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Overheating ? New radiator?

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Old 12-30-2012
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Overheating ? New radiator?

Hey guys ! Had a question i finally have the money to bear asking! My 01 civic ex started overheating on me on the way back from Vegas to los angeles back in june and i have been just filling it up with coolant and driving short distances since then. It only overheated in the summer in long drives. I noticed I had to keep filling the radiator and the reservoir tank cause they were always on the low after a few days. My question is my radiator shot? should i replace the radiator and the thermostat and the cap ? My heater works great, my engine accelerates great no proplems there . Any help would be greatly appreciate it and want to tackle this problem now before spring !
Old 12-30-2012
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Re: Overheating ? New radiator?

Radiator?? Maybe, maybe not.
Head gasket: Probably.

Test.
Don't guess.
Old 12-30-2012
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Re: Overheating ? New radiator?

**** really head gasket?? how can i test?
Old 12-30-2012
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Re: Overheating ? New radiator?

Search here for the dozens of head gasket threads. Search for overheat. Search for no heat. Search for head gasket.

Find any where I describe my method for proving a head gasket issue, specifically on a 7th gen.
Old 12-30-2012
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Re: Overheating ? New radiator?

FOUND IT, some of the indications dont seem to point to my head gasket though. Heater blowing cold air ? Nope , Coolant does not overflow my reservoir tank . Ill attempt the other test. One thing though right now that is pretty cold even in so cal the radiator has actually been retaining the coolant and not really loosing much
Old 12-30-2012
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Re: Overheating ? New radiator?

All symptoms don't always go with every situation.

I pressurize each cylinder with 170 PSI air pressure, then watch what happens in the radiator.

Not saying the HG is your problem, but it is extremely common and easily misdiagnosed or overlooked.
Old 12-30-2012
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Re: Overheating ? New radiator?

Originally Posted by ezone
All symptoms don't always go with every situation.

I pressurize each cylinder with 170 PSI air pressure, then watch what happens in the radiator.

Not saying the HG is your problem, but it is extremely common and easily misdiagnosed or overlooked.
Thanks Ezone I appreciate the help, I'll start testing other symptoms to see, is it bad to drive the car like this meanwhile?? it doesn't overheat way to cold right now.
Old 12-30-2012
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Re: Overheating ? New radiator?

I can't tell you it's all good, because it isn't.
Some people can ignore these things for a long time though.


You could have done damage by overheating it too.
Old 12-30-2012
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Re: Overheating ? New radiator?

well I hope i didn't i never let it overheat when i noticed the temperature gauge rising and I would pull over after the 3/4 mark so it never went into extreme temperature.
Old 12-30-2012
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Re: Overheating ? New radiator?

Ok.
It doesn't take much of an overheat to do damage.
If the head comes off, have it checked for flatness. Resurface if necessary.
Old 12-31-2012
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Re: Overheating ? New radiator?

tons of other items to check in here, but a lot of them end with gasket.

start from the cheaper, if you so prefer.

https://www.civicforums.com/forums/3...reference.html
Old 01-03-2013
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Re: Overheating ? New radiator?

I would pressure test, you have a leak somewhere, if its not external..then yea its going to be internal..
Old 01-04-2013
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Re: Overheating ? New radiator?

Okay guys I just went to my dads friend house he did a block test and checked the Oil ITS not the Head gasket. WHEW!!!!! Now what i now it overheats in the summer when its hot, the coolant is leaking because i have to refill every few days. We were checking under the car while it was on and it doesn't leak, so there has to be a leak somwhere then right ? . Pressure test next? Should i change the thermostat and radiator cap ? but where is this coolant leaking

Last edited by drmcstford; 01-04-2013 at 09:22 PM.
Old 01-04-2013
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Re: Overheating ? New radiator?

he did a block test and checked the Oil ITS not the Head gasket.

Just because it passed a couple of checks does NOT mean all is well.
Those checks won't find a blown head gasket on most of these.
He didn't use the test that will find the problem.


Go back and read what I typed earlier about the method I use.
If done properly, it does not fail to prove the problem.
Old 01-04-2013
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Re: Overheating ? New radiator?

Originally Posted by drmcstford
and checked the Oil ..........
but where is this coolant leaking
...

you really did NOT read the link i posted above, right?

...
Old 01-04-2013
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Re: Overheating ? New radiator?

Sometimes if the leak is small (externally) you will not see it.
In NEEDS to be under pressure.

Do your fans work properly?

Dont replace anything, especially with junk chinese parts.
Old 01-04-2013
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Re: Overheating ? New radiator?

Originally Posted by sdaidoji
...

you really did NOT read the link i posted above, right?

...
^^ What he said.

Most of the time the combustion gas enters the coolant rather then coolant entering the oil.
Old 01-05-2013
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Re: Overheating ? New radiator?

Originally Posted by sdaidoji
...

you really did NOT read the link i posted above, right?

...
Did read it totally didn't see that first part ! , now for the good giveaways i have non of those problems :/. 04 honda yea my fans work perfect when i turn on the ac button they immedietly turn on . I won't put any chinese junk got it!! I get most my stuff online at rockautoparts . Ezone not trying to annoy you man i know you guys get alot of these threads. I'm trying my best to read its just a tad hard when your not the best mechanic . Ill search how to pressure test each cylinder i guess ! and start trying to find a radiator test place around here.
Old 01-05-2013
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Re: Overheating ? New radiator?

Ill search how to pressure test each cylinder i guess ! and start trying to find a radiator test place around here.
A "radiator shop" cannot help you.

You need a mechanic that is smart, and not a "parts changer".
My method is simple, but not idiot proof.





Connie and Dicks?
Old 01-08-2013
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Re: Overheating ? New radiator?

Originally Posted by ezone
A "radiator shop" cannot help you.

You need a mechanic that is smart, and not a "parts changer".
My method is simple, but not idiot proof.





Connie and Dicks?
Hey ezone and everyone else! I took it to my mechanic(uncle whos been busy and couldn't get a hold of till just this weekend) and he ran another block test just to make sure then he did a pressure test he found my radiator cap wasn't sealing right and that the radiator seal was completely destroyed hence why. After creating a seal using rubber o's we were able to run a pressure test the radiator after a few mins the radiator started leaking like crazy. He did checked to make sure no other leaks were coming out then we made sure we could find where the leak was springing and yea it was from the radiator :/ . After he checked other signs of a head gasket going out and couldn't find any so i know "ezone" your still gonna say that it doesn't rule out the head gasket so what i'm going to do is install the new radiator and radiator cap and see how it does with coolant if it stops I know it was the end of it if not on to the head gasket.
Old 01-08-2013
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Re: Overheating ? New radiator?

If the radiator tank was eroded (burned from steam erosion down inside the neck) where the smaller cap gasket had to seal, that's evidence of a thermal event (severe overheat).

Remember this later on.
Old 01-08-2013
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Re: Overheating ? New radiator?

Well that goes back to what I said..you can check for leaks without it pressurized..

I have seen nice size leaks VERY hard to find without it being pressurized..
So imagine a small leak..its really hard without it being under pressure..

Probably not head gasket if you didnt overheat it..if you did then theres still a great chance of other damage.

Only time will tell if you fixed it for good.
Old 01-08-2013
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Re: Overheating ? New radiator?

Originally Posted by ezone
If the radiator tank was eroded (burned from steam erosion down inside the neck) where the smaller cap gasket had to seal, that's evidence of a thermal event (severe overheat).

Remember this later on.
True but Even the best coolant out on the market will corrode your radiator and engine, that's why its a good idea to drain, flush, and replace the coolant every 2 year. And this radiator is the original and has been corroded since i can remember. Not saying your wrong and hey I may be changing my head gasket soon but it's not always the case of severe over heat.
Old 01-08-2013
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Re: Overheating ? New radiator?

If your cap seal was that far gone you might also want to check your heater control valve for any coolant visible coming out around the top shaft under the lever. Just found mine leaking this morning. My reservoir tank never moved either. I seem to have lucked out as this morning was the first sign of overheating. From now on, I'll be removing the rad cap and checking for coolant loss there instead of the reservoir bottle. Good luck.
Old 01-09-2013
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Re: Overheating ? New radiator?

Hey guys I'm trying to order a radiator looking around maybe rockauto parts anyone have any other suggestions?? Thanks for all the feedback ill be checking the heater control valve!
Old 01-09-2013
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Re: Overheating ? New radiator?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/DENSO-221-32...536870&vxp=mtr sorry for the double post but is this the denso for the 01 ex 5 speed??
Old 01-09-2013
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Re: Overheating ? New radiator?

Originally Posted by drmcstford
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DENSO-221-32...536870&vxp=mtr sorry for the double post but is this the denso for the 01 ex 5 speed??
I doubt that is a genuine denso unless it was five fingered from a Honda parts warehouse and now it's being sold on ebay. My local Honda dealerships all wanted $414 for a genuine denso. I ended up getting it from Majestic for $224 plus shipping.

I see in the the item specifics it says "RADIATOR, NEW OE QUALITY". I believe that's code for "after market".

The OEM part number for a genuine Denso radiator is 19010-PMM-A52
Old 01-09-2013
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Re: Overheating ? New radiator?

Originally Posted by Matt_75
I doubt that is a genuine denso unless it was five fingered from a Honda parts warehouse and now it's being sold on ebay. My local Honda dealerships all wanted $414 for a genuine denso. I ended up getting it from Majestic for $224 plus shipping.

I see in the the item specifics it says "RADIATOR, NEW OE QUALITY". I believe that's code for "after market".

The OEM part number for a genuine Denso radiator is 19010-PMM-A52
Thanks Matt just found out its real but its for an automatic Natural gas civic
Old 01-09-2013
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Re: Overheating ? New radiator?

Is your's an automatic or manual? If it's a manual I'd consider getting an all aluminum one. You know the plastic one is going to leak down the road again eventually. If I had it to do again, I would have bought an all aluminum and a seperate auto trans cooler. If I still have this car when the rad fails again, that's the route I'm going to go.
Old 01-09-2013
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Re: Overheating ? New radiator?

If you cant get OEM..(They are sometimes pricey) just try to at least get a quality name brand..

Chinese ones are hit or miss..


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