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bburgoyne26
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Joined: 16 Sep 2003
Posts: 2959
Location: Ft. Worth, Texas
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 Posted: 02/26/06 - 09:27 Post subject: Radiator troubles?
We just had my son's Honda radiator flushed and refilled a couple of weeks ago. Yesterday he was coming home from work and it overheated and he barely made it to the driveway. I let it cool and checked the radiator.....empty.....I put a gallon of distilled water in it, but I don't want to drive it til I get it checked out......what are some possibilities?.....need a new radiator?....water pump?.....it's gonna be expensive I bet....trying to decide if I should go to Honda Service or a local mechanic that specializes in imports.......
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thooogy
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Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 542
Location: 40.91N - 73.27W
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Posted: 02/26/06 - 09:48 Post subject:
Check the obvious (and simple) first. Maybe a hose is loose or the drain valve on the radiator is not closed completely from when the flush was done. I've heard of flushes making things worse by loosening up the crap inside the radiator but that wouldn't explain the fact that it was empty.
Since you put JUST distilled water I assume you don't live in the Northeast (it's 18 degrees right now!)
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kobyj
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Joined: 24 Jul 2002
Posts: 2370
Location: Lake Pine
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Posted: 02/26/06 - 10:03 Post subject:
I like Thooogy's ideas. Just a couple more:
Maybe the coolant had just filled the radiator and not the block when it was first done? But re-reading your post makes this seem kinda far fetched since it was a few weeks before you noticed it. This would have been first drive that you notice it.
Head Gasket?
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bburgoyne26
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Joined: 16 Sep 2003
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Location: Ft. Worth, Texas
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Posted: 02/26/06 - 11:14 Post subject:
yes it's a good thing that it's not cold in Texas right now....I just put in distilled water as a test to see if it drained right out through some kind of a leak......but as of this morning, there is nothing on the garage floor....not sure if I should try to drive it or not.......
Head gasket?.....if it was that, wouldn't it be running quite poorly?
now my biggest concern is whether to take it to the actual Honda dealer for service or try to find a local guy who specializes in imports......
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andydp
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Joined: 23 Sep 2003
Posts: 8122
Location: Upstate NY near Albany
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Posted: 02/26/06 - 11:36 Post subject:
| bburgoyne26 wrote: | yes it's a good thing that it's not cold in Texas right now....I just put in distilled water as a test to see if it drained right out through some kind of a leak......but as of this morning, there is nothing on the garage floor....not sure if I should try to drive it or not.......
Head gasket?.....if it was that, wouldn't it be running quite poorly?
now my biggest concern is whether to take it to the actual Honda dealer for service or try to find a local guy who specializes in imports...... |
If it was the head gasket you would see clouds of white smoke coming from the exaust. Plus there would be signs of water in the crankcase. Curiously, the car would still run pretty good.
99% of service stations can service any car, foreign or domestic. Ask your friends for a good local garage. Going to the dealer will set off visions of Dollar signs at the service department. I've had a few imports in my day and have always taken them to a garage I trust implicitly. Never any problem with repairs.
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bburgoyne26
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Joined: 16 Sep 2003
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Location: Ft. Worth, Texas
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Posted: 02/26/06 - 11:43 Post subject:
exhaust is barely noticeable.....running smooth.......trouble is, I don't have any local mechanics that I have a trusting relationship with.......
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andydp
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Joined: 23 Sep 2003
Posts: 8122
Location: Upstate NY near Albany
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Posted: 02/26/06 - 11:49 Post subject:
| bburgoyne26 wrote: | | exhaust is barely noticeable.....running smooth.......trouble is, I don't have any local mechanics that I have a trusting relationship with....... |
Check with your friends or go to Cartalk.com
Look in the "Mechanics Files Section" for a list of local mechanics
http://www.cartalk.com/content/mechx/find.html
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Zatoichi
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Posted: 02/26/06 - 15:39 Post subject:
Could be a slow leak from the front seal of the water pump (hence no puddle on the floor). There's also a chance that it's leaking from the heater core, but you'd smell coolant through the interior vents if that were the case. I'd consider starting it and see if you can spot the leak while it's running.
AAA-approved Repair Shop Locator
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Ms. Jenn
Fresh, Hot & Wild
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Joined: 14 Feb 2004
Posts: 7935
Location: Suite 550
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Posted: 02/26/06 - 23:15 Post subject:
I had a car who's radiator didn't leak until it was running and it would nearly spurt out the front. It was actually quite cool.
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