1998 Honda Prelude temp guage indicates overheating-tried m

1998 HONDA PRELUDE

JFMALINOWSKI

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Engine Cooling problem
1998 Honda Prelude 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive 114,00 miles

Cool days- no problem. Temp gauge stays near the middle. On hot days it goes up into the red. Water pump changed with timing belt 20,000 mi. ago. Changed thermostat-didn't help. Changed temp. sensor-didn't help. When reading near or at the red zone fans will come on but only for 5 to 10 sec. Temp. gauge reads hot even on the open highway. I don't see any coolant bubbling with the radiator cap off.

Jul 5, 2010 at 6:17 AM

RASMATAZ

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Could be airlock try bleeding it don't work get it block and pressure tested

Jul 5, 2010 at 12:36 PM

JFMALINOWSKI

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I bled the thermostat housing.
Today I started the car cold with the radiator cap off. The temp. gauge needle was just below the middle of the gauge when coolant started to circulate in the radiator. I put the cap on and held a digital thermometer to the radiator hose from the engine. It registered 170 degrees when the fans kicked on for 10 sec.. At this point the temp. gauge was at redline hot. I took the temperature of the radiator hose leading back to the engine and it registered 160 degrees.
Could there be a blockage in the radiator and if so how could I tell?

Jul 5, 2010 at 2:57 PM

RASMATAZ

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75,992 POSTS

Feel for cold spots on front of it-if any its clogged

Jul 5, 2010 at 3:00 PM

JFMALINOWSKI

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I think the AC radiator is in front of it and 2 fans are behind it.
I'm thinking off installing an electrical coolant temperature gauge to see the actual temperature. What do you think? I know it won't solve the problem if it's actually overheating but I'll at least know it's not the gauge. I did short out the gauge at the temperature sending unit and it shot right up to the top.
If I put the heater on the gauge will drop a bit.

Jul 5, 2010 at 3:51 PM