Hello,

a couple of weeks ago I took my 1999 tl to Jiffy lube for a radiator flush. On the way home it started to over heat. Luckily i was very close to home. I added some water as the level was low. That seemed to improve the situation. However I noticed that when warm the gauge was mid or slightly higher sometimes. Other times it was fine (about 3 ticks below mid).

A few days ago I took the car on the highway for the first time since the flush. It came within a few ticks of hitting the red.

I took the car back to jiffy lube. They said "no problem, we will take of it". The next day I took the car on the highway again. This time the problem was even worse than before. Now the fan runs at high speed for quite some time after I turn it off. I checked the hoses coming out of the radiator. The top one was warm but the bottom one was ice cold.

I am wondering if Jiffy didn't do the flush correctly. leaving an air pocket in the system. I am thinking that this could also be a water pump issue., But what are the chances that the water pump goes out right leaving Jiffy lube?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

Likely to be air in the system. They probably didn't purge the air out of the cooling system.

 

burp the system!!

 

Hate to say it but the fast lube place was the first issue. Like the other guys stated, likely it is air in the system. You would need to run the car with the heat on full blast and a funnel in the radiator. Wait until the fans cycle a few times on and off.. Watch for bubbles coming up and add a little coolant if it drops below the neck of the radiator opening. I usually squeeze the top hose a bunch as well and tap the accelerator which helps circulate the fluid

 

Thanks, I will try and let you know the results. I agree with the Jiffy lube comment. I didn't think they could screw up something this simple.

 

Oh, you would be surprised then

They broke my oil cap. Since I don't change my oil I didn't discover it for probably years after it happened, based on the wear marks on the cap. They also once screwed up my IACV somehow (NO idea how they could mess that up).

On top of that they're screwing everyone by recommending 3K, 3.5K oil change intervals. The service manual states 7.5K miles under ordinary use for our cars and filter changes every other oil change.

Additionally, they'd be happy to destroy your transmission for $120.

Service with a smile

 

Hello and thanks for the advise.

I burped the system and it does seem to be running a little cooler, but not where it should be. It some times goes a few ticks above mid. I was wondering if it is possible they used the wrong coolant type or mixture. Aer there any recommendations as to what coolant I should use?

Thanks

 

I would use this Honda coolant, just to be safe.

 

Are both your fans working?

 

Yes they are both working. As far as I can tell. they didnt do any other damage.

 

If you have burped it correctly of any air that was trapped, I am not sure what may be the case with you still running a bit hot. Only things I could think of is maybe if you had some buildup in your radiator that when they flushed the system it could have caused some of the crud to clog up the radiator some but I kinda doubt it. Or maybe your thermostat is not opening fully

 

Also if the thermostat was removed and installed upside down, it will cause problems by not allowing air to exit the system. I'd check that.

 

redo the burping following the Honda book procedure which is running the engine at idle till fans cycle-
then 2000 rpm till fans cycle, more idle till fans..top off as needed
ck level in morning when engine cold
As said above the heater must be on full HOT and cabin fan on full- open doors!!
heater is a mini-radiator

Make sure the hose into res cap is attached inside the cap- likes to fall off then fluid wont transfer back
Is res bottle at correct level cold?

Temp should always read 1-2 line below half regardless of outside temp or radical driving, ac on etc,,stays perfectly still- temp controlled by fan operation

If the driver fan runs more than 1 minute after engine shutdown = you need Fan Sensor A, easy DIY

any traces of leak from water pump = look from underneath for trail from its weep hole
How many miles/years on the pump and timing belt?

Silicate free coolant is the stuff- honda or any maker that specifies no silicates..have to deal with this on Honda motorcycles too~

 

Taks for the detailed info.

 

keep us posted as you continue to diagnose