Nissan Frontier: No Heat
video description
I had an overheating problem after a long drive, (4000km) the vanes(pressed steel)on the inside of the water pump had rusted away until it was little more than a flat disc inside. I'm guessing that the previous owner or service centre had filled with either the wrong type of coolant or just used water.
The engine had a complete rebuild at 287000km, I purchased it at 305000km, and replaced water pump at 312000km.
Date: 2022-12-29
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Comments and reviews: 14
Gregory
the main loop had an air bubble from coolant loss that prevented coolant from running to the heater core but was sufficient flow for the engine to keep it under control. upon acceleration coolant would start flowing because the coolant under g force or going up a hill was pushed into the heater core but after a bit that flow would again stop and wasn't making the heater core loop.
replacing the clamp and doing a vac and fill would have been all that was truly needed to fix it.
but given the age of the vehicle it was probably time for a coolant flush and a new thermostat anyway for peace of mind.
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the main loop had an air bubble from coolant loss that prevented coolant from running to the heater core but was sufficient flow for the engine to keep it under control. upon acceleration coolant would start flowing because the coolant under g force or going up a hill was pushed into the heater core but after a bit that flow would again stop and wasn't making the heater core loop.
replacing the clamp and doing a vac and fill would have been all that was truly needed to fix it.
but given the age of the vehicle it was probably time for a coolant flush and a new thermostat anyway for peace of mind.
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Danny
I hate the fact that a lot of newer cars have no drain plug. I hate coolant on my floor. It's sticky and slippery at the same time. Get tracked all over the shop. I have to get on my young tech all the time about clean floors. Even had to let one go after several warnings. Didn't put a floor mat in the car. Customer came back mad about a dirty carpet ( granted, I should have done QC before letting it go) but had my hand full with ordering parts, estimates, and phone calls. Anyhow that it was my gripe before the new year. Put a damn drain plug in the radiator.
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I hate the fact that a lot of newer cars have no drain plug. I hate coolant on my floor. It's sticky and slippery at the same time. Get tracked all over the shop. I have to get on my young tech all the time about clean floors. Even had to let one go after several warnings. Didn't put a floor mat in the car. Customer came back mad about a dirty carpet ( granted, I should have done QC before letting it go) but had my hand full with ordering parts, estimates, and phone calls. Anyhow that it was my gripe before the new year. Put a damn drain plug in the radiator.
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Chris
Was a warm clear day today. Changed the plugs in the CRV. I think it might have had the original Denso plugs from factory but with 250, 000km they weren t in terrible shape. They where hard too get out, and the threads in the head needed cleaning. I installed some American made NGK laser iridium. Who knows maybe the NGK one will snap in half when I got to take it out in 100k and I should have got the Denso that s made in Japan that s made from Japanese steel that s stronger then the swords they make.
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Was a warm clear day today. Changed the plugs in the CRV. I think it might have had the original Denso plugs from factory but with 250, 000km they weren t in terrible shape. They where hard too get out, and the threads in the head needed cleaning. I installed some American made NGK laser iridium. Who knows maybe the NGK one will snap in half when I got to take it out in 100k and I should have got the Denso that s made in Japan that s made from Japanese steel that s stronger then the swords they make.
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Richard.
Awful hard on yourself Eric O I think you would have caught that lower hose one way or the other If you toke off the lower skid plat you would have seen it, after all the video's i have seen from your web site one thing i have noticed not much gets past you LOL
LOL I think almost all of us who have worked on cars have taken out the bolt right next to what ever you are taking out. I know i have a few times. thanks for the video always a learning experience for me
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Awful hard on yourself Eric O I think you would have caught that lower hose one way or the other If you toke off the lower skid plat you would have seen it, after all the video's i have seen from your web site one thing i have noticed not much gets past you LOL
LOL I think almost all of us who have worked on cars have taken out the bolt right next to what ever you are taking out. I know i have a few times. thanks for the video always a learning experience for me
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Griff
Eric, you are a better man than I am, my friend. I can't believe how much plastic (junk) there is under the hood now. I wouldn't know where to begin - I grew up working on my 6 cyl. 230 and everything was nice and simple! That was probably way before your time, but I miss those days. I always enjoy your videos, because you dont stop until you find the problem ( There's your problem, Lady! , and you just do things right. You are a man of honor, my friend!
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Eric, you are a better man than I am, my friend. I can't believe how much plastic (junk) there is under the hood now. I wouldn't know where to begin - I grew up working on my 6 cyl. 230 and everything was nice and simple! That was probably way before your time, but I miss those days. I always enjoy your videos, because you dont stop until you find the problem ( There's your problem, Lady! , and you just do things right. You are a man of honor, my friend!
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James
I appreciate every video you produce. My godfather always taught me that experience is the best teacher. And your videos teach me a lot. I think you are the best example of how to CORRECTLY work on vehicles. Everything you post allows others to learn from your experience and expertise. Keep up the good work and the awesome videos you produce! You help the experienced mechanic as well as the novice ones. Thank you again for showing how it should be done!
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I appreciate every video you produce. My godfather always taught me that experience is the best teacher. And your videos teach me a lot. I think you are the best example of how to CORRECTLY work on vehicles. Everything you post allows others to learn from your experience and expertise. Keep up the good work and the awesome videos you produce! You help the experienced mechanic as well as the novice ones. Thank you again for showing how it should be done!
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Roberta
I don't remember I think it was a year ago your buddy from Pennsylvania made a booboo and ate it for the customer, heck I tried to help out a friend and reused a brake shoe return spring rather than wait till Monday to get the part( this was back when stores closed on Sunday, besides he'd miss the Pow Wow, so he lost partial control of his braking because the spring broke, no harm no foul. But I paid for the tow and he just made the Pow Wow.
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I don't remember I think it was a year ago your buddy from Pennsylvania made a booboo and ate it for the customer, heck I tried to help out a friend and reused a brake shoe return spring rather than wait till Monday to get the part( this was back when stores closed on Sunday, besides he'd miss the Pow Wow, so he lost partial control of his braking because the spring broke, no harm no foul. But I paid for the tow and he just made the Pow Wow.
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autos
Had an XJS 3. 6 L with a leaking thermostat, changed the housing and thermostat, tightned it up, housing broke, ordered another, housing broke when I tightned it up, ordered a third and took a real close look. The thermostat was loose and would fit both ways, one way it snapped the housing when you tightned it, the other way it didn't. The original one was the wrong way but the PO had sealed it up with silicon - but still leaked and overheated.
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Had an XJS 3. 6 L with a leaking thermostat, changed the housing and thermostat, tightned it up, housing broke, ordered another, housing broke when I tightned it up, ordered a third and took a real close look. The thermostat was loose and would fit both ways, one way it snapped the housing when you tightned it, the other way it didn't. The original one was the wrong way but the PO had sealed it up with silicon - but still leaked and overheated.
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Charles
I don t think you should have replaced the thermostat or flushed the heater core. After you found that leak you should have known it was low on coolant which will cause the heater to not work and the car to overheat.
You should have fixed that leak, filled up and then test drive it. Time is money and you wasted a lot of time by ignoring the obvious mistake.
I m not sure what he charged for this repair but I m sure it was too much.
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I don t think you should have replaced the thermostat or flushed the heater core. After you found that leak you should have known it was low on coolant which will cause the heater to not work and the car to overheat.
You should have fixed that leak, filled up and then test drive it. Time is money and you wasted a lot of time by ignoring the obvious mistake.
I m not sure what he charged for this repair but I m sure it was too much.
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Shade
Finding that lower rad hose broken was a good find. But, it looks to me like that thermostat was working as the temp gauge was about the same as when you started. The heater core flush was a good move and well worth doing while you were there. The air filter would not have been an up sell as it needed to be done. But, telling the customer about it was OK too. Tell him to get it with the next oil change.
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Finding that lower rad hose broken was a good find. But, it looks to me like that thermostat was working as the temp gauge was about the same as when you started. The heater core flush was a good move and well worth doing while you were there. The air filter would not have been an up sell as it needed to be done. But, telling the customer about it was OK too. Tell him to get it with the next oil change.
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garretts91
From what I've experienced and read from many others is that these VQ40 engines are known for trapping air in the heater core on Frontiers and masking a low coolant level. Seems many people have to park them on an incline and increase RPM's with the overflow cap off for a while. Then slightly overfill the reservoir, cap it back off and let it cool. Check level and top off if needed.
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From what I've experienced and read from many others is that these VQ40 engines are known for trapping air in the heater core on Frontiers and masking a low coolant level. Seems many people have to park them on an incline and increase RPM's with the overflow cap off for a while. Then slightly overfill the reservoir, cap it back off and let it cool. Check level and top off if needed.
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Mike
Funny you called it a Chrysler clamp. Recently overheated the old Town and Country. Pulled over right away and found the lower clamp busted and my anti-freeze disappeared. Easy road side fix but 40 in anti freeze and new clamp along with messing around for 90 minutes. Thanks Chrysler! However the thermostat only took 10 minutes to change, it's right on top. Love hate relationship.
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Funny you called it a Chrysler clamp. Recently overheated the old Town and Country. Pulled over right away and found the lower clamp busted and my anti-freeze disappeared. Easy road side fix but 40 in anti freeze and new clamp along with messing around for 90 minutes. Thanks Chrysler! However the thermostat only took 10 minutes to change, it's right on top. Love hate relationship.
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Max
Thank you so much for the video, now I know where my thermostat is! I have no heat on idle at the beginning of every winter like clockwork so I top off radiator even when it appears full and give the top hose a massage and it works every time. Great truck though almost pushing 200000 miles hope I never have to do the heater core that looks like a nightmare
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Thank you so much for the video, now I know where my thermostat is! I have no heat on idle at the beginning of every winter like clockwork so I top off radiator even when it appears full and give the top hose a massage and it works every time. Great truck though almost pushing 200000 miles hope I never have to do the heater core that looks like a nightmare
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adam0U812
I bought a brand new 2004 GMC hd 2500 and when I got home from purchasing it, I found out that it had zero heat. Coolant loss was almost 2 gallons. The bottom radiator hose had a broken squeeze clamp. This stealership did nothing for me, which is located in schererville, IN. , on RT 30.
I still have the truck with just over 40, 600 miles on it.
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I bought a brand new 2004 GMC hd 2500 and when I got home from purchasing it, I found out that it had zero heat. Coolant loss was almost 2 gallons. The bottom radiator hose had a broken squeeze clamp. This stealership did nothing for me, which is located in schererville, IN. , on RT 30.
I still have the truck with just over 40, 600 miles on it.
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