I have a 2003 Honda Civic EX and just recently got a new: timing belt, water pump, thermostat, temperature sending switch, radiator, and throttle body. I have overheated twice! I was driving on the fwy and i got cold so i turned the temp dial to hot but DID NOT turn on the heat and it started to over heat... i pulled over- waited for it to cool down, then turned the temp switch to cool but DID NOT even turn the air on and i was fine for another 10 miles.. then i was sitting at a light and my temp began to rise again, very slowly. I checked my radiator and it had water/coolant. What the heck could be happening??!! Please help me.. im 3000 dollars in the hole from repairs and my car isnt even worth that much.

 

does the electric fans work?

 

Did they properly bleed the coolant system when they did all that work? Air in the system could cause an overheat situation. If you're overheating, you can turn on the heat and it's like having a second radiator. It'll dissipate some of the heat. If the heat DOESN'T work, that also indicates air in the coolant system.

You could bleed it yourself to make sure. Just park on a steep hill or other incline with the front of the car facing up hill. Then pop the hood, pull the radiator cap off, and start the car. Turn the heat all the way to full and turn it on to make sure coolant is circulating through the heater core too. Any air in the system would rise "upward" and out the radiator cap. Have some coolant or water handy to top the radiator off as needed.

 

This was my first thought also. You can do what is suggested on level ground if needed. It take at least two cycles of the electric fan. I went for three times. As the car is running you will see air bubbles coming to the cap opening. It will burp out some antifreeze as the air leaves. I would recommend a 50-50 mix of antifreeze & water to top off your system. This process takes awhile, it took me about a half hour.

 

Yes the fans are working fine.... there is minimal heat coming from the heater when i turn it on...more like room temperature. could this be a block in the heater core? i was reading other forums and people that have had this same problem and they mentioned a blown head gasket? but i feel like i would be able to notice that more? the first time i took it to the dealership and it overheated i got a new thermostat. the second time it happened i needed a new throttle body cuz the sensor had a short in it, and he couldnt figure out why i wasnt getting heat. he put a new temp sending switch on too. When i just over heated about 30 mins ago, i checked my fluid levels, all was good... made it about 10 miles. then while sitting at a light it started to creep up again slowly. Could honda have sold me a bad radiator, water pump, or timing belt? pressure tests were done on the thermostat and it was fine. i dont get why the heater is causing this. so frustrating i cant keep putting money into it, and since im a girl, i feel like honda always tries to take advantage of me!

 

Do i need to do this while the car is hot? or can it be done tomorrow morning when there is more light?

 

any smoke coming out exhaust?, open the radiator cap up tmw and crank car, watch coolant for air bubbles,if so then blown head gasket
if you dont have a warranty on the car THEN STAY AWAY FROM THE DEALERSHIP, THEY OVERCHARGE AND TAKE AVANTAGE OF YOU

 

Isnt it bad to open your radiator cap with the car on? Im probably wrong but i know NOTHING about cars and i dont want to burn myself with steam or anything. So just take the cap off.. turn on the car.. and look for air bubbles? now do i open the white over flow cab or the metal cap on the radiator... im new to all this. sorry

 

dont open it if motor is warm, only do it when its cold. open radiator cap. crank car and watch for about 3 mins