Lontar1

iTrader: (5)

As the title says... it smells like coolant but no leaks anywhere.. what could it be?

Scottwax

iTrader: (8)

A leak. Small enough that the coolant is evaporating before you see where it is coming from. Pressure test the system, you'll find your leak.

Lontar1

iTrader: (5)

Where should I take it..?

SoonerFan

iTrader: (5)

yeah, its leaking somewhere. while its running at operating temp, look every for the leak.

Scottwax

iTrader: (8)

Any mechanic will have one, some auto parts stores have them too. Here is one available online:

http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/sta12270.html

Check all your hose clamps too, especially if you have switched any of your hoses to worm clamps that you tighten with a screwdriver.

6SPD02SE

iTrader: (2)

Do you smell it outside the car or inside? If you smell it inside, your heater core may be on its way out.

BigWillOKC

iTrader: (1)

I went to AutoZone and got a new car smell air freshner and clipped it on my vent. I don't smell that coolant smell anymore

wyche89

congratulations you fixed the leak! lol

Lontar1

iTrader: (5)

U R so funny....... if you don't have any intelligent to say... please stay away.....

Lontar1

iTrader: (5)

I haven't replace any of he hoses or anything in my car.. I was thinking, could it be the water pump?

danger300z

iTrader: (4)

lontar autozone lets you borrow the tool, all you have to do is leave a deposite. and its really simple to use. hope that helps.

Lontar1

iTrader: (5)

will go to autozone.. and do the test.. I have no idea they rented those kind of tools... thanks

Scottwax

iTrader: (8)

If the weep hole is going bad, yeah. When it started leaking on my 626, it was pretty obvious though, nice puddle of orange coolant under my car.

Basically, the weep hole is a way for the water pump to let you know it is going bad.

http://www.nabiki.com/sstalker/626_h2o.asp

Because the pump runs constantly (well, whenever the engine is running) the part of it that almost always fails first is the sealed bearings for the pulley. The manufacturers of the pumps have taken into account the eventual breakdown of this component by including a way in which its failure can be detected by either the car owner or an auto mechanic.

The housings on all water pumps include a small weep hole near the neck of the pulley which will allow coolant to escape should the seal on the bearings be compromised. This hole, which actually faces upwards on the pump housing on a 1993 626 V6 (in most other engines it faces down) should be inspected regularly once your car's engine gets past the 85000 mile mark. If you ever see moisture collecting around that part of the pump housing, or more likely if you happen to notice a small puddle of antifreeze on the ground or detect the smell of it wafting from the engine, the pump is probably on its way to failure.

P. Samson

Where are you getting the odor? If the engine is running and hot (or just turned off) and it's noticeable in the grill area and/or under the hood around the rad. cap or the expansion tank only and you have not actually had a noticeable drop in the coolant level in the expansion tank, then you may just be smelling the system venting.

Love_00_Max

I would check the upper and lower radiator hoses. I also recommend you crimp 1 inch off the overflow tubing both at the radiator and overflow tank ends. Over time the hoses at both ends tend to slack with the constant expansion. This results in a snug contact of the hose on both ends..

The obvious thing to do is pressure test it and check for coolant loss. If there is no significant loss, I would not worry too much.

cefiro80

If it is inside the car as someone else said it might be a heater core on the way out.

SoonerFan

iTrader: (5)

the water pump on our engines are internal (behind timing chain cover) and dont go out very often.
i would check hose connections and thermostat housing.

P. Samson

If it was the coolant pump seal seeping I doubt that you would smell coolant. The witness "weep" hole is at the mateface of the timing chain cover and the block, down at the oil pan.

Lontar1

iTrader: (5)

You just hit the spot. the smell comes after the engine is off, closer to the grill and radiator.. will be checking all hoses and thermostat housing, and everything else mentioned, Thanks for the help.. guys

wyche89

i was joking, in response to your joke... i wasn't being seriously sarcastic

Scottwax

iTrader: (8)

That's good to know...the reliability, not where it is.

Lontar-check the radiator cap too. It could have a tear in the rubber gasket or isn't holding pressure like it should. Look around the seams of the radiator where the top and bottom are attached to the body of the radiator.

SoonerFan

iTrader: (5)

i got $20 thats says its one of the hose connections. a small hole under or near the clamp.

hi-tek22

iTrader: (4)

any one know where i can purchase a low pressure level AC line...Ive got a slight leak right there, and it floods into the interior when i first TURN the heat on

BigWillOKC

iTrader: (1)

I got one last summer for mine at a salvage yard and it hasn't had any problems.

Lontar1

iTrader: (5)

found it... it's the radiator.... the black cover at the top. It is leaking in the Nissan seal where the part number is.... Now options??????

Love_00_Max

You need a new radiator, the plastic shroud on top of the radiator is crimped to the aluminum section of the radiator. I replaced the entire radiator and it costed me $150, no problems with aftermarket radiators.

Lontar1

iTrader: (5)

where did you get yours

which one.....

http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/se...issan%20Maxima
http://www.radiatorbarn.com/s7.asp?a...size=V6%2C3.0L

Scottwax

iTrader: (8)

I was right...or at least I made the right suggestion where to look.

I would get the all metal option radiator, which appears to be the second link.

At least your has a small leak, the radiator in my old 626 blew out the side, had to add water every mile and a half to get home. Not a fun afternoon.

SoonerFan

iTrader: (5)

had that on my 00...just order an new one online. nissan will want over $300. i found one for a little over $100

Love_00_Max

I got the one from autopartswarehouse, the very same one on the picture. They are made in Taiwan and it is of larger volume that the stock. The extra volume is in the depth of the radiator, it holds 4 1/2 Q vs 3 3/4 Q in the stock radiator. Length and breath are same as stock radiator, the extra volume comes from the depth, more cooling the better.

FishyMan

Can you use the checker auto hoses (50 psi) for coolant hoses? I get white smoke but I don't know where it's coming from.

AceofSpds

iTrader: (4)

Mine has the same leak also in same spot.

Lontar1

iTrader: (5)

Bought mine at autopartswarehouse......

http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/se...issan%20Maxima
http://www.radiatorbarn.com/s7.asp?a...size=V6%2C3.0L