Installing a 1994 Honda Civic Thermostat

A couple interesting facts about the Honda Civic: the Civic was on "Car and Driver"'s list of the top ten cars in America in 1985, 1988 to 1991 and 1996. It has also won many awards like the North American car of the year, and "Motor Trend" and the North American International car show listed the 2006 Civic as car of the year. The thermostat on the 1994 Honda Civic is designed to regulate the water flow through the engine, shutting it off for faster warm-up and regulating the flow for a constant temperature thereafter.

Instructions

1

Raise the front of the car with the floor jack and place jack stands under the subframe. Lower the car so it rests on the jack stands. Remove the radiator cap. Remove the lower splash pan under the front of the car behind the radiator using a socket to remove the bolts.

2

Place the drain pan under the radiator drain plug. Open the drain and allow the antifreeze to drain. When it has drained close the drain plug. Loosen the hose clamp on the lower radiator hose, at the engine, using either the screwdriver or pliers, depending on the type clamp and pull the hose off the housing.

3

Remove the three bolts in the thermostat housing using a socket. Remove the housing along with the thermostat. Remove the new thermostat from the box along with the new rubber O-ring. Place the O-ring around the thermostat.

4

Insert the thermostat in the block with the long end toward the block. Install the thermostat housing over the thermostat, and install the three bolts and tighten them securely. Install the hose on the housing and tighten the clamp. Install the lower splash shield and tighten all the bolts.

5

Pour the gallon of antifreeze into the radiator and top it off with water. This will give a better than a 50/50 mix of antifreeze to water. Start the engine, and allow it to warm up to operating temperature. Watch the temperature gauge, and if by chance it begins to get hotter than normal, shut the engine off. Engine soak will raise the temperature higher yet, which will open the thermostat if it is not already open. This will dispel all the air in the system. If the temperature remains normal let it run.

6

Run the engine and watch the level in the radiator filler neck. When the thermostat opens, the water level will go down significantly, not only showing that the thermostat is working but also the radiator will now need to be topped off with water. When the water level no longer drops, all the air has been evacuated. Install the radiator cap.