The first time I noticed this was when I was sitting in my car during my break at work with the engine idling. The coolant gauge went up to a little over 3/4's and it is normally under 1/2 under normal conditions. I just shut the car off thinking that the radiator just needs air moving through it to work so I didn't think anything of it. It did it again today while I was sitting in the drive-tru and I was only idling for like a min and it went all the way back to over 3/4's on the temp gauge and as soon as I started moving again the gauge went down to normal quickly, much quicker than I would expect it to take for the engine temp to actually drop. I just want to know if this is normal or if I need to fix something. also I know that my coolant isn't between the min and max in the reservoir, it is a bit lower than it should be but my dad says it is fine.

 

cooling fan, check it

 

Ok I just went out and checked that, it was still at operating temp so I just let it idle for about 2 mins and it didn't kick on. Could I check the resistance of the wires to it with a multimeter or something or do I just have to sit and wait to see if it kicks on?

 

I would just wait to see if they kick on,if they don't check to see if power is going to it at the plug to the motor before it over heats,

 

could be thermostat sticking also....... was the top raditor hose hot? if it wasnt id say replace the thermostat... if it is hot id say its the fan or wiring to fan.....

 

Fan should come on before the gauge moves up above normal. The first thing to check is the fan temperature switch, which on models 1992 and later is on the thermostat housing. On earlier Civics it is screwed into the back of the engine near the oil filter. Unplug the switch and jumper between the two terminals in the plug going to the harness. The fan should now start as soon as you turn the key on even if the engine is cold.

 

Alright it is starting to rain here now and I don't have a garage at the moment soI am gonna have to wait until later to do this but thank you guys for the quick responses.

 

sounds like a stuck thermo or maybe the water pumps crapping out

 

I can jumper the terminal with a paperclip, right?

 

I think paper clip is fine but don't touch it when it running... Let me know what it's...I have the same problem with my civic 93...