My F*#cking lower radiator hose fell off tonight! I know that's an easy fix, but concerned about whether the engine got messed up during the overheat.

I had driven about 1 mile from home, 30mph or so, and then entered a shopping zone with a couple of lights. While in stop and go traffic for a minute or two I noticed it seemed to "kick" a bit as I let out the clutch and gave it gas once or twice, but thought I must have just been clumsy with the clutch. Got past the light and started accelerating, and as I revved up past 2000-2500 it sputtered. I knew something was wrong and I turned onto a side street, sputtered again and I noticed the temp gage was almost pegged on high. DAMN. Pulled over and shut it down right away.

After it cooled down -- I had time to walk a mile to the store and back with some jugs of water -- I did start it up again and let it creep around a corner 20 yards ahead (the road I was on had no shoulder), barely 30 seconds on. Sounded ok and no check engine light.

It was clear what happened: the hose clamp where the hose enters the radiator on the bottom passenger side, had failed (rust) and the hose popped off. I'm sure it hadn't happened yet when I left home as there was no fluid back in my parking spot.

I'm an idiot for not noticing the gauge right away, I know. My only defense is that area with the lights is a big tourist area with bars so I was keeping my head up as pedestrians jaywalked, out-of-state cars weaved cluelessly, etc. Total time from first symptom to shutting it off was less than 2 min, mostly at idle. Damn.

The hose is an easy fix (though I have no wheels to get to a parts store), but I"m worried about how messed up my engine is. Sure, I'll find out when I get it to a shop Monday morning, but I'm curious if anyone has any thoughts?

If it was already sputtering and kicking as it revved up, does that mean I've already cracked/warped something?

I really hope I'm not screwed....

 

Please, your VQ will be fine. For the last month or so I've driven my car with no coolant god knows how many times, overheated the royal **** out of it, and just generally abused it. She's still running just fine.

 

I guess you really do hate your maxima.

 

Not really, it had BHG symptoms so I figured I'd just drive it until it blew up, see how much it could really take. Instead of dying, it actually fixed itself...no more burning coolant, overheating, etc. Crazy VQ.

 

Pretty amazing story, isn't the pressure clamps made of steel to prevent rusting.

I live in CA, never dealt with rust but I guess in the snow filled states it is common to rust.

 

I'm not that surprised, actually. Given the low milage on my Maxima -- just rolled over to 100,000, and it only had 68,000 when I bought it in 2004 -- I've figured it's probably rust that's going to do it in. I've got *tons* of rust on all exposed lower surfaces; road salt is nasty stuff. I've lived on the west coast, too, and you see a lot more good looking 20-year old cars there than in New England.

The annoying thing is I had it in a radiator shop in May for an a/c fix (evaporator sprung a leak). I thought about having them replace all the old radiator hoses/clamps while it was there as a cheap fix to to head off being stranded when one failed someday. But when the a/c job became much longer than expected due to problems finding the right parts, I just said the heck with it and took the car as soon as they were done.

 

How much do radiator hose costs? For the top/bottom one?

 

The hose is $15 for genuine Nissan from Courtesy -- I'd imagine the generic from the radiator shop would be cheaper.

 

When I replaced my radiator, I replaced the hoses too. I went with gates hoses, they are better than OEM.

Got both for $30.

 

What do you mean by saying they are better than OEM? Are they more durable and do they make a direct replacement? I'm planning on changing my top/bottom hoses as well since I am nearing 90k.

Thanks.

 

hmm since I sort of have the same problem I'll post here.Since I cant make my own yet. So like 6 weeks ago I was driving and all of a sudden my car started to overheat, I wasnt beating it or anything and it kept getting hotter and hotter then went all the way to the top.Freaking out and trying to get home..I turned the heater on and it helped for the time being.I got home..I thought my water pump finally failed completely,it has been leaking since I bought my car.So i desided to replace that.After replacing my water pump.I hoped it wouldnt over heat no more. Driving it around the block for awhile it started to get hot again so I drove it back home and thought to my self what else could it be.I didnt think it was my thermostat since i replaced it a month before but I said hmm maybe I bought a faulty one so I bought a new one and put it in.PRAYING it wasnt gonna over heat...and it still was over heating.I have lost hope and need help..I dont know what else it could be..nothing is leaking I need help. I need to find out what it is.
PLEASE HELP
THIS CAR HAS BEEN BAD LUCK SINCE I BOUGHT IT....

THANX
Chris

 

What about your fans and sensor? Could those be faulty?

How about your coolant, what mixture are you using and has the resoivor been stable?

 

The fans are working perfectly fine. Which sensor could it be.Would it cause the temperture to go to the highest point possible.The resoivor has been stable. I am using 50/50 right now.
I was wondering if it could be the radiator and if so would it have to be leaking or could it be messed up and not leaking.
Is there anyway to run test to figure the problem.