Notices
Maintenance & Repair 350Z up keep and diagnosing/fixing problems

Urgent Help with Antifreeze please!!!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 09-27-2010, 07:15 PM
  #1  
greyvee05
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
greyvee05's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Duluth, Ga
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Urgent Help with Antifreeze please!!!

So last week when I parked at work (car running still) i noticed steam coming from under the hood. I quickly thought anti-freeze and when I looked at the dash the temp gauge was nearing Hot. I immediately turned the car off when I got out and looked there was about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of anti-freeze leaking on the floor. It was coming out the reserve bottle bubbling hot and it was well over the maximum line. After work 6hrs later it was below the minumum line so I bought some premixed antifreeze put the heat on to take some heat off the engine and drove. The car was fine no Hot gauge, no leak, like nothing never happened. I took it to Nissan and they said it was pressure checked. driven and heat checked. diagnostic code check and they couldnt duplicate the problem. Well 2 days ago it happened again and I noticed both times is when I have the A/C on.

What can I check or do. Getting to Nissan is hassle for me and i'd hate to waste money or have them tell me they cant find anything again.
Old 09-27-2010, 08:32 PM
  #2  
winchman
Registered User
 
winchman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Georgia
Posts: 2,335
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Default

See if the radiator fans are coming on when the AC is running like they're supposed to. That's a common problem, and it fits your symptoms exactly.
Old 09-27-2010, 10:03 PM
  #3  
sdZ33
Registered User
iTrader: (39)
 
sdZ33's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: San Diego
Posts: 1,974
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Default

Nissan can never duplicate a problem...

+1 on your fans...
Old 09-27-2010, 10:08 PM
  #4  
BLACK-OUT
Registered User
iTrader: (3)
 
BLACK-OUT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: North Myrtle Beach, SC
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

When I first started reading this I thought head gasket maybe or the thermostat was getting stuck shut.
Old 09-27-2010, 10:58 PM
  #5  
ALO8
New Member
iTrader: (5)
 
ALO8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: CA
Posts: 1,142
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

it is a known fact the fans can be faulty. They sent me a letter a yr or 2 back that extended the warranty on my fan because they were faulty
Old 09-28-2010, 03:32 AM
  #6  
davidv
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
 
davidv's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 42,754
Likes: 0
Received 11 Likes on 11 Posts
Default

Unfortunately Nissan did not find the problem but there is one.

Coolant is not supposed to be near the hot motor evaporating and causing steam.

The radiator-cooling-reservoir system is closed. Again it should not leak. Air conditioning condenser may drip water - this is water NOT coolant.
Old 09-28-2010, 03:42 AM
  #7  
winchman
Registered User
 
winchman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Georgia
Posts: 2,335
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Default

Why would the AC condenser drip water? That's the hot side of the system.

The evaporator will drip water through the drain under the passenger side foot well, though. That's entirely normal.

I think the OP was talking about coolant escaping from the overflow on the reservoir.
Old 09-28-2010, 01:12 PM
  #8  
bmccann101
350Z-holic
iTrader: (16)
 
bmccann101's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Scottsdale/coyote drophouse
Posts: 8,242
Received 413 Likes on 236 Posts
Default

the resevoir may have cracked or melted as well.. its happened to me before on my Z32.

PLUS one on the fan situation too. Easy to tell, turn on AC while parked running. They come on immediately.. if they dont, theres yer issue.
Old 09-28-2010, 01:38 PM
  #9  
davidv
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
 
davidv's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 42,754
Likes: 0
Received 11 Likes on 11 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by winchman
Why would the AC condenser drip water? That's the hot side of the system.

The evaporator will drip water through the drain under the passenger side foot well, though. That's entirely normal.

I think the OP was talking about coolant escaping from the overflow on the reservoir.
Thanks for being more precise. Condensation is water.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
MustGoFastR
Engine & Drivetrain
15
07-01-2006 08:12 PM
03zsmith25
Engine & Drivetrain
4
04-26-2006 11:01 AM
pargion
Maintenance & Repair
3
10-03-2005 08:53 PM
Tekwon-V
2003-2009 Nissan 350Z
3
01-24-2005 05:33 PM
topdown-z
Engine & Drivetrain
5
12-19-2003 02:54 PM



Quick Reply: Urgent Help with Antifreeze please!!!



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 05:20 AM.