Nissan Murano Radiator Leak

[dhasker]

I own a 2003 Murano and my 4th radiator this year just sprang a new leak. I'm afraid the dealer is getting impatient with me as I am getting impatient with Nissan. Has anyone out there heard or experienced such severe radiator failure? We've changed out the radiators, thermostats and hoses throughout the year and also done a flush test of the system and pressure test. It seems the system is over pressurizing somehow a springing a leak?Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[allensteiner]

might help if you posted in the correct forum. if you still have warranty have the dealership keep fixing until they resolve the issue. if the system is over pressurised maybe it's the fault of the water pump?

[Timmbo]

I own a 2003 Murano and my 4th radiator this year just sprang a new leak. I'm afraid the dealer is getting impatient with me as I am getting impatient with Nissan. Has anyone out there heard or experienced such severe radiator failure? We've changed out the radiators, thermostats and hoses throughout the year and also done a flush test of the system and pressure test. It seems the system is over pressurizing somehow a springing a leak?Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Welcome to NICOclub! Glad to have you aboard in the Murano Forum! I would keep taking it back to the dealer, it is not your fault. There must be something else wrong that is causing the failures. That is not normal and I have not heard of the radiator being a troubled spot on the Murano, yours is clearly an isolated case. Let us know how things pan out! Good luck to you.

[KJSmitty]

Normally the radiator cap will prevent any overpressurization issues. I'm not familiar with all yet most caps are set to open at something like ~14psi. Over pressure issues within a cooling system usually result in an overflow tank filling up rapidly/leaking and resultant of a head gasket leak or bad thermostat etc..

Bottom line, if you do have an overpressure issue within the radiator and it is causing a leak rather than popping the cap,,, you need to replace your radiator cap for starters. Now, if the cap is functioning properly and you're not getting excess coolant in the overflow/reserve tank, you don't have an overpressure issue.

Hard to say without hands on/testing of the vehicle.

Best of luck

[gregchendrix]

I told the dealership that I am going for the world's record on new radiators. I am up to 7 replacements. I first owned a 2003 Murano and sold it after having to replace the radiator 5 times. I leased a 2006 Murano and had no radiator problems until about 44000 mi and in the past three months have put two new ones in. I have not had to pay for any of them except for a partial payment of the first one, which was several years ago on my 2003 Murano. Nissan gave me an additional $1000 credit when I got rid of my first Murano due to the radiator failures. I have checked with an attorney to see what legal rights I have. To say the least I am frustrated. I love my Murano but something is wrong. The guys at the dealership are as nice as they can be and I appreciate that but I have got to believe that Nissan can fix this.

[CPS]

I've been working at a Nissan dealer for over 3.5 years and I have never heard of this issue. Like KJSmitty said, overpressurization is the fault of the radiator cap as long as water is flowing smoothly. However, if you've ever put Bars Stop Leak or anything else in the cooling system, then that could be continuously flowing through the system and restricting flow somewhere that the cap can't bleed off the pressure. Say it's caused a restriction on the opposite side of the radiator from the cap. Pressure builds up and the cap can't release it because the pressure on it is not high enough. Pops the radiator. Dealer puts another one in. Stop Leak is still in the system, restricts it again, pop. Repeat.

You never really get Stop Leak out regardless of flushes, because that stuff goes everywhere. It sticks in places but also breaks off in chunks which could be causing your issues.

Another issue would be a blown head gasket, but that is determined by a simple chemical test, which I would guess the dealer has already done to rule that out. In that case you would have cylinder pressure in the cooling system, and the cap cannot bleed off that kind of pressure fast enough. However, you would be experiencing other issues (misfires, loss of gas mileage, hesitation) if the leak was that bad.

I'm with everybody else, take it back to the dealer, or to another dealer for a second opinion. It's not normal.

[GroupIII]

I have this same problem with my 2005 Murano. They are putting in the 5th radiator since April 2010 today. Did anyone get any resolution to the radiator issue? They want to replace the thermostat (at my cost) and they say if that doesn't fix the problem they will have to tear down the engine (at $1000's) to "figure out what's wrong". I have put nothing weird in the coolant. The most recent radiator lasted a month before it split a seam (which they all seem to have done).

Thanks

[klynne]

I'm experiencing a similar problem with my 2004 Murano. At 69K miles had a radiator leak. Dealer replaced with factory radiator. Less than two months later, that radiator started leaking; dealer replaced again. Three months later, the 2nd replacement failed and it was replaced again. Then just 10 months later, the 3rd replacement failed and another one was put it. Of course, these last three were done for free as the radiator has 12-month 12,0000 mile warranty. Now just 14 months and 15,000 miles later, the (4th replacement) radiator has failed again. Now it's out of warranty so its gonna cost me $1000 bucks or so. Dealer claims it's never seen a problem like this and is questioning whether the car has been in an accident (it hasn't) which has bent the frame or something such that the radiator is undergoing some kind of unusual torque or something.