The temp runs cold all the time in my 89m Prelude. It will go barely into the normal area and then go back down below cool. It will move about 1/2 inch total from one extreme to the other. Should I just change the thermostat? Any other simple ideas?
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Temp Gauge in a 89 Prelude
- Thread starter Gebo
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First you need to determine if the engine is in fact running too cool or is the guage showing a false temp?
when was the last time you have your thermostat changed BTW?
If you return with a doubtful look on your face, then might as well get a replacement thermostat and consider on your immediately to-do list.
Afterall: a cold running engine (with faulty thermostat) will not only waste fuel, but also ruin your engine during longer runs due to excessive carboning in your combustion chamber...
Also: oil deterioriates sooner too due to excessive fuel dilution.
Q.
If you return with a doubtful look on your face, then might as well get a replacement thermostat and consider on your immediately to-do list.
Afterall: a cold running engine (with faulty thermostat) will not only waste fuel, but also ruin your engine during longer runs due to excessive carboning in your combustion chamber...
Also: oil deterioriates sooner too due to excessive fuel dilution.
Q.
Trusting factory gauges is risky biz in my book. Notorious for false or misleading data.
First get the real temp. Easy to shoot the rad hose with a temp gun after a long run.
Odds are you need a new stat, but something as simple as a faulty ground can skew the reading a lot.
First get the real temp. Easy to shoot the rad hose with a temp gun after a long run.
Odds are you need a new stat, but something as simple as a faulty ground can skew the reading a lot.
Sounds like a thermostat to me. I had an 89 and have a 91 now. The 89 did just what you describe. I opened it up and the stat was gone. Do yourself a favor and buy the Honda part.
Originally Posted By: apwillard1986
Sounds like a thermostat to me. I had an 89 and have a 91 now. The 89 did just what you describe. I opened it up and the stat was gone. Do yourself a favor and buy the Honda part.
Gone as in not there? I.e someone at one point removed it? Or it was just faulty?
Sounds like a thermostat to me. I had an 89 and have a 91 now. The 89 did just what you describe. I opened it up and the stat was gone. Do yourself a favor and buy the Honda part.
Gone as in not there? I.e someone at one point removed it? Or it was just faulty?
Like they said, probably a thermostat. BUT, could be the sender or gauge.
If it is the thermostat, your gas mileage will go way up with a good one!
If it is the thermostat, your gas mileage will go way up with a good one!
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Trusting factory gauges is risky biz in my book. Notorious for false or misleading data.
First get the real temp. Easy to shoot the rad hose with a temp gun after a long run.
Odds are you need a new stat, but something as simple as a faulty ground can skew the reading a lot.
I've got one of those temp guns I use to check cooking oil temp. What should it be on which hoses? Top radiator hose should be 180, 190, 200???
Trusting factory gauges is risky biz in my book. Notorious for false or misleading data.
First get the real temp. Easy to shoot the rad hose with a temp gun after a long run.
Odds are you need a new stat, but something as simple as a faulty ground can skew the reading a lot.
I've got one of those temp guns I use to check cooking oil temp. What should it be on which hoses? Top radiator hose should be 180, 190, 200???
Originally Posted By: apwillard1986
Sounds like a thermostat to me. I had an 89 and have a 91 now. The 89 did just what you describe. I opened it up and the stat was gone. Do yourself a favor and buy the Honda part.
$17 for OEM thermostat and $2.50 for rubber gasket OEM. SHould be in Monday.
Sounds like a thermostat to me. I had an 89 and have a 91 now. The 89 did just what you describe. I opened it up and the stat was gone. Do yourself a favor and buy the Honda part.
$17 for OEM thermostat and $2.50 for rubber gasket OEM. SHould be in Monday.
Top hose should be 180-210 depending on duty cycle.
Don't want to run that engine too cold.
Don't want to run that engine too cold.
I'll shoot the temp when my Son gets home. It's my Son's car and he's putting up Pepsis in Walmart on the first day of monthly Government payments. He says it is packed like usual. It's a shame I pay taxes but don't eat as good as some who don't. I go in FoodLion to get some Pork & Beans and vienna sausages for lunch and I see what food stamps and government checks are buying. I think, I paid for that tenderloin and that carrot juice and that half and half and those coffee beans and that fruit basket and it gets me a little tilted. Maybe I should check my thermostat...
I'm running a little hot lol
I'm running a little hot lol
I had a 95 Accord with a messed up temp gauge. I replaced all kinds of stuff without results. After I sold the car, the guy who bought it told me that he replaced the Coolant Temp Sensor and the problem went away.
How old is your coolant temp sensor?
How old is your coolant temp sensor?
Originally Posted By: Gebo
I'll shoot the temp when my Son gets home. It's my Son's car and he's putting up Pepsis in Walmart on the first day of monthly Government payments. He says it is packed like usual. It's a shame I pay taxes but don't eat as good as some who don't. I go in FoodLion to get some Pork & Beans and vienna sausages for lunch and I see what food stamps and government checks are buying. I think, I paid for that tenderloin and that carrot juice and that half and half and those coffee beans and that fruit basket and it gets me a little tilted. Maybe I should check my thermostat...
I'm running a little hot lol
Understood. I just saw a reporter interviewing "poor" people waiting in line for food handed out by a local charity. Every one of them had a cell phone, a car, cable tv, air conditioning, etc. Our poor do pretty well around here if they know the systems tricks.
I'll shoot the temp when my Son gets home. It's my Son's car and he's putting up Pepsis in Walmart on the first day of monthly Government payments. He says it is packed like usual. It's a shame I pay taxes but don't eat as good as some who don't. I go in FoodLion to get some Pork & Beans and vienna sausages for lunch and I see what food stamps and government checks are buying. I think, I paid for that tenderloin and that carrot juice and that half and half and those coffee beans and that fruit basket and it gets me a little tilted. Maybe I should check my thermostat...
I'm running a little hot lol
Understood. I just saw a reporter interviewing "poor" people waiting in line for food handed out by a local charity. Every one of them had a cell phone, a car, cable tv, air conditioning, etc. Our poor do pretty well around here if they know the systems tricks.
I just removed the thermostat and it is a 180 degree and the one the dealership sold me by my vin was a 190 degree. I didn't have quite enough antifreeze and I've bled it twice. It appears it is still gonna read wacky up and down and cold. Where's that coolant temp switch located?
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