mc2 not warming up

[dreadi]

So I drove to the Bristol meet last night, about 40/50 miles or so, and the car temperature gauge never really moved. For a lot of the trip it was at the bottom or up a little bit and if I stop at traffic lights it moves up to sort of a third of the way up.

Is it meant to sit at the half way mark on the temp guage? Every other Honda I have had did and did within a 5/6 miles of driving.

New thermostat or something more sinister?

[Dexter]

First it might be worth it to replace your temp gauge sensor. Costs next to nothing and takes about 5min to do. A lot easier than changing the thermos... which i did twice before checking out the sensor, which solved my problem a few years back!

[Butcher]

Can anyone recommend a thermostat? Supposedly the Circoli ones in Eurocarparts are not very good. And the Genuine Honda ones infinitely more expensive.  

 

Any middle ground anywhere? Preferably somewhere I can pick up locally, if possible?

[Krzys]

Depends where local is to you chap, "North East" is a bit vague. 

 

http://www.buypartsby.co.uk/details/HONDA/CIVIC/1.8/1999/__/188/QTH366K/thermostat/

 

The above is from a motor factors local to me, just as a rough guide to price. It's also what I put in my VTi-S earlier this year and has been fine since.

[Dave]

Try getting a price from our Honda dealerships that are Official Civic5 Traders mate, you'll get a discount that way. Try John Banks Honda, or Western Honda (Kinnaird, Edinburgh) and let them know you're a club member. Not too sure if Western do delivery though, but John banks deffo do

[Butcher]

Cheers guys. Bunged a bit of cardboard in there for the time being to limit the cold air to the radiator. Will take my time and shop around. 

[dreadi]

Where can I find a temp guage sensor?

As for thermostat, I've learnt in the past buying non Honda parts can just prolong the headache and for £20 delivered, I'd much rather go genuine first time

[Krzys]

£20 is hardly an arm and a leg so might as well.

[Dexter]

Where can I find a temp guage sensor?

 

I bought one just at a local car parts store. I'm not sure what the official name for it is but Hayne's calls it a coolant temperature gauge sender unit.

[Dexter]

Here are ebay links with the official honda part code: http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.X37750-PH2-014.TRS0&_nkw=37750-PH2-014&_sacat=0

[dreadi]

Ok my thermostat is here. If I try fit it myself do I need to worry about loosing coolant or anything or is it literally couple of bolts, take old out, put new in and done? Looked over a few guides and some people say about dropping the coolant and other things like air bubbles in the system etc