Civic EG

Guys, My 2000 Nissan pathfinder keeps overheating. I've changed the thermostat and fluid levels stay good, I dont ever need to put anything in. the fan works fine. It creeps up pretty quick when idling. When we drive It will go down a bit but Meh I'm lost the cooling systems.

What are your thoughts? My only thought is... that its a clogged radiator or something. So thinking about getting a new one.

I need input asap.. pleeeeeeeeeeease.

Seems kind of early for a 2000, but radiators will clog inside over time from using tap water due to calcium deposits and other gunk. (They say to use distilled water but I never do)

Or look at the front to see if something is blocking the air flow (dead birds, 1" of dead bugs) or a bunch of damaged fins.

I dont know too much about nissans, maybe they have specific issues.

Seems this Nissan has been nothing but issue after issue. There isn't anything blocking the air flow. and same here.. use tap water.

Not sure if I should bring it in to get flushed... or just buy a new radiator. New one costs $130'ish... not sure the cost of labor for the flush. When I can just replace it myself.

From looking up my issue on google... Some possibilities:
bad Water pump?
Needs cooling system flush?
Head gasket leak causing excessive pressure/exhaust in cooling system?

fawk.

Usually a bad water pump (not sure how they are on those motors) will have a slight leak on the outside.

Head gasket leak causing excessive pressure/exhaust in cooling system?

This would replace the coolant with air, causing the reservoir to overflow when hot, leaving the coolant level low when cool. Sounds like this isn't the problem.

The flush is the cheapest/easiest... how does the coolant look?
Check around the waterpump too

Read something saying the waterpump wont necessarily have a leak but most of the time it does. I dont think there is a leak but will definitely check around it.

and I think the next thing I'll do is get some flush fluid and do that and go from there. The coolant looks fine to me really(green and clean i think)... but I guess I'll know more how it looks when I drain it.

Thanks a bunch Bdawg!

Just though of this... sometimes a temp sensor could go bad, giving false readings. But seeing as it goes back down when driving, meaning the radiator is getting better air flow, I think that clogged radiator would be more likely than a bad sensor.

When you looked under the radiator cap, did you see anything funky like cookie dough? (don't taste it - worst cookies ever!)

I don't remember seeing anything funky on the cap. but I will definitely double check when I get home. I want a cookie.

survey says?

Caps clean. fluids clean. No leaks. Haven't got around to doing anything yet. Flushing it in the morning.

Welp... Flushed it today. Sprayed some leaves and gunk out of the radiator. Thought that fixed it. But then... it got real hot again. Over 3/4 of the way to "H" -Hot. Ugh.

Chance wrote:Welp... Flushed it today. Sprayed some leaves and gunk out of the radiator. Thought that fixed it. But then... it got real hot again. Over 3/4 of the way to "H" -Hot. Ugh.

if there was stuff in the system you need a full system flush. For that you need a fluid exchanger.

The stuff wasn't "in" the system, just built up on the front of the radiator between it and the condenser. Thats all been cleaned off and free flowing air now.
When I had the radiator off, liquid was free flowing through it so I'm assuming if there were a clog the flush helped that. Not sure if that means I can rule out that its a bad radiator?!

Not sure what to do next. Pressure test? Water pump? The radiator is surprisingly thin.. wonder if getting a new one thats thicker would help more either way.


and on top of that issue... one of my tires has a bubble/bulging/seperating. UGH. Money pit POS. I'll never own another nissan. Ever. (this isn't the first nissan I've had issues with)

Chance wrote:The stuff wasn't "in" the system, just built up on the front of the radiator between it and the condenser. Thats all been cleaned off and free flowing air now.
When I had the radiator off, liquid was free flowing through it so I'm assuming if there were a clog the flush helped that. Not sure if that means I can rule out that its a bad radiator?!

Not sure what to do next. Pressure test? Water pump? The radiator is surprisingly thin.. wonder if getting a new one thats thicker would help more either way.


and on top of that issue... one of my tires has a bubble/bulging/seperating. UGH. Money pit POS. I'll never own another nissan. Ever. (this isn't the first nissan I've had issues with)

Just to rule it out i'd try another temp sensor. Check the radiator and hoses for leaks, just because its not loosing coolant That doesnt mean that air isnt present in the system.

If the thermostat was from autozone and not name brand, it could be sketchy. I've had some that didn't open all the way. The sure way to check is to put it in a pot of boiling water on the stove.