I have a 98 honda civic lx, and im having problems with my radiator....i dont believe that i have any leaks, but when the car is running, it looks like the coolant is just being burned off (smoke comes from the top of the radiator) and the fan never turns on when the engine is heated...can anyone help me on this issue???

 

either:

-the radiator cap isn't providing the system with the correct pressure
-or your radiator is blocked
-or the thermostat is bad

most likely the cap though.

 

id first try the radiator cap, then the thermostat and then flush ur system, if all else fails, time for a new radiator

 

also how long ago was ur radiator replaced?

 

Find out why the fan doesn't come on, that's the root of the problem.

The fan is controlled by a thermo switch on the thermostat housing. Unplug the connector from that switch, jumper the two pins in the plug (wiring harness side) and turn the ignition key on (not necessary to start the engine). The fan should run. If it does, the thermo switch is bad. If not it could be the fan motor, fuse, or relay.

 

Your thermostat is almost definitely sticking shut, happens a lot around this time for your year car. Get a new one and replace it, they're really cheap and super easy to replace.

Have you determined where exactly it's smoking from on the rad? I would change the rad cap when you change the thermostat, again they're cheap.

 

SovXietday is right. Do check the thermostat first. If the car overheats soon after being started, whether it is moving or sitting still, and especially finding the lower radiator hose is cold when the engine is about to overheat, the thermostat is almost certainly stuck. The fan normally will not come on in this case.