Overheating problem! stumpped
07-08-2011, 07:02 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 31
Overheating problem! stumpped
k so i drive the car with ac on blast and its around like 95 degree weather. and after 20 minutes of driving the car starts to over heat slowly... but if i turn the ac off and turn the heat onto full the car go's back to normal temp. anyone have a problem like this before? theres no smoke coming from the exhaust and the car drives fine..... i took the thermostat out and put it in boiling water and it looked like it opened but about half way.
07-10-2011, 02:44 PM
#5
+1 I had this problem with my 97, almost exactly, and it turned out to be one fan motor had seized up and wouldnt turn with ease. Replaced fan and problem solved. I believe a bad cts will cause the fans to not trigger properly also?
07-10-2011, 03:00 PM
#6
Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 161
k so i drive the car with ac on blast and its around like 95 degree weather. and after 20 minutes of driving the car starts to over heat slowly... but if i turn the ac off and turn the heat onto full the car go's back to normal temp. anyone have a problem like this before? theres no smoke coming from the exhaust and the car drives fine..... i took the thermostat out and put it in boiling water and it looked like it opened but about half way.
Had a similar problem on a mitsubishi that was never flushed over a 11 year time span - ended up replaced the radiator, and all is well again.
07-11-2011, 10:36 AM
#7
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 31
thanks for the input guys, yah the fans both turn on and i changed the cap with my friends maximas and its the same thing.... i think it might be a clogged radiator because the fluid was not lime green but a little bit dirtier. i also notice that the upper radiator hose dose not pressurize.
07-11-2011, 05:52 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Brandon, FL
Posts: 897
Depending on how long it's been since the last flush, if the fluid was a little bit dirtier than just lime green, there's a small chance that it is carrying corrosion from some internal parts, such as the water pump fins. When you say that the upper radiator hose does not pressurize, it brought some bad memories of my overheating problems; the water pump was not cycling the coolant at all through my cooling system. The pictures below, comparing the old and new water pumps, show the reason why. Hopefully, that will not be your case.
07-12-2011, 02:06 AM
#9
Yikes, that water pump is hard to believe! Any idea how that happened? Wrong coolant? How many miles on the Max when that happened? I know Taurus's were famous for that, have not heard of it happening with a Maxima.
Almost looks like someone put battery acid in your cooling system.
Almost looks like someone put battery acid in your cooling system.
Last edited by trooplewis; 07-12-2011 at 11:49 AM.
07-12-2011, 05:19 AM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Brandon, FL
Posts: 897
I really have no idea how that happened, other than due to neglect. I purchased the car with 132k miles and I realized the fluid was rusty red when it started giving me overheating problems anytime I was standing in traffic. As long as I was moving it was somewhat fine.
07-12-2011, 05:35 AM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Brandon, FL
Posts: 897
That's right; it wasn't moving any coolant at all. My first guess was a rusty radiator, so I changed it, along with the thermostat. Flushed the coolant and burped the system a few times, but the car was still overheating. I had also changed the radiator cap, just in case that was culprit. Finally I bit the bullet and decided to tackle the water pump. I replaced it and flushed the system one more time. Other than the passenger side cooling fan motor failing a few months later, and replacing the whole cooling fan assembly, I haven't had any more overheating problems. I replaced the Coolant Temperature Sensor after that, since it wasn't crazy expensive, so basically I have a fairly new coolant system.
07-22-2011, 02:08 PM
#14
Depending on how long it's been since the last flush, if the fluid was a little bit dirtier than just lime green, there's a small chance that it is carrying corrosion from some internal parts, such as the water pump fins. When you say that the upper radiator hose does not pressurize, it brought some bad memories of my overheating problems; the water pump was not cycling the coolant at all through my cooling system. The pictures below, comparing the old and new water pumps, show the reason why. Hopefully, that will not be your case.
08-23-2011, 08:50 AM
#17
08-23-2011, 09:11 AM
#18
08-23-2011, 09:17 AM
#20
it takes a much longer time. you have to drain, fill up with water, let car run for 10 minutes to mix it all then let it cool down for ~2 hours, come back and drain then do the same again. I used 8 gallons of water and did it casually over two days.
lol ill stick w/ the hose procedure
08-23-2011, 10:07 AM
#22
Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: TX
Posts: 129
your causing 'hard water deposits' from the water to clog your radiator and internal parts. "Hard water deposits" are derived from water that contains a high mineral content. This type of water usually consists of magnesium and calcium along with other compounds. After the vehicle has been heated up, and then turned off- that water will leave water spots known as calcium deposits or lime scale.
that lime scale will eventutally etch itself into any metal surfaces, causing rust. that rust will weaken metals, and eventually further clog your radiator; which will decrease the fluid flow, and increase how hard the water pump has to work.
so with increased rust building up, temps going from hot to cold on the water pump, that will weaken the impeller on the water pump- thus resulting in the image above.
(NOT ONLY WILL IT CLOG YOUR SYSTEM, BUT IT WILL ALSO BUILD UP ON THE THERMOSTAT.
-dont be cheap, or lazy. USE DISTILLED.
have you ever tried to change the thermostat on our engines? i did... trust me- its 50x's more of a pain in the anus- then just using distilled water LOL
that lime scale will eventutally etch itself into any metal surfaces, causing rust. that rust will weaken metals, and eventually further clog your radiator; which will decrease the fluid flow, and increase how hard the water pump has to work.
so with increased rust building up, temps going from hot to cold on the water pump, that will weaken the impeller on the water pump- thus resulting in the image above.
(NOT ONLY WILL IT CLOG YOUR SYSTEM, BUT IT WILL ALSO BUILD UP ON THE THERMOSTAT.
-dont be cheap, or lazy. USE DISTILLED.
have you ever tried to change the thermostat on our engines? i did... trust me- its 50x's more of a pain in the anus- then just using distilled water LOL
08-23-2011, 10:19 AM
#25
I didn't fill up with water genius. On the last drain you pour in 1 gallon 100% antifreeze and you get a 50/50 mixture. I also Used prestone superflush to flush out the system. You can do what you like with your car and stick to your beliefs but you're not following the right procedure.
08-23-2011, 11:17 AM
#27
08-23-2011, 11:41 AM
#30
hater! next time i do it i'm using my oil pan and taking it to advance, the guy said i could put it in there..whatever happens after that, is on them 
LOL i use to do it this way/similiar
08-23-2011, 12:06 PM
#32
08-23-2011, 01:40 PM
#35
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 29
You guys may want to consider one of these...not only would you not have to buy distilled water for a radiator flush, you don't ever have to worry about water spots after washing your car 
I've had one like this every place I've lived.
http://www.autogeek.net/clinhofi.html
I've had one like this every place I've lived.http://www.autogeek.net/clinhofi.html
08-23-2011, 02:01 PM
#37
I think similar, but it depends on the cartridge you install in the canister. If you really want a nice no spot residue you need to get both cartridge types (spun for sediment and then soft water). Then you'll need to get two canisters (in-line with one another).
You will also have to buy replacement filter cartridges and recharge the soft water cartridge. Seems like the maintenance costs would add up quickly...
You will also have to buy replacement filter cartridges and recharge the soft water cartridge. Seems like the maintenance costs would add up quickly...
08-23-2011, 07:25 PM
#38
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Brandon, FL
Posts: 897
The way I do a flush is taking off the the TOP hose and plugging the radiator inlet port, after collecting any initial drain onto a bucket or pan from the bottom of radiator. Then running the car, with heater running on max, while feeding a garden hose with running water through the radiator, until water comes out clear from the top hose.
Last edited by Nelsito65; 08-23-2011 at 07:30 PM.
08-24-2011, 11:55 AM
#39
From my repair manual, these are the directions to flush the cooling system.
I did read somewhere (couldn't find it just now) that distilled water should be used when creating the coolant/water mixture.
* Once the system is completely drained, remove the thermostat from the engine. Then reinstall the thermostat housing without the thermostat. This will allow the system to be thoroughly flushed.
* Reinstall the lower radiator hose and tighten the radiator drain plug. Turn your heating system controls to HOT, so that the heater core will be flushed at the same time as the rest of the cooling system.
* Disconnect the upper radiator hose, then place a GARDEN HOSE in the upper radiator inlet and flush the system until the water runs clear at the upper radiator hose.
* Reinstall the lower radiator hose and tighten the radiator drain plug. Turn your heating system controls to HOT, so that the heater core will be flushed at the same time as the rest of the cooling system.
* Disconnect the upper radiator hose, then place a GARDEN HOSE in the upper radiator inlet and flush the system until the water runs clear at the upper radiator hose.
09-24-2011, 05:36 PM
#40
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 92
alright still having the problem. i replaced the thermostat and did a flush...drove it on the highway for like 15 miles and it started to overheat again. any thoughts??? needing to take a 4hr drive next friday. HELP!!!