Hey buds,----Help me figure this out Please.

I found this leak, and changed the Thermostat yesterday. BUT---the Leak is STILL THERE! I thought for sure it was the Thermo---or maybe the Water Pump (don't know yet).

This morning, while the CAR WAS COLD, i attached A pressure Gauge to the Radiator to see what reading i would get. I pumped it to 20, and waited for 30 mins and got a leak on the ground, COMING FROM, just above the Starter Motor.

I then decided to test it with the GAUGE in place while it was running. So I LET all the pressure OUT and started the car and turned the AC on high. AFTER 10 mins, the gauge "Read 28" ---but inside (with the A/C blowing) the temp gauge was just below 50%.

Hmmm...?? With Gauges running High...not sure what to think???

I suspect a Water Pump issue----or worse "a blown HG." I checked the Oil---no water or dis-coloration. I also checked the coolant in the Res.Tank---looked good---no discoloration.

• The car over-heats after running it bout 20-60 mins.
• It loses radiator fluid (as you can see from Photo's) when running.
• It also BLOWS a white smoke. BUT only for bout 2 mins on Startup.
• The Pressure Gauge indicates higher than normal pressure inside the cooling system.
• The car is an 03, with 95k on it. It got hot a few times, but i always managed to pull off the road and run the heat to kewl it down before getting it back to the house.
• i've own it bout 10mths now. I'm the 2nd Owner.

Anyone have a Clue what this might be???

~A

 

I'm not sure what you're looking at. The starter is on the opposite side of the motor from the water pump.

I would follow the lower radiator hose to the pump and look for leaks there. Pump up the pressure tester and get it leaking. Jack the car up and get under it with a flashlight. You'll probably have a better view from there.

Remember that water always travels down. Keep following the leak up.

 

I think the rings on the wp are toasted, search for weep hole

 

It's strange that the lower radiator hose and the hose going to the oil cooler seem to have been replaced. I was thinking the hose to the oil cooler (the one with the band clamp) might be the problem but it looks clean. Did you replace those or was it like that. Someone else may have been chasing this problem before you.

I would still follow both of those lines up to the pump and hope to find a leak there.

 

• yeah, your right, THAT IS THE COMPRESSOR not the starter.
• ok...i'll do that. I'll put the pressure gauge and UP on a Lift.

• Might be...gotta get it UP on a Lift.

• The Oil System hose?---is that the SMALL ONE that "snakes" off the Thermostat AND down to the bottom around the compressor?

QUESTION: No one mentioned the Head Gasket? I'm gonna spend the $45 bucks today and get a BLOCK TEST Kit and check for gas in cooling system. HOWEVER, a positive result would not explain the slow drip from a cold pressured tested system. Am i right ?

Weird ?

 

It's the hose shown in the 4th picture down. It connects to the metal line that runs directly under the compressor pulley and goes to the oil cooler (at the oil filter). It has a band clamp on it in the picture but that's the wrong clamp and the hose looks new.

My concern it that both of those water lines should last a very long time. Both my Maximas 200,000 and 300,000 still have the original hoses. It's probably nothing but it makes me think that something out of the ordinary might have happened before you got the car.

From the pic it looks like the drip is a little too far over to be the hoses though. It looks like it may be dripping somewhere above the compressor and traveling around it to drip off the bottom of it.

If you still can't find it you might consider moving the AC compressor to get a better view. There's not much to it and you don't have to unhook any lines. Just loosen the belt and remove the 4 long bolts that run through it. You'll be able to pull it forward enough to get a better view behind it.

 

Yes...that's one of the hoses my mechanic changed when he put the New Thermo (2 days ago).

Not sure where that leak is from. Right now, i'm more concerned about a blown HG ? (sigh)

 

Many times the water pump seals for the impeller shaft leak. That coolant will come out the water pump weep hole and run down the block. If you see coolant running down the block, which I think you will, be very careful to verify where it is coming from. Don't jump to conclusions and think you have a leaking head gasket.

 

I have almost the same symptoms. The car is particular and weird.

 

It's the water pump, since it's right where your picture indicated, since there's your alternator in the picture. far as the starter that's on the driver side and there's no coolant leak coming from there unless you have a water valve assembly on that side if your car is a 00-01.

 

The only way for pressure to be that high in the system is a blown head gasket.

The hole in the gasket causes the cylinder to pressurize the water jacket. This is likely the cause of your smoke too. See if it smells sweet, if so, it's coolant.

That is causing the leak most likely too. Those crap clamps that Nissan put on the hoses for years have a pinch point, which is likely leaking when the system jacks up in pressure.

Here's an article I wrote on overheating to give you some more context: Overheating Issues