*Update...Please Help* - Temperature gauge drops to "C"
 

Hey all,

I searched the forum and I couldn't find an answer so I decided to post.

I took my GF's car to Mr. Lube today to get the rad fluid flushed and filled. Before the flush, her car heated up normally and the temperature gauge would read perfectly right in the middle of "H" and "C". After the service however, the gauge would show that its in the middle of H and C but then if I drove up or down a hill or made a sharp turn, the temperature gauge would drop down to C or very close to it! It would take a long time for the temperature gauge to move back up to where it is. The mechanic at Mr Lube said this was normal and if the problem persisted for a couple of days, to bring the car back.

Is this normal???? He said that it was probably the air bubbles that needed to be worked out of the system. The reserve has fluid filled to max, and the heat in the car works fine! But every so often the temperature would drop! Any advice??

yea, sounds like the air bubbles need to be worked out

dirve it for a while if it persists take it back to them, and make them pay for a new thermostat

So, this is nothing to worry about right??? If the problem continues, then it's a thermostat problem? How much does a new one cost?

Thanks for the input so far!!

removing air bubbles is easy....

get car cold..(so that you don't burn yourself with the next step)

remove rad cap

start car...

as the fluid level drops add more fluid without taking the rad cap off the air can't escape the system

^^^^^^^^^^

I guess that's kind of correct

I always took the rad off, started the engine, waited for the fan to come on (you'll start to see the air bubbles escaping from the rad cap opening) then topped up the fluid and closed her back up.

If I don't do anything, will the air bubbles evaporate, or will the problem persist until I "burp" the system?

*UPDATE*

So I took it back to Mr Lube, and they say there's no airbubbles in the system and the pressure is good. They're now saying it's the thermostat that needs replacing.

My question is, are they right?? I don't wanna replace the thermostat when it's not causing the problem.

By the way, the problem is getting worse. The temperature gauge will go half way where it's supposed to be, then it will drop all the way down to "C" and stay there for a while. Then it will eventually rise back to where it's supposed to be.

All the while, I'm still getting proper heat. The heat does not go away when the gauge drops to "C".

Please help, it's the middle of winter and I don't want my girlfriend to get stuck anywhere in this blistering cold. I need to fix this ASAP!!

P.S. - If you guys think it is the thermostat where can I get the part (other than the obvious Honda dealership). And does it have to be an original Honda part, or can it be aftermarket?


Thanks!!!

If u are getting heat perfectly in the car and the gauge is dropping to C i think your gauge is faulty. If it drops to C and u dun get heat then it is reasonable. But if your gauge drops completely to C and u still get good heat then i'm pretty sure your temperature gauge might have some problems. Did your car ever over heat before the rad flush? Try letting the air out 1st. U let the car cool down and open the rad car. Start the car. Make sure u put the heat on low on the floor. Then add coolant and wait for the fan to come on. Sometimes it takes a long time so i just rev it up sometimes. Your thermostat dun seem to be the problem. If your thermostat is stuck closed your car would over heat and not cause the temp gauge to be at C. it would be at H. Try the air bubbles 1st.

1 more thing, never take it to mr lube for those kind of stuff. They only know how to do oil changes i've heard since i;ve never been. Go to some place that knows and works on your car and are trustworthy.

thermostat could be at fault here.
like they said.

i sorta have the same problem with my car. If im reving it really high the temperature guage will drop to zero then rise back a short time later, nobody knows what it is.