Major Overheating Drama Today :(

[blind_elk]

Check the radiator cap.

If the overflow bottle was full, the radiator should have pulled all the fluid back from the overflow as it cooled. A faulty cap would let air in past its seal, rather than pulling from the overflow.

[KrazyKong]

Check the radiator cap.

If the overflow bottle was full, the radiator should have pulled all the fluid back from the overflow as it cooled. A faulty cap would let air in past its seal, rather than pulling from the overflow.

Will do . That was my understanding too that the overflow would be pulled back in if the coolant was low, but it didn't happen at all. All the overflow did was bubble hot water and air, but it never sucked the coolant back in. So that looks like a faulty cap then perhaps?

[Humbla]

Check the radiator cap.

If the overflow bottle was full, the radiator should have pulled all the fluid back from the overflow as it cooled. A faulty cap would let air in past its seal, rather than pulling from the overflow.

Good call.

[KrazyKong]

I'm still confused as to where the water went from my radiator. If I have a leak or crack somewhere, hopefully it would be visible right? Otherwise, how could the water just vanish and yet the reservoir bottle still be at the correct level?

[KrazyKong]

I may have found something here. It looks like the heater is leaking into the car. I pulled back the mat and the carpet was wet. In the pics you can see the green coolant.

So, what's the next move here? Could this have leaked here due to a stuck thermo? and thus being a weak point it leaked... or could the heater itself be stuffed?

Thinking back, on that day I was using the heater alot to try and clear all the moisture in the car. But now I'm thinking actually the moisture was because of the leak.

Ok, so I got a starting point at least. Heater stuffed, drained radiator, car nearly blew up. No wonder it never sucked in fluid from the reservoir due to the loss of pressure and leakage.

Edited October 12, 2010 by KrazyKong

[SECURITY]

thats a bit of a mission to fix. you can get away with it without taking he dash off - but its a pain in the ass.

for now just disconnect the two hoses that go into the dash from the engine bay through the firewall. theyre on the turbo side. get a plastic/metal hose of suitable diameter and have those two pipes running into each other. that will keep you going for now.

EDIT: to answer your questions, its a common-ish problem. the heater itself has two fittings that are screwed to it by 4 philips head screws - the seal between the fittings and heater core fails and causes the leak. i've tried re-sealing one with silicone but it didnt work. maybe try a gasket on yours if you choose to repair it.

Edited October 12, 2010 by SECURITY

[KrazyKong]

That sounds like a good thing to do. Will join those two hoses together.

Do you think it's just the regular heater core failing, or something else involved as well?

I've taken my dash out actually before to fix the frog motor, but when it put it back I had a little warp that wasn't there before . Worst case I know how to take it out. Then do the replacement heater core thing. But then I have to get the AC gas taken out right? or can I just open a valve and let it out. Obviously I'd have to goto a place to get it refilled.

[SECURITY]

a/c has nothing to do with it mate. heater core is completely separate, read my edited post.

[KrazyKong]

Still mopping up the coolant. Took the seats out of the car, and was able to pull up the carpets. But I think to get all the moisture out I'm going to have to take the dash out, and the airbag console thing plus undo the handbrake. I've already bought a Torx T50 socket so can get the bolts undone. Still this sucks, and isn't easy to do. I bought a couple of copper rounded 90˚ angle pieces, so will join them together and that should close off the hoses in the engine bay.

Once that's all done and dusted, I'll have to get to the heater core somehow. SECURITY I'm pretty sure I have to take out he condenser box which has A/C lines attached to it, to get to the heater core. I'm still hopeful the core or the plastic connectors can be repaired. Otherwise, I'll have to source a new one. Anyone know a place that sells them apart from Nissan?

Edited October 15, 2010 by KrazyKong

[KiwiRS4T]

I got mine from a radiator repair shop. They probably won't have one in stock but should be able to get it overnight.