Overheating; I think I know what it is.
#1
Overheating; I think I know what it is.
I made a 40 mile drive tonight no problem. On the 40 mile drive back I pulled over to get something to eat. Noticed the temp gauge headed up almost to the solid line. Shut it down let it cool a bit and limped it to a parking lot. I check the fans were going, both radiator hoses hot and and had pressure and the coolant tank was normal. All of a sudden it started to cool down but never got to where it normally sits. It was just a bit higher than normal even on the highway. I turned the heater on and it would blow cool air and then hot as the temp fell then cool again and the temp went up. I am guessing that I have a clogged radiator or a themostat thats not opening up all the way. I am going to replace the radiator and thermostat. When I bought the car, it had plain water and the water was very rusty. I drained most of it and replaced it with antifreeze. Does this sound like a good plan. Oh yeah w/o the A/c on and the temp way up the fans don't come on. So looks like I need a temp sensor too.
#5
Appears that it was the thermostat. I replaced the thermostat, radiator, coolant temp sensor, and got a gasket for the thermostat housing instead of silicone. I replaced the radiator anyways since it was full of rust from the previous owner just running water. So far so good. Although it was a b1tch to bleed the system. The bleeder screw doesn't seem like it does anything.
#8
awl the bleeder hole
Yes,
Take a sharp pointed metal poker, like an awl, then take the bleeder slug all the way out. Dig around in the bleeder opening to clear it out. Worked for me.
Also, I just replaced the thermostat after a problem with slow overheating. It would idle and and come to temp good, but after a short run it would reach the top of the temp guage. Upper hose hot, lower hose cold. After some temp readings and a flush with no help, I decided to check the thermostat. It was the OEM and was stuck closed. (Tip: The VG30E will run with a stuck closed thermostat, unlike a small block Chevy. Nissan gave us a large bypass hole.)
Speaking of bypass holes, have you seen some of the replys from the flamers. Maxima.Org gives the a large bypass hole too......
Uncle Dave
Take a sharp pointed metal poker, like an awl, then take the bleeder slug all the way out. Dig around in the bleeder opening to clear it out. Worked for me.
Also, I just replaced the thermostat after a problem with slow overheating. It would idle and and come to temp good, but after a short run it would reach the top of the temp guage. Upper hose hot, lower hose cold. After some temp readings and a flush with no help, I decided to check the thermostat. It was the OEM and was stuck closed. (Tip: The VG30E will run with a stuck closed thermostat, unlike a small block Chevy. Nissan gave us a large bypass hole.)
Speaking of bypass holes, have you seen some of the replys from the flamers. Maxima.Org gives the a large bypass hole too......
Uncle Dave
#9
yeah mine was oem too and the rubber was rotten you could tell the thermostat was shot. They specify that there is no gasket needed just to use silicone. When I removed it, there was just silicone. I went ahead and got a gasket. I'd rather do that and it seemed easier. I figuered if I put silicone on the housing i'd make a mess or rub it off when trying to manuever it into place. I think the gasket was listed for a Villager but it of course works since it is the same engine.
#10
check the small 90* hoses on the lower back of the intake manifold on the drivers side (little manifold heater hose). When I first bought my Maxima one of those little hoses started to drip, made a minute amount of steam, almost no smell of coolant, but made the temp rise up like crazy. It's cost like $3.49 for the 90* hose and like 10 minutes to replace it. Hope this helps
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Omar Abdurrahman Siddiqi
5th Generation Maxima (2000-2003)
33
08-26-2016 05:18 PM
zzznightmarezz
Maximas for Sale / Wanted
0
09-21-2015 06:32 PM
97_GXE
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
20
09-17-2015 08:12 PM