I have a '97 EX with about 175k miles on it and today it started to overheat. This was really odd to me because I took it for an hour long trip with no problems, then I went for a 15min. trip to walmart and halfway there the temp needle rose nearly to the top. When I turn on the Heat on full blast the needle will go back down to the center but less than a minute of the heat being off it will rise right back up again. I stopped the car and emptied some coolent out of the overflow tank because it was above the max line but when I got home it hadn't rose at all and it is still overheating. I can see some spots of antifreeze on the hoses but I can't see any leaks. I also left the car running for a few minutes with the hood open and noticed that the fans were not turning on even when I pulled the throttle. I know that it may be the relay for my fan but I have no idea where that is located... PLEASE HELP ME!!

 

The fan not running is the problem. The first thing to check after the fuse is the fan sensor switch on the thermostat housing. Unplug the switch and jumper between the two pins in the plug leading to the car. The fan should now come on when you turn the key on even if the engine is cold. This tests the whole fan system except the switch. If the fan runs with the jumper on, you can conclude that the switch is bad.

Now if the fan doesn't run, you'd check the fan motor and relay.

 

This is an idiot question... but where is the thermostat housing? And is there any chance that the relay could be the problem? Thanks a lot!

 

I think I found the hosing, but which switch is for the fan?

 

The thermostat housing is where the hose from the bottom of the radiator connects at the back of the engine. There should only be one electrical device on it. Yes the relay can cause the problem but most people report the trouble was the switch.

 

Ok, the fan started up when I used a paperclip to jump the switch. Now my question is, is it safe for me to keep the paperclip in there untill I can buy a new switch? Also, where can I find a new switch, Honda dealership? Thank's a lot for all your help!

 

Yes, you can drive with the fan jumped, the only thing is doing it for months, the fan would eventually wear out prematurely. Most parts stores can get the switch for you, if there isn't a dealer nearby. Make sure to specify you need the temperature SWITCH, not the SENSOR or SENDER, which are different parts.

 

Awesome, thank you so much, I can drive again! lol