drsfinest81191

Hi maxima community I am having this "overheating" situation on my 2002 maxima. This is what is happening. The car can sit hours, over nights etc and when I go to acc with my key NOT TURNING the engine over at all. As soon as I do that the temperature gauge automatically just shoots up to over heating and fans don't come on until I try to start it and it doesn't start on first try. The fans go on blast both of them and never shut off. No leaks radiator has always been full. I am leaning towards a thermostat or a clogged radiator. When it does start it never starts with the right RPMS to warm the engine up. Its also in limp mode. What do you guys think? Thank you !

drsfinest81191

Bump anybody? ?

nestorlugo

iTrader: (11)

Has the thermostat been changed before?

Any codes?

Check the coolant temperature sensor per thr fsm...

drsfinest81191

I don't know if the thermostat has been changed I've had the car for about a year and a half never any issues.

I don't have any codes besides 2 p0011 and 2 p0051 codes. One is for 02 sensor and the other is ivt selonoid.

My car doesn't have a coolant temperature sensor well I can't find out in the fsm.

NmexMAX

iTrader: (22)

http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Maxima/2003/ec.pdf

EC-208, 209, 210, also show's where it's located.

drsfinest81191

Awesome. I never read anything about it and never found it in SECTION HA of the fsm where I assumed it was. But thanks any way to test it with out using anything fancy?

DennisMik

iTrader: (2)

Depends on your definition of fancy. You need a volt/ohm meter. A cheap one is $5 and a decent one is $25. If you don't all ready have one, I would recommend that you get one with the "auto ranging" feature. Auto ranging makes it much easier to use.

Then look at page 207 in the link that NmexMAX gave you. There is a resistance/temperature scale for the ECTS. If the engine is cold at say 25º F, then the ECTS should have a resistance reading of around 6K ohms. In your case, I bet you will get a reading of around 100 ohms.

dch95

If you turn the car to ACC after you know for a fact the engine is not hot but the gauge reads hot after doing this, the problem is the sensor that controls your dash gauge. I can't remember which sensor this is but I believe that this sensor also tell the ECU that you are running hot and the ECU turns on fans accordingly. Do a search on this sensor and see what you come up with. Its not a mechanical problem but an electrical problem.

Max_5gen

iTrader: (2)

Spot on- page EL121 FCM shows ECTS is connected to ECU (they call it ECM) and then ECU drives the gauge. As others suggested most likely ECTS went bad and decreased its resistance making ECU 'think' that the engine is 'hot' causing all the problems you described. ECU would turn on the fans, make AFR lean and engine harder to start and possibly put it in limp mode to prevent overheating.

drsfinest81191

Thank you guys for everything ! I really appreciate it iam going to test it out today or tomorrow and report back and let you guys know.

Nopike

iTrader: (2)

That sensor is probably pretty inexpensive and should be relatively easy to change. If you are not sure if the old one is bad you may want to change it anyway. There is a very good chance that the sensor is causing your problems. Although if the sensor was faulty I would expect a trouble code to be activated.

Engine coolant temperature sensor
(P0115, 0103) (P0125, 0908)

drsfinest81191

Yes I thought I would get a code too but guess not. I already took the old one out really easy. I was going to pick up the new one but Nissan parts department closed early today. So tomorrow I will get the new one.

Does anyone know if the 00 01 maxima engine coolant temperature sensor is the same? I wanted to try my sisters sensor since it's so easy to uninstall and install.

drsfinest81191

On a side note I called nissan to see the price and I didnt have the Vin on me he said it's $60-$80 when advance auto parts and Napa auto parts sell it for $25-30$

nestorlugo

iTrader: (11)

Perhaps you can ask for the 00 01 pn at the autoparts store

Nopike

iTrader: (2)

Can't say for sure but I would expect 2000-2003 to all use the same sensor. I would just buy the sensor from Napa not from the dealer. Or even consider a junk yard you could get it for a few dollars.

Child_uv_KoRn

iTrader: (7)

step 1: go to junkyard

step 2: pocket a few sensors just to be sure

step 3: ????????

Step 4: PROFIT

DennisMik

iTrader: (2)

The ECTS is the same for 1997 to 2003.
Its Nissan part # is 22630-44B20
The Nissan MSRP is $41.33

I don't have any nice things to say about the op's dealer.

drsfinest81191

I'm kinda starting to stay away from napa since they say online their high pressure hoses are oem but they aren't I have a leak where the hose connects to the pump. It's a slow little leak but I should of just went oem.

drsfinest81191

I might just do that pocket it and pay for something big that I need lol.

drsfinest81191

Thanks a lot dennis I was just about to ask for the part number lol. In the future if I need a part number for a part where can I find it?

nestorlugo

iTrader: (11)

courtesynissanparts.com

drsfinest81191

Thanks bro

drsfinest81191

I want to let you guys know it's fixed! Thanks to you guys. I inspected the ECTS it looked old so I ordered a oem ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR (ECTS) from eBay for 26$ (dealer was 46$) i installed it and it's all perfect again. Now to fix my p0011 ivt solenoid Valve code. I'm going to clean them with brake cleaner like other .org members who successfully fixed the code. I have them out already.

nestorlugo

iTrader: (11)