HOW-TO..Replace hatch bumpers and coolant reservoir

[amolao]

Ok so these probably already has been cover in the forum, but just want it to share and offer any help to you guys out there, Im always looking at other options out there instead of going OEM if theres a cheaper way....Buy the Ebay "OMX"?? coolant reservoir to replace the OEM cracked one, this is the best location in the engine compartment as far as I know. The bracket was hand made. Actually I got a pipe hanger from (yes Lowes) and work it to make a bracktet to hold the reservoir in place. If you can find one from another car and make it work, even better. This baby will never crack, is bullet proof and a lot cheaper than the Nissan one. TIP..these are all the same, dont be taken by people advertising these as being unique to car brands...HEHEHE!! NOT! the one I got is for a Honda....a Ok, my hatch was driving me crazy with the TUMP,TUMP!! and other noises, went to Lowe's and bought the closes size to the OEM but a little longer, trim the top portion to shortened them some what, and made a little knob in the top alas the OEM to make better contact with the hatch, a little epoxy and Voila!! no noises....these a lot stronger and same quality rubber than OEM ones, and lot cheaper.... You can see in the pic where the old one is has shrunk and deformed due to the years....This is not a tutorial, is very straightforward, so I skip some details but if anybody needs help let me know....

[phuphyter]

I like the reservoir idea.

What are those rubber things called? What section do you go to find them?

[amolao]

Im not sure what they are called but you can find them at the section with all the little harware parts, the washers, screws,etc....Is next to the key making section....

[phuphyter]

gotcha. thanks

[sanioll]

coolant reservour tank has to be above the radiator. Its level has to be above it. otherwise it will not flow it back to the radiator when needed.

--common sense, but just FYI.

[ricebike]

not really... as long as that overflow hose on the resevoir tank reaches to the bottom... it's otay

the main part that would make it flow back into the radiator is the radiator cap... it has 2 valves: pressure (~13psi to increase cooling efficiency among other things) & a vaccuum valve so once the coolant cools down/it contracts & this valve opens up to fill the void...unless you have a leak;then u be sucking some air in.

[amolao]

///////Update//////////

For the sake of veracity and accuracy on my last post:

I read about the reservoir need to be above the radiator level before...and they might be some true to that, so far my new reservoir works, as in engine not overheating. But what is doing, is that it takes most of the coolant from the radiator and keeps it in the reservoir, as in the reservoir staying full to the top and the radiator being low. But seems like at operating temperature there is a "flow" coolant between reservoir and radiator, again based on the engine running cool. Is kind of weird but again is seems to be working....and Yes ricebike, the hose attaches to the top of reservoir and not the bottom...so that might be part of the explanation of why the reservoir fills up and stays that way most of time....I thought I let everyone know, I will conduct visual inspection during operation and after to see what else is the coolant level reacting to the new reservoir....