K here's the story. I got a 96 teg ls. It's been getting hot recently so I have my mechanic check it out. Turns out there's no circulation, the top hose is getting hot as hell and the bottom staying pretty cool, maybe slightly warm. So he said it could be the rad. or the water pump. So I buy a new rad before the pain in the ass water pump and he puts it on...still no circulation. So he's saying it's gotta be the water pump unless the head gasket has a small leak which he think's is unlikly because the car is running real smooth and there's no white smoke coming out the exhaust. So basically I'm just asking here what you all think before I go and replace that water pump since it's a pain in the ass to get too so it'll be pretty pricey to fix. Any other ideas?

EDIT - Forgot to mention a brand new thermostat was put in too and working properly so it's not that.

 

thermostat.

thats almost the definition of what happens when a thermostat stops opening. read the other thread in this forum about it - its called thermostat.

and then get a new mechanic, or become your own, cuz any fucking retard mechanic that doesnt try the $15 thermostat before a radiator or water pump should be sued.

 

Thermostat, I had the problem in my previous EK hatch when I bought it. Replaced the thermostat and completely flushed the system and filled it back up and the car stayed at the proper temperature.

If the top hose is hot and the bottom is cool/not getting circulation then the thermostat is stuck closed.

 

Forgot to mention, BRAND NEW thermostat and it's working properly...should of mentioned that before hand.

 

if your thermostat is working properly, and you have a pump trying to circulate coolant, then coolant will circulate (unless you have some outrageous chunk of shit blocking a hose somewhere)

so if you are positive the thermostat is working properly, then i would have to assume its the pump...

althought i dont hear of honda pumps just stopping all to often...

 

i just got done working on a 95 teg......had the exact same problem..kid kept driving it...blew the headgasket...and if he wouldve just listened...JUST CHANGE THE THERMOSTAT...i know for a fact there are 2 diff options from NAPA..offset and regular..make sure u got the right one......checked his h2o pump and found there was also blockage there and in the water pipe on back on block...just check

 

+1 I have never head of the water pump just stop working. Iv had one start to take a shit but, you could hear it rattle real bad but, it still pumped water. It could be clogged somewhere. When is the last time timing belt & water pump were changed? Every time I buy a honda/acura I always change the water pump & timing Never know if the previous owner ever did.

DIY FTW

 

+100000000 - im quoting you in my sig.

you can never be too safe, and the $75 for a belt/pump is priceless insurance.

SDSG - i strongly suggest you drain the system, pull the thermostat, replace it with a brand new OEM model for whatever block it is you have, and while you got that off, pull the two bolts for the thermostat housing so you can check the water tube AND inside the pump (from the back, where the water tube goes out) for any debris/obstruction.

 

+1 skunk2racing97....always diy even if its not broke....preventive maintenance

 

Well I'm not that big of a DIY-er when it comes to a big job like that, I do the small easy things. But the thermostat IS brand new....as in was just put in because that's what we also though it was. And besides, I never changed the timing belt in the year and a couple months I've owned it and having a job delivering pizza this whole time I've owned it...I guess you can only imagine how many miles I've put on it. Around 50K. So I might as well change the belt and water pump anyway right? Also....how much does a job like that cost? I know the parts are cheap but I guessing the labor is going to kick me in the ass.