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Overheating

Tiny
HECKLER057
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 NISSAN XTERRA
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 101,000 MILES
Please help I do not know what to do. I have the vehicle listed above with a 3.3L engine. It is overheating. I have changed the following to no avail:

New radiator.
New cap.
New water pump.
Pressure check came out okay, pumped 25 lbs and no pressure loss.
New fan clutch.
Removed the thermostat.
System bleed.
Electric fan kicks in when its hot.

It still overheats when standing still on a hot day. The car runs great and no signs of a blown head gasket. Do you think that without the thermostat the water does not have time to cool? This is so frustrating.


Any ideas?

Thank you.
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Monday, August 31st, 2009 AT 1:30 PM

47 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,128 POSTS
You should have the thermostat replaced. If the coolant is not restricted, it may be processing too fast and not cooling down. Have you checked for a bad head gasket? This truck has all the signs and they had problems with them. Here is a guide to help you confirm the issue:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-thermostat

Please run down these guides and report back.

Cheers

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Monday, August 31st, 2009 AT 2:58 PM
Tiny
HECKLER057
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Note: the car would still overheat with the thermostat so I thought by removing it, it would cool better. That was before I had the fan clutch replaced. I will try again with the thermostat.

How do I know if the head gasket is blown? The car runs fine. No white stuff on the oil cap, no white smoke, clean coolant and the system held its pressure when tested.

It only overheats when still. Note: the temperature goes down when the heater is turned on.

Thanks,

JC
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Monday, August 31st, 2009 AT 3:58 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,128 POSTS
Yes, you can still have a blown head gasket even with no signs but overheating.
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Monday, August 31st, 2009 AT 9:45 PM
Tiny
HECKLER057
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Yes, you were right. I did the chemical test and has blown head gaskets.
I am going nuts! Going to cost me $1,500.00

JC
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Thursday, September 10th, 2009 AT 11:30 AM
Tiny
RUSTY64
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
  • 2001 NISSAN XTERRA
  • 150,000 MILES
This car overheats while climbing a hill, on freeway, while driving around town no problem. I did the head gaskets last November while this problem just started. It is a v6 with AC, automatic transmission, the radiator is approximately two years old. Since the heating problem I have put a new thermostat, a new fan clutch, new rad cap. I did a block check plus took it to a radiator shop and they did a block check and found nothing, in fact they are scratching there heads? I have worked in the auto industry (for Chevrolet) and have asked everyone. I hope you can give me some ideas as this is my daughters vehicle and a want my wheels back. This seems to have me stumped! Thanks for your time.
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Monday, June 18th, 2018 AT 4:19 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,938 POSTS
I have come across these cars with radiator problems, being residue casting sand blocking the cores, you still appear to have reasonable flow, but the blockage is enough to cause problems. I would still get the radiator removed and flow tested, start here.
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Monday, June 18th, 2018 AT 4:19 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
This is a problem with inefficient cooling and the most likely cause is a partially clogged radiator. 2 years is a long time for sludged build-up, especially if no coolant had been used or they had been mixed with different brands.
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Monday, June 18th, 2018 AT 4:19 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RUSTY64
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Thanks for your information. I installed a new radiator as you suggested went on a road trip same hill same heating problem, boil all the water out. No problem around town as I stated. Any other ideas? Thanks for you time.
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Monday, June 18th, 2018 AT 4:19 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
You have done almost everything except the water pump. Have it checked to see if the impellers are worn.
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Monday, June 18th, 2018 AT 4:19 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RUSTY64
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I replaced the water pump along with the head gaskets in November.
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Monday, June 18th, 2018 AT 4:19 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DAVIDLANCE
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2001 NISSAN XTERRA
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 145,000 MILES
My vehicle overheats at slower speeds, especially when the A/C is on. I can get the temperature gauge to go back to normal at higher speeds or by, when at a stop light, putting it in neutral and revving the engine. Also, A/C not as cool as it should be, may be unrelated. I live in the DFW area and the ambient temperature here outside is in the high nineties.
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Monday, June 18th, 2018 AT 4:19 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
When did this overheating started? Was any repairs done prior to this ocurring?

Have you checked the radiator cooling fins for external clogging?
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Monday, June 18th, 2018 AT 4:19 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,938 POSTS
Have you rechecked for an ongoing head problem? Do not discount this just because the heads have been done earlier.
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Monday, June 18th, 2018 AT 4:19 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RUSTY64
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
As I stated I did the head gaskets in November 2011 had no problem until jun 2012 when car overheated on a grade. Since then I have done a thermostat, fan clutch, and radiator. The water pump was replaced with the head gaskets in November. I drove this same grade a few days ago and this vehicle overheated again, at that time I stopped and did a block check with the correct equipment and it did not show a head gasket problem. As I said no problem around town town with only on grade.
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Monday, June 18th, 2018 AT 4:19 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
What was the average engine rpm when climbing the grade and what was the driving time?
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Monday, June 18th, 2018 AT 4:19 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RUSTY64
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Not sure about the grade, but it last for about a mile. Someone suggested the transmission converter was heating the fluid while on a grade. Since the fluid runs through radiator I added a ext cooler an deleted the one in the radiator. Well the vehicle still overheated on the hill. The rpm was probably in the 4,000 rpm range.
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Monday, June 18th, 2018 AT 4:19 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JEAN HANCOCK
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 NISSAN XTERRA
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 13,000 MILES
I have had to put Freon in my car a couple of times now for the air to work and the last time I did this it worked great for one day and the next day it was hot again. My brother is a mechanic and told me that I had a big leak in one of my hoses and that it needed to be checked to see which one it might be. I took it to get checked and they put more Freon in it about two weeks ago and it is still working. But now when I go up any hills while driving down the road my temperature hands goes up and it starts running hot. Please let me know what could be causing this?
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Monday, June 18th, 2018 AT 4:19 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Check the coolant temperature sensor. Also, if the AC condenser fan is coming on to include the coolant level.
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Monday, June 18th, 2018 AT 4:19 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
Transmission fluid would not be sufficient to heat the coolant until it overheats as the cooling system should be able to take care of that.

What you have is inefficient cooling due to excessive strain on the engine and the only way you are going to resolve this is to get a bigger capacity radiator.
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Monday, June 18th, 2018 AT 4:19 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MKJM
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2001 NISSAN XTERRA
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 87,000 MILES
Overheats after about an hour on the road. We have replaced radiator, fan clutch, thermostat, water pump and had it pressure checked. Pressure check did not indicate a problem. What is it?
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Monday, June 18th, 2018 AT 4:19 PM (Merged)

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