Rep Power: 0

I am new here, so hello to all the wonderful people here.
We have a 2002 Honda Civic EX 4 Door; bought it over the summer and love the gas mileage on it! Best so far was 444 miles before the gas light came on...

Back to our issue. The A/C works fine and the HEAT works GREAT once it kicks in, but the problem is that it seems to blow cold air for a bit before the heat kicks in. If I leave the heat off and drive for about 8 minutes, the heat turns on no problem.

I noticed today when I turn on the heat and it's blowing cold air, the temperature gauge starts rising all the way to the top (but goes back to normal once the heat is working normal). The car is definitely not overheating as this has happened to me while traveling to South Dakota.

Can someone tell me if something is STUCK that I can lube up to get the heat working faster? I'm assuming the temp gauge rises because the heat is not being let out and blasting on the sensor or something? Nothing wrong with the car, but just this delayed heat.

Thanks in advanced...

 
Rep Power: 308

Better check your coolant reservoir, and the level IN the radiator when engine is cold.

 
Rep Power: 0

I will do that and what should I be looking for IN the radiator to know it is at the proper level? Should the radiator be full to the top to where I can see liquid?

Thanks

 
Rep Power: 174

Yeah, it should be pretty full. Make sure the reservoir is filled between the MIN and MAX lines as well. He's worried about a possible head gasket issue, because that's a symptom. My car takes a while before the heat works too... it's been like this for the last SEVEN YEARS. I think it's pretty normal. The temp gauge thing is not, however.

 
Rep Power: 518

Radiator is supposed to stay completely full to the top at all times.




There can't be any heat from the heater until the engine starts warming up....

If, after the engine is all warmed up, with the heater fan on full blast, you have little or no heater output at idle -- but decent heat while the engine is revved up, that's an airlock in the heater core or very low coolant level.

Head gasket blown? Is it an 01-05 1.7 engine? Yeah.. Probably head gasket.

 
Rep Power: 0

I looked in the manual and filled the radiator back up and the reservoir. The car this morning took only a few minutes to warm up nicely, so the coolant was definitely LOW...

Engine looks good, I don't see any leaks or a blown head gasket. The car had quite a bit of work done to it including a rebuilt tranny.

For now, problem is solved! Thanks!

 
Rep Power: 308

Monitor close.

A bad HG will likely not be apparent.

 
Rep Power: 518

About the only thing you will see (if you look) will be the coolant reservoir getting overfilled while the radiator goes low. It can take a long time to do this, or it can happen during a highway trip of a few hours. It all depends on the severity of the gasket breach.

This is likely how you lost your heat, and the problem will probably reappear again in the near future.

 
Rep Power: 0

Thanks for the heads up. I don't think the last owner ever filled the radiator back up because I had the heat issue since summer. I wasn't too sure on what to look for then, but now that I do, I will definitely pay attention to see if the gasket is indeed blown.

Hopefully everything is fine now since the car runs like a champ and has save us a boat load of money not having to fill up every few days.

Thanks again for the info everyone.