Car guys - need your help ASAP

jt09 · Ladies Man Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 22083 City: Austin

I need to replace the thermostat in my 99 Honda Civic. Where is it?

I THINK it's right behind the distributor cap on the L side of the engine, but it doesn't look like the setup on the other cars I have dealt with.

If you can come up w/ some pics, that would be perfect.

Thanks in advance!

lcap · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Nov 2003 Posts: 10973 City: Homeless

Should be in the top radiator hose at the engine connection.

churchy · Posted: Oct 24, 2007 7:23 am Post subject:

Yep.. easy to replace, and like a 10 dollar part.

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

lcap, should be and "is" are two different things. Damn Japanese!

J/k

That is most likely where it is located JT. I'd still try to check one of the 8millioneleventybillion Civic forums out there - although good luck wading through the crap to find a solid answer!

gswake · Posted: Oct 24, 2007 7:24 am Post subject:

It's a different model year, but may confirm your belief:
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Where_is_the_thermostat_located_on_a_1998_Honda_Civic_EX

And I found a picture of the cover (which I'm assuming you would be able to see):
http://www.thepartsbin.com/repsite/honda~thermostat_housing_cover~reparts.html

And some general notes about working on Honda cooling systems:
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Honda-Repair-814/93-Honda-civic-overheating.htm

I've never done one myself, so I can't offer any first-hand knowledge. Hope some of that helps.

Hollywood · Posted: Oct 24, 2007 7:32 am Post subject:

...edit

Commodore · Ladies Man Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Posts: 11636

Jt follow the top radiator hose to the block. There should be a fitting there with a neck on it that the hose attached to. That fitting should be held on to the block by a couple of bolts. That is TYPICALLY (note typically) where the thermostat is located. Remove said housing, and the thermostat should be inside.

IF and when you get to the thermostat, make sure you replace it with the right one. They are temperature specific and the wrong one could let your motor get too hot before opening. That's bad.

lcap · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Nov 2003 Posts: 10973 City: Homeless

chavez,

Amen to that! I had a Honda push mower and the spring for the pull start broke. Found out Honda made 13 different spring assemblies for the year and make of my mower. Evil or Very Mad

After the 4th one didn't work I realized it was a Honda. I just wound the string around the shaft and yanked. Started first time, every time. Very Happy

I've learned to substitute "should, maybe, could be, possibly" for "shall, is, will, etc."

jt09 · Ladies Man Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 22083 City: Austin

gswake, thanks for the pics!

I'm no car genius and I do know to follow the hose to the block, but the part that the hose attaches to on the Civic has several electrical wires connected to it, unlike the Jeeps I have done this on before. Wanted some confirmation before I startedtaking things apart in my office parking lot!

Thanks for the help!

oshensurfer · Posted: Oct 24, 2007 8:15 am Post subject:

jt09, I replaced mine on a 96 accord back in college and on and 86 accord. both were very similar and took about 30 minutes.

I don't remember wires on mine. Confused

jt09 · Ladies Man Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 22083 City: Austin

Well, I'm screwed anyway. The bolt closest to the engine block is completely blocked so I can't get to it. Going to have to take it to a shop. At least it should be pretty easy for them to do and I already have the parts.

oshensurfer · Posted: Oct 24, 2007 8:24 am Post subject:

That sucks. It is a much tighter fit in a civic vs accord I would imagine.

J_DOGG · Posted: Oct 24, 2007 8:36 am Post subject:

Swass · Guest

Jiggle the doohicky and bang on the watchamacallit. That should fix it.

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

J_DOGG, yes you can run the car without it, but it will not run as it should. It will run cool, and the computer may think it is still in "warm up" and adjust accordingly.

jt09, believe this shiz or not, you may be able to "tap" on the thermo housing to unstick the thermo. Unforunately, this usually only works when the thermo is stuck open.... Sad

jt09 · Ladies Man Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 22083 City: Austin

Sucks that something so simple need to be taken to a shop to get done.

Commodore · Ladies Man Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Posts: 11636

Pics of your own vehicle? We can walk ya through it if you want. Yes, that sucks to have to pay to do this.

jt09 · Ladies Man Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 22083 City: Austin

I know how to do it and where the thermostat is, there's just absolutely no way I can get to one of the bolts I need to w/o some serious removal of other parts or some kind of bendy ratchet.

I asked earlier because I needed confirmation that what I thought housed the thermostat was that. The pics in the links gswake provided did that for me and then I spent 30 minutes trying to get to that stupid bolt. Evil or Very Mad

Oh well, I already had the thermostat and gasket bought so I'll just be paying labor.

Now I am just keeping my fingers crossed that it is only the thermostat that needs to be fixed. I can't afford anything else being wrong.

DRAGON88 · Posted: Oct 24, 2007 10:35 am Post subject:

Ha, it sounds like the Monsoon in the VLX, where you have to remove the freaking intake plenum to get the last two bolts on the thermostat housing.

That blows Jt, hopefully the shop won't charge you more than half an hour labor.

jt09 · Ladies Man Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 22083 City: Austin

He said around $60, but I'm hoping it comes to less than that. I need him to be done in about 20 minutes as I have to be at job #2 by 3pm and still have to get back to the house to change. On the far opposite side of town. the last 24 hours haven't exactly gone badass for me. Sad

jt09 · Ladies Man Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 22083 City: Austin

Great. Apparently I need a whole new radiator. Evil or Very Mad

J_DOGG · Posted: Oct 24, 2007 10:56 am Post subject:

I have given up all hope on working on my own rigs...

I swear some companies do this on purpose so you have to go to the dealer to have the most basic stuff done to your car.

Hollywood · Posted: Oct 24, 2007 10:59 am Post subject:

jt09, what is actually wrong with the car? Tell us your symptoms.

Commodore · Ladies Man Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Posts: 11636

jt09, wasn't hating on your wrenching skills, just wasn't sure.

Radiator? Why? What was their reasoning?

Like H said, symptoms?

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

jt09, rad failure is not all that uncommon in 90's Hondas. Shouldn't be horribly expensive - if you had some time it is a fairly easy swap done with common tools.

jt09 · Ladies Man Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 22083 City: Austin

OK...apparently it isn't the entire radiator, and I should be able to fix it myself. The cap looks like it melted/broke and the radiator hole/female part is jacked up so the seal isn't holding. It's spitting the steam out into the reservoir and that cap has a small hole in it too.

I think what's happening is that the cap seal isn't good and so it's not opening the thermostat, causing the engine to run hot. I go about 10 miles and its max temp. Going to jack w/ it this afternoon.

pet575 · Posted: Oct 25, 2007 9:17 am Post subject:

Yes, I would start with the cap seal on both the radiator and the reservoir. I had a car that overheated all the time. Changed the thermostat, radiator cap, water pump, every hose, the radiator, and it still wouldn't stay cool. Turned out the reservoir bottle cap seal had gone bad. Discovered it by accident.

DRAGON88 · Posted: Oct 25, 2007 9:20 am Post subject:

jt09, it sounds like the coolant system could have an air pocket in it which needs to be bleed out. however, if the thermostat if up to temperature it should be opening. If you keep running it to the max temperature you're going to warp that head though and then you'll have real problems. Seems like maybe your water pump isn't circulating the coolant. But definitely start with replacing the leaking expansion tank and radiator cap.

DCdave56 · Posted: Oct 25, 2007 11:13 am Post subject:

Pimps drive Civics these days?

Laughing

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

DCdave56, hey man, pimpin ain't easy!

jt09 · Ladies Man Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 22083 City: Austin

bonsaitree · Outlaw Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Posts: 198

jt09 · Ladies Man Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 22083 City: Austin

Well my Civic f*cking sucks ass. I couldn't stand it before it started this crap. Now I just want to put a bullet in it.

Dragonlady8 · Black Widow Joined: 27 Aug 2004 Posts: 9198

jt09 · Ladies Man Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 22083 City: Austin

OK - REALLY need you guys today.

So, the top of this radiator is plastic and the rim the cap gasket sits on is kind of chewed up, so it's not going to seal 100%.

Also, there's all kinds of gray sludge in the radiator (I haven't refilled it since driving it home).

What are my options here? I'm thinking I need a new radiator. What is that going to cost me? Is going to salvage yard route a viable option? I'm no car guy but I am fairly handy. Simply unbolt what is bolted, unhook what is hooked, etc and then go in reverse, right? I've swapped out a tranny before, but that was w/ someone who knew what he was doing.

Crying or Very sad