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[Help] Car is acting up and I'm afraid to start it
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[Help] Car is acting up and I'm afraid to start itPosted:
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So basically I was driving my mothers 2002 honda civic (Automatic) and all of a sudden it start's slowing down, it's like stuck at 20 mph, and the RPM goes up to like 6 when I proceed to push on the gas to try to get it to go. Well I got afraid it was overheating so I pulled over to a parking lot and stopped it, put it in park and then turned off the engine. Well when I turned the engine back on it started to overheat extremely fast, so I turned it back off and popped the hood. It smelled pretty burnt, so I was thinking it's the transmission fluid. But not entirely sure, because I lack knowledge of cars.
So I asked my mother and she said she recently just got an oil change. I had to walk home, and looking for answers. I'm going to have someone look at it, but they won't be here till a couple of hours.
So I'm curious what you guys think while I wait.
Last edited by Discern ; edited 1 time in total
So I asked my mother and she said she recently just got an oil change. I had to walk home, and looking for answers. I'm going to have someone look at it, but they won't be here till a couple of hours.
So I'm curious what you guys think while I wait.
Last edited by Discern ; edited 1 time in total
#2. Posted:
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You mention it overheated very quickly. There could be something wrong with your cooling system. Either the oil is not the correct type, there is not enough or maybe there is no coolant either. Just check to make sure that all the fluid levels are alright.
About the whole 20mph things, well I'm not sure on that.
But yes start with the basics and ensure all of the fluids are at the correct level. I'm sure some of the other guys will suggest other things.
Last edited by JZX ; edited 1 time in total
About the whole 20mph things, well I'm not sure on that.
But yes start with the basics and ensure all of the fluids are at the correct level. I'm sure some of the other guys will suggest other things.
Last edited by JZX ; edited 1 time in total
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#3. Posted:
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Skylancer wrote You mention it overheated very quickly. There could be something wrong with your cooling system. Either the oil is not the correct type, there is not enough or maybe there is no coolant either. Just check to make sure that all the fluid levels are alright.
About the whole 20mph things, well I'm not sure on that.
That is a very considerable thought. Thank you for the feedback.
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#4. Posted:
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Do you have coolant in the car? Do you know how to check the trans fluid / where it is? It should be a red or pink color, dark red or black is burnt
As far as over heating, it could be your water pump, clogged radiator, stuck thermostat, etc. First thing I'd do is check to see if you have coolant / water (open up the cap on the radiator slowly, it should be in the very front of the engine bay), then I'd check the thermostat.
When you wake up in the morning and the car is cold (not warm, but cold, hasn't driven in a while) open the hood and open where you see your coolant (some cars you open up the radiator directly, some you open a reservoir). Start the car and loo at the coolant, what is it doing? When the vehicle is cold, the thermostat should be shut so the coolant shouldn't be doing anything. Put the cap on and let the car warm up (not to operating temp, but maybe 1/2 to 3/4 of the way there). Now open the cap slowly and look at the coolant again, what is it doing? It should be swirling vigorously because the thermostat should be open. If it is not swirling, or it is when the car is cold, it's your thermostat. If you feel comfortable, a sure fire way to know would be to do this:
Then I'd go about testing the water pump and checking into other things.
As far as 20 mph, does your car let you manually go down to first gear? Usually an auto trans gear selector will be something like "P,R,N,D,3,2,1". Sometimes not the 3, and sometimes it will have an "M" or "S" if you have the option to button shift on a newer vehicle. If you put the selector down in 1, that is first gear and it will not automatically go to second. Maybe you accidentally went down to 1? Past that the clutches may have gotten stuck in first which tells me you are low on fluid or have bad fluid.
Maybe it's the opposite of this problem:
If this is the problem you're having (only reversed, or the same way his truck is acting), my bet is saying your torque converter is crapping out on you.
As far as over heating, it could be your water pump, clogged radiator, stuck thermostat, etc. First thing I'd do is check to see if you have coolant / water (open up the cap on the radiator slowly, it should be in the very front of the engine bay), then I'd check the thermostat.
When you wake up in the morning and the car is cold (not warm, but cold, hasn't driven in a while) open the hood and open where you see your coolant (some cars you open up the radiator directly, some you open a reservoir). Start the car and loo at the coolant, what is it doing? When the vehicle is cold, the thermostat should be shut so the coolant shouldn't be doing anything. Put the cap on and let the car warm up (not to operating temp, but maybe 1/2 to 3/4 of the way there). Now open the cap slowly and look at the coolant again, what is it doing? It should be swirling vigorously because the thermostat should be open. If it is not swirling, or it is when the car is cold, it's your thermostat. If you feel comfortable, a sure fire way to know would be to do this:
Disconnect the negative battery cable.
Drain some of the coolant (a gallon should be enough) so the fluid won't pour out when you perform the next step.
Remove the upper radiator hose.
Remove the thermostat housing.
Remove the thermostat.
Locate and write down the temperature stamped on the lip of the thermostat.
Fill a pot with cold water and a thermometer and place on a stove burner.
Place the thermostat into the cold water.
Turn the burner on.
Watch the thermometer. When the temperature rises to the number you recorded in step #6, the thermostat will start to open. If it does not, or if it doesn't open until reaching a different temperature (hotter usually), then the thermostat is bad and should be replaced. If it opens at the designated temperature, then the thermostat is just fine.
Drain some of the coolant (a gallon should be enough) so the fluid won't pour out when you perform the next step.
Remove the upper radiator hose.
Remove the thermostat housing.
Remove the thermostat.
Locate and write down the temperature stamped on the lip of the thermostat.
Fill a pot with cold water and a thermometer and place on a stove burner.
Place the thermostat into the cold water.
Turn the burner on.
Watch the thermometer. When the temperature rises to the number you recorded in step #6, the thermostat will start to open. If it does not, or if it doesn't open until reaching a different temperature (hotter usually), then the thermostat is bad and should be replaced. If it opens at the designated temperature, then the thermostat is just fine.
Then I'd go about testing the water pump and checking into other things.
As far as 20 mph, does your car let you manually go down to first gear? Usually an auto trans gear selector will be something like "P,R,N,D,3,2,1". Sometimes not the 3, and sometimes it will have an "M" or "S" if you have the option to button shift on a newer vehicle. If you put the selector down in 1, that is first gear and it will not automatically go to second. Maybe you accidentally went down to 1? Past that the clutches may have gotten stuck in first which tells me you are low on fluid or have bad fluid.
Maybe it's the opposite of this problem:
If this is the problem you're having (only reversed, or the same way his truck is acting), my bet is saying your torque converter is crapping out on you.
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#5. Posted:
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As far as the 20mph thing goes something similar happened to a family member. The car was eating up transmission fluid fast (Honda Accord, automatic as well) so each time it got low on fluid it wouldn't get out of gear and just kept revving high. Eventually the transmission was done for, and so in turn, R.I.P accord. This seems to be a common thing that happens to older Hondas with automatic transmissions. I'd check your fluid levels and have it checked out afterwards.
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#6. Posted:
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for the overheating make sure its got water in it if it hasn't fill it up but if its constantly loosing water and overheating could be your head gasket on its way out and why its going slow it might of gone into limp mode
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