Temp redlines when idling

I have a 96 Accord and the temperature is fine while driving but when idling at a light or in traffic the temperature gauge jumps to redline. What could be causing this problem?

I have a 96 Accord and the temperature is fine while driving but when idling at a light or in traffic the temperature gauge jumps to redline. What could be causing this problem?

Fans aren't running...let it idle until it begins to heat up...almost shure you're gonna see no movement outta them...check your relays and electrical connections.

If this just seemed to happen recently, and you've been running the A/C the whole time, I'd bet the primary fan has been bad for some time, but the secondary (comes on with the A/C on) may have been handling the load...now the secondery has signed off, and you have no air movement through the rad when sitting...BTW, what's the A/C doing? (if you have been using it)

The A/C has been out for a while, so it hasn't been running. Does this change what may be causing the problem? Thanks for your response.

The A/C has been out for a while, so it hasn't been running. Does this change what may be causing the problem? Thanks for your response.

No...my point was, the secondary fan is dedicated to the A/C, so it should run all the time if the A/C is on....if the A/C doen't work and you aren't turning it on, then it never uses the secondary fan, so it's just that your primary has crapped out...

You may be able to get the secondary to run if you turn the A/C on, even though it doesn't work...some cars it's keyed to compressor operation (in which case it won't work) and on some it's simply keyed to the A/C switch (then it would come on)...can't remember which way it works on Accords...so try it, if you can get one fan operational, that'll be enough to limp around with until you get the primary repaired...

You might also try getting in the relay block under the hood, and swap the fan relays, if the relay for the primary died, this will get it working again...you don't need the secondary if the A/C is inop...but I'd still get a new relay and put the new one in the primary position, and the old one back in the secondary, if the relay turns out to be the problem...

According to Autozone, you relays are both here:

UNDER HOOD, DRIVER SIDE, REAR SIDE OF RADIATOR
SUPPORT, MOUNTED NEXT TO HEADLIGHT HOUSING

Neither fan was running so the relays must be the problem. I've looked online and at Barnes and Noble but can't find instructions as to how to change out the relays. Is this something I can do on my own or should I take it in? If I can do it, where do I find information how to do it?

Neither fan was running so the relays must be the problem. I've looked online and at Barnes and Noble but can't find instructions as to how to change out the relays. Is this something I can do on my own or should I take it in? If I can do it, where do I find information how to do it?

Just locate them, look where I said, if you can change a fuse, you can change a relay...just pull it out and plug another in...they are just little cubes about 1" or so...the location I posted was for standard 4 cylinder, no Vtec, not 6 cyl...but I'd assume they'd be in the same area anyway...

http://www.alldiscountautoparts.com/images/products/relay.jpg

They should look something like this...might be inside a breaker/relay center...wish one of the Honda guys would jump in and throw us a bone here, my memory is only so good... look to see if there is any kind of locking mechanism on the plug before yanking too hard...if they are mounted into a relay center (box with several inside it), they'll just pull out...you should still try swapping the Seconday with the Main...just to see if that's the problem...the likelihood that BOTH fan relays are bad is pretty remote...

What happened with the A/C on? Nothing?

http://www.intruderalert.com/cafe/load_image.cfm?image=untitledhonda%20(422%20x%2031 7).jpg


I found this pic online...not sure but I think the box I circled is going to be your relay center...have a look in there...

On earlier models, the relays you have circled are the airconditoning clutch relay and airconditioning/condenser fan relay. The radiator fan relay is in the underhood fuse box. I'm not sure about the 96 models but Honda doesn't make drastic changes on locations between models.