ljmushock

Hey guys, ok so it is beggining to get pretty cold here in the ATL, and I have been starting to use my heater more and more often. I have noticed something though that may be a problem.

When I am moving on the road or have the engine RPMs up the heat blows hot as hell, however when I come to a stop like at a stoplight or behind some slow ass mini van, my heat turns ice cold... Even with the dial at 90 degrees, and the AC turned OFF....

I am thinking one of two things.... Heater core is bad, or I am low on coolant... If the heater core was bad I would assume the heat would not work at all so I am considering ignoring that possibility.... I think I am low on coolant because when I stop not enough hot coolant is cycling through my heater core... causing the air to go cold... Im like 99% positive this is the problem but just wanted to check w/you guys....

Also, I heard that the 3.2 takes a special silicone enhanced antifreeze that is only available through Acura... apparently this factor was a big contributor to the infamous head gasket issues on legends... anywho can anyone confirm this???

Thanks everyone!

Ken1997TL

Sounds like a coolant problem to me.

I havent heard about this antifreeze you speak of. But i'd be interested to know about it.

LeathaFace

I have that same problem (juz started) so if u find any fixes let us know..thank u

Ken1997TL

Get your coolant flush and refilled. I had the same issue, it went away instantly.

ljmushock

Preciate it fellas... I'm gonna get everything flushed out tomorrow on my day off... I will go to Acura for the coolant and see what their srvc advisor knows about the coolant!!!

meazz1

Let us know how it turns out tomorrow.

KaMLuNg

iTrader: (5)

if u got some time i would change out the t-stat since u draining the coolant... its cheap...

LeathaFace

kool... dont 4get about tha update on tha coolant...Im off sat. and sun. so I'll do mine then. THANX !

ljmushock

Guys, I drained the radiator and block, and refilled the antifreeze to the appropriate levels. Everything works fine now! Heat blows Hot as hell...

Also, I have a question... On everybody's temperature guage in the cluster. Where does your needle sit at any given time.... On most every car I have ever driven the average/normal temp is right in the middle (half tank of gas)... Anywho ever since I have had my TL I have not seen the temp guage go anywhere near the halfway mark... in fact it sits at more like 1/4 mark 90% of the time... Is this normal/or do TL's just run really cold?

KADAW

hm i always looked at mine and it dose stay at 1/4 most of the time.... sometimes alil higher next to the half but mostly 1/4...

Mandy

Should be in the middle.

meazz1

Mine always stays at the middle.

ljmushock

thats strange, mine always stays right inbetween the half way and 1/4 mark.... guess my TL is cold natured.... or the guage is off.... Im not complaining though, last thing i need is an overheated, blown head gasket, coolant spraying... legend wannabe on my hands

KADAW

^ yep juss like i said mines the same n its not like im having provlems anyway. [knock on some woods]

WolfpackBill

My gauge needle is always right below the middle, a little higher than a 1/4 mark. Ok...it's right at the bottom of that temperature icon...you know, the wavy line.

That's where the water temperature is around 177-185 degrees. I know because I have my ScanGauge plugged in.

ljmushock

Yeah, most cars w/cast iron headrun a 190 degree thermostat, but i know a lot of imports, due to the extreme damage that can be caused by overheating run 170-180 degree thermostat. I guess they just didnt make a guage where 175 was in the middle!?!?!

Lenr@kw.com

If your heater core goes bad there will be three very apparent indicators. One you will start to smell antifreeze inside the cab, second you will have excessive moisture build inside the cab on the windshield, the third will be and the most obvious a loss of radiator fluid.

Now before you go and change your antifreeze you will need to use disstilled water, you will need to use a half and half mixture, don’t run pure antifreeze. DON”T USE TAP WATER, ESPICIALLY IF YOU HAVE HARD WATER.

Cornflake

Mine sits about about the 1/3 mark all the time. Did so with the old motor too (until the head gasket went then it was allover the place!)