Car overheats in traffic but cools down when moving
#1
Car overheats in traffic but cools down when moving
1. My cousin said her car ('00) overheats (in warmer weather, not in the cold) in heavy traffic and when idleing. (The needle goes up over the halfway mark). But when she starts moving the needle goes back down to the halfway point. She told me the fans turn on after the car has warmed up.
2. The traction light is on and she said something smells like burning? wtf?
What to do next?
Thanks
2. The traction light is on and she said something smells like burning? wtf?
What to do next?
Thanks
#3
1. My cousin said her car ('00) overheats (in warmer weather, not in the cold) in heavy traffic and when idleing. (The needle goes up over the halfway mark). But when she starts moving the needle goes back down to the halfway point. She told me the fans turn on after the car has warmed up.
2. No more burnouts!
#4
I agree, sounds like a fan problem. One of my fans used to be loud & cause a lot of vibration. I disconnected the electrical connector to one of the two fans so that only one of 'em comes on. This was fine & I didn't have any overheating problems when the temp outside was under 70ish.
On warm days (>70 degrees), in stop & go traffic, the needle would rise almost to the top. Once I reconnected the other fan, the needle never went higher than center on cold or warm days. Nominally it's a little bit under center.
So make sure that both fans are coming on. There's two speeds also. Check the condition of the blades too. Make sure your radiator's full & air is bled out if you do a drain/fill.
On warm days (>70 degrees), in stop & go traffic, the needle would rise almost to the top. Once I reconnected the other fan, the needle never went higher than center on cold or warm days. Nominally it's a little bit under center.
So make sure that both fans are coming on. There's two speeds also. Check the condition of the blades too. Make sure your radiator's full & air is bled out if you do a drain/fill.
#6
Summer is close, here come the overheating and AC threads.
It could be many things. Radiator cap, thermostat, radiator, cooling fans, air in system, low coolant, wrong mix of coolant, water pump, ???. When I had the same issue it turned out to be a partially clogged radiator. It had flow, just not enough. I changed the radiator and no more overheating. But as stated by others, check the fans first. Also make sure its full and bled of air and the reservoir is at the correct level.
As for the traction light and burning, good luck.
It could be many things. Radiator cap, thermostat, radiator, cooling fans, air in system, low coolant, wrong mix of coolant, water pump, ???. When I had the same issue it turned out to be a partially clogged radiator. It had flow, just not enough. I changed the radiator and no more overheating. But as stated by others, check the fans first. Also make sure its full and bled of air and the reservoir is at the correct level.
As for the traction light and burning, good luck.
#7
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I had the same thing one time after changing the thermostat. I had gotten a cheap one from autozone and it wasnt opening right. Replaced with an OEM thermostat (only $1-2 more) and the problem went away.
But like Reizy said it could be any of those things. Start with the easy and inexpensive stuff. Check if the fans are operating properly, do a coolant flush, then start looking at the other options.
But like Reizy said it could be any of those things. Start with the easy and inexpensive stuff. Check if the fans are operating properly, do a coolant flush, then start looking at the other options.
#8
I got the car yesterday. Today I went for a 20 min drive and the temp(according to the guage cluster) did not move at all, not even one time, while I was driving around. Neither did it budge at red lights and longer stops. Then I came home, left it on Park, and turned on the AC full blast. Sure enough the temp started moving upwards... both fans were on...wtf? Coolant levels are topped off. What to check next?
#11
One more thing
The fans seem to be operating correctly because as soon as I started the car, I turned on the AC to check if the fans turn on. sure enough they started right up.
I was running the car at idle with the ac on full blast and the temp did not move.(car was started first time since last night)
later I took it for a drive and refer to post #8.
The fans seem to be operating correctly because as soon as I started the car, I turned on the AC to check if the fans turn on. sure enough they started right up.
I was running the car at idle with the ac on full blast and the temp did not move.(car was started first time since last night)
later I took it for a drive and refer to post #8.
#12
#14
Either your thermostat (unlikely) or clogged/blocked radiator. Seems to be a fairly common problem with 5th gens.
This is something you can easily change yourself and should be able to get an aftermarket Koyo radiator for a little over a $100.
Change the thermostat first to see if it has an affect. Try flushing the system and just refill with distilled water. If its still overheating while sitting in park you have a clogged radiator. If it doesn't overheat you can drain some of the water out and refill the balance with coolant for the right mixture you need.
This is something you can easily change yourself and should be able to get an aftermarket Koyo radiator for a little over a $100.
Change the thermostat first to see if it has an affect. Try flushing the system and just refill with distilled water. If its still overheating while sitting in park you have a clogged radiator. If it doesn't overheat you can drain some of the water out and refill the balance with coolant for the right mixture you need.
#15
Had the same problem with mine last year. I drained and took out the radiator and sprayed the fins out with a pressure washer and mosquitoes and leaves came out for literally 10 minutes. It worked great and I'm most likely going to do it again when I flush my radiator next week
#16
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Summer is close, here come the overheating and AC threads.
It could be many things. Radiator cap, thermostat, radiator, cooling fans, air in system, low coolant, wrong mix of coolant, water pump, ???. When I had the same issue it turned out to be a partially clogged radiator. It had flow, just not enough. I changed the radiator and no more overheating. But as stated by others, check the fans first. Also make sure its full and bled of air and the reservoir is at the correct level.
As for the traction light and burning, good luck.
It could be many things. Radiator cap, thermostat, radiator, cooling fans, air in system, low coolant, wrong mix of coolant, water pump, ???. When I had the same issue it turned out to be a partially clogged radiator. It had flow, just not enough. I changed the radiator and no more overheating. But as stated by others, check the fans first. Also make sure its full and bled of air and the reservoir is at the correct level.
As for the traction light and burning, good luck.
Well said.
#18
I cleaned out the radiator today, and it was definately nasty. I will give the car back to my cousin to drive around and see if the problem is fixed. If not, the next thing I will do is the coolant temp sensor.
#19
Cooling fans
![Confused](https://maxima.org/forums/images/smilies/confused.gif)
#20
These are classic symptoms of a clogged radiator (unpredictable behavior, overheats one time and them all of a sudden it goes away).!!!
To check if you have one, drain the radiator, all the coolant should flow in one shot, a large gush followed by trickles. If the radiator drains slowly, get a new one.
New radiators are cheap and solve most of the problems! I replaced mine and it solved my heating problem.!!!
To check if you have one, drain the radiator, all the coolant should flow in one shot, a large gush followed by trickles. If the radiator drains slowly, get a new one.
New radiators are cheap and solve most of the problems! I replaced mine and it solved my heating problem.!!!
#21
Love_00_Max, what if when you drain, you get a large gush, but then "spurts" (for lack of a better analogy, like the "milk" flow when someone milks a cow...)?
I initially had fan issues leading to overheating when moving slowly (if outside temp was over 70) and and when I replaced the fans, it didn't overheat.
Now that summer is here and the outside temp is over 80, I overheat if I'm not moving.
Could someone explain how the coolant should flow in a functioning system? I always thought that the coolant level in the reservoir should get low when it gets hot (meaning the coolant is flowing throughout) but it seems my coolant level in the reservoir is pretty constant.
I initially had fan issues leading to overheating when moving slowly (if outside temp was over 70) and and when I replaced the fans, it didn't overheat.
Now that summer is here and the outside temp is over 80, I overheat if I'm not moving.
Could someone explain how the coolant should flow in a functioning system? I always thought that the coolant level in the reservoir should get low when it gets hot (meaning the coolant is flowing throughout) but it seems my coolant level in the reservoir is pretty constant.
#22
Yeah, u should get a large amout of the coolant in the radiator out in no time, less that a minute, then slowly the remaining drains. Capacity of radiator is 4Q, you should all of it out in no time followed trickles.!!!
A clogged radiator will flow fast, slow down, flow, slow, flow and it will be quite obvious.
Change the radiator cap ASAP.
If you dont suspect a raditor, put the coolant back into the radiator.
A clogged radiator will flow fast, slow down, flow, slow, flow and it will be quite obvious.
Change the radiator cap ASAP.
If you dont suspect a raditor, put the coolant back into the radiator.
#23
Not a fan problem. I'm assuming it happens when the AC is on quicker than when it's off. I had the same problem last August and made a thread about it
My friend and I drained the coolant and took out the radiator and sprayed the fins at a self server car wash and bugs and leaves and **** came out for nearly 10 minutes straight. It went from barely seeing through the fins to seeing clearly through all of them. After we put it back in and filled it back in and got all the air out it hasn't overheated since
My friend and I drained the coolant and took out the radiator and sprayed the fins at a self server car wash and bugs and leaves and **** came out for nearly 10 minutes straight. It went from barely seeing through the fins to seeing clearly through all of them. After we put it back in and filled it back in and got all the air out it hasn't overheated since
#24
Could someone explain how the coolant should flow in a functioning system? I always thought that the coolant level in the reservoir should get low when it gets hot (meaning the coolant is flowing throughout) but it seems my coolant level in the reservoir is pretty constant.
#26
i have like no money for car repairs so i try to avoid idling as much as possible. since i do 70% highway driving, it's never really a problem cuz once you start driving 35+ mph the engine cools back down in like 30 seconds.
The AC does get hot once you get stuck in traffic jams though, and that's annoying.
The AC does get hot once you get stuck in traffic jams though, and that's annoying.
#28
i have like no money for car repairs so i try to avoid idling as much as possible. since i do 70% highway driving, it's never really a problem cuz once you start driving 35+ mph the engine cools back down in like 30 seconds.
The AC does get hot once you get stuck in traffic jams though, and that's annoying.
The AC does get hot once you get stuck in traffic jams though, and that's annoying.
#29
The reservoir is a holding tank for the thermal expansion of the coolant. Everything expands and contracts with temperature, including liquids. The cooling system of an engine is always full of coolant. When the engine heats up, the coolant expands and the excess goes into the reservoir. When you turn off the engine, it cools and the coolant in the engine contracts and creates a vacuum which sucks what it needs from the reservior to re-fill the radiator. The reservoir is not an active part of the engine cooling and is not how you fill the engine with coolant.
#30
My friend and I drained the coolant and took out the radiator and sprayed the fins at a self server car wash and bugs and leaves and **** came out for nearly 10 minutes straight. It went from barely seeing through the fins to seeing clearly through all of them. After we put it back in and filled it back in and got all the air out it hasn't overheated since
#31
actually the problem has probably always been here but is only noticeable because of the heat. if its just a fan problem (which i suspect it is) then its no big deal ill just ignore it for now
#32
Is there a thermostatic fan switch on a 97 SE? My Maxima is heating up at idle and in heavy traffic with the a/c on and off, but the fans don't come on. It seems unlikely that both fans would go out at the same time. Normal driving seems to allow enough flow for it to cool back down quickly.
Last edited by BlackMax1997; 06-04-2010 at 02:10 PM.
#35
I have a 2k, and had those similar problems last summer. I just went ahead and changed out thermostat, and radiator, since it was all original and probably going to crap out soon anyway. Problem solved! And one of my fans still dont work, but i never got around to changing that yet. a year later, still no problems...
#36
Is there a thermostatic fan switch on a 97 SE? My Maxima is heating up at idle and in heavy traffic with the a/c on and off, but the fans don't come on. It seems unlikely that both fans would go out at the same time. Normal driving seems to allow enough flow for it to cool back down quickly.
A lot of times it's more cost-effective to buy the whole fan assembly rather than buying fan motors. (After searching from different vendors, local and online, I got mine from Amazon). Take care of that problem soon before it becomes something worse. (...and hopefully we won't get flamed for reviving a year-old thread).
#37
I HAVE THE SAME ISSUE...DESPERATELY NEED ADVICE
I have a 2001 I30...just recently started to overheat since the weather is getting hot..the needle would rise all the way up almost 90% mostly in stop and go traffic or wheni have the AC on...the fans seem to be working and i just changed the thermostat and that didnt help...anyone knows what else i can do to fix this problem...
![bawling](https://maxima.org/forums/images/smilies/bawling.gif)
#38
I have a 2001 I30...just recently started to overheat since the weather is getting hot..the needle would rise all the way up almost 90% mostly in stop and go traffic or wheni have the AC on...the fans seem to be working and i just changed the thermostat and that didnt help...anyone knows what else i can do to fix this problem...![bawling](https://maxima.org/forums/images/smilies/bawling.gif)
![bawling](https://maxima.org/forums/images/smilies/bawling.gif)
Also, read through this entire thread; there are a lot information that you might find useful.
#39
I have a 2001 I30...just recently started to overheat since the weather is getting hot..the needle would rise all the way up almost 90% mostly in stop and go traffic or wheni have the AC on...the fans seem to be working and i just changed the thermostat and that didnt help...anyone knows what else i can do to fix this problem...![bawling](https://maxima.org/forums/images/smilies/bawling.gif)
![bawling](https://maxima.org/forums/images/smilies/bawling.gif)
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