Cooling Fans Run More Frequent than usual

[542keith]

I have a 98 max gxe with 151k on the clock. I recently replaced the rad in the fall of 06 because it was leaking. Nissan wanted around $470.00 for the stock one with the plastic end tanks. I'm a balla on a budget and I settled for one at Napa for around $120.00 with aluminum end tanks.

The car doesn't run hot, has no leaks, temp gauge stays right below the middle.

Now that it's warmer, It seems like the cooling fans run all the time. Could it be my knock off rad causing my fans to run all the time or could it be something else? Perhaps these are characteristics of the water pump needing to be replaced.

I'd appreciate anyone's input on this.

Keith J>

[Fenvy]

chek your coolant level, it might be low or has become low because all the air bubble rise to the top

I suppose it could be the radiator itself, which could be cheaply made to have lesser coolant capacity even than that of a stock one.

[542keith]

I just checked Napa parts online and now the the rad I bought isn't available. Only the one with the plastic end tank is available

[Fenvy]

huh? I didn't ask about that...

[542keith]

As you can tell I"m a newbie to Nico. I still appreciate your advice!!

[Fenvy]

no no, that is not what I meant

I was expecting you to tell me the level of the coolant.

also, did you fill it up yourself or have had a shop flush it for you?

[542keith]

Sorry about that. The level in the rad and in the overflow tank are good. I actually filled it myself after I changed the rad out.

[Fenvy]

if it is full, you probably have nothing to worry about.

About that temp gauge, it really doesn't tell you much since it is inaccurate. All it is good for is telling you when it is past the H level.

if you really want to be anal about it, you consider buying a water pump and thermostat together for alittle less than 100$ shipped

for waterpump... http://search.ebay.com/search/...soo=1

for thermostat... http://search.ebay.com/search/...dSort

[maxhopper]

Are you running the defrost? That will cause the fans to switch on. I'd also check the relay for the fan to make sure it is not bad.

[542keith]

I was wondering if I should replace them. I may go ahead and change them since the prices are so reasonable. Many thanks!!

[542keith]

I'm not running the defrost. I notice one fan is running when I'm at a stop light or getting ready to park. Before the fan wouldn't come on unless I let the car idle for a while. Now it seems to run all the time.

I haven't checked the relay. I'll take a look at it.

[Fenvy]

if you are going to do that... and haven't done some other tune yet lately

look into seafoam (3 bottles)some spark plugsngk spark plug wiresdistributor cap/rotorfuel oilatf replacement

[maxhopper]

ngk spark plug wiresdistributor cap/rotor

The VQ's have coil-on-plug, no wires, cap, or rotor.

[Fenvy]

haha sorry!

[542keith]

Just wanted to get back to you and let you know fixed my problem. I know it's been a while but, better late than never!

It must have been running hot all the time and that's the reason the fan ran more often than usual. It would be 60 degrees outside and I could sit at a red light and the fan would come on. Funny though, the temp gauge never moved beyond the middle.

I swapped out the thermostat, flushed and filled with Prestone 50/50 premix, burped the system and everything is cool now. Now the fan only comes on when I have the A/C or defrost on. That's the way it ran when I first bought it. Still the temp gauge stays in the middle. I guess if the temp gauge goes up then there's something really bad going on.

Apparently, the type of radiator made no difference.