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Car Forum / Nissan / Nissan Maxima / June 2007

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Warm Weather Overheat 01 Again!

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Tony Deb - 24 May 2007 01:24 GMT
Well if you guys might recall last year I had an overheating problem
with my 01 max gle 72k. Only when outside temp is over about 75 degrees.
Temp gauge will climb, then I shut it down fr 10 to 15 min and it will
come back down then gradually go up. Sometimes it will stay normal only
to do it again on another warm day. Changed out thermostat and that
other thing that looks like a thermostat, think its called a water
pressure... something, which was shot. My local dealer found this unit
on a diagram of engine and said that he was unaware of this part. Geez!
What the hell am I to do?
System was flushed of course and coolant level is fine. I was told to
check between the condenser and radiator as there may be debris caught
in there blocking air flow.Any ideas would be really appreciated.
Thanks.

Tony C.
Geoff Bonnin - 24 May 2007 01:48 GMT
On 5/23/07 8:24 PM, in article
19954-4654DB43-83@storefull-3316.bay.webtv.net, "Tony Deb"
<acdccc@webtv.net> wrote:

> Well if you guys might recall last year I had an overheating problem
> with my 01 max gle 72k. Only when outside temp is over about 75 degrees.
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Tony C.

I had to change the radiator in my 2K Max to fix that problem!!%!$@#

Geoff
codifus - 25 May 2007 15:23 GMT
> On 5/23/07 8:24 PM, in article
> 19954-4654DB43...@storefull-3316.bay.webtv.net, "Tony Deb"
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>
> Geoff

Good suggestion. Replace the radiator. If that doesn't fix it, then
the only thing I could think of that I wouldn't want to think of , is
a blown head gasket. Last resort kind of thing.

CD
Tony Deb - 26 May 2007 04:40 GMT
Even my mechanic and the tech at Nissan are scratching there heads.
Latest guess is the water pump "baffles". These are the fins that make
the coolant circulate. I am told that some of these are made of a type
of metal and some are made of a type of plastic. No one kows for sure
till it is removed. Its about a 300 dollar job at my guy so thats
probable 600 at dealer. Any thoughts on this theory? BTW thanks for the
responses as they are always appreciated.

Tony C.
codifus - 26 May 2007 21:53 GMT
> Even my mechanic and the tech at Nissan are scratching there heads.
> Latest guess is the water pump "baffles". These are the fins that make
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Tony C.

Actually, its a 400 to 500 job for the water pump. The pump has metal
fins.
I find it interesting that the Nissan mechanic doesn't know for sure
what type of water pump you have. Hmmmm.
Look at it this way:

replacing the radiator: 300 or less. You could do it yourself even.
repalcing the water pump:400-500
replacing the head gasket: very very expensive

CD
Al Moodie - 27 May 2007 14:22 GMT
>Even my mechanic and the tech at Nissan are scratching there heads.
>Latest guess is the water pump "baffles". These are the fins that make
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
>Tony C.

Are you sure that it actually does overheat. Could it not be a problem
with the temperature sensor or guage?

Al Moodie.
Tony Deb - 28 May 2007 00:53 GMT
Good question. When I allow the gauge to approach the first HOT
indicator, I see that the overflow jug is beyond the "full  when hot"
indicator and it is bubbling. The weird thing to me is the quickness of
the temp gauge to drop back down to just below center. AC of course will
become warm as gauge goes up. When I turn off ignition even for one
minute then re-start, gauge drops right back down  to normal range
within one minute. I am going to order  new thermostat from the dealer
this time just in case the aftermarket one was faulty. I'm probably
wasting my time but what the heck. As always any ideas from the group is
very much appreciated, Thank You!

Tony C.
Al Moodie - 28 May 2007 15:55 GMT
>When I turn off ignition even for one
>minute then re-start, gauge drops right back down  to normal range
>within one minute.

This statement makes me supect the temp may in fact be normal, but the
sensor is faulty.
Water will flow and bubble  into the overflow container as the coolant
rises in temperature from cold to normal operating temperature, this
is normal.
I would replace the Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor, it should be a
cheap fix, cheaper and easier to replace than the thermostat.

Then again if the problem only happens in warm weather that would mean
the cooling system can cope with heat dissipation in cool weather but
not in warm (greater load). That suggests a partially blocked radiator
or some other partial blockage in the cooling system.

Al Moodie.
codifus - 29 May 2007 15:04 GMT
> >When I turn off ignition even for one
> >minute then re-start, gauge drops right back down  to normal range
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> Al Moodie.

Have to disagree here. First, a bubbling overflow tank is not normal.
Something's wrong. And regarding the coolant temp sensor; when it
fails, the car tends to run cooler than normal.

CD
Al Moodie - 29 May 2007 16:36 GMT
>> >When I turn off ignition even for one
>> >minute then re-start, gauge drops right back down  to normal range
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>
>Have to disagree here. First, a bubbling overflow tank is not normal.

Hi Codifus,

When the engine is cold the water level in the overflow resevoir will
be at "cold" marking. You start the engine, the water heats up, and
expands into the overflow tank, and the level rises to the "hot"
marking. Wont you get bubbling at this time? No, you are probably
correct, there should be little or no air in the system, so there
should little no bubbling as the engine heats up.

>Something's wrong. And regarding the coolant temp sensor; when it
>fails, the car tends to run cooler than normal.

Again I bow to your superior knowledge. All I really know is that if
the coolant temperature sensor is faulty, you will get a faulty
temperature reading.

If the coolant temperature sensor is faulty, how does that make the
engine run cooler. What does the coolant temperature sensor affect?
the thermostat, fans, some other temperature adjusting mechanism?

Educate me please.

Al Moodie

>CD
codifus - 29 May 2007 16:51 GMT
> >> >When I turn off ignition even for one
> >> >minute then re-start, gauge drops right back down  to normal range
[quoted text clipped - 42 lines]
>
> >CD
OK, regarding the temp sensors, on this maxima there are 2. One sensor
actually tells the ECU what tempurature the car is. The other one is
linked to the temp gage that you view on the instrument panel.

The ECU one is the important, critical one.

When that sensor fails, it tends to under-report the tempurature to
the ECU. If the car's real temp is 240 degrees,  a failing sensor will
tell the ECU is 140 degress. The ECU then thinks that the car is still
cold, thereby keeping the fuel maps on the rich side, you know, like
when you first start the car in winter.  Running rich makes a car run
cooler because of the excess, and hence unburnt, feul being thrown
into the cylinders.

Symptoms of a bad temp sensor: weaker engine, bad gas mileage.

CD
E Meyer - 29 May 2007 17:06 GMT
On 5/29/07 10:36 AM, in article b7ho5315hnpil58obj3qpc9v4uo2av3jt9@4ax.com,

>>>> When I turn off ignition even for one
>>>> minute then re-start, gauge drops right back down  to normal range
[quoted text clipped - 32 lines]
> the coolant temperature sensor is faulty, you will get a faulty
> temperature reading.

Most of the the Maximas have two temperature sensors, one that feeds the
gauges and one that feeds the ECU.  If the "other" one is bad, you won't see
any cessation of function on the gauge.

> If the coolant temperature sensor is faulty, how does that make the
> engine run cooler. What does the coolant temperature sensor affect?
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>>
>> CD

If you've got obvious flow into the overflow tank as the engine warms from
cold to normal, that usually means a bad radiator cap is opening at too low
a pressure.  It shouldn't be moving anything into the overflow tank until
its fully warmed up and the pressure in the radiator starts to exceed the
cap rating.  In any event, there shouldn't be any bubbles.

If it continues blowing bubbles into the tank and proceeds directly to
overheated, that is a classic symptom of a blown head gasket.

I think your first priority is finding the source of the bubbles - seeping
water pump, pin hole in a hose, etc.  My daughter's 240SX will behave as you
describe if there is an air bubble trapped in the vicinity of the thermostat
(usually right after a coolant replacement).
KybonaWhogonna - 30 May 2007 22:50 GMT
> On 5/29/07 10:36 AM, in article
> b7ho5315hnpil58obj3qpc9v4uo2av3jt9@4ax.com,
[quoted text clipped - 67 lines]
> thermostat
> (usually right after a coolant replacement).
===
Myself I would find a good radiator repair shop and get it fixed before you
ruin the engine.
T C - 08 Jun 2007 05:28 GMT
O.K. I appreciate all responses, let me ask this.
I have seen an additive called "Water Wetter" made by a company called
"Redline" It states that it will reduce engine temp. by 20 degrees and
is perfectly safe to add to the existing coolant. Anybody have
experience with this stuff? And is 20 degrees enough to solve my probem?
codifus - 08 Jun 2007 12:23 GMT
> O.K. I appreciate all responses, let me ask this.
> I have seen an additive called "Water Wetter" made by a company called
> "Redline" It states that it will reduce engine temp. by 20 degrees and
> is perfectly safe to add to the existing coolant. Anybody have
> experience with this stuff? And is 20 degrees enough to solve my probem?

It's not a problem solver. Water Wetter just makes your system run
more effficiently. Fix the problem first, then add water wetter.

CD
 
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