Infiniti I35 problem

[d1truth]

Hello All!

I have an Infiniti I35 and as of late it randomly would make a very weird engine noise and then it would stop. It does this while driving as well as when I am Idle.

Last week, after driving the noise persisted. When I got home I left my car running and opened up the hood. There was coolant that splattered all over the place. I have not driven it since.

Today I went outside to see if there is a crack or split in a hose, there wasn't.I followed the line and noticed towards the right top part of my engine fan there was a constant dripping of coolant as if something were blocked and it was not flowing smoothly. I took the cap off that is located toward the middle of the fan and some coolant came out as if it were blocked. I removed some of the coolant because I thought maybe it was overflowing, dried up the area it was dripping from and started the car again. More coolant filled in the dripping area...

Any thoughts or suggestions? I am hoping to have pics up later tonight.

Thanks

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Pics would definitely help. Are you saying it came out of the radiator cap? Maybe its just gone bad and isn't sealing well.

[d1truth]

Thanks for the reply. I am trying to post pics, but it does not seem to be working. Would you happen to know how to post pictures?

Thanks

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Yeah you need to host them on a site such as www.photobucket.com before you can post them here.

[d1truth]

Few pics

http://s1185.photobucket.com/albums/z354/d1truth/

I hope these pics give a better idea of what I am trying to convey in my message.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

I linked the pictures into your post. Feel free to click "edit" on your post to see how it was done

So its leaking from the area around the radiator cap. I see you have plastic end tanks. Check the plastic part of your radiator for leaks, even around the radiator cap area. You might get luck and just be able to replace the radiator cap itself, or the hose that goes to your overflow reservoir.
At worst, you'll have to replace your radiator. How many miles are on the car?

[d1truth]

Thanks for the reply. If you look at the second picture it is overflowing right underneath the circular object. If you look closely you can see the greenish fluid around the black plastic.

It is not leaking through the radiator cap. I unscrewed it because I thought it was, but that seems to still be intact.

130k miles on the car.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Well man, you're going to have to trace it to its source. There are only so many places it can leak from... especially that high up. You should be able to start the car and see the leak more once pressure builds a little bit, but don't take the cap off after it has heated up.

[d1truth]

Thats what I figured, I appreciate your help a great deal. Ill keep you posted and let you know how it goes. Thanks again!

[qship96]

looks like the radiator itself is leaking- replace immediately, along with both hoses,cap,thermostat,and might as well do the belts while you are at it........give that crusty old thing a good flush and fresh coolant too.

[d1truth]

Thanks QShip96 for your advice.

I am a pretty handy guy. The most I have ever done was replace break pads on my car. Do you think this is something that I can do or should I purchase the parts and have a mechanic replace?

[qship96]

easy do it yourself job

[d1truth]

Cool, I will certainly give it a shot.

I have been following the line from where the coolant goes to past the radiator cap but am having a difficult time finding where the problem exist. Should I just continue to follow the line to see where it leads?

Should I turn the car on and wait or is there something better I can do to find out where the problem starts?

[d1truth]

Thanks for the help guys. I went outside to take a further look at the car and think it might be what was alluded to earlier.

I lift my car hood and start the car.

No leaks anywhere. As the car heats up the radiator(2nd picture starts to overflow with coolant). So, I am guessing I do in fact need a new radiator. I'm not sure how this happens though.

If you look at the second pic, that area is where the coolant starts to overflow and it is the only area that has a massive overflow.

Thanks again

[PapaSmurf2k3]

OK, you kinda need to explain things better.

Can you see where it is leaking from? Is it coming out of the plastic part of the radiator, a deteriorated hose, or is it coming from some sort of joint (hose to radiator, cap to radiator)?

Just because you see coolant on that section of the radiator doesn't mean that's where its coming from. It could be leaking somewhere else, and flowing to that section of the radiator. Or are you saying it is coming from that seam right there? The picture is pretty out of focus so its hard to tell.

Yes, swapping the radiator is pretty easy and should require only basic tools, although it can get a bit messy.

[d1truth]

Thanks for the reply. It is coming from the plastic part of the radiator. I do not see leaks elsewhere. I am going to replace the radiator and go from there. I need to learn more about my car and parts, so I can be more well versed on explaining.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Good deal! Plastic radiators typically have a MUCH shorter lifespan than their all-metal counterparts. Unfortunately the entire industry has been "going plastic" since about 1995.

[d1truth]

I am happy to have found this forum. So much information and now makes me want to take better care of my car. I am ordering the parts today. I actually found cd's for my navigational system as well. Thanks for everything. I will let you know how everything turns out and will continue to read through the forum.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Good deal!

If you run into any problems, the Nissan & Infiniti Factory Service Manuals (basically the best repair manual you can get) are available through this site as well (FOR FREE!). There is a link to them in my signature.

[d1truth]

Thanks for all of the help. I replaced the radiator(took about 2 hours for beginner) and came across another issue which may in fact be the ultimate issue. I have two radiator fans and the right one is not working when I turn on the fan. This happens to be the same side the coolant was leaking out of.

Any suggestions on whether I can get a new motor or would I have to replace the whole unit.

I did some searching online and was wondering if a new relay (radiator cooling fan motor from autozone) would work?

Thanks and Happy Easter!

[PapaSmurf2k3]

what do you mean "when you turn on the fan"? Both fans usually don't come on at the same time anyway... As long as you aren't overheating, and your AC is blowing cold, you should be fine.

[d1truth]

I really have to learn more about my car!

When I turn the AC on it does blow cold, so I guess that is fine!

I turned it on and looked under the hood and didn't see the 2nd fan on underneath the hood so I thought that was an issue. I guess not. Thanks.

There is a weird noise coming from underneath the hood when I turn the AC or Heat on. It only happens when I turn on the AC/Heat so that is why I thought something may have been wrong with the fan motor. This is the last problem I have to get fixed.