Hey! We have a 2002 Civic LX with 98,000+ miles. My boyfriend got it in March and around June it started to overheat. My boyfriend drove it to work everyday, about a 30 min drive, and when he was getting close to his job it would start to overheat. When we used the a/c it would heat up even faster.
I would use the car to drive into downtown to the hospital area, about a 30 min drive, and it never overheated for me. But in the past 2 months, we were only able to drive the car for about 20 minutes, without the A/C and 10 or less with the A/C. Now, it can barely drive 10 min without the A/C.
My boyfriend put the fan directly to the battery so when we need to drive a high distance we connect the fan so it won't over heat as fast. It lasts longer like this but it will eventually do the same thing. The transmission light will turn on, and then if i have to make a stop, the engine will turn off. I have to put the car in park, turn the key to off, wait a few seconds and then turn it on again. And when on, it'll runs at no more than 5mph. I have to let it sit, open the hood and let it cool off for about 30 min. (You have no idea how hard it is to push this car in heels all alone!)

We've taken it to many mechanics and they all say the same thing- "It's the catalyzer"...
The Catalyzer is NEW
Oxygen sensors are NEW
the fuse for the fan is NEW (cause it wasn't working so it wouldn't automatically turn on)
the thermometer is fine
AND IT STILL DOES THE SAME THING!!

A friend told me it may be a package in the motor that eats away when the car is ran up to red on the thermometer. Anyone know anything about this??
Any suggestions, ideas or advice will be greatly appreciated. Even if you know a mechanic here in Houston that can help, we're open to suggestions. Thanks!

 

You probably have a head gasket leak. Park the car on level ground and wait until the engine is completely cold. Take the radiator cap off (the radiator itself, not the plastic tank beside it). You will probably find the radiator is not completely full of coolant like it should be. Fill it up if necessary. Start the engine with the cap off and rev it. If the coolant bubbles and gushes out, the gasket is blown and / or the engine is cracked.

If that test passes, you should replace the thermostat. Always try a new thermostat when there is overheating. I don't see anything about it being replaced yet.

This would have absolutely nothing to do with the "catalyzer." Are there no "mechanics" in your town who have the slightest idea of what they are doing?

 

I will check! Thanks. Well, the problem is we take it to mechanics and when we say "overheat" they automatically say it's the catalyzer. even after we changed it. We did find that one of the oxygen sensors was completely burnt, that's why we got new ones for it.

 

wow... and the O2 sensor really has nothing to do with overheating, unless it was running WAY lean, but you would have other things wrong than just overheating... and it would through a check engine light.

i would change the thermostat as well... and get it form a honda dealer, if heard of non-OEM ones causing issues... actually when it comes to hondas, OEM is almost always your best bet.

 

It was the Camshaft sensor