01 I30t Overheating

[SOCAL805]

I have a 2001 Infiniti I30t (just over 200,00 miles)...auto trans...etc.

Going up a hill, my car started to overheat...parked it immediatly. Under the hood...coolant resevour is full...opened the radiator cap and of course with the pressure...steam and fluid started comming out. We started to re-fill the radiator and air pockets began to come out...Once we felt we felt the air pockets/bubbles have stop...radiator was full...we continued up the hill (Grapevine)...no problem...about a month later...going up the same hill...same problem...did the same thing as the 1st time...we were able to continue. Last week I had the same problem occur while in town. Dropped off my friend...car temperture gauge began to creep up...as I drove off...went back to normal mode. Checked the fans...Ok...Added anti-freeze...OK...drove the car for 3 days...checked the radiator...still full. Went up that damm hill and had the same problem...on our way back..we would have to stop 2 times...as soon as we stopped (and turned off the AC), the car would cool down...My friend noticed the hoses when pressed/squeezed easily...he believes I need to change the hoses. Would he be right...car runs fine...only over heats going up hills and in extreame hot weather...thanks

[djengr]

To your question, IMHO your friend could be right if somehow the hose would collapse cutting off flow to the waterpump. I have my doubts this is your problem.

What do the hoses feel like with the engine running and at operating temps when reved up to 2000 rpm, does it feel like there is flow, be careful it is hot
Has the radiator ever been changed, flushed recently etc. Have you check the air passages for debri in the radiator or the a/c coil.

Does both fans come on at the high temps.

Just a few thoughts for checking out.

good luck.

[loystock]

If the hoses are soft, they must be replaced or they may break anytime. Check the thermostat and flush the cooling system. Make sure you 'burp" it after the flush to remove trapped air. There is also a possibility that your radiator has so much crud build up, resricting coolant flow. And as 'djengr' mentioned, check your cooling fans and make sure they are not cracked.

[SOCAL805]

Thanks everyone...The hoses are soft...cooling fans are working fine...radiator was flushed about 1/2 a year ago...I already did the system "burp",..

I'll change the hoses and flush the cooling system once more...How do I check the air passages for debris? and how can I tell the thermostat is bad?

Thanks

[flyboy98]

I had similiar problem with 2000 Maxiam overheating which caused A/C to cool sometime and then quit cooling.
Took it to the shop and they check water pump, thermostat, and fluid level.
Finally analysis was the radiator collapse internally and was causing the water flow to be restricted. You can not see the flow with cap off to really know if this is the problem.
Also, the fluid has to be sucked in by a vacuum pump. It can not be poured in.

Hope this helps.

[NutriaforBreakfast]

Thermostat check

After you have started your engine first thing in the morning, feel your upper radiator
hose and lower radiator hose. As the car warms up, one hose will be warmer than another.
When the correct temperature is reached, the thermostat should open up and both hoses
should be warm. Watch the temp gauge -if it shows its overheated and one hose feels cooler
than another you might have a thermostat stuck closed.

If your car never gets to normal operating temperature, its possible the thermostat is stuck open.

[NutriaforBreakfast]

As far as checking air passages I think we're talking about keeping the front of the radiator
clean from bugs, rocks, dust etc. Wash out your radiator with a water hose. I wouldnt use a
carwash nozzle as the high pressure will bend the fins and actually punch a hole in the radiator

[NutriaforBreakfast]

Ok a little more advice. Check your radiator cap and see if the rubber seal is torn-it could be
letting air in and lowering the boiling point of the antifreeze. Or better yet just buy a new one
to be sure