'86 Hatch to join the ranks

[SkateK610]

Hi everyone, the name is Kyle, living in the Chicago Suburbs.

I just joined the 3g world in november when I got my 1986 Lxi Hatchback.
Picked it up for $1,000, its a 5-speed FI,and had 1008xx when i got it.

Previous owner said it was in a rear end collision and the hatch was replaced, it was a DX hatch so I didnt know it was a Lxi until I was looking around the fuses inside and saw the Lxi info.

Being in Chicago there is the usual rust, but I think it is a good starting point for something nice.

Main problem right now is the heat, and being winter in chicago, its a big one.

I can let it heat up but once i start driving the needle goes right back down.
replaced the thermostat but still no luck, any help would greatly be appreciated.

Some pics, nothing flashy.
http://tiny.cc/qgvho
http://tiny.cc/tjv9l
Different hatch and bumper, from crash
http://tiny.cc/ttrf8
Some of the typical rust
http://tiny.cc/xvgpk
http://tiny.cc/41vx1
http://tiny.cc/s4st6
Where someone tried to steal the previous owners radio
http://tiny.cc/vs6q5
The dirty
http://tiny.cc/enmj2

[Pico]

Welcome to the forum.
Did you bleed the cooling system, possible you may have air in the cooling system

[SkateK610]

I checked the level and it was pretty high and mostly coolant, so we drained some, added distilled water, and bled it, still no luck.

The radiator does look to be newer as if it was replaced, not sure if the cooling fans work right.
Im worried that its only staying cold because of winter and that in the summer it may just over heat.

[SkateK610]

We may have not bled it all the way though so ill try draining it and bleeding the system

[charliekuney]

Do you have a leak or is the gauge just not working properly?

[SkateK610]

I haven't found any leaks, and the gauge works, its just the heat wont maintain temperature

[MessyHonda]

welcome to the site. on the heater hose in the back engine bay they is a leaver that controls heat...it might be closed off or barely open

[HON-DUH]

welcome

[Dr_Snooz]

Welcome! What is the general condition of your cooling system?

[SkateK610]

I know the heat slider on the dash has some resistance to move

[Pico]

I know the heat slider on the dash has some resistance to move

check the heater control valve on the firewall, the cable or valve sounds like its sticking

[-$MOKIN-]

Does your fan kick on after it heats up ? And also ..Is the heater working when u turn it on inside?
Had a similar problem myself. I thought it was everything besides the gauge ended up being the gauge.
You should turn it on let it run and see if the fan kicks on. When the fan kicks in turn the heat up on the inside see if its blowing hot air . Then watch the gauge . Could be the temp sensor on the thermostat housing. But if the fans kicking in and ur getting heat more than likely its the gauge .
If its the gauge your probably going to have to get a new cluster form the JY .easy to swap out just make sure when u grab one from the JY you get one that's close to the mileage shown and one that's from the same year and car that doesn't have a lot of corrosion on it.
If your still getting heat while the gauge is reading wrong its either the gauge or the sensor. Bleeding the coolant system you need to take off the valve on top of the thermostat housing and keep adding water while its not running and squeezing the coolant lines until its a constant flow out of that valve.

[-$MOKIN-]

PICO I LOVE YOUR CAR.......lol

[SkateK610]

Heat works, when the gauge reads its warmed up. fan kicks in as well. the time I dont get heat is when I start driving, its like the forced air cools the radiator

[SkateK610]

Where is the heater valve/cable on the engine, could I get a pic?

[Pico]

Where is the heater valve/cable on the engine, could I get a pic?

on the firewall

[SkateK610]

Thank you, what manual is that? I have the 86 accord shop manual but haven't seen that.

Here it is when the slider is all the way to cold

[kentwat]

Manual from technical sticky.
https://www.3geez.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25137

[SkateK610]

Thanks, on a side note, right now there is a 195F thermostat in there, would I benefit any from having a 180F?

[-$MOKIN-]

thought all day on why its gets cold.....maybe wrong mix in collant.. dude its weird ..pica is the sht waht do u think pico?

[SkateK610]

When we got it we checked the mix and it seemed to be pure coolant, so we took some out and added the distilled water

[-$MOKIN-]

id drain it totaly and then make sure u get a 50 50 mix

[Dr_Snooz]

The thermostat should prevent this from happening, to a point. I'm not sure what the ambient temps are like in Chicago right now, but they are probably pretty low. If the engine wants to run at 180*, but the coolant entering the block from the t-stat is 0*, then it's going to be pretty hard to keep the engine at 180*. When it's really cold out, the engine will probably run a little cooler than normal. Now if the engine is cooling off completely, then you have a problem. My hypothesis is that there is a problem with the thermostat. Either the t-stat you have is broken or there is some damage allowing water to flow around it. Maybe the t-stat gasket is missing or it's the wrong size or something. If you're certain that everything is working as it should, then you could always try blocking off a portion of the radiator like the big rigs do.

[SkateK610]

Well when I first got the car I replaced the thermostat and gasket, but im pretty sure its a 195F, the gasket was just a flat felt type one, the new thermostat and gasket it got is the rubber type that slips around it, think there is any difference in function?

[Dr_Snooz]

The rubber gasket is the right one. It makes me wonder why the previous owner used the wrong gasket. Why did you change the t-stat? Was something going on?