3rd Generation Maxima (1989-1994) Learn more about the 3rd Generation Maxima here.

Coolant boiling...Fans not coming on...need input

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 05-26-2006, 06:29 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
MaXtUneD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 777
Coolant boiling...Fans not coming on...need input

Its just happened twice....Never before..

Some facts you need to know before inputting...

Koyo radiator less than 3k miles on it
thermostat, temp sensor, hoses, waterpump all replaced...

The first time, I was sitting in my car after driving maybe 4-5 miles, the car was idling..then all of a sudden I noticed smoke coming through the hood..so i got out and noticed that coolant was spraying out of the coolant can..I checked my temp gauge, and it was just sitting in the middle(normal)..

Second time, my brother filled the coolant can about 1/4...And was topping off the radiator while the car was on..Then it was doing it again...Noticed when the coolant was boiling, the fans weren't coming on...

So our guess is a faulty switch fan...
So, does anyone know where this switch for the fans is located in our engine bay(VE30DE)...

thanks
MaXtUneD is offline  
Old 05-26-2006, 06:51 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
iTrader: (20)
 
Hectic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Space is the place?
Posts: 4,062
sounds like blockage. thermostat in backwards maybe.
Hectic is offline  
Old 05-26-2006, 07:00 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
MaXtUneD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 777
so, you're telling me the thermostat just switched itself backwards...
Everything was replaced right..the car has been running fine for months, only two days ago and today it happened....

Oh yea...every part except the radiator is oem...
MaXtUneD is offline  
Old 05-26-2006, 07:48 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
iTrader: (20)
 
Hectic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Space is the place?
Posts: 4,062
Originally Posted by MaXtUneD
so, you're telling me the thermostat just switched itself backwards...
yeah, that's what i'm saying. maybe it got so hot, that it melted. and when it cooled, it reformed itself, in the correct place only in the reverse direction.

seriously though, it's probably a blockage, water pump failure or even a blown head gasket will also produce your symptoms. these cars do not have a problem with overheating. have you ever noticed how the fans rarely come on? and when they do, it's for a couple seconds. idling for a while is not going to make your coolant boil and explode out of the resivoir, unless of course the coolant isn't circulating. flush cooling system, check water pump is pumping, do compression check.
Hectic is offline  
Old 05-26-2006, 10:09 PM
  #5  
Say Candyman 5 times
iTrader: (1)
 
CandiMan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL
Posts: 2,132
Originally Posted by MaXtUneD
Its just happened twice....Never before..
Some facts you need to know before inputting...
Koyo radiator less than 3k miles on it
thermostat, temp sensor, hoses, waterpump all replaced...
The first time, I was sitting in my car after driving maybe 4-5 miles, the car was idling..then all of a sudden I noticed smoke coming through the hood..so i got out and noticed that coolant was spraying out of the coolant can..I checked my temp gauge, and it was just sitting in the middle(normal)..
Second time, my brother filled the coolant can about 1/4...And was topping off the radiator while the car was on..Then it was doing it again...Noticed when the coolant was boiling, the fans weren't coming on...
So our guess is a faulty switch fan...
So, does anyone know where this switch for the fans is located in our engine bay(VE30DE)...
thanks
I'm curious, what's the reason for changing your radiator, thermostat, temp sensor and waterpump 3,000 miles ago?

Before you pull it apart, you need to properly bleed the cooling system of air. That's where your problem probably lies. You can't just drain/fill the coolant on these car, sometimes you have to take certain steps in re-filling the coolant. Jacking up the front end of the car being a crutial part.
CandiMan is offline  
Old 05-27-2006, 01:23 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
MaXtUneD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 777
ok..Can anyone tell me where the fan switch is located???
MaXtUneD is offline  
Old 05-27-2006, 01:41 PM
  #7  
¯\(°_o)/¯
iTrader: (43)
 
Greeny's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Tunasea
Posts: 64,424
The coolant temp sensor controls the fans...It is fairly cheap too[about $20]








Edit: better pic..
Greeny is offline  
Old 05-27-2006, 06:52 PM
  #8  
STFU n00b!
iTrader: (44)
 
Matt93SE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Houston
Posts: 18,095
step 1.

disconnect the red plug pictured above while the engine is running. The cooling fans should come on in just a couple of seconds afterwards.

If it doesn't, then the fan relays are suspect..
Matt93SE is offline  
Old 05-27-2006, 07:21 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
MaXtUneD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 777
Originally Posted by Matt93SE
step 1.

disconnect the red plug pictured above while the engine is running. The cooling fans should come on in just a couple of seconds afterwards.

If it doesn't, then the fan relays are suspect..
thanks matt..will do..
MaXtUneD is offline  
Old 05-27-2006, 10:18 PM
  #10  
mod or sell?
iTrader: (30)
 
internetautomar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Skokie (look it up)
Posts: 19,760
Originally Posted by MaXtUneD
Its just happened twice....Never before..

Some facts you need to know before inputting...

Koyo radiator less than 3k miles on it
thermostat, temp sensor, hoses, waterpump all replaced...

The first time, I was sitting in my car after driving maybe 4-5 miles, the car was idling..then all of a sudden I noticed smoke coming through the hood..so i got out and noticed that coolant was spraying out of the coolant can..I checked my temp gauge, and it was just sitting in the middle(normal)..

Second time, my brother filled the coolant can about 1/4...And was topping off the radiator while the car was on..Then it was doing it again...Noticed when the coolant was boiling, the fans weren't coming on...

So our guess is a faulty switch fan...
So, does anyone know where this switch for the fans is located in our engine bay(VE30DE)...

thanks
A few checks I'd do
1. pressure test the cooling system.
2. take off the radiator cap and run the car while watching the coolant for bubbles.
that's in addition to the other menetioned checks
internetautomar is offline  
Old 05-28-2006, 05:51 AM
  #11  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
 
vizslak7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 180
Streip the wrap back from the CTS harness and check for corroded / seperated wiring. I found that condition several inches back from the sensor on a 3 gen.
JS
vizslak7 is offline  
Old 05-28-2006, 04:35 PM
  #12  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
MaXtUneD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 777
problem fixed

Problem is fixed...One of the relays was faulty with no continuity when energized...
MaXtUneD is offline  
Old 05-28-2006, 05:47 PM
  #13  
STFU n00b!
iTrader: (44)
 
Matt93SE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Houston
Posts: 18,095
+1 for Matt93SE
Matt93SE is offline  
Old 05-28-2006, 08:12 PM
  #14  
LvR
Senior Member
 
LvR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Pretoria - South Africa
Posts: 1,205
Happy you found that relay, but surely if it was only the relay, "..I checked my temp gauge, and it was just sitting in the middle(normal).." doesn't support that as being the only problem ............. no?

Never had the misfortune to personally experience a boiling/close-to-boiling point situation on the VG, but would like to think that boiling in a pressurized coolant system would be indicated by the tempguage showing at least the temp not being "normal"?
LvR is offline  
Old 05-30-2006, 06:51 PM
  #15  
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
eric93SE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: NY
Posts: 1,988
I would have guessed a bad/faulty radiator cap. Is that an aftermarket radiator cap? do you know what its rated at?
eric93SE is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
MAXSE5SPD
General Maxima Discussion
33
09-17-2022 04:00 AM
The Frye
7th Generation Maxima (2009-2015)
6
09-02-2021 11:03 AM
captchaos
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
17
03-15-2016 12:18 PM
lux97Max
4th Generation Classifieds (1995-1999)
1
09-04-2015 05:42 PM
A32goldylocks
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
2
09-02-2015 06:39 AM



Quick Reply: Coolant boiling...Fans not coming on...need input



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 06:58 PM.