new to the RB and lots of problems

[hawk86]

Hi guys and gals. I'm new to the 240sx but not Nissan, just bought a 1993 coupe with a RB20det last Sunday. And I have some problems with it. First the main problem is It keeps over heating, I thought it was one of the heater hoses that were kinked so I lengthened it up still over heats. So then I thought it was a head gasket, did a compression test all 6 cylinders are around 125 psi I think its a little low because it has a Cometic head gasket. But anyway then I thought it was the thermostat so I put one in last night. Nope didn't fix it.

So here is what it does. Ill drive about 5-10 miles and the temp gauge starts to rise. It gets to about 250 degrees I drop it into 3rd or 4th gear instantly drops down to around 180-210 degrees. Also when it starts to over heat I loose the heat in the car. Now I want to do a leak down test but I don't have a tester. Does anyone have any ideas on what wrong? I just ordered a new water pump and timing belt kit for it. But if I'm going to put it on I'd like to do the head gasket at the same time if it needs it. Thanks for the help

[Joe]

sounds like it could be a water pump.

[GSDKinked]

Did you flush your cooling system?? What set up are you running? Radiator? Fan? Thermostat? Are you using an aftermarket gauge or the dash gauge?

[robbie2883]

sounds like it could be a water pump.

^this...i can pretty much guarantee that it's your water pump. especially since higher rpm cools it down again. not to mention your heater core not putting off heat. that basically means either one the heater core has a leak and there's no fluid in it, or the fluid isn't flowing.

[hawk86]

Did you flush your cooling system?? What set up are you running? Radiator? Fan? Thermostat? Are you using an aftermarket gauge or the dash gauge?

Yes I flushed the whole system. Im running a koyo rad with one 14" fan thermostat is a nissan 76.5 degree Celsius. I have two gauges the dash one and an aftermarket one in the column it reads off of the top rad hose

[katinkid]

yah def sounds like water pump!

[hawk86]

here are some pics of the engine bay if that helps anyone.

[hawk86]

[l0nestar]

Wowzers! I could easily spend a couple weeks just cleaning up the wiring and hose routing!

Also, what fans do you have? I see there is a DIF controller...

[hawk86]

Wowzers! I could easily spend a couple weeks just cleaning up the wiring and hose routing!

Also, what fans do you have? I see there is a DIF controller...

Ya it is a mess after I fix the heating issue I will be rerouting and rewiring everything. Im not sure what fan it is but the DIF controller inst hooked up the fan is on a toggle switch.

[l0nestar]

Ya it is a mess after I fix the heating issue I will be rerouting and rewiring everything. Im not sure what fan it is but the DIF controller inst hooked up the fan is on a toggle switch.

As the others have said, consider replacing the water pump. It is somewhat of a chore to do, but if you plan it right (like say over the weekend since it's your first time) shouldn't take you more than a few hours but you have plenty of time to spare / take your time. The biggest hurdle is because part of the water pump is located behind the timing belt.

[hawk86]

I dont think it should take too long ill be doing it at work on the lift with all air tools and all the other stuff. I just hope the pump and timing kit gets here soon I ordered it yesterday.

[Joe]

holy crap that wiring is a nightmare

[Carl H]

i wasnt gonna say anything...

[SullivanRacing06]

sounds like your impellers rusted off or a few did at least....

[hawk86]

i wasnt gonna say anything...

I know its a mess that's why its a project car.

[robbie2883]

i spent 70+ hours rewiring mine.....i think this one is in for more time then that! LOL

good luck with the fix man. keep us updated

[flatrate]

How much you pay for that car? it could be a real nice setup with some time spent under the hood!!

Fans come on at all? are they blowing in the correct direction

Compression test wont tell you much about the head gasket, you need to perform a leakdown test

[hawk86]

I may have payed to much for it but I wanted an all stock body that wasn't rusted out. I payed $4700 for it.

The fans turn on when i flip the switch there on a toggle right now. I also did check it a pusher fan towards the engine.

Your right about a leak down test I need to find one to know for sure.

How much you pay for that car? it could be a real nice setup with some time spent under the hood!!

Fans come on at all? are they blowing in the correct direction

Compression test wont tell you much about the head gasket, you need to perform a leakdown test

[mott6904]

I bought a block tester from napa for like 30 bucks. it is a chemical you use in a and it will turn green if there is any combustion gasses in the cooling system. That will help you out deciding if it is a blow gasket or not.

here is a link to what im talking about http://www.autotips101.com/cms...g.htm

[flatrate]

I bought a block tester from napa for like 30 bucks. it is a chemical you use in a and it will turn green if there is any combustion gasses in the cooling system. That will help you out deciding if it is a blow gasket or not.

here is a link to what im talking about http://www.autotips101.com/cms...g.htm

Those things are garbage dont work very well... wont detect small leaks ive tryed using them on cars i KNEW had a bad head gasket and it didnt work

leakdown is the best way, not to mention it will tell you what kinda shape the engines in...

[Carl H]

out of curiousity what kind of management is running the car, it looks like it has big injectors as well as a turbo upgrade.and unless its on a map setup blowthru maf...

[hawk86]

out of curiousity what kind of management is running the car, it looks like it has big injectors as well as a turbo upgrade.and unless its on a map setup blowthru maf...

ecu management is nistune I think it has 330? or 350 cc injectors I cant remember. it has a t3/t4 turbo. 12 lbs of boost. The one thing I dont like about the car other than it over heating is that the turbo only kicks in about 5k-6k rpm kinda sucks it takes so long.

[Carl H]

is that running the stock tach or has it been modified for the 6 cylinder?

[hawk86]

its running the stock tach so it jumps around

[virus77]

Id love to clean up that engine bay... shes got potential

[hawk86]

Id love to clean up that engine bay... shes got potential

Your more than welcome to come help

[mott6904]

Those things are garbage dont work very well... wont detect small leaks ive tryed using them on cars i KNEW had a bad head gasket and it didnt work

leakdown is the best way, not to mention it will tell you what kinda shape the engines in...

You must have got bad chemical or something. My works perfect it has saved me lots of time on customers cars.

Looks like you have a nice start. I feel your pain, I spent about week rewiring my car because im very anal about electrical work.

[Carl H]

stock tach reads 1.5x higher than what the ecu is actually spitting out, so 5-6k on the tach isnt that high rpm wise.

[Yellow4g63]

I know what it is!. Aftermarket manifold it's hard to bleed the system. Until I had mine hooked up right it would over heat all the damn time. Get one on ebay and hook it up. btw what kind of temp gauge do you have.