StrikingAccord

I didn't know where else to post this.



I was sitting in my car for a few minutes with my air conditioning on then it shut off. Smoke starting coming out of my hood (coolant stink).

I immediately shut the car off and inspected under the hood. The coolant was boiling and spilling all over the place. I waited 30 minutes for the car to cool down.

When I inspected it again I saw that there was no coolant left to be seen. I re-filled it and everything seem to go well, the temperature needle was normal.

When I put on my a/c again (to check) the temperature needle went up immediately.

What could it be?


Thanks

StrikingAccord

The driver side fan is not working. When I put on the a/c the passenger side fan goes on (driver side fan still will not come on).

I checked the fuses and they were all fine

Could it possibily be the relay?

Rockstar21

iTrader: (1)

that or the fan motor.

if it's only when the AC is on it's definitely narrowed down.

TylerT

iTrader: (1)

Seeing if you're getting any kind of current from the wiring to the fan? I'm not an electrical expert .. but if there's current going to the fan with no fan spinning .. maybe the fan motor burned up?

knight rider

iTrader: (1)

I'm not a mechanic but I did have an 89 Accord many years ago that encountered a similar issue and the problem turned out to be the thermostat.

dallison

The 03 civic that i had did the exact same thing. I replaced the thermostat and the problem was gone.

StreetKA

iTrader: (8)

its the hose that is attached to a cap of the coolant reservoir im 95% positive on this one just hook it up again and fill the system with coolant again...

StrikingAccord

thanks for the help guys...that was quick lol


If it was a thermostat issue, wouldn't it overheat even if the a/c is not on?


again, the car starts to overheat when the a/c is on.

both fans do not turn on...the passenger side fan only turns on when the a/c is on


thanks again




edit: the fan is not stuck. I can spin it easily.

StrikingAccord

I tried that already

csmeance

turn on the A/c and wait for the needle to go up. Monitor the fans and figure out if they are turning on and off properly. If not then check with a multimeter if the fan is getting any power. If it is then it might be the fan. If it is not getting power then check the manual to see where the relay for it would be. Check and see if you are getting power before the relay. If you are then the relay is the problem and you need to replace it.

hANDYcaptd

iTrader: (5)

Bypass the relay and run 12V to the driver side fan. If the motor still works, it's the relay.

swoosh

iTrader: (5)

as far as i remember the passenger side fan is for AC and the driver side fan is for heating....

OP did you overfill your coolant the first time around ? was the coolant sitting way above the max line ?

Also check if the coolant tube reservoir has the tube + washer on the inside....if not for the washer this will happen as the system runs at 13 psi ? (not sure but i know it says 1.1 on the radiator cap which is 13psi if my memory serves me right)...

StrikingAccord

never overfilled the coolant nor was it maxed


I will try all these things tomorrow

I am also going to try swapping the relays

thanks guys


BTW...the passenger side fan turned on without the a/c

StrikingAccord

the relay in question is the one with the arrow, correct?

swoosh

iTrader: (5)

can you post of pic of the cover of the fuse box....i dont think the fuse numbers for TL/Accord would be the same....

dallison

You know, it really doesn't make sense but it worked for mine. It had me scratching my head too.

hANDYcaptd

iTrader: (5)

There should be a diagram telling you which is which, on the underside of the fuse box cover.

StrikingAccord

I posted the wrong pic before


here it is:

StrikingAccord

The thermostat is a pretty easy fix. Hopefully it is that or the relay.


Thanks again

Legend2TL

My guess is the relay. If memory serves me well, most Honda/Acura's have both fans come on when the A/C is on. Typically only one comes on when the coolant thermoswitch closes. Sound slike the main fan relay, fuse or fan is bad.

dallison

I switched the relays in the civic and it still overheated. There are a bunch that are very similar so i switched with the horn and tested it out.

swoosh

iTrader: (5)

Striking....looks like the fuse layout is the same....

Check the fuses 21 and 11...also will check in my car what relays are being used and you should be able to switch em over to see if anything is blown...

again when the car gets heated Driver side fan comes on....for the AC, passenger side fan comes on....

StrikingAccord

fuses were checked and they were fine

fan was checked and it is getting power

so it is narrowed down to the relay or the thermostat (it started raining so I couldn't do any more)



freakin' relays are hard to take out (I stripped one).







the relay labeled with the arrow is the one that would need to be changed, correct?

hANDYcaptd

iTrader: (5)

Pretty sure it's #11, Cooling Fan.

Gfaze

Well if the fan is getting power and it's not spinning, that would suggest the fan motor is no good.

swoosh

iTrader: (5)

i would not mess with the relays and switch the power to the fans/run +12 to the fan to make sure the fan motor is working....once you find that, i would hit up the relays....

hANDYcaptd

iTrader: (5)

I think he meant it got power and was running.

Legend2TL

What do you mean the fan is getting power? Is there 12V voltage on the terminals of the fan motor (connected or disconnected?).

StrikingAccord

sorry...I meant to say that the driver side fan moves (it is not stuck) and the passenger side powers on

fuses and relays are good


I am a bit confused about running 12v to the fan

hANDYcaptd

iTrader: (5)

Easiest way is to disconnect the fan and run a 12V source to the connector.

You can also do it from the fuse box. Of the four pin holes under the relay, you have to bridge two of them with a short wire. You'd have to look up a diagram of the relay to find which two. This bypasses the relay.

Mongolian

I had the exact same thing happen to me on my Infiniti.

I don't know anything about the fans, but the cause of my car overheating with coolant boiling out is due to a very tiny leak in the radiator that caused the radiator not to hold in the pressure.

phee

iTrader: (5)

if the coolant was boiling in the engine bay then you have a leak probably caused by over pressurization due to a bad thermostat. its a 20 dollar part and it is super easy to change on the j series.

StrikingAccord

I am going to order the oem thermostat (I need to change it anyway...I'm at 70k)

While I am at it I will drain/fill the coolant


I will keep everyone updated


Thanks guys

StrikingAccord

My local NYC Honda dealership want $40 for the thermostat...does anyone recommend any online stores that sells it for a better price?

dallison

You can use an aftermaret one without any issues too.

StrikingAccord

UPDATE:
I did a radiator flush and filled it with Honda coolant...thermostat was also replaced

I also replaced one of my relays (fan now turns on)

My car is still overheating. When I drive it is fine...but when it stops the needle goes up.

What could this be?

oonowindoo

if you have done all of those, next stop - the radiator itself?

Was your car overheating right away after you flushed the radiator or it was fine for a few days before it s over heating again?

StrikingAccord

it was fine a few days before overheating

Legend2TL

Did you bleed air out of the system with the vent valve on the cylinder head?

akins11

i have a 1996 acura 2.5 tl it runs fine for about 50 miles then slowly loses power and cuts off. it will spin over but wont crank unless it sits over night then it will crank up and run fine for about 50 miles again then does the same thing. can anyone tell me what might be wrong?