1993 acura legend overheating

Cyrus · Newbie Joined: Dec 17, 2003 Posts: 3

ok i have a weird legend problem. my car overheats at seemingly random times. sometimes at a stoplight, sometimes rolling along the street at 30-50 mph, sometimes while accelerating from a stoplight, sometimes on the freeway doing 75. The needle goes all the way to the red. Sometimes, i can turn the A/C on and the needle comes down. Sometimes that doesnt work. Sometimes turning the heat on makes the needle go down, but sometimes this also makes the needle go higher. Also, when the heater is on and the car isnt overheating, it produces NO heat. When i accelerate sharply, it will begin producing heat, but as soon as im off the gas pedal, it goes back to blowing luke-warm air. Ive noticed that when the car is overheating, the electric fans do not turn on, and the coolant boils and floods out of the overflow tank, causing me to have low coolant adding to my overheating issue. Im thinking something to do with the electric fans is F*d up, but that doesnt explain the heater issue does it? Do these symptons sound like a faulty water pump? Please help, i dont want my baby being permanently damaged by this. Thanks

-Cyrus

TKO · Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2003 11:45 am Post subject:

A few things you will want to check:

I would try figuring out why your fans aren't working first, that would probably give you insight into why you overheating.

Cyrus · Newbie Joined: Dec 17, 2003 Posts: 3

just had the thermostat and the upper and lower rad hoses replaced a few months ago. even so, would a busted thermostat be the problem? i know im not leaking coolant, it only bubbles out of the overflow tank after it boils.

1othello · Newbie Joined: Jan 09, 2004 Posts: 1

Cyrus, on one side of the coin I'm happy that I'm not the only one with this problem, on the other I'm a little upset that I spent over $300 to fix the problem - with the exact same symptoms as you explained in the chain. I had a mechanic replace the thermostat, vaccum the radiator and hoses, replace the fan sensor, bleed the lines and the problem still persist. I'm also having high RPM issues especially in the morning - I've owned the car for some time now and I know how it should idle during the winter. What I noticed a few times though is that the large hose connected to the thermostat/engine is extremely hot while the radiator is luke warm after a run. Does this mean that the mechanic installed an aftermaket thermostat vs a genuine accura thermostat? Or maybe the hoses are still clogged? What's the chance of this being an electronic problem?

I'm also doing some reasearch to decipher if accura initiated a recall for this problem? Does anyone know? Help!

AcuraImport · Site Admin Joined: Mar 11, 2003 Posts: 228

Sorry I'm late to the party
I hear that your overheating problem is fairly common among Legend owners. It has something to do with your water pump not working correctly. Try replacing... that shoud solve your overheating problem
_________________
If you feel like you're in control, you're not going fast enough. ~ Mario Andretti

celynka · Newbie Joined: Jan 12, 2004 Posts: 3

HI
I have read lots of reviews describing this problem. I have two legends 91 both with same symptoms : intermittent overheating , coolant being thrown out into reservoir tank, loss of heat in heater,cold engine rpm hesitation and all that happens mostly in a cold weather. I did eliminate all possible causes starting from the cheapest : bleeded system several times, flushed radiator,checked system for leaks, changed thermostat, changed fan switch, changed fan relay, water pump is not a problem also. I found out that coolant contains CO2 !!! I could even smell exhaust fumes in reservoir tank. There is only one reason for that to happen - head gasket. It is not a typical gasket blow because it is not sucking in coolant , gasket is not burned, it is wide surface leak while high temperaure difference causes heads to shrink and expand in cold weather and cause them to leak preasure into cooling system causing air packets/locks that simply impare coolant circulation in the system and prevent fans from kicking on. Warm weather sometimes covers the problem in early stage, because usually we keep ac on and radiator fan goes on freqently plus engine is less exposed for extreme temperatures. I did change gaskets 10 days ago and rebulid whole engine with about 70 different gaskets. It took me about 26 hour to do that. Problem went away. Now I got super steady engine temperature and heat inside car within minutes - I didnt even bleed cooling system. After all research I did I can say that it is a common problem in Legends. Repair is very complex and difficult and requires strong mechanical skill - no wonder dealers want for it $2500- $3000 . So before you do something to your car have your coolant tested for CO2 content and you will find out.
Good luck with your cars
JackLegendLs91

highspeedsnow · Newbie Joined: Jan 26, 2004 Posts: 1

Cyrus and 1othello, I have read all the posts, and have almost the exact same problems on my 94 Legend GS, what I am wondering is if you 2 ever got your problems fixed or an answer to your problems anywhere?

Please let me know,

Mark

eckoblaze72 · Newbie Joined: Feb 11, 2004 Posts: 7

I've been having the same problem but i have a 93 integra is the only difference. so what should i do.. I really need help on this. what should i do first? Check for the Co2 in the coolent? then what.. replacing gasket will put my car out of commision and i really need it. i cant have it in the shop for more than a day. plus i dont have 3g's to give to a macanhic to fix the gaskets, but if thats what i have to do i guess thats all..

Need advice..

Thanks

Shawn
aka
Shizz

acuralegendmou · Newbie Joined: Feb 12, 2004 Posts: 2

HELLO ALL, I REALLY HATE TO BE THE BEARER OF BAD NEWS BUT THE SUBJECT LINE ABOVE SAYS IT ALL!! I CAN GUARANTEE YOU NEED A HEAD JOB. BUT BEWARE, YOU ARE CAUSING SEVER COMPOUNDING DAMAGE TO YOUR ALUMINUM ENGINE. THE SAME EXACT SYMPTOMS HAPPENED TO ME. I'LL EXPAIN EXACTLY WHAT I WENT THROUGH. FIRST, A AFTER MARKET THERMOSTAT AFTER THE FIRST OVERHEAT; IT WORKED FOR A LITTLE WHILE BUT REOCCOURED AGAIN AFTER A WHILE. IT SOLVED THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE JOB CALLS FOR THE DRAINAGE OF THE ANTIFREEZE TO COMPLETE THE JOB OBVIOUSLY AND THAT RELEASED ALL THE CO2 IN THE SYSTEM (AIR POCKETS WHICH FALSEIFY THE TEMP READINGS TO THE ELECTRIC FANS). NEXT A COUPLE A LEAKY HOSES BECAUSE YOU ALL KNOW EXCESSIVE HEAT AGES RUBBER RAPIDLY SO I SPRUNG A BUNCH OF LEAKS (YES, I ALSO EXPERIENCED THE IR-REGULAR IDLE WITH THE UP AND DOWN IN THE RPM'S) I CHANGED THE THERMOSTAT AGAIN WITH A ACURA ONE, SAME OVERHEATING! AT THIS POINT A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WHERE TELLING ME THAT IT WAS INDEED THE DREADED HEAD GASKET!! AT THIS POINT I BELIEVED IT, SO TO TRY AND ACHEIVE A QUICK CHEAP FIX, I WENT OUT AND BOUGHT THIS LIQUID FROM THE LOCAL AUTO PART CALLED BLUE DEVIL. WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO DO IS SEAL ALL LEAKS IN YOUR CARS HEAD GASKET (FALSE! FALSE! FALSE!) IT CAUSED MY WATER PUMP TO LEAK SO I FIGURED...(AKCHA!! WE FOUND THE PROBLEM!!) MY LOCAL MECHANIC CHANGED MY WATER PUMP (OH YEAH NOT TO MENTION AT THIS POINT ALREADY MY OTHER LOCAL MECHANIC WHO HAPPENS TO BE VERY VERY SKILLED AND SHARP, HOOKED UP (JUST OUT OF CURIOUSITY) THE PROBE THE THEY USE HERE IN NEW YORK STATE TO DO THE EMISSIONS CHECK ON VEHICLES FOR INSPECTION IN TO THE OVERFLOW RESEVOIR OF THE RADIATOR AFTER THE CAR WAS IDLEING FOR A WHILE AND OVERHEATED AND NONE THE LESS, IT DETECTED EXHAUST FUMES!! AT THIS POINT I SHOULD HAVE HAD THE HEAD JOB DONE ON THE CAR) TIMING BELT AND TENSIONER. WE WERE DETERMINED WE HAD IT BEAT!! ABSOLUTLEY NOT!! 3 DAYS LATER MY HEADS WERE SUPER WARPED. (THIS WHOLE PROCESS IS OVER A 6 TO 8 MONTH PERIOD, MAJOR DAMAGE) OK, NOW YOU READY FOR THIS.... I HAD THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED AND THE HEADS RESURFACED. THE MECHANICS PUT IT BACK TOGETHER AND RAN IT FOR A HALF AN HOUR TO FIND IT KNOCKING LIKE A BUNCH OF EMPTY SODA CANS BEING TOSSED AROUND IN A PLASTIC BAG. THE BEARINGS IN THE BOTTOM PART OF THE OF THE MOTOR SPUN. SO BASICALLY DID ALL THE FOR NOTHING. LUCKILLY MY FRIEND IS A MECHANIC THERE SO HE SPOKE TO THE OWNER AND HAD HIM FORGIVE ME THE BILL. SO WHAT I ENDED UP DOIN IS GETTING A JUNK YARD MOTOR FOR $600 AND HAVING THE MOTOR REPLACED WITH THE NEW WATERPUMP, TENSIONER, AND TIMING BELT FROM THE OTHER MOTOR FOR $1,400. EVERYTHING IS FINE NOW SO LET THIS BE A LESSON. GET IT DONE KNOW BEFORE YOU CAUSE MORE DAMAGE AND SPEND MORE MONEY. IF YOU FEEL THAT YOU OVERHEATED THE MOTOR WAY TOO MUCH, JUST GET THE WHOLE MOTOR REPLACED FOR THE EXTRA $. GOOD LUCK

acuralegendmou · Newbie Joined: Feb 12, 2004 Posts: 2

HELLO ALL, I REALLY HATE TO BE THE BEARER OF BAD NEWS BUT THE SUBJECT LINE ABOVE SAYS IT ALL!! I CAN GUARANTEE YOU NEED A HEAD JOB. BUT BEWARE, YOU ARE CAUSING SEVER COMPOUNDING DAMAGE TO YOUR ALUMINUM ENGINE. THE SAME EXACT SYMPTOMS HAPPENED TO ME. I'LL EXPAIN EXACTLY WHAT I WENT THROUGH. FIRST, A AFTER MARKET THERMOSTAT AFTER THE FIRST OVERHEAT; IT WORKED FOR A LITTLE WHILE BUT REOCCOURED AGAIN AFTER A WHILE. IT SOLVED THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE JOB CALLS FOR THE DRAINAGE OF THE ANTIFREEZE TO COMPLETE THE JOB OBVIOUSLY AND THAT RELEASED ALL THE CO2 IN THE SYSTEM (AIR POCKETS WHICH FALSEIFY THE TEMP READINGS TO THE ELECTRIC FANS). NEXT A COUPLE A LEAKY HOSES BECAUSE YOU ALL KNOW EXCESSIVE HEAT AGES RUBBER RAPIDLY SO I SPRUNG A BUNCH OF LEAKS (YES, I ALSO EXPERIENCED THE IR-REGULAR IDLE WITH THE UP AND DOWN IN THE RPM'S) I CHANGED THE THERMOSTAT AGAIN WITH A ACURA ONE, SAME OVERHEATING! AT THIS POINT A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WHERE TELLING ME THAT IT WAS INDEED THE DREADED HEAD GASKET!! AT THIS POINT I BELIEVED IT, SO TO TRY AND ACHEIVE A QUICK CHEAP FIX, I WENT OUT AND BOUGHT THIS LIQUID FROM THE LOCAL AUTO PART CALLED BLUE DEVIL. WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO DO IS SEAL ALL LEAKS IN YOUR CARS HEAD GASKET (FALSE! FALSE! FALSE!) IT CAUSED MY WATER PUMP TO LEAK SO I FIGURED...(AKCHA!! WE FOUND THE PROBLEM!!) MY LOCAL MECHANIC CHANGED MY WATER PUMP (OH YEAH NOT TO MENTION AT THIS POINT ALREADY MY OTHER LOCAL MECHANIC WHO HAPPENS TO BE VERY VERY SKILLED AND SHARP, HOOKED UP (JUST OUT OF CURIOUSITY) THE PROBE THE THEY USE HERE IN NEW YORK STATE TO DO THE EMISSIONS CHECK ON VEHICLES FOR INSPECTION IN TO THE OVERFLOW RESEVOIR OF THE RADIATOR AFTER THE CAR WAS IDLEING FOR A WHILE AND OVERHEATED AND NONE THE LESS, IT DETECTED EXHAUST FUMES!! AT THIS POINT I SHOULD HAVE HAD THE HEAD JOB DONE ON THE CAR) TIMING BELT AND TENSIONER. WE WERE DETERMINED WE HAD IT BEAT!! ABSOLUTLEY NOT!! 3 DAYS LATER MY HEADS WERE SUPER WARPED. (THIS WHOLE PROCESS IS OVER A 6 TO 8 MONTH PERIOD, MAJOR DAMAGE) OK, NOW YOU READY FOR THIS.... I HAD THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED AND THE HEADS RESURFACED. THE MECHANICS PUT IT BACK TOGETHER AND RAN IT FOR A HALF AN HOUR TO FIND IT KNOCKING LIKE A BUNCH OF EMPTY SODA CANS BEING TOSSED AROUND IN A PLASTIC BAG. THE BEARINGS IN THE BOTTOM PART OF THE OF THE MOTOR SPUN. SO BASICALLY DID ALL THE FOR NOTHING. LUCKILLY MY FRIEND IS A MECHANIC THERE SO HE SPOKE TO THE OWNER AND HAD HIM FORGIVE ME THE BILL. SO WHAT I ENDED UP DOIN IS GETTING A JUNK YARD MOTOR FOR $600 AND HAVING THE MOTOR REPLACED WITH THE NEW WATERPUMP, TENSIONER, AND TIMING BELT FROM THE OTHER MOTOR FOR $1,400. EVERYTHING IS FINE NOW SO LET THIS BE A LESSON. GET IT DONE KNOW BEFORE YOU CAUSE MORE DAMAGE AND SPEND MORE MONEY. IF YOU FEEL THAT YOU OVERHEATED THE MOTOR WAY TOO MUCH, JUST GET THE WHOLE MOTOR REPLACED FOR THE EXTRA $. GOOD LUCK

celynka · Newbie Joined: Jan 12, 2004 Posts: 3

Integras are not so typical with head gasket being blown, but check for exhaust fumes in coolant - sometimes you can even smell it - compare it with new coolant of same type an one you have in your system - should smell about the same- I know I know it sounds funny but it realy works. You may also have other symptoms like steam going out of tail pipe rpm ups and downs milky oil - thats very rare in hondas and usually happens in advanced stage of blown gasket. Cylinder pressure measurment may be also helpfull but not always indicate gasket problem. Other reasons for overheating may be: thermostat, fan switch, fan rely , fan wireing, radiator itself (clogged), hose leak. Some people suggest water pump but realy It is not true .Water pump design is so simple its just a pulley, propeler, two bearing and two seals- thats it and usually when it starts to leak it gets realy bad within few hundred of miles and it is frankly impossible not to notice what is going on - of course it will cause the engine to overheat but we are talking about the case where everything seems to be about normal. Head gasket problems occur from:
previous engine overheats due to faulty thermostat , radiator etc.
simply ageing - you got 10 year old car or over - expect anything does not matter if its a Lexus Acura or Chevy Cavalier there is no cure for ageing.
Constant Overheating of engine will simply kill it . All gaskets will loose its flexibilty and cause engine to leak from every possible spot. Oli will get burned and clogg up all lubrication lines and further cause bearings and cylinders to twist and jam. Its relay not worth tkaing a chance
Good luck with your cars
Jack
91Legends
All

95Type2Cpe · Newbie Joined: Feb 13, 2004 Posts: 7

Cyrus,

G2 Legends have a known issue with the fan control unit, which is why your fans don't come on while overheating. They probably don't continue to run after the engine is off or run at the secondary speed.

Hope this helps!

~E

Cyrus · Newbie Joined: Dec 17, 2003 Posts: 3

hey everyone...update to my original thread here:

it is a blown head gasket. had the c02 check done today, and sure enough, its coming out of the overflow tank. anyone know a good place in san diego to get repairs done? i think i just want a low mileage engine at this point. Im at 145000 miles, and im sure the car has had this blown head gasket for at least the last 10,000 miles. i dont want to replace the head gasket only to find out my cylinder head is warped or my block pitted and scarred. also, why drop $3,000 for the top half of the engine, and then possibly deal with spun bearings, or god knows what else in the bottom end of a 13 year old engine. also, anyone know of a place to source C32A1's? or better yet, how hard would it be to swap this current engine w/ a type II?

ailyn · Newbie Joined: Apr 26, 2004 Posts: 2

Hi all

I noticed you are all having problems with overheating. Here is my quick summary of my dilemma. Had replaced small hoses, water pump, camshaft, and thermostat of at least 2 months ago. Before that, ignition switch was loose causing the temp gauge to go High, ABS light goes on, and A/C+ fan to not work. 2 years before that the upper and lower hoses were replaced. All of which relates to over heating.
Now, the dashboard light is dim and the temp gauge goes to high when idle. I'm all out of ideas and my pocket is running dry. Please help.

ailyn · Newbie Joined: Apr 26, 2004 Posts: 2

Oh i should say the temp guage goes to high when parked. Just a tidbit of more info, when i replaced the water pump along with the thermostat, the temp guage started to go high after 15 minutes leaving from the shop. Brought car back to shop and mechanic has opened the thermostat and temp guage hasn't gone up since now.