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99 Honda Accord temp gauge question
99 Accord 4cyl, auto, 105k miles. Had the rubber band changed a couple
months ago, shortly before the weather got cold. Also did water pump at the same time (since they had it apart anyway), and changed plugs, wires, etc. Since then, at cold start, the temp needle takes forever getting off the peg. At highway speed, it drops down to just above the peg, and only shows in what I consider the 'normal' range (1/3 to 1/2 of scale) when driving in town in stop and go traffic. Engine seems to run fine, and MPG is still mid-20s in town, and a hair under 30 on highway. Do I have a problem? If I take it back to same shop, what do I need to ask them to check? Bad sensor? Bad gauge? Wrong T-stat? Any ideas appreciated- I haven't done any wrenching to speak of since carburetor non-computer days. Hate to just throw parts at it, since Honda parts cost twice what normal cars do, it seems. The shell is still clean, so I was hoping to get another 5-6 years out of this thing. -- aem sends... |
Re: 99 Honda Accord temp gauge question
aemeijers wrote:
> 99 Accord 4cyl, auto, 105k miles. Had the rubber band changed a couple > months ago, shortly before the weather got cold. Also did water pump at > the same time (since they had it apart anyway), and changed plugs, > wires, etc. > > Since then, at cold start, the temp needle takes forever getting off the > peg. At highway speed, it drops down to just above the peg, and only > shows in what I consider the 'normal' range (1/3 to 1/2 of scale) when > driving in town in stop and go traffic. Engine seems to run fine, and > MPG is still mid-20s in town, and a hair under 30 on highway. > > Do I have a problem? If I take it back to same shop, what do I need to > ask them to check? Bad sensor? Bad gauge? Wrong T-stat? > > Any ideas appreciated- I haven't done any wrenching to speak of since > carburetor non-computer days. Hate to just throw parts at it, since > Honda parts cost twice what normal cars do, it seems. The shell is still > clean, so I was hoping to get another 5-6 years out of this thing. > > -- > aem sends... Thermostat. -- JRE |
Re: 99 Honda Accord temp gauge question
On Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:09:12 -0500, aemeijers <aemeijers@att.net> wrote:
>99 Accord 4cyl, auto, 105k miles. Had the rubber band changed a couple >months ago, shortly before the weather got cold. Also did water pump at >the same time (since they had it apart anyway), and changed plugs, >wires, etc. If the engine runs then it will generate enough heat to overheat in short order. If it is overcooling than you have a bad thermostat. Or you've somehow recalled the laws of physics. |
Re: 99 Honda Accord temp gauge question
aemeijers wrote:
> 99 Accord 4cyl, auto, 105k miles. Had the rubber band changed a couple > months ago, shortly before the weather got cold. Also did water pump at > the same time (since they had it apart anyway), and changed plugs, > wires, etc. > > Since then, at cold start, the temp needle takes forever getting off the > peg. At highway speed, it drops down to just above the peg, and only > shows in what I consider the 'normal' range (1/3 to 1/2 of scale) when > driving in town in stop and go traffic. Engine seems to run fine, and > MPG is still mid-20s in town, and a hair under 30 on highway. > > Do I have a problem? If I take it back to same shop, what do I need to > ask them to check? Bad sensor? Bad gauge? Wrong T-stat? > > Any ideas appreciated- I haven't done any wrenching to speak of since > carburetor non-computer days. Hate to just throw parts at it, since > Honda parts cost twice what normal cars do, it seems. The shell is still > clean, so I was hoping to get another 5-6 years out of this thing. > > -- > aem sends... Sounds like an open or missing thermostat. Not an uncommon thing to have them bad out of the box. One of the reasons I test all the ones I buy before they get installed. If they are a good shop they will throw a scan tool on it before they pull it apart. The tool will show if the gauge is correct or if it really is running cold. -- Steve W. |
Re: 99 Honda Accord temp gauge question
aemeijers wrote: > > 99 Accord 4cyl, auto, 105k miles. Had the rubber band changed a couple > months ago, shortly before the weather got cold. Also did water pump at > the same time (since they had it apart anyway), and changed plugs, > wires, etc. > > Since then, at cold start, the temp needle takes forever getting off the > peg. At highway speed, it drops down to just above the peg, and only > shows in what I consider the 'normal' range (1/3 to 1/2 of scale) when > driving in town in stop and go traffic. Engine seems to run fine, and > MPG is still mid-20s in town, and a hair under 30 on highway. > > Do I have a problem? If I take it back to same shop, what do I need to > ask them to check? Bad sensor? Bad gauge? Wrong T-stat? Why is it you think the car might suddenly acquire the wrong thermostat? If changing the thermostat was part of the recent maintenance work, go back and complain. What you describe is exactly what happens with an stuck open thermostat or perhaps even no thermostat. Probably it is stuck open (unless for some reason they removed it). Extremely unlikely that the gauge or sending unit is bad. Its pretty close to impossible, given your precise description of what its doing, that it could have a properly working thermostat and a bad gauge or sending unit. -jim > > Any ideas appreciated- I haven't done any wrenching to speak of since > carburetor non-computer days. Hate to just throw parts at it, since > Honda parts cost twice what normal cars do, it seems. The shell is still > clean, so I was hoping to get another 5-6 years out of this thing. > > -- > aem sends... |
Re: 99 Honda Accord temp gauge question
jim wrote:
> > aemeijers wrote: >> 99 Accord 4cyl, auto, 105k miles. Had the rubber band changed a couple >> months ago, shortly before the weather got cold. Also did water pump at >> the same time (since they had it apart anyway), and changed plugs, >> wires, etc. >> >> Since then, at cold start, the temp needle takes forever getting off the >> peg. At highway speed, it drops down to just above the peg, and only >> shows in what I consider the 'normal' range (1/3 to 1/2 of scale) when >> driving in town in stop and go traffic. Engine seems to run fine, and >> MPG is still mid-20s in town, and a hair under 30 on highway. >> >> Do I have a problem? If I take it back to same shop, what do I need to >> ask them to check? Bad sensor? Bad gauge? Wrong T-stat? > > Why is it you think the car might suddenly acquire the wrong thermostat? > If changing the thermostat was part of the recent maintenance work, go > back and complain. > > What you describe is exactly what happens with an stuck open > thermostat or perhaps even no thermostat. Probably it is stuck open > (unless for some reason they removed it). Extremely unlikely that the > gauge or sending unit is bad. Its pretty close to impossible, given your > precise description of what its doing, that it could have a properly > working thermostat and a bad gauge or sending unit. > > -jim > >> Any ideas appreciated- I haven't done any wrenching to speak of since >> carburetor non-computer days. Hate to just throw parts at it, since >> Honda parts cost twice what normal cars do, it seems. The shell is still >> clean, so I was hoping to get another 5-6 years out of this thing. >> >> -- >> aem sends... Appreciate all the replies, everyone. I was hoping it was something minor like that. Unless we get a warm spell, guess I need to take it back to the shop. :^( -- aem sends... |
Re: 99 Honda Accord temp gauge question
"aemeijers" <aemeijers@att.net> wrote in message news:XKKdnf1Yg9M7kY_WnZ2dnUVZ_sadnZ2d@giganews.com ... > jim wrote: >> >> aemeijers wrote: >>> 99 Accord 4cyl, auto, 105k miles. Had the rubber band changed a couple >>> months ago, shortly before the weather got cold. Also did water pump at >>> the same time (since they had it apart anyway), and changed plugs, >>> wires, etc. >>> >>> Since then, at cold start, the temp needle takes forever getting off the >>> peg. At highway speed, it drops down to just above the peg, and only >>> shows in what I consider the 'normal' range (1/3 to 1/2 of scale) when >>> driving in town in stop and go traffic. Engine seems to run fine, and >>> MPG is still mid-20s in town, and a hair under 30 on highway. >>> >>> Do I have a problem? If I take it back to same shop, what do I need to >>> ask them to check? Bad sensor? Bad gauge? Wrong T-stat? >> >> Why is it you think the car might suddenly acquire the wrong thermostat? >> If changing the thermostat was part of the recent maintenance work, go >> back and complain. >> >> What you describe is exactly what happens with an stuck open >> thermostat or perhaps even no thermostat. Probably it is stuck open >> (unless for some reason they removed it). Extremely unlikely that the >> gauge or sending unit is bad. Its pretty close to impossible, given your >> precise description of what its doing, that it could have a properly >> working thermostat and a bad gauge or sending unit. -jim >>> Any ideas appreciated- I haven't done any wrenching to speak of since >>> carburetor non-computer days. Hate to just throw parts at it, since >>> Honda parts cost twice what normal cars do, it seems. The shell is still >>> clean, so I was hoping to get another 5-6 years out of this thing. >>> >>> -- >>> aem sends... > > Appreciate all the replies, everyone. I was hoping it was something minor > like that. Unless we get a warm spell, guess I need to take it back to the > shop. :^( > > -- > aem sends... One further question - does the heater output coincide with the temp gauge? That is - does the heater take forever to get warm and only put out warm air or does the heater seem to work as it should? If the heater is working normally, the best guess would be either the sending unit or the temp gauge. If the heater isn't working as it should, then the best bet is the thermostat. DaveD > |
Re: 99 Honda Accord temp gauge question
aemeijers <aemeijers@att.net> wrote in news:G--
dneWEt7IIMIzWnZ2dnUVZ_hKdnZ2d@giganews.com: > 99 Accord 4cyl, auto, 105k miles. Had the rubber band changed a couple > months ago, shortly before the weather got cold. Also did water pump at > the same time (since they had it apart anyway), and changed plugs, > wires, etc. > > Since then, at cold start, the temp needle takes forever getting off the > peg. At highway speed, it drops down to just above the peg, and only > shows in what I consider the 'normal' range (1/3 to 1/2 of scale) when > driving in town in stop and go traffic. Engine seems to run fine, and > MPG is still mid-20s in town, and a hair under 30 on highway. > > Do I have a problem? If I take it back to same shop, what do I need to > ask them to check? Bad sensor? Bad gauge? Wrong T-stat? > > Any ideas appreciated- I haven't done any wrenching to speak of since > carburetor non-computer days. Hate to just throw parts at it, since > Honda parts cost twice what normal cars do, it seems. The shell is still > clean, so I was hoping to get another 5-6 years out of this thing. > > -- > aem sends... > I'd suspect the T-stat.it's probably stuck open. I doubt they changed it during the timing belt service. -- Jim Yanik jyanik at localnet dot com |
Re: 99 Honda Accord temp gauge question
Jim Yanik wrote:
> aemeijers <aemeijers@att.net> wrote in news:G-- > dneWEt7IIMIzWnZ2dnUVZ_hKdnZ2d@giganews.com: > >> 99 Accord 4cyl, auto, 105k miles. Had the rubber band changed a couple >> months ago, shortly before the weather got cold. Also did water pump at >> the same time (since they had it apart anyway), and changed plugs, >> wires, etc. >> >> Since then, at cold start, the temp needle takes forever getting off the >> peg. At highway speed, it drops down to just above the peg, and only >> shows in what I consider the 'normal' range (1/3 to 1/2 of scale) when >> driving in town in stop and go traffic. Engine seems to run fine, and >> MPG is still mid-20s in town, and a hair under 30 on highway. >> >> Do I have a problem? If I take it back to same shop, what do I need to >> ask them to check? Bad sensor? Bad gauge? Wrong T-stat? >> >> Any ideas appreciated- I haven't done any wrenching to speak of since >> carburetor non-computer days. Hate to just throw parts at it, since >> Honda parts cost twice what normal cars do, it seems. The shell is still >> clean, so I was hoping to get another 5-6 years out of this thing. >> >> -- >> aem sends... >> > > I'd suspect the T-stat.it's probably stuck open. > I doubt they changed it during the timing belt service. > ....or they removed and never replaced it.. JT |
Re: 99 Honda Accord temp gauge question
Dave D wrote:
> "aemeijers" <aemeijers@att.net> wrote in message > news:XKKdnf1Yg9M7kY_WnZ2dnUVZ_sadnZ2d@giganews.com ... >> jim wrote: >>> aemeijers wrote: (snip) >> -- >> aem sends... > One further question - does the heater output coincide with the temp gauge? > That is - does the heater take forever to get warm and only put out warm air > or does the heater seem to work as it should? If the heater is working > normally, the best guess would be either the sending unit or the temp gauge. > If the heater isn't working as it should, then the best bet is the > thermostat. > > DaveD > > Tested that today, by driving the car to work. Heater seems to work fine, and blows warm within a couple blocks, and very warm within a mile or so. (Car lives inside the attached but unheated garage, so the start temp is warmer than a car that lives outside. Has to be subzero for the garage to freeze hard.) All this with temp gauge on or slightly above the peg. Gauge does still move a little, if car is stopped and idling. Still too sniffly to get out there with a flashlight to see if I can get to the temp sensor, with all the other crap in the way. No hurry at this point, I guess- I can wait for a warm day, especially if the snow they are forecasting for later this week actually happens. This is my road trip car, and I don't have one of those for awhile. -- aem sends... |
Re: 99 Honda Accord temp gauge question
aemeijers wrote:
> Dave D wrote: >> "aemeijers" <aemeijers@att.net> wrote in message >> news:XKKdnf1Yg9M7kY_WnZ2dnUVZ_sadnZ2d@giganews.com ... >>> jim wrote: >>>> aemeijers wrote: > (snip) >>> -- >>> aem sends... >> One further question - does the heater output coincide with the temp >> gauge? That is - does the heater take forever to get warm and only put >> out warm air or does the heater seem to work as it should? If the >> heater is working normally, the best guess would be either the sending >> unit or the temp gauge. If the heater isn't working as it should, then >> the best bet is the thermostat. >> >> DaveD >> >> > Tested that today, by driving the car to work. Heater seems to work > fine, and blows warm within a couple blocks, and very warm within a mile > or so. (Car lives inside the attached but unheated garage, so the start > temp is warmer than a car that lives outside. Has to be subzero for the > garage to freeze hard.) All this with temp gauge on or slightly above > the peg. Gauge does still move a little, if car is stopped and idling. > > Still too sniffly to get out there with a flashlight to see if I can get > to the temp sensor, with all the other crap in the way. No hurry at this > point, I guess- I can wait for a warm day, especially if the snow they > are forecasting for later this week actually happens. This is my road > trip car, and I don't have one of those for awhile. > > -- > aem sends... Toss a scan tool on it and see what the sender is telling the computer. If it is OK then ignore the gauge. May be possible to borrow one from some of the parts places. Just ask them if it will read live data as well. You could have a bad sender to the gauge OR a bad connection or even a bad gauge. A quick scan and you would know if you can just ignore it until better weather. -- Steve W. |
Re: 99 Honda Accord temp gauge question
aemeijers wrote:
> Dave D wrote: >> "aemeijers" <aemeijers@att.net> wrote in message >> news:XKKdnf1Yg9M7kY_WnZ2dnUVZ_sadnZ2d@giganews.com ... >>> jim wrote: >>>> aemeijers wrote: > (snip) >>> -- >>> aem sends... >> One further question - does the heater output coincide with the temp >> gauge? That is - does the heater take forever to get warm and only put >> out warm air or does the heater seem to work as it should? If the >> heater is working normally, the best guess would be either the sending >> unit or the temp gauge. If the heater isn't working as it should, then >> the best bet is the thermostat. >> >> DaveD >> >> > Tested that today, by driving the car to work. Heater seems to work > fine, and blows warm within a couple blocks, and very warm within a mile > or so. (Car lives inside the attached but unheated garage, so the start > temp is warmer than a car that lives outside. Has to be subzero for the > garage to freeze hard.) All this with temp gauge on or slightly above > the peg. Gauge does still move a little, if car is stopped and idling. > > Still too sniffly to get out there with a flashlight to see if I can get > to the temp sensor, with all the other crap in the way. No hurry at this > point, I guess- I can wait for a warm day, especially if the snow they > are forecasting for later this week actually happens. This is my road > trip car, and I don't have one of those for awhile. > > -- > aem sends... Oh where are you located? If you are nearby I could scan it for you easy enough. -- Steve W. Near Cooperstown N.Y. |
Re: 99 Honda Accord temp gauge question
aemeijers <aemeijers@att.net> wrote in
news:8Z6dnW63frarxInWnZ2dnUVZ_o2dnZ2d@giganews.com : > Dave D wrote: >> >> If the heater isn't working as it >> should, then the best bet is the thermostat. >> >> >> >> > Tested that today, by driving the car to work. Heater seems to work > fine, and blows warm within a couple blocks, and very warm within a > mile or so. (Car lives inside the attached but unheated garage, so the > start temp is warmer than a car that lives outside. Has to be subzero > for the garage to freeze hard.) All this with temp gauge on or > slightly above the peg. Gauge does still move a little, if car is > stopped and idling. If the heater appears to work fine, then the gauge is suspect. You need to aim an infrared thermometer at the upper rad hose outlet from the head. If, fully warm, you get much less than about 205F, then the engine is running too cool. If, fully warm, you get about 205, then the gauge is faulty. > > Still too sniffly to get out there with a flashlight to see if I can > get to the temp sensor, with all the other crap in the way. It's a one-wire connector that's usually right under the distributor. Should be easy to get at. With the infrared thermometer showing about 205 at the "sweet spot", unplug the sender's wire and push it aside. Using a VOM, connect the sender's contact to a good engine ground. At full-hot, you should see 35-32 ohms. If you see significantly higher than that (like 140 ohms), then the sender is bad. -- Tegger |
Re: 99 Honda Accord temp gauge question
"Steve W." <csr684@NOTyahoo.com> wrote in news:hf1nb2$uar$1@aioe.org:
>> > > Toss a scan tool on it and see what the sender is telling the > computer. If it is OK then ignore the gauge. I'm sure you're referring to using the scan tool to check the ECT sender, not the gauge sender. > May be possible to borrow > one from some of the parts places. Just ask them if it will read live > data as well. You could have a bad sender to the gauge OR a bad > connection or even a bad gauge. Honda coolant-temperature-gauge senders (really just a variable ground) go bad far more often than the gauge itself. An infrared thermometer and a VOM are invaluable tools for solving this problem. -- Tegger |
Re: 99 Honda Accord temp gauge question
Tegger wrote:
> "Steve W." <csr684@NOTyahoo.com> wrote in news:hf1nb2$uar$1@aioe.org: > > >> Toss a scan tool on it and see what the sender is telling the >> computer. If it is OK then ignore the gauge. > > > > I'm sure you're referring to using the scan tool to check the ECT sender, > not the gauge sender. Yep, > > > >> May be possible to borrow >> one from some of the parts places. Just ask them if it will read live >> data as well. You could have a bad sender to the gauge OR a bad >> connection or even a bad gauge. > > > > Honda coolant-temperature-gauge senders (really just a variable ground) go > bad far more often than the gauge itself. Sort of like other breeds. EXCEPT the damn stepper motors GM stuck in some vehicles.... > > An infrared thermometer and a VOM are invaluable tools for solving this > problem. True, just figured the scan tool was a "clean hands" option. -- Steve W. |
Re: 99 Honda Accord temp gauge question
"Steve W." <csr684@NOTyahoo.com> wrote in news:hf1ndl$uar$2@aioe.org:
> > Oh where are you located? If you are nearby I could scan it for you easy > enough. > He's in the San Francisco area. Bit of a drive from the Birthplace of Baseball... -- Tegger |
Re: 99 Honda Accord temp gauge question
Tegger wrote:
> "Steve W." <csr684@NOTyahoo.com> wrote in news:hf1ndl$uar$2@aioe.org: > > >> Oh where are you located? If you are nearby I could scan it for you easy >> enough. >> > > > > He's in the San Francisco area. Bit of a drive from the Birthplace of > Baseball... > > Just a bit. I don't think the cable will reach either ;-) Oh and don't believe that drivel about Cooperstown... http://www.hobokenbaseball.com/ The first recorded game of baseball in US history officially took place in Hoboken in 1846 between the Knickerbocker Club and The New York Nine at Elysian Fields. -- Steve W. |
Re: 99 Honda Accord temp gauge question
Tegger wrote:
> aemeijers <aemeijers@att.net> wrote in > news:8Z6dnW63frarxInWnZ2dnUVZ_o2dnZ2d@giganews.com : > >> Dave D wrote: >>> If the heater isn't working as it >>> should, then the best bet is the thermostat. >>> >>> >>> >>> >> Tested that today, by driving the car to work. Heater seems to work >> fine, and blows warm within a couple blocks, and very warm within a >> mile or so. (Car lives inside the attached but unheated garage, so the >> start temp is warmer than a car that lives outside. Has to be subzero >> for the garage to freeze hard.) All this with temp gauge on or >> slightly above the peg. Gauge does still move a little, if car is >> stopped and idling. > > > > If the heater appears to work fine, then the gauge is suspect. You need to > aim an infrared thermometer at the upper rad hose outlet from the head. > If, fully warm, you get much less than about 205F, then the engine is > running too cool. > If, fully warm, you get about 205, then the gauge is faulty. > > >> Still too sniffly to get out there with a flashlight to see if I can >> get to the temp sensor, with all the other crap in the way. > > > > It's a one-wire connector that's usually right under the distributor. > Should be easy to get at. > > With the infrared thermometer showing about 205 at the "sweet spot", unplug > the sender's wire and push it aside. Using a VOM, connect the sender's > contact to a good engine ground. At full-hot, you should see 35-32 ohms. If > you see significantly higher than that (like 140 ohms), then the sender is > bad. > > Now if I only HAD an IR thermometer.... :^( -- aem sends.... |
Re: 99 Honda Accord temp gauge question
Steve W. wrote:
> aemeijers wrote: >> Dave D wrote: >>> "aemeijers" <aemeijers@att.net> wrote in message >>> news:XKKdnf1Yg9M7kY_WnZ2dnUVZ_sadnZ2d@giganews.com ... >>>> jim wrote: >>>>> aemeijers wrote: >> (snip) >>>> -- >>>> aem sends... >>> One further question - does the heater output coincide with the temp >>> gauge? That is - does the heater take forever to get warm and only put >>> out warm air or does the heater seem to work as it should? If the >>> heater is working normally, the best guess would be either the sending >>> unit or the temp gauge. If the heater isn't working as it should, then >>> the best bet is the thermostat. >>> >>> DaveD >>> >>> >> Tested that today, by driving the car to work. Heater seems to work >> fine, and blows warm within a couple blocks, and very warm within a mile >> or so. (Car lives inside the attached but unheated garage, so the start >> temp is warmer than a car that lives outside. Has to be subzero for the >> garage to freeze hard.) All this with temp gauge on or slightly above >> the peg. Gauge does still move a little, if car is stopped and idling. >> >> Still too sniffly to get out there with a flashlight to see if I can get >> to the temp sensor, with all the other crap in the way. No hurry at this >> point, I guess- I can wait for a warm day, especially if the snow they >> are forecasting for later this week actually happens. This is my road >> trip car, and I don't have one of those for awhile. >> >> -- >> aem sends... > > Oh where are you located? If you are nearby I could scan it for you easy > enough. > Oh, that's only about 14 hours away, if I cut through Canada.... :^/ But thanks for the thought. -- aem sends... |
Re: 99 Honda Accord temp gauge question
Tegger wrote:
> "Steve W." <csr684@NOTyahoo.com> wrote in news:hf1ndl$uar$2@aioe.org: > > >> Oh where are you located? If you are nearby I could scan it for you easy >> enough. >> > > > > He's in the San Francisco area. Bit of a drive from the Birthplace of > Baseball... > > ???? If you are referring to me (the OP in this thread), where do you get SF out of anything I have ever posted? I'm in Baja Ontario, aka southern peninsula of MI. (not a lot of Honda mechanics around here for some reason...) -- aem sends... |
Re: 99 Honda Accord temp gauge question
Tegger wrote:
(snip) > Honda coolant-temperature-gauge senders (really just a variable ground) go > bad far more often than the gauge itself. > > An infrared thermometer and a VOM are invaluable tools for solving this > problem. > > Just for giggles, went into the garage with a flashlight, and popped the connector off. The stud on the sender seemed shiny, but the connector came off awfully easy. Perhaps a fine layer of corrosion adding to the resistance? Next above-freezing day, I'll try cleaning the hole in the connector, and maybe gently squeezing it a tad to tighten it up. -- aem sends... |
Re: 99 Honda Accord temp gauge question
Steve W. wrote:
> aemeijers wrote: >> Dave D wrote: >>> "aemeijers" <aemeijers@att.net> wrote in message >>> news:XKKdnf1Yg9M7kY_WnZ2dnUVZ_sadnZ2d@giganews.com ... >>>> jim wrote: >>>>> aemeijers wrote: >> (snip) >>>> -- >>>> aem sends... >>> One further question - does the heater output coincide with the temp >>> gauge? That is - does the heater take forever to get warm and only put >>> out warm air or does the heater seem to work as it should? If the >>> heater is working normally, the best guess would be either the sending >>> unit or the temp gauge. If the heater isn't working as it should, then >>> the best bet is the thermostat. >>> >>> DaveD >>> >>> >> Tested that today, by driving the car to work. Heater seems to work >> fine, and blows warm within a couple blocks, and very warm within a mile >> or so. (Car lives inside the attached but unheated garage, so the start >> temp is warmer than a car that lives outside. Has to be subzero for the >> garage to freeze hard.) All this with temp gauge on or slightly above >> the peg. Gauge does still move a little, if car is stopped and idling. >> >> Still too sniffly to get out there with a flashlight to see if I can get >> to the temp sensor, with all the other crap in the way. No hurry at this >> point, I guess- I can wait for a warm day, especially if the snow they >> are forecasting for later this week actually happens. This is my road >> trip car, and I don't have one of those for awhile. >> >> -- >> aem sends... > > Toss a scan tool on it and see what the sender is telling the computer. > If it is OK then ignore the gauge. May be possible to borrow one from > some of the parts places. Just ask them if it will read live data as well. > You could have a bad sender to the gauge OR a bad connection or even a > bad gauge. A quick scan and you would know if you can just ignore it > until better weather. > Or, if you don't have a scan tool, or don't trust the sensor, then with a cold engine take off the radiator cap and stick a meat thermometer in the water. Run the engine until the temperature stabilizes. If it's far too low, it's the thermostat. If it's right or nearly so and the gauge reads low, go after a gauge problem. My money's still on the 'stat. -- JRE |
Re: 99 Honda Accord temp gauge question
aemeijers <aemeijers@att.net> wrote in
news:H5WdnXAxWsguEInWnZ2dnUVZ_qVi4p2d@giganews.com : > Tegger wrote: >> "Steve W." <csr684@NOTyahoo.com> wrote in news:hf1ndl$uar$2@aioe.org: >> >> >>> Oh where are you located? If you are nearby I could scan it for you >>> easy enough. >>> >> >> >> >> He's in the San Francisco area. Bit of a drive from the Birthplace of >> Baseball... >> >> > ???? > If you are referring to me (the OP in this thread), where do you get > SF out of anything I have ever posted? I'm in Baja Ontario, aka > southern peninsula of MI. (not a lot of Honda mechanics around here > for some reason...) > Oops. I looked at the headers from the wrong post, evidently. The headers I saw indicated a poster from Santa Clara. I guess you'd say I'm in Alta Ontario. Not many Honda mechanics up here either. The ones we do have tend not to be very good. -- Tegger |
Re: 99 Honda Accord temp gauge question
"Steve W." <csr684@NOTyahoo.com> wrote in news:hf1qoo$1u3$1@aioe.org:
> Tegger wrote: >> "Steve W." <csr684@NOTyahoo.com> wrote in news:hf1ndl$uar$2@aioe.org: >> >> >>> Oh where are you located? If you are nearby I could scan it for you >>> easy enough. >>> >> >> >> >> He's in the San Francisco area. Bit of a drive from the Birthplace of >> Baseball... >> >> > > Just a bit. I don't think the cable will reach either ;-) > Oh and don't believe that drivel about Cooperstown... > > http://www.hobokenbaseball.com/ > The first recorded game of baseball in US history officially took > place in Hoboken in 1846 between the Knickerbocker Club and The New > York Nine at Elysian Fields. > I'm...I'm...crushed! So I've been believing a lie all my life! This past summer we went all the way into Toronto to see the Jays play the I-Forget-Who's (Jays won). The seats came free via my daughter's ball club and BOY were they cheap seats. We were about four rows from the very top. It was still lots of fun, even though the beer was about $100 a cup so I didn't buy any, and they ran out of Slush Puppie mix. -- Tegger |
Re: 99 Honda Accord temp gauge question
Tegger wrote:
> "Steve W." <csr684@NOTyahoo.com> wrote in news:hf1qoo$1u3$1@aioe.org: > >> Tegger wrote: >>> "Steve W." <csr684@NOTyahoo.com> wrote in news:hf1ndl$uar$2@aioe.org: >>> >>> >>>> Oh where are you located? If you are nearby I could scan it for you >>>> easy enough. >>>> >>> >>> >>> He's in the San Francisco area. Bit of a drive from the Birthplace of >>> Baseball... >>> >>> >> Just a bit. I don't think the cable will reach either ;-) >> Oh and don't believe that drivel about Cooperstown... >> >> http://www.hobokenbaseball.com/ >> The first recorded game of baseball in US history officially took >> place in Hoboken in 1846 between the Knickerbocker Club and The New >> York Nine at Elysian Fields. >> > > > > > I'm...I'm...crushed! So I've been believing a lie all my life! > > This past summer we went all the way into Toronto to see the Jays play > the I-Forget-Who's (Jays won). The seats came free via my daughter's ball > club and BOY were they cheap seats. We were about four rows from the very > top. > It was still lots of fun, even though the beer was about $100 a cup so I > didn't buy any, and they ran out of Slush Puppie mix. > That's OK I've lived less than an hour from the HOF in Cooperstown most of my life, and I've NEVER been there? -- Steve W. |
Re: 99 Honda Accord temp gauge question
Tegger (invalid@invalid.inv) writes:
> aemeijers <aemeijers@att.net> wrote in > news:8Z6dnW63frarxInWnZ2dnUVZ_o2dnZ2d@giganews.com : > >> Dave D wrote: >>> >>> If the heater isn't working as it >>> should, then the best bet is the thermostat. >>> >>> >>> >>> >> Tested that today, by driving the car to work. Heater seems to work >> fine, and blows warm within a couple blocks, and very warm within a >> mile or so. (Car lives inside the attached but unheated garage, so the >> start temp is warmer than a car that lives outside. Has to be subzero >> for the garage to freeze hard.) All this with temp gauge on or >> slightly above the peg. Gauge does still move a little, if car is >> stopped and idling. > > > > If the heater appears to work fine, then the gauge is suspect. You need to > aim an infrared thermometer at the upper rad hose outlet from the head. > If, fully warm, you get much less than about 205F, then the engine is > running too cool. > If, fully warm, you get about 205, then the gauge is faulty. > > >> >> Still too sniffly to get out there with a flashlight to see if I can >> get to the temp sensor, with all the other crap in the way. > > > > It's a one-wire connector that's usually right under the distributor. > Should be easy to get at. > > With the infrared thermometer showing about 205 at the "sweet spot", unplug > the sender's wire and push it aside. Using a VOM, connect the sender's > contact to a good engine ground. At full-hot, you should see 35-32 ohms. If > you see significantly higher than that (like 140 ohms), then the sender is > bad. > > > -- > Tegger > How do you find the accuracy of that IR thermometer? Did info come with it stating a plus and minus tolerance? Have you tried to determine its accuracy? What's its minimum/maximum range? I have a Radio Shack (SMART2 model 22-17A) cheap (not to buy) Fluke-knock-off VOM digital meter, which has a temperature probe (and capacitor checker and frequency checker MHz/kHz/Hz). Temps over 300F/150C will blow the stupid oddball (weird amp ratings, 63 mA) internal fuses on it, but I checked its accuracy and it is almost dead on at the freezing (32F/0C) and the boiling point temp (which at 295ft altitude is slightly less than 212F/100C by I forget how many degrees, there is a calculator on the internet to find the boiling point temp for different altitudes). The manual states +/- 3.6F/2C tolerance, but it tests much better than that. To test for 32F/0C is easy for any thermometer, use a well stirred container with crushed ice (heavy on the ice, almost all ice) and water. The water will get to 32F/0C. Boiling temp is a little more fussy, steam obscuring view etc., trying to maintain an even boil etc., finding the altitude and calculating the boiling point etc.. Are you confidant with the readings your IR produces? I only ask because I have a zillion thermometers, and none of them read the same when I put them together in one place! The RS probe is good because I know its accuracy, but its a pita to drag out, and install all the batteries etc.. Sadly just about all the damned old condensers (Hitachi, Nippon Denso, AC Delco, Briggs & Stratton etc.) in my junk pile, that I replaced decades ago as a matter of course, tested the correct microfarads with the condenser tester. Well at least those little cans were cheap. |
Re: 99 Honda Accord temp gauge question
cf005@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (M.A. Stewart) wrote in
news:hf9u2n$ols$1@theodyn.ncf.ca: <snip> > > How do you find the accuracy of that IR thermometer? Did info > come with it stating a plus and minus tolerance? Have you tried > to determine its accuracy? What's its minimum/maximum range? My IR thermometer is an "UltraPro 95152" that carries the NAPA logo. It cost about $74/$80 at NAPA. It did come with documentation, but I can't find it just now. Its sensing cone width is the distance from the object divided by eight. That's printed directly on the thermometer's body. Its maximum range appears to be determined by the size of the thing being measured. On a car, I'm never more than a foot or 18" away from whatever I'm measuring, which appears to be sufficient. Minimum is as close as I can get without radiant heat being sensed by the thermometer. I pointed it up at the clear blue sky in the middle of summer and got zero F, for whatever that's worth. I checked its accuracy against the hot water out of a tap at home, which I know is regulated to 140F. That was further checked with a candy thermometer. The IR was dead-on with the candy thermometer, or about as dead-on as I could determine, since the candy thermometer moved very slowly and was never quite still. <snip> > > Are you confidant with the readings your IR produces? I only ask > because I have a zillion thermometers, and none of them read the same > when I put them together in one place! The thermometer is probably not spot-on to the very last degree, but I'm not using it for that purpose. Both our cars have 78C thermostats. I get 205F at the upper rad hose inlet of both vehicles when their cooling systems are working properly. When my car began to suffer overheating problems two summers ago, I successfully determined that the overheating DID indeed exist because as the temp gauge began to climb, the temperature at the upper rad hose inlet began to climb to well above 205. (It turned out the rad face was clogged with oily rustproofing gunk; a garden hose blast fixed it). I know what a cooling system should read in various places. I know what a cat should read at inlet and outlet. I know that the brakes should be pretty much the same temperature across the axle, and that front brakes ought to be significantly hotter than the rear ones. I can reliably use it to determine how effectivly the air-conditioning system is working. If the IR thermometer was off by two or three degrees, that would not impair my ability to use it for automotive troubleshooting, but I suppose I wouldn't be able to trust it for lab use. -- Tegger The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ www.tegger.com/hondafaq/ |
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