Hi guys,

Just a couple days ago, my 2004 starts to overheat. Within 15-20 minutes on freeway/local car temperature gage hovers around 3/4 - 7/8.

Some tests I did:

With A/C on fullblast, only left fan is spinning
When car overheat, both fans spin

Took the car to dealer this morning, they found that the radiator assembly is NOT radiating coolant correctly, lower portion of radiator is cold while upper portion is hot. Recommendation is to replace radiator for $900

Any advice. Thanks

 

Buy a good aftermarket radiator (Koyo, $160 oem size, $290 36mm size), then take it to a good shop in the OC (JER, Project Import, Corner 3 Garage) who will charge you way less to install (Probably $200 to $400) than the dealership, and you're all set...or you can install it youself, it's not too bad...

-OR-

It may just be a busted thermostat, since the coolant flows from the theromstat to the lower part of the radiator to the higher part of the radiator, much cheaper to replace the thermostat than replaing the radiator, but I would have one of those shops above diagnose it for you...either way, its cheaper than the rip-off dealer...

 

Go thermostat before replacing radiator. Radiators should not go bad unless it is damaged or full of corrosion (only running water).

 

Agree with turbotoy. This is not a radiator problem. The radiator stores but does not move water:

a. Check the thermostat. Does it open and close?

b. The water pump is operating properly?

 

try to bleed the air (if any) out of the system before you go out dumping money on a radiator. If that doesnt work, try replacing the thermostat. If worst comes to worst change the radiator. On a side note, check your oil while your at it...

 

Try the thermostat first, cheapest easiest thing to do.

 

"Burp" the cooling system last nite and car still overheat this morning on my way to work. Oil level is good. Will check the thermostat and waterpump as advised.

Thanks guys

 

You guys are awesome!!!

Had the thermostat replaced today and the car no longer overheat...sweet

 

Cool...let us know which rip-off dealership recommended you replace the whole cooling system so us Socal guys can keep away from that place...

 

Its the Nissan dealership here in Cerritos Auto Square. They, however, didn't charge me any diagnostic fee or pressure me for repair when I declined.

 

Any one know were i could find a DIY on replacing the thermostat?, im having similar issues and have already bought a new thermostat cause i was told that it was the first logical step.

 

Anyone?

 

That's where I bought my 2nd Z. They are the biggest f-ing scumbags.

 

new thermostat didnt fix my problem..now what?

 

bad heater core? I bought two thermostats because the first replacement (Autozone brand) was just as bad as the one I replaced. The second one was OEM replacement, no problems afterwards.