30 PM (Merged)
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HMAC300
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this sounds like it previously had another problem than what you are saying you did. if you replaced the stat you could have put it in backwards to cause that.
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:30 PM (Merged)
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WLYB
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3.0 vtec
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:30 PM (Merged)
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WLYB
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Its a 3.0 v-tec tranverse mount
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:30 PM (Merged)
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SATURNTECH9
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I just did a timing belt kit on one of those engines it was pretty easy.to me the heads are pretty easy to replace to you it may be difficult. If your not good at firing cars yourself it might not be the diyer job for you.
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:30 PM (Merged)
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WLYB
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Thank you for all your help and input. I will refer back to you if I have any problems.
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:30 PM (Merged)
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JENNAD99
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Okay, so my car has been starting to overheat when idling. I started to notice this a few weeks ago... I drive about 15 miles to work in little to no traffic and as soon as I pull into a parking spot and am idling for a few minutes I can see the needle on my temp gauge raise fairly quickly to above the 1/2 way mark and it has even gotten very close to the red. I rarely get stuck in traffic but will happen when I do? What happens if I get into the red? Will the car just shut off or will something blow? I know the car is old but I have never really had any problems with it so I am willing to put the money in for repairs. Any ideas on what could be causing this and how much should I expect to pay in repairs? Let me also say the coolant has been checked and is still full... Doesn't appear to have any leaks. Also, my fan stays on after the car is off so I know that is working as well. Any help is appreciated! Thanks in advance!
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:30 PM (Merged)
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SATURNTECH9
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Sounds good.
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:30 PM (Merged)
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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Are the fans running when you are stopped and the engine is running? make sure because that is what sounds like the problem. Also, if you can avoid allowing the temp gauge to get too high, do it. Overheating the engine can cause all kinds of different problems.
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:30 PM (Merged)
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VLNORTH43
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car overheated check engine light was flashing and temp gage red lined. Replaced the radiator, spark plugs, spark plugs wires. It started took on short drive, came back shut it off and re-started it. It ran fine and sounded great. 4 hours later I went out tried to start it and it would turn over but not start. It sounds like it wants to start but it wont start.
Sep 25, 2019 at 11:34 AM (Merged)
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WRENCHTECH
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All "crank, no start" conditions are approached in the same way. Every engine requires certain functions to be able to run. Some of these functions rely on specific components to work and some components are part of more than one function so it is important to see the whole picture to be able to conclude anything about what may have failed. Also, these functions can ONLY be tested during the failure. Any other time and they will simply test good because the problem isn't present at the moment.
If you approach this in any other way, you are merely guessing and that only serves to replace unnecessary parts and wastes money.



Every engine requires spark, fuel and compression to run. That's what we have to look for.

These are the basics that need to be tested and will give us the info required to isolate a cause.

1) Test for spark at the plug end of the wire using a spark tester. If none found, check for power supply on the + terminal of the coil with the key on.


2) Test for injector pulse using a small bulb called a noid light. If none found, check for power supply at one side of the injector with the key on.


3) Use a fuel pressure gauge to test for correct fuel pressure, also noticing if the pressure holds when key is shut off.

4) If all of these things check good, then you would need to do a complete compression test.

Once you have determined which of these functions has dropped out,
you will know which system is having the problem.


Sep 25, 2019 at 11:34 AM (Merged)
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HONDATECH1983
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If your engine overheated you may very well have a blown head gasket. The cylinders may have flooded with coolant creating the no-start. You might try pulling the plugs to check for fouling.

Here is a guide

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

Please run down this guide and report back.
Sep 25, 2019 at 11:34 AM (Merged)