Other car Tech help/suggestions/ideas...OVERHEATING

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By Chance
- Mon Aug 13, 2012 3:54 pm #313381 It is from vatozone. but We ran a hose through the system. When the water went through, it was cooler, and the thermostat closed the water flow. When it got hot it flowed right through.
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By Chance
- Mon Aug 13, 2012 5:11 pm #313396 Let me clarify.

After I flushed the system with an actual radiator flush. I removed the radiator, Cleaned it up and set it aside. then ran a hose with water through where the top hose hooks up running straight water through the motor for an extra flush(not my idea, my bro inlaw that knows much more about cars than me). Then let it drain, hooked the radiator back up and filled it with 50/50.

It seemed to fix it, but then I sat a let it idle and it started to creep up after 5-8 mins. It does cool off a little faster once I start driving again though.
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By teal_dx
- Mon Aug 13, 2012 6:37 pm #313402 Ok that's the way to do it for a full flush. You've done everything I could think of so far... :thumb: I still can't believe this though... what a PITA. So it will get hot only while idling, but not while driving? Ever get hot on the highway?
If it starts to get hot idling and then you start driving, does the temp get back down where it should be?
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By teal_dx
- Mon Aug 13, 2012 6:46 pm #313403 I googled and this seems yours isn't the only one...
I found something in here:
http://www.nissanforums.com/pathfinder/ ... -idle.html
Check your coolant level. It's easy. In addition to what is mentioned above, there is also a thermostadt in the radiator that you should check.


when it runs warm. stop the engine and try to spin the fan by hand. it should be very hard to turn. give it a push and it should not spin even half a turn. if it spins fairly easily, your fan clutch is shot.


and here:
http://www.nissanforums.com/pathfinder/ ... ating.html
I am a tech at
a nissan dealer. anyways to me it sounds as if you have air still traped in the system. There is a tool which pulls a vacuum on the system using the venturi effect. That is the only way i found to get air out of the system. Something like that actually happened to a guy at my work. He flushed the cooling system and didnt bleed the system using that tool. The tech thought he got all the air out but really didnt. When he did use the tool we found that the system would not hold a high enough vacuum. It only held about 10hg of vacuum which it usually holds at least 15+. We also found that the radiator was clogged. We replaced the radiator and it was fine. The tech actually replaced the thermisat thinking that was the problem. I bought my tool from a matco dealer. OUr shop has one because there is a bulletin on traped air in the cooling system which this tool is one of the only ways of emlinating it. Hope this helps.



I read a couple of pages into that one and it describes your issue pretty well. There's a lot of good info on that link.

:thumb:
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By Chance
- Tue Aug 14, 2012 11:55 am #313460
teal_dx wrote: So it will get hot only while idling, but not while driving?

Yup!

teal_dx wrote: Ever get hot on the highway?

nope

teal_dx wrote: If it starts to get hot idling and then you start driving, does the temp get back down where it should be?


Yup.
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By Chance
- Tue Aug 14, 2012 11:59 am #313461
teal_dx wrote:I googled and this seems yours isn't the only one...
I found something in here:
http://www.nissanforums.com/pathfinder/ ... -idle.html
Check your coolant level. It's easy. In addition to what is mentioned above, there is also a thermostadt in the radiator that you should check.


when it runs warm. stop the engine and try to spin the fan by hand. it should be very hard to turn. give it a push and it should not spin even half a turn. if it spins fairly easily, your fan clutch is shot.


and here:
http://www.nissanforums.com/pathfinder/ ... ating.html
I am a tech at
a nissan dealer. anyways to me it sounds as if you have air still traped in the system. There is a tool which pulls a vacuum on the system using the venturi effect. That is the only way i found to get air out of the system. Something like that actually happened to a guy at my work. He flushed the cooling system and didnt bleed the system using that tool. The tech thought he got all the air out but really didnt. When he did use the tool we found that the system would not hold a high enough vacuum. It only held about 10hg of vacuum which it usually holds at least 15+. We also found that the radiator was clogged. We replaced the radiator and it was fine. The tech actually replaced the thermisat thinking that was the problem. I bought my tool from a matco dealer. OUr shop has one because there is a bulletin on traped air in the cooling system which this tool is one of the only ways of emlinating it. Hope this helps.



I read a couple of pages into that one and it describes your issue pretty well. There's a lot of good info on that link.

:thumb:




Just trying everything possible before bringing it to a shop. Don't want them just saying its the radiator and replacing it for $300 when I can replace it for $120. Ahh. but I think I definitely need to get it pressure tested!! Think that is just the next thing on the check list!

Thanks for the research and help B! :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:
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By teal_dx
- Tue Aug 14, 2012 1:31 pm #313468 And I still would be suspicious of the stock radiator. Sounds like a lot of people have had issues with the inside getting corroded from using non-distilled water in their coolant.

You mentioned getting a thicker replacement... I would probably do that since it's something you can do yourself.

Note to self - never buy a Pathfinder :shock:
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By Chance
- Wed Aug 15, 2012 12:08 pm #313549
teal_dx wrote:

Note to self - never buy a Pathfinder :shock:


:thumb:
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By Chance
- Thu Aug 23, 2012 12:09 pm #314094 Welp... I ended up just buying a new radiator. One a little thicker than the stock one they had in. After bleeding air from the system and topping off fluid... we've yet to see the temp go above half way.
:?


Hopefully it stays that way. :thumb: thanks again for all the suggestions and help guys.
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By Chance
- Thu Aug 23, 2012 12:11 pm #314095
teal_dx wrote:And I still would be suspicious of the stock radiator. Sounds like a lot of people have had issues with the inside getting corroded from using non-distilled water in their coolant.


:thumb:
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By teal_dx
- Thu Aug 23, 2012 3:25 pm #314107
Chance wrote:Welp... I ended up just buying a new radiator. One a little thicker than the stock one they had in. After bleeding air from the system and topping off fluid... we've yet to see the temp go above half way.
:?


Hopefully it stays that way. :thumb: thanks again for all the suggestions and help guys.
:cheers:
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By Apexracing
- Fri Aug 24, 2012 3:43 am #314144 Awesome i love it when a plan comes together. :cheers:
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