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.

 

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.

 

Nissan can never duplicate a problem...

+1 on your fans...

 

When I first started reading this I thought head gasket maybe or the thermostat was getting stuck shut.

 

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Thanks for being more precise. Condensation is water.