Diana Lee Chilcote

I bought this 2000 maxima about a month ago. Has 138,000 miles. It started overheating on the way home. I've replaced radiator, thermostat, water pump, temp sensor. It's fine when it's idling, but as soon as I put it in gear, the gauge starts climbing. I can let it sit for 30 minutes in the driveway, but as soon as I pull out, it starts. We can't figure it out. Please help. I love this car.

Donny G

sounds like you may need to bleed the cooling system of air
this is quite common

https://maxima.org/forums/5th-genera...-location.html

SubwayVQ

Check to see if your fans are working. To check, turn on the A/C and both fans should come on.

The Wizard

iTrader: (43)

After you check and ensure there are no air bubbles, and check the fans come out, check or replace the radiator cap.

OEM thermostat or aftermarket? Installed with the bleed valve in the proper orientation?

BronxSleeperMax187

Since nobody mentioned how... Here you go....Wait till car is cold\ not driven in a while.... start car... Lift front of car on ramp\ Jack stands or high curb if that's all you have, remember, front only, leave it running and remove radiator cap and wait till temp reaches normal on gauge in car, put heat on full blast and leave it on and listen for gurgling sounds from the radiator hole, (that's the air leaving the system) now add fluid if needed and wait till it goes down, if you notice it not going down and bubbling at the top wait till it goes down and keep adding till full, after 15 min put cap on and drop car and see.

Diana Lee Chilcote

We replaced radiator cap as well. Lower radiator hose is hot, upper is cool. I am replacing the overflow tank today, and will have him bleed the system. I hope this works. I have put quite a bit of money and time into this car.

mclasser

Is the CEL on? A clogged CAT can increase backpressure and cause overheating. I only mention this because it looks you've replaced a lot of stuff on the cooling end.

krismax

iTrader: (15)

second thermostat may be bad

MichMaxFan

But then how can the car idle for 30minutes and not overheat? Seems to me it can't be thermostat related. I don't know how it could , at least...with it able to idle acceptably. iDK.

Donkeypunch

can the maxima thermostat be put in reverse? i've never seen it but have done it on other cars.

The Wizard

iTrader: (43)

Weather is getting much cooler. Might take 30 minutes for the thermostat to open just sitting idling.