Radiator Blew
04-27-2007, 05:02 PM
#1
Registered member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Chesapeake
Posts: 1,773
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Radiator Blew
So I'm driving home from Norfolk tonight and I notice my temp gauge sitting pretty close to the red line. Normally I would be worried about this, but considering my gas and MPH gauges are off I figured it was just the whole cluster fucking with me even more and it was just getting close to it's time. The car is driving the same, no weird noises, no smoke, nothing. So I get off my exit and pull up to a stop light and I see smoke... greaaaaat. I get home and step out of the car and see the coolant all over the ground so I immediately knew wtf was going on. I pop the hood and take a look and I don't see any hoses busted or a source from the coolant leak. I'm going to put it up on jacks tomorrow and take another look, but is it possible that the seals on the radiator itself blew? If not what all am I looking at replacing and about how much? Any help is appreciated and I'm going to try an pick up these parts tomorrow so a prompt response would be awesome!
Thanks!
Thanks!
04-27-2007, 08:55 PM
#4
Uno Mas
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Va Beach
Posts: 4,226
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Radiator Blew
Hard to give the hoses a good visual inspection at nighttime. I'd honestly guess a cracked or split hose though, I've had 2 crack on me in the 2 civics that I owned. No replacement for sunlight when looking in an engine bay, I'm sure you'll find it tomorrow. Shoot me a PM, I need to come get my Duburbia cd anyways, I'll help.
04-27-2007, 09:49 PM
#6
ACCOUNTANT
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Saigon, Vietnam
Posts: 443
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Radiator Blew
throwing any check engine light codes?
1: if the car over heats, while you are moving. ie moving at a fast enough pace so that wind will help cool your radiator; temp gauge is 25%-75% range. there is probably a problem with the radiator itself, water pump (improper coolant circulation), or maybe it is just the water temperature sensors.
2: if the car only overheats when you are at a stand still then you fan is not kicking on. the fan should come on after about 10 mins when the car is warmed up.
if this is a honda (not sure about other models) you can test it by unpluging the water temperature sensor on the thermostat, and jump that plug that plugs into the sensor via paper clip, stick 2 ends of a wire, something to connect the electrical current. put the key into the ignition and turn to the 2nd notch w/out turning the car on, the fan should kick on.
if the fan comes on when you jump it, but not when you wait for it to come on then it could be fuses, air in the coolant system, bad water temperature sensors, or bad thermostat.
if you are unsure of how any of this stuff looks, goto hondaautomotiveparts.com and look at the parts diagram.
when my car overheated, the coolant started to boil and spilled out the coolant overflow tank. that could be were it is coming from or just a leak in the radiator. just turn the car on and see if it leaks on the ground or check for wet spots in the engine bay.
it might be too late but fyi do not EVER run the car when the needle is all the way up to red! better safe then sorry! if you run the car hot enough, it will warp you head = blown headgasket = sweet smelling white smoke out your exhaust / oil in the coolant overflow tank / coolant in oil pan. just wait until the car cools down then drive or get it towed. dont try and be a hero!
hope that helps and good luck. keep us updated
1: if the car over heats, while you are moving. ie moving at a fast enough pace so that wind will help cool your radiator; temp gauge is 25%-75% range. there is probably a problem with the radiator itself, water pump (improper coolant circulation), or maybe it is just the water temperature sensors.
2: if the car only overheats when you are at a stand still then you fan is not kicking on. the fan should come on after about 10 mins when the car is warmed up.
if this is a honda (not sure about other models) you can test it by unpluging the water temperature sensor on the thermostat, and jump that plug that plugs into the sensor via paper clip, stick 2 ends of a wire, something to connect the electrical current. put the key into the ignition and turn to the 2nd notch w/out turning the car on, the fan should kick on.
if the fan comes on when you jump it, but not when you wait for it to come on then it could be fuses, air in the coolant system, bad water temperature sensors, or bad thermostat.
if you are unsure of how any of this stuff looks, goto hondaautomotiveparts.com and look at the parts diagram.
when my car overheated, the coolant started to boil and spilled out the coolant overflow tank. that could be were it is coming from or just a leak in the radiator. just turn the car on and see if it leaks on the ground or check for wet spots in the engine bay.
it might be too late but fyi do not EVER run the car when the needle is all the way up to red! better safe then sorry! if you run the car hot enough, it will warp you head = blown headgasket = sweet smelling white smoke out your exhaust / oil in the coolant overflow tank / coolant in oil pan. just wait until the car cools down then drive or get it towed. dont try and be a hero!
hope that helps and good luck. keep us updated
04-27-2007, 09:57 PM
#7
Registered member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Chesapeake
Posts: 1,773
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Radiator Blew
throwing any check engine light codes?
1: if the car over heats, while you are moving. ie moving at a fast enough pace so that wind will help cool your radiator; temp gauge is 25%-75% range. there is probably a problem with the radiator itself, water pump (improper coolant circulation), or maybe it is just the water temperature sensors.
2: if the car only overheats when you are at a stand still then you fan is not kicking on. the fan should come on after about 10 mins when the car is warmed up.
if this is a honda (not sure about other models) you can test it by unpluging the water temperature sensor on the thermostat, and jump that plug that plugs into the sensor via paper clip, stick 2 ends of a wire, something to connect the electrical current. put the key into the ignition and turn to the 2nd notch w/out turning the car on, the fan should kick on.
if the fan comes on when you jump it, but not when you wait for it to come on then it could be fuses, air in the coolant system, bad water temperature sensors, or bad thermostat.
if you are unsure of how any of this stuff looks, goto hondaautomotiveparts.com and look at the parts diagram.
when my car overheated, the coolant started to boil and spilled out the coolant overflow tank. that could be were it is coming from or just a leak in the radiator. just turn the car on and see if it leaks on the ground or check for wet spots in the engine bay.
it might be too late but fyi do not EVER run the car when the needle is all the way up to red! better safe then sorry! if you run the car hot enough, it will warp you head = blown headgasket = sweet smelling white smoke out your exhaust / oil in the coolant overflow tank / coolant in oil pan. just wait until the car cools down then drive or get it towed. dont try and be a hero!
hope that helps and good luck. keep us updated
1: if the car over heats, while you are moving. ie moving at a fast enough pace so that wind will help cool your radiator; temp gauge is 25%-75% range. there is probably a problem with the radiator itself, water pump (improper coolant circulation), or maybe it is just the water temperature sensors.
2: if the car only overheats when you are at a stand still then you fan is not kicking on. the fan should come on after about 10 mins when the car is warmed up.
if this is a honda (not sure about other models) you can test it by unpluging the water temperature sensor on the thermostat, and jump that plug that plugs into the sensor via paper clip, stick 2 ends of a wire, something to connect the electrical current. put the key into the ignition and turn to the 2nd notch w/out turning the car on, the fan should kick on.
if the fan comes on when you jump it, but not when you wait for it to come on then it could be fuses, air in the coolant system, bad water temperature sensors, or bad thermostat.
if you are unsure of how any of this stuff looks, goto hondaautomotiveparts.com and look at the parts diagram.
when my car overheated, the coolant started to boil and spilled out the coolant overflow tank. that could be were it is coming from or just a leak in the radiator. just turn the car on and see if it leaks on the ground or check for wet spots in the engine bay.
it might be too late but fyi do not EVER run the car when the needle is all the way up to red! better safe then sorry! if you run the car hot enough, it will warp you head = blown headgasket = sweet smelling white smoke out your exhaust / oil in the coolant overflow tank / coolant in oil pan. just wait until the car cools down then drive or get it towed. dont try and be a hero!
hope that helps and good luck. keep us updated
04-27-2007, 10:03 PM
#8
ACCOUNTANT
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Saigon, Vietnam
Posts: 443
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Radiator Blew
yeah man, its no problem at all.
oh yeah, one more tip, turn the heater on full blast. it will help keep the engine cool when you are running into coolant problems. make it a little safer on your engine to drive.
check to see if there is any coolant in the oil, but looking at the dipstick. if there is a water drops on it, then you know that the coolant is spilling into the oil. (water and oil dont mix)
good luck
oh yeah, one more tip, turn the heater on full blast. it will help keep the engine cool when you are running into coolant problems. make it a little safer on your engine to drive.
check to see if there is any coolant in the oil, but looking at the dipstick. if there is a water drops on it, then you know that the coolant is spilling into the oil. (water and oil dont mix)
good luck
04-27-2007, 10:15 PM
#9
Registered member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Chesapeake
Posts: 1,773
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Radiator Blew
yeah man, its no problem at all.
oh yeah, one more tip, turn the heater on full blast. it will help keep the engine cool when you are running into coolant problems. make it a little safer on your engine to drive.
check to see if there is any coolant in the oil, but looking at the dipstick. if there is a water drops on it, then you know that the coolant is spilling into the oil. (water and oil dont mix)
good luck
oh yeah, one more tip, turn the heater on full blast. it will help keep the engine cool when you are running into coolant problems. make it a little safer on your engine to drive.
check to see if there is any coolant in the oil, but looking at the dipstick. if there is a water drops on it, then you know that the coolant is spilling into the oil. (water and oil dont mix)
good luck
