99 SE-L with 103K miles

Yesterday I was driving on the highway cruising at around 75mph when I noticed that my speedometer had died and was reading 0 mph. I also noticed that the odometer went blank and then I look over at the temp gauge and saw that it was right at the "H" mark. I freaked out and quickly blasted the heater and then the temp gauge quickly drop back to operating temperature and then the speedometer and odometer came back. I drove like this the rest of the way home (20mins) and then popped the hood to try and diagnose the problem. I noticed that the coolant reservoir was empty so I went ahead and grabbed a bunch or rags and slowly opened the radiator cap. To my surprise, I didn't get any steam spraying out while I did this so I new something was wrong.

My guess is that the water pump died on me but maybe I'm completely off here. I'm hoping someone has experienced this before. Any help you guys can provide would be really appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

Have you checked for leaks or pressure tested the system yet? Done any maintenance on the cooling system? Refilled the rad and bled the system to see if the problem's returned?

 

I forgot to mention that after I opened the radiator cap, I found coolant filled to the top but, again, the weird part was that there wasn't any steam spraying when I opened the cap.

I have not done any real maintenance on the system since 80K miles which is when I flushed the system and refilled it.

 

Maybe your thermostat is bad?

 

At this point in my cars age, is the water pump more likely to go or the thermostat?

 

If you have a multimeter you can check the coolant temp. sensor.

 

Have you never replaced the thermostat?

The first thing I would look for is where your system is leaking from, then fix that, and drive it around to see if there's even another problem.

 

I have a multimeter but have no idea how to check the coolant temp sensor. Is there anywhere on this forum that details that out?

 

It's been discussed on the org, search for it. Or just look at the FSM, it's detailed in EC. Also not sure why he recommended checking the ECTS...

 

I have never replaced the thermostat. The system is not leaking. After I got home after the car started overheating, I opened the radiator cap and found it full to the top. The one thing that puzzled me is that there was no steam or pressure built up after a 45min drive @ 70mph.

 

If the overflow was empty, it's going somewhere. Did you wait at all, or open the cap immediately after turning off the engine?

 

I opened the cap it immediately after driving and was shocked to find no steam or pressure built up. This was after a 45min drive.

 

Wierd... definitely sounds like a thermostat issue. Check voltage.

If water pump was bad you should be able to see a slow leak from under the car from the passenger's side.

 

If there is no pressure built up sounds like the radiator cap.

 

My thoughts too. The rad. cap is what regulates the pressure in the cooling system. Without the correct pressure, weird things tend to happen.

Replace the rad. cap, fill & bleed the system. See if the problem goes away.

 

Thanks everyone for all your input.

I have discovered some sort of a leak on the top of the radiator somewhere. It is really hard to tell where but it seems to be isolated on the top of the radiator (the section of the radiator that the cap goes on). I didn't pay much attention to the cap but it very well may be from there. Does this have to be purchased at the dealer?

 

No, you don't have to buy the radiator cap at the dealer.

Is it leaking from somewhere below the filler neck?

I've seen this crack on more than a few Maxima radiators (including my own):

 

I would do a leak down test just to be sure you dont have a leak and check to see if the fans are coming on before you put money in it, then I would go radiator cap and thermostat, if the leak down checked out.

 

I just went out to advance auto parts and bought a radiator cap. As I was about to install the new rad cap, I discovered the leak location. It is exactly where you stated... a crack right below the filler neck on the back side facing the engine. My next question is can this be repaired on does this require a complete radiator replacement?

 

Replace, don't repair. Radiator repair kits have the tendency to fail after a short period of time. You can drive it as it is for a while, until you can get a new one, just check coolant level when you can.

There's a nice Koyo in the GD section for $150 shipped, or you can find them for a lot cheaper; some on eBay for ~$55 shipped, even. I would just go with the Koyo.

 

Might as well get a copper one. Would cool better than the "ok" aluminum one.

 

Has anyone had any experience with the aeon imports radiator found on ebay ($53.39)?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/95-96...Q5fAccessories

 

I've got one arriving on Friday, actually

It's gotta be better than the one I have in there right now. And at $55 shipped, no biggie if it's crap. I'll just keep my stocker around for a while.

 

No, but it's got lifetime warranty and I tend to go with parts that have it for a peace of mind.

You could always go with Koyo:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NISSA...3A1|240%3A1318

It's all preference man. All will be good.

 

i just bought one of the aeon rads thanks to a suggestion from kzoosho. it's a little thinner than stock, but i'm actually running slightly cooler now and you can't beat the price. it was shifted a little bit (looked like a parallelogram) but was still sturdy. i just trimmed the fan screw tabs. PM me if you want a pic.

the trade off between aluminum and copper are negligible, like within a few degrees. al is lighter and cools better at speed, copper is heavier but cools better at a standstill. the diff between them (depending on design and size obviously) is too little to make a diff.

 

I suppose its debatable. They sell oe copper ones. I believe Koyo does.

 

hey how much do the copper one go for?

 

No clue.

 

dang.

 

same thing happen to mine also.... but it was ccccased buy presure build up fom a bad head gasket

 

How many miles was on the motor before you realized it had a blown head gasket?

btw, OT, the 95 with 112k on it I just bought; had a leaking radiator; right on top of it. Replaced with a Modine NAPA brand.