Overheating & overflow tank problem

[ddolan]

I have a 1998 civic that is overheating now that warm weather is here.
For some reason the coolant does not flow into or out of the overflow tank.
The hoses are not clogged and the radiator is new. The car is a 5speed but the radiator
is for a automatic. The shop I got it from said that doesn't matter. Also the radiator
cap is new.
So what would cause the coolant not to flow into and out of the overflow tank.

Thanks

 

[reikoshea]

the cap being bad. i know you said it was new, but you asked the question.

 

[ddolan]

Thanks for the reply, but I thought the same thing and have tried 2 or 3, one of them bought from Honda...

 

[reikoshea]

the only other way i can think the overflow bottle wouldnt be doing anything is if there is some kind of pressure leak, but if its anywhere other than the cap youd almost definitely know it.

 

[ddolan]

When I changed the radiator all the mounts were the same and hose connections were in the same location. I have not had it pressure checked but looking at the hoses it looks like it might have excessive pressure, so maybe the cap is the wrong one for the radiator I installed ?

 

[AaronrVegas]

could it be a thermostat stuck closed? the thermostat and gasket are cheap if thats the problem. im not really sure if it is but it certainly could be.

 

[ddolan]

Thanks AaronrVegas, I should have said I replaced the thermostat with in the last couple of months and just last week took it out completely and still no flow into the overflow tank.

 

[civichatch1988]

So it's over heating and does it force the coolant out the resivor? Do your fans work

 

[ddolan]

The fans work and the coolant doesn't flow into the reservoir nor does it get sucked back in when it cools off...

 

[paulsen]

is there any air to bleed off in the system? the shop installing your new raidiator, might not have got it all out

 

[ddolan]

If there is a bleed valve somewhere I can't find it.... I replaced the radiator 4 or 5 months ago.
Filled and refilled the radiator, has no thermostat at the moment, with the cap off water is racing
past the inlet...

 

[civichatch1988]

so water is leaking or being shoved through the resivor? what do you mean racing through the inlet? because of no thermo?

 

[ddolan]

With the radiator cap off I see plenty of flow in the radiator. With cap on and driving to work and back, over 100 miles. No coolant enters the reservoir.

 

[civichatch1988]

when car is running at idle or reving with cap off and RAD full does it bubble alot?

 

[ddolan]

It do see a few bubbles and some wetness at the tailpipe.

 

[95EGCoupeVtec]

head gasket could the problem. get a leak down test.

 

[ddolan]

OK, but would a leaking head gasket keep coolant from flowing into the overflow tank ?

 

[Fernpatch]

Normally a blown headgasket would cause a loss of coolant and typically you should see coolant being pushed into the overflow tank after being drivin hard. On most honda's the bleed valve is in one of the radiator hose necks on the engine side of the hose. When you changed the radiator did you look inside of it to see if it was plugged or had any heavy deposits?

 

[ddolan]

I'll have to look harder for the bleed valve, I looked around the thermostat but now that you mention it that wouldn't make sense seeing how the bottom hose connects there, didn't think to look around were the top hose connects to the engine but will when I get home.
I changed the radiator because the top hose neck cracked and broke.but I didn't notice deposits, but then I really didn't look. The car has over 260k mile on it and no major work on it
so perhaps its about time...

 

[ddolan]

After interrogating the engine compartment I still couldn't find a bleeder valve or screw, But I did find out why no coolant wasn't making it into the overflow tank. I took the hoses for the tank off numerous time to check them but neglected to check the elbow in the tank cap. It was clogged solid.