scary high temp

[mikes_accord_se]

i've known for a while i really need an oil change so i looked today to check my level. it was a quarter inch under the first hole on the stick. i also found my coolant level was basically nothing. went and picked up my coolant, filled it up and drove to a running trail. then im going to a restaurant after im done and im sitting in the drive through and i notice my temp gauge is all the way at H. i pull over and turn my car off. i have no idea wats goin on with it. i carefully drive home but its rush hour so traffic is really slow. every time i come to a stop my temp gauge starts rising again. its fine though when im driving around at 40 but im really scared. this is a big problem. what do you all think is wrong?

[Leung]

check again to see if you have coolant still. you might have a hairline crack somewhere and leaking it all.

[mikes_accord_se]

i checked it when i got home. it hasn't lost a bit.

[MadSpleen85]

Mine did the same thing a few weeks ago... I had a really small hole on one of my heater hoses... Just something to check.. Later

[NAiL05]

Pressure test your system for visual leaks.

[mikes_accord_se]

so it couldn't have anything to do with my oil right? btw, i just got a new radiator and hoses about 4 months ago.

[Akira_kj]

No leaks? ok then your not getting cooled off. So either your thermostat isnt letting the hot water out or your fans arnt cooling it when it gets there.

Does it cool when the car is moving? that should mean the radiator is getting the coolent. So if its only over heating when the car isnt moving and your hitting the high end of your temp guage then check if your fans are kicking in. Run it hard for a few miles and then park it with the engine running... if the fans dont kick in before the temp hits the red line go drive it real fast and get some cold air across the raidator before your shut it down. Time to go thru the non working fans problem.

Search: but heres a good place to start.
The Relay in the fuse box under the hood.. possible wire damage near the fans.. A dead fan could also do it.. umm and there is a fan timer under the dash somewhere, you might want to check that if your fans are staying hours after you shut the car off if you replace the relay and your fans start working again.

The fuse under the hood is like 20$ if you can find one new or junk yard for cheaper
the timer under the dash can go for near $90 but of course cheaper at the junk yard And a replacement fan is anywhere from 20 to $70 depending on what you want to do.

If all else fails, just wire up a aftermarket fan with a switch on your dash. and run it on hot days, or wire it to run all the time when the engine is on.

Tons of Do it yourselfs and walk thrus on solving this problem are here on this fourm just use the search button.

[Akira_kj]

Unless your getting oil in your coolent or coolent in your oil ... its probly not related to your oil. If your equiptment is new, try changing the thermostat.. if you replaced the radiator and hoses you should have replaced the thermostat aswell. is a cheap part and easy to replace when you already have the hoses off.. Dont forget to bleed the system to avoid a surging idle.

A poorly maintainted engine could damage the water pump tho.. but you would hear a nasty metal on metal grinding sorta sound as your timing belt turns the bad pump.

[NAiL05]

so it couldn't have anything to do with my oil right? btw, i just got a new radiator and hoses about 4 months ago.

Brand new radiator hoses dont matter there are other hoses that run off the thermostat housing. As I said pressure test the system for visual leaks. You might want to check your fans and such also maybe your thermostat but I would pressure test for a visual leak. Might wanna bleed the system a bit since you said you were really low on coolant.

[mikes_accord_se]

yeah i drove it pretty hard for 5 minutes, parked it and both fans were off. didn't show me a high temp though but if none of the fans are working, thats probably the deal i suppose.

[Akira_kj]

Next time your getting hot under the hood, listen for the fans or pull over and pop the hood next time its up there in temp... the fans should be spinnin if its getting hot.
Replace the thermstat just to be safe and then:


Trouble shoot the fans.