I am having a overheating problem on my 97 Acura 2.2 CL...

heres what I can tell you...

it 1st started overheating while at a stop or low idle then it would go back to normal when I increased my speed (probably was happening for two weeks)...now it gets hot all the time!!!

-I have checked the coolant level and that seems fine

-both my cooling fan and air conditioning fan seem to work properly

ideas of what might be wrong...

1. Thermostat is sticking (I heard that is highly unlikely)
2. Water pump?
*im not sure if this is a problem but the hose that takes out the coolant is hot (hose on top of engine) but the hose below/side of engine remains cold...shouldnt both hoses be hot?? does that mean the hose is not collecting or the water is not traveling through the hoser??

any help would be much appreciated!!!

I guess I should add that my check engine light (it is currently orange) has been on for a month or so....is the best way to just go to auto zone and put it on the computer??

I should let all you know that I DONT have a lot of cash!!! so i would just take it in but I would like to know the problem 1st!!

thanks!!

 

You answered your own question about the CEL. Of course get it checked out! Your car is saying "something is wrong with me", so find out what's wrong.

With your car overheating at idle, I would say your thermostat may be stuck, therefore not allowing coolant to flow through your engine.

thermostats are cheap and easy to replace. Follow your top hose from the radiator to the engine, it'll be at the end of the hose inside the housing. While you're at it, change your coolant, your going to lose a bunch anyways, while your in there is the best time to do it.

Overall cost should be about 20 bucks and 30-45 minutes.

Good luck

 

thanks for the info...Do you think I need to flush the radiator?? Gosh I hope its not the water pump....its a pain in the ass to get to!!

 

I bet its your thermostat. Where in Minnesota are you? Let me know if you need help.

 

I live in uptown...I think im gonna replace the thermostat tomorrow...is it pretty easy?? what tools do i need??

 

thats crazy man, Im in uptown too. Its preaty easy, you just need a basic socket set, the thermostat and thermostat gasket as well as some coolant.

 

hmm. i thought the thermostats on 4 cyl. CL's was on the lower hose?

 

If one hose is cold and one is hot thats not normal by far. Possiblitie 1 Yes thermostat -would do that first its easy and only aboy 10$ 2- Dreded Air pocket - You have a bleader valve near the thermostat it looks like a 12mm brake bleader valve open it when the car is cooled down and fill the system then start the car with it open (when cold don't get burnt) untill the air comes out 3- Does your heat work when it's over heathing - cause if it don't then you got no cirruclation (many things mostly thermo or bad stopped up heater core. Hope it helped cause 4- bad headgasket - (buy a "compression tester 30$" unscrew all the plugs and it screws into the plug holes one at a time and "act like you are starting car" the normal psi per cylinder should be 160+ maybe even high as 220 if its only like 90 you need a ned headgaket)

 

Change thermostat, if the lower hose still feels cold change radiator its probably clogged up.