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car question

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FatHobbit's avatar

FatHobbit

Senior Member

8,651 posts
Jan 5, 2011 5:17 PM
I have a 2003 civic with 120k+. When I left work today it got really warm. (It didn't over heat, but it's usually about 50% and today it was 75-80%) I checked the oil and antifreeze and it was fine. I started driving again and it started heating up again. I turned the heat on to cool it off and it was blowing cold air. After just a few minutes it started blowing warm air and the temp went back down. After that it was fine for the rest of the way home. (about 10 minutes) When I got home I got the mail and sat in the driveway for a minute and it heated up again while I was sitting there.

Any idea what the heck is going on with my car?
Jan 5, 2011 5:17pm
H

hilliardfan

Senior Member

193 posts
Jan 5, 2011 8:47 PM
Thermostat. Not a hard fix. $15 part and you can probably do it yourself.
Jan 5, 2011 8:47pm
I

I Wear Pants

Senior Member

16,223 posts
Jan 5, 2011 9:56 PM
You turned the heat on to cool it off?
Jan 5, 2011 9:56pm
FatHobbit's avatar

FatHobbit

Senior Member

8,651 posts
Jan 5, 2011 11:07 PM
I Wear Pants;627490 wrote:You turned the heat on to cool it off?

Yes, that can help a car cool down when it's over heating, or so I've been told.
Jan 5, 2011 11:07pm
GoChiefs's avatar

GoChiefs

Resident Maniac

16,754 posts
Jan 6, 2011 12:55 AM
hilliardfan;627404 wrote:Thermostat. Not a hard fix. $15 part and you can probably do it yourself.

That would be my guess as well.
Jan 6, 2011 12:55am
D

dave

Senior Member

4,558 posts
Jan 6, 2011 1:10 AM
I Wear Pants;627490 wrote:You turned the heat on to cool it off?

that is the first and most obvious thing to do to prevent overheating
Jan 6, 2011 1:10am
D

dave

Senior Member

4,558 posts
Jan 6, 2011 1:12 AM
keep an eye on the coolant. also check to see if the color of the exhaust is more cloudy than normal. hopefully it isn't something like a gasket.
Jan 6, 2011 1:12am
FatHobbit's avatar

FatHobbit

Senior Member

8,651 posts
Jan 6, 2011 8:16 AM
Thanks for your suggestions guys. I'll try the thermostat and see what happens next.
Jan 6, 2011 8:16am
G

Gblock

Jan 6, 2011 9:06 AM
If its not thermostat its water pump
Jan 6, 2011 9:06am
FatHobbit's avatar

FatHobbit

Senior Member

8,651 posts
Jan 6, 2011 9:12 AM
I'm not sure if they did a good job, but the timing belt and water pump were just changed about 10k miles ago.
Jan 6, 2011 9:12am
ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar

ZWICK 4 PREZ

Senior Member

7,733 posts
Jan 6, 2011 10:33 AM
you'd notice it in 10k miles. Sounds like a thermostat to me.
Jan 6, 2011 10:33am