It only overheats when i come to a stop

1999 HONDA PRELUDE
150,000 MILES
Avatar
FONY67
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
99 Honda prelude overheating: if i remove Prelude Thermostat would that fix my problem? I would replace it down the road.. $$. When I step on the gas it starts "cooling down"
Sep 28, 2012 at 3:35 PM
Advertisement
Avatar
SATURNTECH9
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 30,869 POSTS
So if your driving it doesnt overheat only when you come to a stop?If so sounds like your radiator fan isnt working or turning on when it should.
Sep 28, 2012 at 3:38 PM
Avatar
KHLOW2008
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 41,814 POSTS
For fuel injected vehicles the thermostat is a very important component that should never be removed. If you have an overheating issue, removing the thermostat is not going to solve the problem, most it can do is delay the overheating.

saturntech9 is correct about the cooling fans not working, or you could have very low coolant in cooling system.
Sep 28, 2012 at 4:43 PM
Advertisement
Avatar
FONY67
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Would you suggest a quick fix by making a shortcut to be fan by hooking it up directly to the battery and making an on/off switch to the dash?
Sep 28, 2012 at 7:19 PM
Avatar
SATURNTECH9
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 30,869 POSTS
No that's a good way to cause a electrical fire the switch can't handle the load of the motor without a relay trigger point.Also is the car only overheating when your not moving?If so is the radiator fan on when its overheating?
Sep 28, 2012 at 7:42 PM
Avatar
SATURNTECH9
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 30,869 POSTS
Also if the fan motor is bad it wont change anything.
Sep 28, 2012 at 7:44 PM
Avatar
FONY67
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
I want to thank everyone for helping. How should I start to fix the problem? Thanks in advance....
Sep 28, 2012 at 7:48 PM
Avatar
KHLOW2008
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 41,814 POSTS
Start by testing the fan motor to see if they works.
Sep 28, 2012 at 7:52 PM
Avatar
FONY67
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
they do both turn on....
Sep 28, 2012 at 8:00 PM
Avatar
KHLOW2008
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 41,814 POSTS
Only when A/C is turned on or even when overheating occurs?
Sep 28, 2012 at 8:05 PM
Avatar
SATURNTECH9
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 30,869 POSTS
Also start by answering questions when we ask them to you.
Sep 28, 2012 at 8:56 PM
Avatar
FONY67
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
both when the ac is on, and when overheating
Sep 28, 2012 at 9:10 PM
Avatar
SATURNTECH9
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 30,869 POSTS
So do you know its overheating because the temp gauge reads too high or because coolant is boiling out of the radiator cap?
Sep 28, 2012 at 9:27 PM
Avatar
KHLOW2008
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 41,814 POSTS
Have you checked the coolant level both in radiator and recovery tank?
Do you need to be replenishing the coolant very often?

Was anything done prior to this occurring?
Sep 28, 2012 at 9:28 PM
Avatar
SATURNTECH9
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 30,869 POSTS
You could have a bad radiator cap causing a coolant loss and then it overheats.
Sep 28, 2012 at 9:43 PM