Cooling system issues, Serena

[mikee55]

Hi all, can't get any info anywhere. I join a forum, and get no reply. I have a 2.0l 1994 Nissan Serena, its had a new water pump fitted just before I bought it, and I'm having overheating problems. Due to the Credit Crunch, I bagged it real cheap. I need it for my four kids. Anyway, the Thermostat was removed, and not replaced, and, according to the gauge, it runs cold until I sit in traffic, then the temperature rapidly rises and coolant escapes from the new radiator cap. I have its fans on a bypass switch. It has 2 on the radiator andf 1 under the engine. I've removed the radiator and flushed it at all its entrances to see its not blocked, the drive belt for the pump is okay. A mechanic at a garage said its radiator was blocked, hence I flushed it with a hose. The surface of the radiator varies in temperature, rather than being hot all over. Coolant loss happens below half way on the gauge. I have a radiator cap, a coolant bottle and a pipe with a "T" piece and another cap under the passenger seat., which I have no idea what it s for. I don't want to put in a thermostat, until I find the fault. Can you help, please?

Mike

[MaximA32]

I would replace the radiator. Just from looking at it in the picture, it needs replacement, not flushed.

[mikee55]

Hi MaximA32

Can I confirm this with you? I want to get a garage to do repairs. It needs other things doing. The top hose from the engine is hot and the bottom hose, and radiator is cold. I stretched my budget to buy the car and don't want to be told the radiator is bust if its not. No offense to you, already had one garage pass an MOT on my car to find the following year the suspension at the back had completely rotton away. This car passed 3 years of MOT at the same garage. It was only when I found a cheaper garage, was I told the car was worth scrapping.

So a possible correct diagnosis will help, when I take it in to a garage.

Cheers Mike

[mikee55]

Head gone:(