I got a '96 1.8 civic DX (not VTEK) that is overheating and missfiring on 3 and 4 (3 and 4 missfire on codes). It feels like it is only missfiring at idle and I did take the TPS out and shoot it with some carb cleaner. It seems to run fine at higher RPM's. With the overheating, it seems to overheat quickly, shooting off steam into the resovoir and boiling off the extra water there as there are no water leaks anywhere In addition, I have:

New cap, rotor, plug wires and plugs
Flushed the radiator system
New thermostat
TPS Cleaned
Tested compression: 180 equally and holds steady in all cyclinders


My questions are:

Are the symptoms related?

Where is the water pump?

What is a good manual for this car?

Is the TPS at the base of the air intake on the passenger side? (with those damn flush head screws I had to cut a slot in with a dremel)

Could the overheating just be a worn radiator cap?

Why missfire on only 3 and 4?

Thanks for you help

 

Yes the TPS has the flush heads on it and why did you spray that with carb cleaner. The water pump is behind the timing belt cover above and offset from the crank, are you losing coolant, have you refilled it, the radiator cap can cause you to boil off the coolant if its not holding the proper pressure bc the boiling point for coolant goes up as the pressure goes up so when it gets hot it wont boil off but if the cap is releasing the pressure prematurely it wont raise the BP and the coolant cooks. And as for a manual I would recommend a Haynes book you can pick it up at a local parts store.

 

I was told by the auto parts guy to spray the TPS with carb cleaner. On the overheating, the radiator fan is not working. jumped it to the battery and it works. Relaced the switch at thermostat housing but no change. I don't know what fuse/relay it is in the engine compartment fusebox...the listing is missing.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

 

Unplug the switch and jump the plug, the fan should start immediately when you turn the key on. If not, check fuse and relay, they are both in the underhood fuse box.

If there's no flow through the radiator, the engine can overheat and the fan won't come on even though the fan system is OK. Causes of no flow would include lack of coolant, clogged radiator, and stuck thermostat.

 

-MK378- Can you please explain "unplug the switch and jump the plug" especially "jump the plug". Will run radiator flush once again to be sure its cleaned out.

Still cant tell which fuse/relay is for the rad fan. Know the rad fan fuse is 20 amp and they all look good

Thanks for your help!! This problem is killin' me and I gotta a Hot Date Tuesday and I need this thing to run!

 

Unplug the switch on the thermostat housing. On the car side plug, take a small stripped wire and push one end into the metal contact in each hole where the pins on the switch go. This makes the car act like the switch is closed all the time. The fan should run as soon as you turn the key on.

 

That just goes to show you that not all people that work at a parts store know what they are talking about, if your going to be cleaning electrical parts like that you should use electric parts cleaner bc the carb cleaner has more tendency to cause corrsion

 

Never put carb cleaner onto anything plastic. It says that right on the can.

 

Ooops! Hope I didn't ruin it. Parts store says TPS not available by itself ...you gotta buy the whole throttle throat.

Is that true or does someone know where to get a TPS for a '96 D16Y7 ?

Thanks

 

OK...jumped the plug and the fan DID come on when I turned the key. Running prestone flush through it now for 6 or so hours then will flush with fresh water and refill with coolant.

How about those missfire codes (missfire 3 and 4 and P1300)? I installed correctly, (checked, checked and double checked)

cap, rotor, plug wires and plugs

Could it be:

TPS, vacuum leak, idle air contol ??

When I get in the car and first start it up it won't come out of PARK. I turn it off and back on and then it comes out...TPS out of adjustment?....does it have and adjustment?

Thanks?