by "Meatcoma" (mastapoof)
Published 01/09/2017 at 13:38
by "Meatcoma" (mastapoof)
Published 01/09/2017 at 13:38
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STARS: 0
My son bought a used 2001 pathfinder a few months ago and over the weekend it overheated on us.
I thought ‘thermostat’ so we replaced it pretty easily. It still overheated, so initially I thought water pump.
We ended up figuring out there is a bleeder valve at the top rear of engine and yea sure, it could be some air in the lines so we opened that up and ran it. Eventually it started to spit more and more coolant and less air out of that valve, so I put the cap back on and the heater started blowing hot air. Took it for a test drive and it overheated again. Pulled the bleeder cap and it just spewed air and steam.
I no longer think it’s the water pump, but am kind of out of ideas, anyone else have one?
It’s a VG35DE engine in a 2001 Nissan Pathfinder XE 4x4 3.5 V6.
Airborne pathfinder for your time.
"Nibby" (nibby68)
01/09/2017 at 13:43, STARS: 2
Replace with QX4. Swathe your child in luxury.
"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
01/09/2017 at 13:44, STARS: 1
Head gasket?
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
01/09/2017 at 13:44, STARS: 2
I would completely flush and refill the cooling system. its either got trapped air, a leak or your radiator is plugged up with gunk. When I bought my cruiser is was overheating, I bled it, replaced the t-stat, etc, etc...turns out the radiator was just clogged to hell.
"Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer" (smallbear94)
01/09/2017 at 13:45, STARS: 0
Our 2002 Pontiac Montana had the same issue just before we got rid of it... We figure it was the head gasket. The 3.4 had a reputation for head gasket issues at 150,000km and we’d had it done around that mileage. It was getting close to 300,000km so it was the logical suspect.
Bearing the symptoms in mind I’d say the cause is the same.
*We never actually confirmed it, just ditched it--but like I said it was the most likely suspect. We changed the tstat, bled it numerous times, it kept coming back. Couldn’t complete a journey in it without stopping to let it cool.
"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
01/09/2017 at 13:45, STARS: 1
Is the cooling fan(s) working? I had a 2001 Kia Rio that would overheat when stopped, the little engine couldn’t keep itself cool unless the car was moving and air was blowing through the little mail slot of a grille. Turned out to be a non-functional cooling fan. Bigger engines would have trouble keeping cool even while moving.
"Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell." (oppisitelock)
01/09/2017 at 13:46, STARS: 3
Check for milky deposits in the oil and check for any corrosion or signs of leaks in the radiator. Even a small hole in the rad can cause it to constantly take on air and not cool properly.
"Meatcoma" (mastapoof)
01/09/2017 at 13:47, STARS: 0
He’s driven it for a few months but never more than 20 or 25 miles at a time and never had a problem. We drove it about 60 miles and then had this problem.
Maybe I’ll try that.
"Meatcoma" (mastapoof)
01/09/2017 at 13:47, STARS: 0
Yea fan seems to work perfectly.
"Meatcoma" (mastapoof)
01/09/2017 at 13:48, STARS: 0
Oil is good, no moisture. Coolant is good, very clean.
"Meatcoma" (mastapoof)
01/09/2017 at 13:48, STARS: 0
We were going to, the one we tried to buy was sold before we got back to the guy.
"Meatcoma" (mastapoof)
01/09/2017 at 13:49, STARS: 0
That is what I thought, there is a small hole somewhere taking in air. I’ll have to have it pressure tested somewhere.
"Meatcoma" (mastapoof)
01/09/2017 at 13:51, STARS: 0
I don’t think so.
I really hope not.
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
01/09/2017 at 13:52, STARS: 1
mine would only do it after some driving too, at low speeds and loads there isn’t enough time to build up heat. I had to replace my rad, it may be time in yours if its beyond cleaning.
"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
01/09/2017 at 13:52, STARS: 1
For your sake, I hope not too...
"SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie" (sidewaysondirt)
01/09/2017 at 13:56, STARS: 0
Thermostat not opening fully and age forcing a leak on the engine side of it?
"Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell." (oppisitelock)
01/09/2017 at 13:57, STARS: 0
Yeah from what you’ve said, a leak seems most likely. Also check the gauge. A fellow oppo had an overheating issue which was really an electrical issue, the gauge told him it was hot when it wasnt.
"Meatcoma" (mastapoof)
01/09/2017 at 14:35, STARS: 0
Replaced thermostat and same issue.
"Meatcoma" (mastapoof)
01/09/2017 at 14:35, STARS: 0
Oh, it’s hot. It boils over into the overflow tank.
"'Wägen, EPA LOL" (wagen)
01/09/2017 at 16:15, STARS: 0
Apparently 3rd Gen VG engines are notoriously nasty to actually get a full bleed through the coolant system with. You may just need to rinse and repeat a few times to get more air out... maybe toss in a new airbleed screw? Chase the threads and see if that helps - I’ve heard of weirder places to add air, I guess.