ugh.....started the car this evening and then the light was on.... I drove the car this morning about 25miles to work and then about 1 mile after work. The gas cap is tight, oil change about 3k ago at PAA. HVAC system is also acting funny. I had the temp cranked to 90 degrees and it wouldn't get hot at all until i would accelerate about 2.5k. Then when i would stop accelerating the air would get cold again?

The engine temp indicator was about half way and it didn't take long to "warm" the car.


Anybody have any ideas? My plan is to go in next wednesday for the waterpump/timing belt thing.

 

same thing happened to me , it was my bad gas...
my engine wouldnt cool down, it was always hot

 

Are u guys referring to the maint. req. light ?

 

no no it's the engine icon..............

 

what did you do? more gas? but i'm half way into this tank.

 

No panic Zapata ,most check engine lights are not critical in nature .Next chance you get have us or the local dealer look and see what might be wrong .Without the code it is more or less impossible to tell what is wrong .It could be anything forma false alarm to a fault in the EGR system to some issue with th gas cap (even if it tight) .

Jens

 

Same thing happened to me but it ended up being the battery dying.. Same symptoms though..

 

Hmm ok, i'll recheck everything. I have an appointment to come up this coming Wednesday to come up to PAA, think i should wait?

 

Unless the car is doing soemthing erratic ZAPATA you should be good to go .Just check the common sense stuff (coolant level oil level etc. and make certain the car does not overheat)

Jens

 

jens,
will do! thanks!!!!!

 

Oh shit Zapata, you're fawked!

 

it happens as i'm driving home late from work....not the best of days

 

You need to get yourself another car. Maybe a 99 SSM TL with all the goodies.

 

i'll PM you about that.....very interested.

 

Jens,
upon further inspection of the engine bay i see some engine coolant splattered. Some is one the radiator and some is on the engine mount. I also so some under the car where i was parked. I'll keep an an eye on the engine temp.

 

Zapata take a look at the area on the trans side of the engine on the front cylder head .There is a large coolant carrying casting that connects the front cylinder head to the rear .Tell me if there is any coolant in that area meantime make sure the coolant is topped off before driving .There is an old bulletin about leaks from this area appearing suddenly without any apparent reason .

Jens

 

Did you check the coolant connections on the IceBox tube.

 

happened to me too...it was just the O2 sensor

 

Check the overflow tank cap first... and/or radiator cap. Who does your oil-change? These Jiffy Lube guys tinker with everything!

 

Good point Allmotor

Jens

 

Jens,
the resevior tank is pretty much dry. Also, in front of the radiator.....there is another radiator? I assume it's for the a/c? Anyway that piece is VERY loose. The upper right side of that piece is wet with coolant. The coolant line from the radiator to what looks like the center of the engine block below the TB about 6 inches or so is covered withs spattered coolant. There is spattered coolant all over the radiator fans.

When you opened the engine bay it reaks of coolant.

 

It was loose but it wasn't hanging off or anything. Hmmmm. Does is the tank pressurized? If so i would assume negative pressure and not positive?

All my service appointments are at PAA.

 

There is only one cap there... its the radiator cap... if its loose, that's your explanation. Just fill it up with distilled water or coolant-mixture and make sure its tight. If the cap is broken, replace it. Don't drive the car if the engine temp > 1/2 the guage

 

There is the silver cap with the red/white letter and circle on the radiator and then there is a smaller tank that is white that's right infront of the battery. The white tank is empty.

The rad cap seems intact. It isn't broken. I'm going to check again to see if there is anything in the rad.

 

See if refilling it will hold it it over till you come down here .I am concerned about this large amount of coolant loss .Also was the radiator cap actually tight (you had to work to get it off?) or was it loose? I have seen a few radiators let go at the cap and in the upper tank area.Just make sure you have a good amount of coolant .

Jens

 

Jens,
will do. The cap was tight. Should i refill in the white tank? 50/50 mix? I looked at the coolant lines going back towards the engine block and they seem to be tight and there isn't any spattering etc., on the block.

 

Jens refill the white bottle and also when the car is cooled down refill the radiator as well .50 50 is good

Jens

 

Jens,
ok for the radiator, do i fill it to the brim?

 

yup all the way to the top.

Jens

 

I meant only one cap holding pressure... for the overflow canister to leak... it has to really fillup with coolant.

 

i just threw a CEL this morning...just checked my oil it was very low..hopfully thats it

 

If your oil level is too low the VTEC gear may fail to work setting a fault code .WHy is it so low??????

Jens

 

You mentioned low oil before... this motor should not burn more than 1/2 quart every 5K miles. I suggest you do a leakdown test if you could.

 

ok update....

Opened the radiator and i can see inside.....no green fluid.

checked everything. It seems the smaller radiator piece infront of the larger one wasn't bolted/screwed down!!!!! There are two places which this thing should be fastened and it wasn't. I can see where this smaller rad was moving back and forth....the movement seems to have hit the larger rad. I can see green goo in one spot on the larger rad.

i drove to the local acura dealership, Ardmore, as i'm driving the temp gauge needle is dancing up and down depending on how long I idle at a traffic light. Ugh. I got the fluid but can't open the cap until it cools down. Luckily my womans place is close so i just drove their.


main question:

1- Should I wait for my trip up to PAA. it's about an 2hr drive but it's all highyway. Or do i take it to another dealership? Weather forcast calls for temps in the 70s Dunno....

 

Why not just take it to the local shop and see what they say?

I understand your loyalty to PAA, but serious issues should be taken care of quickly and easily...

Even if Jens told you he "thought" it was OK to drive, what if something did happen on your way there?

 

scrib,
agreed if it's that serious i def will just take to the local shop. There are a few to which i can drive the car. Ardmore suxor in the worst way and i wouldn't take a matchbox car to them to look at. More than likely I will just call the one closest to my house. I'm going to put the coolant into the rad and see how it reacts. We'll go from there.

 

Good luck man...

 

welp on the advice of a fellow MAC user and driver of a fine g35 infinity coupe....i decided to call the local dealership who was on my shit list. Adivsor told me to bring it in tomorrow because he didn't want me driving around with it and he'd hook me up with a ride Let's see what happens tomorrow.



now this was montgomeryville acura not ardmore.....Joe tindardi is still at adrmore...that dude is a snake. If you are in PA stay away from ardmore. Let's see what i get hoooked up with from montgomeryville.

 

Thank you... Thank you...

 

Good luck bud.....