Car Overheats :(
#1
Car Overheats :(
Ok so I'm idling in Texas heat for about 20 minutes. It's about 95F outside and the AC is on. I drive on to the street and notice my temp guage is about 25% higher then it should be (another 1/4 higher then the halfway mark). Once i get to speed it instantly falls right back to the center where it is supposed to be. I didn't drive the car hard, but lower RPMs it seems to be driving fine.
I want to know; A) how much damage could've been done to my car (never rev'd it past 3K), and the liklihood of any permanent damage.
Also, I want to know what thermostat temps and fluid temps you guys recommend?
Thanks, hopefully the car will start again when I leave work, it was running fine when I shut it off, but still...
I want to know; A) how much damage could've been done to my car (never rev'd it past 3K), and the liklihood of any permanent damage.
Also, I want to know what thermostat temps and fluid temps you guys recommend?
Thanks, hopefully the car will start again when I leave work, it was running fine when I shut it off, but still...
#3
If it dropped right back down, it seems to be some freak thing. Sometimes my temp gauge will just loose reading, I hit the dash and it will shoot up to the top and then eventually go back to normal, it could be the connector behind the guage, or it could be your temp sesor going bad, if there was something serious wrong, I would think it would have not dropped back down just by driving. When my water pump went out it would just keep getting hotter as I drove. As far as damage to the motor, dont worry, my car has been hot when the water pump went out, I mean top of the gauge hot and it has more mileage and it has been fine for a year now.
#4
Re: Car Overheats :(
Originally posted by BrianV
Ok so I'm idling in Texas heat for about 20 minutes. It's about 95F outside and the AC is on. I drive on to the street and notice my temp guage is about 25% higher then it should be (another 1/4 higher then the halfway mark). Once i get to speed it instantly falls right back to the center where it is supposed to be. I didn't drive the car hard, but lower RPMs it seems to be driving fine.
I want to know; A) how much damage could've been done to my car (never rev'd it past 3K), and the liklihood of any permanent damage.
Also, I want to know what thermostat temps and fluid temps you guys recommend?
Thanks, hopefully the car will start again when I leave work, it was running fine when I shut it off, but still...
Ok so I'm idling in Texas heat for about 20 minutes. It's about 95F outside and the AC is on. I drive on to the street and notice my temp guage is about 25% higher then it should be (another 1/4 higher then the halfway mark). Once i get to speed it instantly falls right back to the center where it is supposed to be. I didn't drive the car hard, but lower RPMs it seems to be driving fine.
I want to know; A) how much damage could've been done to my car (never rev'd it past 3K), and the liklihood of any permanent damage.
Also, I want to know what thermostat temps and fluid temps you guys recommend?
Thanks, hopefully the car will start again when I leave work, it was running fine when I shut it off, but still...
#5
It's odd that the temp rose but your situation is the worst for the cooling system. The ac while it does blow COLD air, it takes energy and actually generates heat to get that cold air.
Did you notice your fans coming on during that hot time or when you are parked? If not, maybe the fans aren't kicking in and helping the radiator cool when you aren't moving. (loose connector or blown fuse)
It could be low coolant level, thermostat not opening at the correct time, or maybe even your water pump giving up the ghost.
I don't think you did any damage though.
Did you notice your fans coming on during that hot time or when you are parked? If not, maybe the fans aren't kicking in and helping the radiator cool when you aren't moving. (loose connector or blown fuse)
It could be low coolant level, thermostat not opening at the correct time, or maybe even your water pump giving up the ghost.
I don't think you did any damage though.
#6
Originally posted by dmontzmax
If it dropped right back down, it seems to be some freak thing. Sometimes my temp gauge will just loose reading, I hit the dash and it will shoot up to the top and then eventually go back to normal, it could be the connector behind the guage, or it could be your temp sesor going bad, if there was something serious wrong, I would think it would have not dropped back down just by driving. When my water pump went out it would just keep getting hotter as I drove. As far as damage to the motor, dont worry, my car has been hot when the water pump went out, I mean top of the gauge hot and it has more mileage and it has been fine for a year now.
If it dropped right back down, it seems to be some freak thing. Sometimes my temp gauge will just loose reading, I hit the dash and it will shoot up to the top and then eventually go back to normal, it could be the connector behind the guage, or it could be your temp sesor going bad, if there was something serious wrong, I would think it would have not dropped back down just by driving. When my water pump went out it would just keep getting hotter as I drove. As far as damage to the motor, dont worry, my car has been hot when the water pump went out, I mean top of the gauge hot and it has more mileage and it has been fine for a year now.
#7
Originally posted by Jeff92se
It's odd that the temp rose but your situation is the worst for the cooling system. The ac while it does blow COLD air, it takes energy and actually generates heat to get that cold air.
Did you notice your fans coming on during that hot time or when you are parked? If not, maybe the fans aren't kicking in and helping the radiator cool when you aren't moving. (loose connector or blown fuse)
It could be low coolant level, thermostat not opening at the correct time, or maybe even your water pump giving up the ghost.
I don't think you did any damage though.
It's odd that the temp rose but your situation is the worst for the cooling system. The ac while it does blow COLD air, it takes energy and actually generates heat to get that cold air.
Did you notice your fans coming on during that hot time or when you are parked? If not, maybe the fans aren't kicking in and helping the radiator cool when you aren't moving. (loose connector or blown fuse)
It could be low coolant level, thermostat not opening at the correct time, or maybe even your water pump giving up the ghost.
I don't think you did any damage though.
Don't know about radiator fan
Coolant level is good
water pump is not leaking
#8
Originally posted by BrianV
AC Fan turns on
Don't know about radiator fan
Coolant level is good
water pump is not leaking
AC Fan turns on
Don't know about radiator fan
Coolant level is good
water pump is not leaking
#9
Re: Car Overheats :(
First I recommend getting an aftermarket temp gauge. Also when was the last time the cooling system was flushed? You might have some air bubbles trapped in the system. A few things you can do is get a Z32 radiator cap (has higher pressure) and re-bleed the air via the air valve. IF that doesn't work plan on flushing the system, removing the radiator and cleaning out the fins.
Originally posted by BrianV
Ok so I'm idling in Texas heat for about 20 minutes. It's about 95F outside and the AC is on. I drive on to the street and notice my temp guage is about 25% higher then it should be (another 1/4 higher then the halfway mark). Once i get to speed it instantly falls right back to the center where it is supposed to be. I didn't drive the car hard, but lower RPMs it seems to be driving fine.
I want to know; A) how much damage could've been done to my car (never rev'd it past 3K), and the liklihood of any permanent damage.
Ok so I'm idling in Texas heat for about 20 minutes. It's about 95F outside and the AC is on. I drive on to the street and notice my temp guage is about 25% higher then it should be (another 1/4 higher then the halfway mark). Once i get to speed it instantly falls right back to the center where it is supposed to be. I didn't drive the car hard, but lower RPMs it seems to be driving fine.
I want to know; A) how much damage could've been done to my car (never rev'd it past 3K), and the liklihood of any permanent damage.
#10
Re: Re: Car Overheats :(
Originally posted by Nismo87SE
First I recommend getting an aftermarket temp gauge. Also when was the last time the cooling system was flushed? You might have some air bubbles trapped in the system. A few things you can do is get a Z32 radiator cap (has higher pressure) and re-bleed the air via the air valve. IF that doesn't work plan on flushing the system, removing the radiator and cleaning out the fins.
First I recommend getting an aftermarket temp gauge. Also when was the last time the cooling system was flushed? You might have some air bubbles trapped in the system. A few things you can do is get a Z32 radiator cap (has higher pressure) and re-bleed the air via the air valve. IF that doesn't work plan on flushing the system, removing the radiator and cleaning out the fins.
It's not fin related because the second I got it rolling again it quickly came back down thus it's cooling fine with ari flow, it's when it idles that it has the problems.
#12
I drove home with the AC on and it was hotter then before. It was fine, I had it idling at a couple lights for 2 minutes or so, drove it normally and no problem. I guess the car just can't take 15 minutes of parking lot driving, and 10 minutes of idling in 100F with AC and S/C loading on the engine (although many people think any car should be capable of this).
Most people will say that's never happened to me, but how many people with SC with AC on have sat and done this 30 minutes worth of stress before. Also, the second I got it rolling on the road within 30 seconds the temp was fully restored and the car drove fine.
Most people will say that's never happened to me, but how many people with SC with AC on have sat and done this 30 minutes worth of stress before. Also, the second I got it rolling on the road within 30 seconds the temp was fully restored and the car drove fine.
#14
I have driven my car here in Austin with the same temperatures when I am at a stop I have not seen my temp gauge go up, and I have looked at it. But when I am at a stop I am not stopped for more than about 2 minutes.
#15
The 2 fans up front are the radiator AND cooling fans. It's a combo circuit controlled by the ECU. Since the fans turn on with the AC, then the problem is not the fans, or the fan relay. The problem may lie in the cooling circuit, something may not be telling the ECU that the engine is hot, so check along the lines of a temp sensor, water pump, thermotstat, hoses, or radiator cap.
Do you smell some anti-freeze? Try replacing the radiator cap. It's a quick, easy fix.
HTH
DW
Do you smell some anti-freeze? Try replacing the radiator cap. It's a quick, easy fix.
HTH
DW
Originally posted by BrianV
AC Fan turns on
Don't know about radiator fan
Coolant level is good
water pump is not leaking
AC Fan turns on
Don't know about radiator fan
Coolant level is good
water pump is not leaking
#16
Originally posted by sleepermax
Try Redline Water Wetter....8 bucks at Van's on 183 and Burnette. It'll help.
Try Redline Water Wetter....8 bucks at Van's on 183 and Burnette. It'll help.
Also try a 50/50 mix of redline water wetter and distilled water. It will help keep the temps down. Can get expensive though if you do a radiator flush.
#17
I do have water-wetter in my system now.
I do not smell or see any boil over.
Climax, I drive in the same heat all day long and stop for two minutes and no problems, but the 30 minutes is what killed me.
I do not smell or see any boil over.
Climax, I drive in the same heat all day long and stop for two minutes and no problems, but the 30 minutes is what killed me.
#19
Originally posted by BrianV
AC Fan turns on
Don't know about radiator fan
Coolant level is good
water pump is not leaking
AC Fan turns on
Don't know about radiator fan
Coolant level is good
water pump is not leaking
Dave
#20
Turtle turtle... Moderator
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Join Date: Aug 2000
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it is possible that everything is working properly and you were juss starting to overheat. Idling for long period of time and Hot weather plus AC on can cause many cars to start to overheat. I dont think you caused any damaged if it only went up some. Even sometimes when you hit way top H you dont cause damage but no guarantees.
#21
Member who somehow became The President of The SE-L Club
iTrader: (19)
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 16,033
On my 99, both radiator fans come on when the engine gets hot and they run at low speed until the temp drops and then they shut off again.
Switch the A/C on and the fans run all the time, on low speed.
Let the car sit and idle for a few minutes with the A/C on in 90+ degree weather and BOTH fans will kick up into what I call TURBO mode. You can hear them roar on high speed. That only happnes in really hot weather.
The temp gauge in my car never really seems to move, it just stays right in the middle area.
Switch the A/C on and the fans run all the time, on low speed.
Let the car sit and idle for a few minutes with the A/C on in 90+ degree weather and BOTH fans will kick up into what I call TURBO mode. You can hear them roar on high speed. That only happnes in really hot weather.
The temp gauge in my car never really seems to move, it just stays right in the middle area.
#22
With the A/c on this morning (not very hot) just the poassenger side A/C fan was on, not the driver side fan. Is the driver side fan supposed to be on 100% of the time when the A/C is on or only when the engine is getting too warm?
#23
Some of you guys are saying that one fan turns on, then the other. On my 98, both go turn on together. They seem to vary in 2 speeds. Maybe the 95/96 cooling system was a bit more sophisticated than the later 97, or 98-99 Maximas. You should check if both fans are supposed to go on together, and if they are, then maybe one fan has gone bad, or the harness to that fan etc.
DW
DW
#24
Making a general assumption
Is your main fan kicking in? If not check your temp sensors. My old Max had high/low speeds on the fan and either 1 or 2 fans running(depends on AC). I don't have the FSM for your car, but check/test all- relays/fuses/temp sensors/fans. You should be able to unplug or short the sensor and force the fans to go on.
Thermostats will slowly fail. Just replace it and your rad cap. And while your at it, flush your coolant. 50:50 water/antifreeze with a bottle of waterwetter should be good. Coolant is only good for about a year(regardless of what the bottle says). There is no coolant filtration and no way to remove suspended particles without changing regularly.
If temperature drops with vehicle movement, air(windchill) or water(gph) flow is the issue. To test waterpump, just rev engine while overheating in traffic. If the temperature drops with revving(all else equal), then water flow is inadequate. This could be caused by the pump/thermostat/or restrictions(clogging) of the system. If temp drops only after moving vehicle faster, then airflow(fan/ecu/thermo sensors) is the problem.
Thermostats will slowly fail. Just replace it and your rad cap. And while your at it, flush your coolant. 50:50 water/antifreeze with a bottle of waterwetter should be good. Coolant is only good for about a year(regardless of what the bottle says). There is no coolant filtration and no way to remove suspended particles without changing regularly.
If temperature drops with vehicle movement, air(windchill) or water(gph) flow is the issue. To test waterpump, just rev engine while overheating in traffic. If the temperature drops with revving(all else equal), then water flow is inadequate. This could be caused by the pump/thermostat/or restrictions(clogging) of the system. If temp drops only after moving vehicle faster, then airflow(fan/ecu/thermo sensors) is the problem.
#25
Re: Making a general assumption
[i]To test waterpump, just rev engine while overheating in traffic. If the temperature drops with revving(all else equal), then water flow is inadequate. This could be caused by the pump/thermostat/or restrictions(clogging) of the system. If temp drops only after moving vehicle faster, then airflow(fan/ecu/thermo sensors) is the problem. [/B]
#26
Originally posted by Jeff92se
Did you notice your fans coming on during that hot time or when you are parked? If not, maybe the fans aren't kicking in and helping the radiator cool when you aren't moving. (loose connector or blown fuse)
It could be low coolant level, thermostat not opening at the correct time, or maybe even your water pump giving up the ghost.
I don't think you did any damage though.
Did you notice your fans coming on during that hot time or when you are parked? If not, maybe the fans aren't kicking in and helping the radiator cool when you aren't moving. (loose connector or blown fuse)
It could be low coolant level, thermostat not opening at the correct time, or maybe even your water pump giving up the ghost.
I don't think you did any damage though.
I think nissans have a habit of one fan dying yet the other works
and you can get a good "generic" replacement fan at pep boys....I had to replace both in my sentra when I had it
as long as the car was moving it was fine ...but once i slowed down or came to a stop....the gauge needles started to creep up
#27
Originally posted by BrianV
I guess the car just can't take 15 minutes of parking lot driving, and 10 minutes of idling in 100F with AC and S/C loading on the engine (although many people think any car should be capable of this).
Most people will say that's never happened to me, but how many people with SC with AC on have sat and done this 30 minutes worth of stress before.
I guess the car just can't take 15 minutes of parking lot driving, and 10 minutes of idling in 100F with AC and S/C loading on the engine (although many people think any car should be capable of this).
Most people will say that's never happened to me, but how many people with SC with AC on have sat and done this 30 minutes worth of stress before.
#28
Re: Re: Making a general assumption
Originally posted by BrianV
Re-read that did you mean that if temp doesn't go down with revving"
Re-read that did you mean that if temp doesn't go down with revving"
Because the problem occured in traffic(@idle or low RPMs/with no windchill), if temp goes down because of windchill(which it did once he started moving), check fans. Next time car runs that hot, rev it to 2.5-3.5k to get the coolant flowing. If temp drops, then deal with the coolant flow issues(clogged rad, defective thermo, worn pump, slipping belts).
Regardless, dump all basic preventive maintenance components. Buy coolant, OEM thermostat & cap, sensor, and yank those parts. If that doesn't work, then test fan motors. If fans work, test thermoswitches/sensors/fuses/relays/ecu/whatever. And, the last two things to replace is the waterpump and radiator. I never had to replace the Nissan radiator(except accidents) and usually dump the waterpump(never had one fail) during timing belt replacement. With regular maintenance(yearly coolant change), those components should last forever.
Online, the stat+cap+sensor < $50.
If fan is bad, please don't use a generic fan on the S/C'd V6. Either replace the motor(if option exists), visit salvage yard, or just purchase a new one online.
#29
Re: Re: Re: Making a general assumption
Originally posted by deadrx7conv
If fan is bad, please don't use a generic fan on the S/C'd V6. Either replace the motor(if option exists), visit salvage yard, or just purchase a new one online.
If fan is bad, please don't use a generic fan on the S/C'd V6. Either replace the motor(if option exists), visit salvage yard, or just purchase a new one online.
but i'm also pw'ing today so pay me no mind
#32
Originally posted by dwapenyi
Some of you guys are saying that one fan turns on, then the other. On my 98, both go turn on together. They seem to vary in 2 speeds. Maybe the 95/96 cooling system was a bit more sophisticated than the later 97, or 98-99 Maximas. You should check if both fans are supposed to go on together, and if they are, then maybe one fan has gone bad, or the harness to that fan etc.
DW
Some of you guys are saying that one fan turns on, then the other. On my 98, both go turn on together. They seem to vary in 2 speeds. Maybe the 95/96 cooling system was a bit more sophisticated than the later 97, or 98-99 Maximas. You should check if both fans are supposed to go on together, and if they are, then maybe one fan has gone bad, or the harness to that fan etc.
DW
Dave
#34
Originally posted by BrianV
No one has answered my simplest of questions:
DO BOTH FANS GO ON 100% OF THE TIME WHEN THE A/C IS ON, REGARDLESS OF ENGINE COOLANT TEMP???
No one has answered my simplest of questions:
DO BOTH FANS GO ON 100% OF THE TIME WHEN THE A/C IS ON, REGARDLESS OF ENGINE COOLANT TEMP???
#35
On the 98 Maxima, yes, both. NEVER one or the other. Just turn on the AC. I think they have 2 speed settings, too.
DW
DW
Originally posted by BrianV
No one has answered my simplest of questions:
DO BOTH FANS GO ON 100% OF THE TIME WHEN THE A/C IS ON, REGARDLESS OF ENGINE COOLANT TEMP???
No one has answered my simplest of questions:
DO BOTH FANS GO ON 100% OF THE TIME WHEN THE A/C IS ON, REGARDLESS OF ENGINE COOLANT TEMP???
#37
Originally posted by BrianV
No one has answered my simplest of questions:
DO BOTH FANS GO ON 100% OF THE TIME WHEN THE A/C IS ON, REGARDLESS OF ENGINE COOLANT TEMP???
No one has answered my simplest of questions:
DO BOTH FANS GO ON 100% OF THE TIME WHEN THE A/C IS ON, REGARDLESS OF ENGINE COOLANT TEMP???
Dave
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