Car leaking coolant and over heating

KAMRYNCARRILLO

MEMBER
2002 NISSAN ALTIMA
3.5L
6 CYL
AUTOMATIC
240,000 MILES

I just bought the car listed above and test drove it on back roads it ran fine. Got it home went out the next morning coolant on ground. Added coolant and started driving on interstate and it started to get hot and smell like burning smell. I took my car in for service and they said I had a radiator hose leak I replaced it and oil change well driving home on back roads it was fine, but when I put it on interstate it gets hot and not holding coolant. I need to find out what options I have on what could be wrong. Dealership said all fans are working and topped off my coolant, but it still is leaking under car and leaving car to where I have no coolant left. Could it be thermostats or water pump or radiator bad or fans bad?

1 Reply

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
42,883 POSTS

Hello,

I would start by doing a blown head gasket test to see if combustion pressure is getting put into the cooling system, here is a guide to help you.

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

next check out the coolant leak.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-is-leaking-coolant

if the water pump is leaking here is a repair guide to give you an idea on what you are in for when changing it. Let me know if you need diagrams for your car.

Please run some tests and get back to us so we can continue helping you.

Best, Ken