Overheating engine can you help me fix it?

Tiny
WAPITIJOSH
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 NISSAN ALTIMA
  • 2.4L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 155,000 MILES
My temperature gauge shows the car's overheating. If I run the heat the temperature gauge shows back at a normal temperature. I have replaced the thermostat and made sure the water pump is working correctly. I used a laser surface thermometer to check the temperature of different parts of the engine. The coolant hoses are around a 195 degrees and the block itself is around 165. The small metal part that houses the ECT is at 240 degrees. How could only this part be overheating?
Tuesday, April 9th, 2019 AT 7:55 PM

28 Replies

Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Hello,

You could have an air pocket stuck where the ECT is. When you fill your cooling system you need to fill it from the highest spot. For instance, on my vehicle, a 1997 Ford Mustang GT with a 4.6L engine, I take of the upper radiator hose from the thermostat neck. I than fill the cooling system through the upper radiator hose until I have coolant running out of the thermostat neck. This way I ensure that there are no air pockets present in my cooling system. If an air pocket is present, then the coolant will not be able to circulate. This guide can help us fix it

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-overheating-or-running-hot

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros
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Tuesday, April 9th, 2019 AT 8:06 PM
Tiny
DEL MONTE
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1999 NISSAN ALTIMA
Engine Cooling problem
1999 Nissan Altima 4 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic

I have a 99 Altima. Was driving one day and the belt broke. When the belt broke it also broke the alternator pulley and idler pulley. I replace both belts, the alternator and the idler pullet. I took it for a test drive and the car overheated, and the Radiator busted. I also notice the sensor near the alternator on on the upper radiator hose was broken. So I replaced it. Then I put everything back and started the car and noticed smoke coming from the top of the engine and near the header. The fans also came on after 15 mins. So I replaced the thermostat. Still the same. I tried flushing the coolant from the radiator and try to bleed it. Still the same. I am not sure what to do next. What else could be wrong? Please help.
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Tuesday, February 16th, 2021 AT 10:32 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
Hi there,

Often i does not take much to blow a head gasket, i would be getting a Co check done, this is a simple chemical test in the radiator, it will detect any Co build up in the cooling system, if so you will have a head gasket problem.

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

use this guide

Mark (mhpautos)
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Tuesday, February 16th, 2021 AT 10:32 AM (Merged)
Tiny
TMIXE32
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1999 NISSAN ALTIMA
Engine Cooling problem
1999 Nissan Altima 6 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic 185k miles

My 99' Nissan Altima is a bull, I love the car. It's got 185,000 miles on it. I do repairs on my own like, brake pads, rotors, oil change etc. I do consider myself a novice still in car repair. Ok when I drive my car for anytime over lets say 20 mins and I turn the car off, the engine seems to keep running, like the fan or something in car isnt turning off. I knew of guy who had an altima and just remember hearing the same thing. Any help would be great, thanks a lot

Tom
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Tuesday, February 16th, 2021 AT 10:32 AM (Merged)
Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,533 POSTS
Sometimes the cooling fan will stay running after the car is turned off. Some are on timers, others through temp switchs. If the fan shuts down shortly then I wouldnt worry about it, especially if you know of others that do it with no harm being done
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Tuesday, February 16th, 2021 AT 10:32 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ADDIE043
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1998 NISSAN ALTIMA
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 89,000 MILES
My 1998 Altima overheats in less than 5 minutes. I've replaced the radiator, the fan, & the thermostat. The water pump is fairly new and it does not leak. All fuses work okay. What am I missing?
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Tuesday, February 16th, 2021 AT 10:32 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
Have coolant checked for CO possible headgasket failure. See any bubbles in rad?
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Tuesday, February 16th, 2021 AT 10:32 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ADDIE043
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
No bubbles in rad and the oil looks fine. No mud or water signs. Car power is also okay. I did notice the fans were not coming on as they should so I changed the temp sensor. I also replaced the relays. I tested with the sensor unplugged and fans stay on at full speed but car still over heats. I'm wondering if it may be the water pump. Although it is fairly new (about 4 months) and it is not leaking. Please HELP. I'm exhausted.
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Tuesday, February 16th, 2021 AT 10:32 AM (Merged)
Tiny
GILESPLAY1
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 NISSAN ALTIMA
Engine Cooling problem
1998 Nissan Altima 4 cyl Four Wheel Drive 156000 miles

right under the gasket head, smoke is coming from under that panel with the plug in it. I think its called the manifold. What could be causing this?
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Tuesday, February 16th, 2021 AT 10:32 AM (Merged)
Tiny
GFIMOTORCARS
  • MECHANIC
  • 673 POSTS
The "smoke" you are speaking of may be steam if you are having engine cooling issues. You may be seeing the break down of your head gasket or possibly a leaking coolant galley plug.
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Tuesday, February 16th, 2021 AT 10:32 AM (Merged)
Tiny
NINOG
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 NISSAN ALTIMA
Other Category problem
1998 Nissan Altima 6 cyl Wheel Drive Type unknown Automatic 103458 miles

my car overheats regularly should I change the radiator & thermostat, or should I just take it to the pros?
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Tuesday, February 16th, 2021 AT 10:33 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BLACKOP555
  • MECHANIC
  • 10,371 POSTS
First change the thermostat and see if it goes away, that will probably fix it. If not you could choose to get your hands dirty or take it in.

Let me know if you go with getting your hands dirty.
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Tuesday, February 16th, 2021 AT 10:33 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ORTIZJ83
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA
My car had been over heating. I saw that the water pump was leaking. I took the car to a mechanic shop and they told me that the water pump was bad and got it replaced. My car still overheats. What do you think is wrong with the car now? I was thinking that it must be the thermostat. If you have a bad thermostat, will the water still pump the antifreeze?
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Tuesday, February 16th, 2021 AT 10:33 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ZACKMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,202 POSTS
I am surprised that the shop didn't advise you to replace the thermostat since they are already working on the water (really close to one another).

To answer your question, faulty thermostat does not control the operations of the water pump. For as long as the engine is running and the serpentine belt is attached, the water pump will continue running and will not circulate the coolant kin the thermostat is stuck closed.

There are several reasons why a vehicle overheats.
1. Faulty thermostat.
2. Faulty coolant temp sensor.
3. Radiator fans not working.

Answer these questions.
Does it overheat all the time, or some of the times? If so when? At idle, at the stop light, while you are driving. What speed.

What you notice it overheating, do the radiator fans turn on? Do you have enough coolant? If you turn the fan control to maximum and temp control (on the dash) to full heat, does that help lower the engine temp gauge in the instrument cluster?
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Tuesday, February 16th, 2021 AT 10:33 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ORTIZJ83
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
The car Overheats all of the time. The fan does turn so I know that is working, but it doesnt seem to be enough to keep the engine cool. The car is also rough at idle. What happens when a thermostat is removed from the engine and the car is being ran without a thermostat?
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Tuesday, February 16th, 2021 AT 10:33 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ZACKMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,202 POSTS
You can run the car without a thermostat, but I won't recommend it. Rather than doing that, just replace it with a new one. It only costs less than $10 and 3 10mm bolts to undo to remove the thermostat housing.

You may want to consider to have the engine pressure-tested to make sure that you don't have any internal leak that can cause the overheating and rough idle.
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Tuesday, February 16th, 2021 AT 10:33 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ORTIZJ83
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
So what happens if the engine has an internal leak? In that case what would I need to do? The repair shop where they installed the new waterpump, mentioned that the valve cover gasket was in poor conditions, and that if they pressure test the engine, the inspection plug might have to be replaced. And they also said that they would charge me $150 to replace the inspection plug. I dont want to go back to that place, they dont seem honest. So if I replace the thermostat and it is still overheating, what would the problem be? If it is an internal leak, can I fix that myself?
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Tuesday, February 16th, 2021 AT 10:33 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ZACKMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,202 POSTS
I would try the thermostat. Like I said $10 and 3 bolts. Maybe 20 minutes.

Internal leak means bad head gasket and will have to be replaced. Top half of the motor has to come out. You can do it with a friend's help (not just anyone, someone who knows about engine), and a repair manual and proper tools.

But seriously speaking, repairing head gasket is not a simple job. If you have never done one, your helper has to be someone that has done.

But pressure test should be performed before any work is to be done. If you feel you can't trust the shop, you should ask your friends and family for a shop or maybe a backyard mechanic that they use.
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Tuesday, February 16th, 2021 AT 10:33 AM (Merged)
Tiny
TPW0589
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA
  • 135,000 MILES
I have a 97 altima 2.4 twin cam and I just did the thermostat and the car doesn't over heat. The heat was blowing hot. Then I went to work and it seemed a little cool then it went hot again. The fans seem to click on and off repeatedly. I know there is air in the system but I am looking for that bleeder valve and I cant seem to find it.
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Tuesday, February 16th, 2021 AT 10:33 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ORTIZJ83
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Well I did as you guys recommended and replaced the thermostat. The Engine still overheats. After 30 mins of running the engine, whenever I set it on Drive or Reverse, the Engine makes a repeatedly clacking noise and it turns off while running. I have to wait for the engine to cool again to turn it back on. If I try turning it on, right after it turned off, it will not start. What does that mean, I also notice water coming out of the muffler, but it didnt look like antifreeze, just plain water. What am I dealing with here?
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Tuesday, February 16th, 2021 AT 10:33 AM (Merged)

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