240sx shutting off problem and over heating problem

[s13cory]

I have a 1990 s13, and I've been having problems with the over heating and it shutting off. This might be a lot to read but I tried to provide as much info as possible, any questions just ask and I'll try to answer them as quickly and efficiently as possible. Thank you for your time!


Over Heating problem: It'll heat up to half way fairly quick, then after driving for a couple of minutes, it'll start to over heat, sometimes it'll stick around the H, sometimes it'll drop down a little bit or back to the middle, stay for alittle and go right back up, tried to put the heat on blast, doesn't help. I've replaced so far, the radiator, thermostat twice with a new gasket (The guy before me that i bought it off of had like 3 boxes of thermostats in the trunk), bleed it, just about everything and still over heats. The carpet on the passenger was wet in a spot, and someone told me it was my heater core and then after I found that spot, the next day, it didn't over heat for a while, then snow came and it over heated that day and the wet spot never came back again (And no nothing spilled to make the spot), so as of now I am completely confused as to what is making my car over heat, so any idea's or if you know what it could be, please let me know. I maybe thinking something with the heater core.

Shutting off problem: My car (besides the over heating), will run pretty good. Recently got a new distributor and everything and the ignition system, ran okay, then went to friends house to put my new exhaust on (I had no exhaust on for a while and ran it a little without one, 3' dual straight pipe from ISIS), after that was installed, I took it for a test drive, ran good for about 5 minutes, then all of a sudden the RPM's just flat lined at 0, no gas response at all, and just shut off. Sometimes it'll shut off, sometimes it'll bounce right back up and I can keep going, but its completely random when it happens and I don't know what could be causing this problem..so any help on this or the over heating would be greatly appreciated, hopefully you read all of this. lol Again, thanks for your time!

EDIT: I have replaced the 2 coolant temp sensors and a new thermo and the shutting off seems to be worse (more often) and re-bleed it. Couldn't drive it long enough to see if it over heats but I'm sure it would.

Engine: Stock Ka24de

[frapjap]

It sounds like there is still air in the system somewhere, but you may have a bigger problem than that.

Add a link to your post in this thread:
the-i-m-new-here-and-i-have-a-simple-qu ... -1680.html
and Papasmurf will be of more help than me.

[s13cory]

Okay, I did. Thanks!

[PapaSmurf2k3]

It definitely sounds like you still have air in the coolant system. KAs are notoriously difficult to bleed. Usually you have to bleed it ~5 or so times (meaning heat cycles) from that bleeder port on the intake manifold.
I actually find this to be such a large pain in the a**, that I removed my thermostat all together on one of my 240s. Make sure when you install the thermostat, the little bleeder hole is on the top (to give air a chance to get passed it).

As far as the car shutting off randomly- does it throw a check engine light? If so, what is the code? Have you pulled a plug to see if you are getting spark when this happens? How about fuel?

[s13cory]

It definitely sounds like you still have air in the coolant system. KAs are notoriously difficult to bleed. Usually you have to bleed it ~5 or so times (meaning heat cycles) from that bleeder port on the intake manifold.
I actually find this to be such a large pain in the a**, that I removed my thermostat all together on one of my 240s. Make sure when you install the thermostat, the little bleeder hole is on the top (to give air a chance to get passed it).

As far as the car shutting off randomly- does it throw a check engine light? If so, what is the code? Have you pulled a plug to see if you are getting spark when this happens? How about fuel?

These two problems have been a pain in the a**. Lol But I'll try and bleed it more and I do have the thermo pointed the right way.

And no check engine light comes on. I get spark, but as it shuts off I do not know. And Fuel, I got new gas tank, fuel filter, fuel pump and the hoses that connect to the fuel pump, so I'm sure the fuel is good but if there's anything you think I should check, I could.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Even if a CEL isn't on, there might be a code stored, so you should check the ECU's self diagnostics.

Also, take a look at your water pump and see if you have coolant coming out of the weep hole. If so, replace the water pump.

[s13cory]

I haven't done that before, so would you mind telling me how if possible please? If not, I could try and look it up.

And no coolant comes out of the weep hole. I re-bleed it today and I'm pretty sure I did it correctly. I don't know if it over heats still yet because of the shutting off problem causing me not being able to drive it.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

http://www.240sx.org/faq/articles/ecm_codes_doch.htm

[s13cory]

Thank you! I'll get on this as soon as I can and report back here with an update

[s13cory]

Idk if this will have anything to do with it, but the metal pieces inside of the spark plug wires came out in 3 of them so I'll be replacing those today or tomorrow and today I'll be doing the codes.

[s13cory]

Okay, well I got new spark plug wires, thinking this might be the problem, never know, so I took it for a drive and it was okay for about a good 8 minutes, then again, just flat lined and shut off, started back up, so I turned around and went home and then about 6-7 different times the RPMs just jump from 0 to 3 and after I sit for a minute it'll settle down and I can continue to drive. ALSO, as I was driving for that time period, usually it would of over heated already, but it stayed right in the middle so the over heating problem as of now, is fixed.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Sounds like some kind of short somewhere.

[s13cory]

That's what I was also thinking. I'm starting to really think its my new ignition system that was put in by a shop. There's now sometimes a noise under my dashboard after they installed it, sounds like an on going spark and only happens sometimes. But I don't know what that could be. I also haven't had time to read the ECU for codes but I'm going to get on that ASAP.

[PercieBlaze]

prob your water pump. thats the same stuff that was happening to me with my KA when it was overheating.

[s13cory]

Over heating is fine now. I know it can't be my ignition system because I was just thinking that the reason why I took it to the shop was because I broke down at a gas station because of the shutting off problem, but wouldn't start because the ignition I had was bad. So it has to be something electrical or something.

[s13cory]

UPDATE: Finally got to be able to try and read the codes from the ECU. I have it in Mode II (Engine OFF)- Stored Self Diagnostic Results, And the red bulb blinks twice, pauses, blinks twice then blinks one time fast. And then blinks 3 times, and 4 times fast. So im guessing 34 for that one but the other I have no idea? I have a 1990 240, but I'm pretty sure the engine is a 94, so could someone send me a codes list or tell me what codes they are and what the first code is?

EDIT: If im not mistaken, I think its reading codes 11, 21 and 34.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Well at least it knows something is wrong.
Look for codes at http://www.240sxtech.com/
and in the factory service manual. http://www.nicoclub.com/archives/nissan ... nuals.html

[s13cory]

Well I'm pretty sure that's what the ECU is throwing, 11, 21 and 34. If that's so, and I go by the link you sent me before, for the codes, its reading:

11- Camshaft Position Sensor
21- Ignition Signal Primary
34- Knock Sensor