| Yet, another issue - Click HERE for Original Thread |
| crash |
Hi,
Ok, here is the latest issue. I tell ya, if I didn't love Mo so much....
My rad fan is always running - and I'm not getting any hot air from the vents. Today after my drive into work (it was -2 this am) Mo was running hot. I've smelled antifreeze in the cabin recently.
Given all this - it can be a couple of things (thermostat / heater coil / air bubble)....has anyone experienced a similar problem? If so, what was the diagnosis? How much?!
Thanks. |
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| tmnjmurano |
| If you smell antifreeze in the cabin, its almost gotta be a leak. Is the reservoir low ? Any other underhood clues? |
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| crash |
Nope.
There is a sound of "gushing" water - which I'd originally assumed to be water in my sunroof drainage reserviors - but that's it.
No leak from inside the engive (at least that I can see). |
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| njjoe |
crash-
An antifreeze smell in the MO's cabin does not necessarily mean there is a coolant leak. This phenomenon has been discussed in several threads. The source of the smell can be the overflow tank under the hood. Many cars have a dump tube that directs the vapors under the car. In the MO's case the antifreeze vapor is vented in the upper area of the hood where it can be ingested by the HVAC intake at the base of the windshield.
You say your MO was running hot - if the temperature guage was a clock, what number would the needle be pointing to?
If the thermostat was frozen in the closed position the engine would be running hot but the air vents would be producing hot air.
-njjoe |
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| elliotgb |
I vote for the thermostat.
It's happened to me on other vehicles before. |
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| crash |
quote:
Originally posted by njjoe
crash-
An antifreeze smell in the MO's cabin does not necessarily mean there is a coolant leak. This phenomenon has been discussed in several threads. The source of the smell can be the overflow tank under the hood. Many cars have a dump tube that directs the vapors under the car. In the MO's case the antifreeze vapor is vented in the upper area of the hood where it can be ingested by the HVAC intake at the base of the windshield.
You say your MO was running hot - if the temperature guage was a clock, what number would the needle be pointing to?
If the thermostat was frozen in the closed position the engine would be running hot but the air vents would be producing hot air.
-njjoe
I love the analogy njjoe! It'd be about 9:30.
My vote is for the stat as well - sounds cheaper. |
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| tmnjmurano |
crash- if the reservoir is not low and you don't see signs of leaks then maybe the odor is the "venting" issue discussed earlier, if it is you may want to check the radiator cap, could be loose or defective.
I would think though if you are "venting" enough coolant to smell inside the cabin, your reservoir would be a little low. |
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| njjoe |
quote:
Originally posted by crash
I love the analogy njjoe! It'd be about 9:30.
My vote is for the stat as well - sounds cheaper.
crash-
I am confused. If the indicator on your MO's temperature guage was the hour hand on a clock it would sweep from 2:00 to 5:00. So how did you come up with 9:30?:confused:
-njjoe |
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| Gonzo |
quote:
Originally posted by njjoe
crash-
I am confused. If the indicator on your MO's temperature guage was the hour hand on a clock it would sweep from 2:00 to 5:00. So how did you come up with 9:30?:confused:
-njjoe
:p |
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| crash |
quote:
Originally posted by njjoe
crash-
I am confused. If the indicator on your MO's temperature guage was the hour hand on a clock it would sweep from 2:00 to 5:00. So how did you come up with 9:30?:confused:
-njjoe
Ya know, I was driving home - keeping an eye on my temprature and I saw that and said crap. D'OH!!!!
It was pointing at 2:30. |
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| njjoe |
crash-
Whatever you do, do NOT let the engine overheat. Doing so can warp the heads and you will be looking at a very costly repair.
Have you an appointment with the dealer or a garage?
-njjoe |
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| crash |
Took it in today.
Bottom line is the rad is gone. $700 + installation + tax. About $1100.
They tried the heating coil, thermostat, tighening the cap. It was the rad.
****. |
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| tmnjmurano |
| Crash- what was the problem with the radiator. was the core damaged by a stone or what? |
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| Tyler_Canada |
quote:
Originally posted by crash
About $1100.
****.
No kidding! I've been comparing the price of Nissan parts to aftermarket parts for quite a while now, and I've found the average mark-up to be 100% over local stores. I refuse to buy anything at the dealer now, all I want is their service. I'm going in next week and having them put in spark plugs and a headlight bulb that I bought elsewhere. Saved $300 on the headlight bulb (no, that's not a typo!) and probably $50 on the plugs. |
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| njjoe |
quote:
Originally posted by Tyler_Canada
I've been comparing the price of Nissan parts to aftermarket parts for quite a while now, and I've found the average mark-up to be 100% over local stores.
TC-
I found the radiator for $386 at World Parts Express. crash was quoted $700. There's another example of your 100% mark-up.
-njjoe |
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| crash |
quote:
Originally posted by tmnjmurano
Crash- what was the problem with the radiator. was the core damaged by a stone or what?
The hole was in the bottom left corner of the rad. It must have been a stone.
I'm thrilled that Mo is feeling better - BUT still a bit numb from sticker shock. As some of the below comments had mentioned - Nissan likes to make a pretty penny on their parts.
My sentiment at this point is that Nissans engines are class A. Nissan style is the market leader. It's the secondary parts (wheel sensors / rads / exhaust / etc. etc. etc. etc) and their service where they need to step it up.
I'm going to get some quotes on rads (ideally OEM) and forward my concerns onto Nissan Canada and see what they say. Pending their response will dictate my next vehicle purchase; because right now - it ain't gonna be a Nissan.
When I was in the dealership, I saw the like model of Mo sitting in the showroom at it was a $42K rig. This year (so far) I've spent $2,400 on repairs (NOT maintanence) - on something that is only 4 years old w/ 150,000kms on it.
I can assure everyone that I'm anal with upkeep and don't abuse Mo in anyway. |
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| njjoe |
crash-
My advice to you is to find a reputable garage and use them for all non-warranty work. It will be cheaper and the quality of work will be as good or better than the dealer.
-njjoe |
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| Tyler_Canada |
quote:
Originally posted by njjoe
crash-
My advice to you is to find a reputable garage and use them for all non-warranty work. It will be cheaper and the quality of work will be as good or better than the dealer.
-njjoe
I find that I would rather have a Nissan tech working on my Murano. In this area, independents charge about $75 per hour, and Nissan charges about $85 per hour, so that's not a big difference. It's the parts prices I can't tolerate. |
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| Corin |
quote:
Originally posted by Tyler_Canada
I find that I would rather have a Nissan tech working on my Murano. In this area, independents charge about $75 per hour, and Nissan charges about $85 per hour, so that's not a big difference. It's the parts prices I can't tolerate.
It's the incompetence that I can't tolerate. I wish I could take mine to my TRUSTED mechanic for warranty work. At least he would do the work correctly, and wouldn't break something else in the process. Not to mention that with my previous Hondas and Toyotas (well, Chevy Prizm) he was MUCH cheaper than the dealerships as well.
In fact, twice I've taken my car to him and he fixed it for no charge because it was just something that needed tightened. The dealership wanted $85 just to diagnose the problem, and I'm sure spending the 30 seconds to tighten a bolt or belt wouldn't have been free either.
Now THAT is service, and it's why he always gets my repeat business. It's also why he's so busy that you have to schedule appointments AT LEAST a week in advance, even though he never advertises. All of his business is word-of-mouth. |
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| crash |
| If I could find a good mechanic I would use them. It's that simple. Problem is I can't find them! |
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| njjoe |
quote:
Originally posted by crash
If I could find a good mechanic I would use them. It's that simple. Problem is I can't find them!
Ask around. Find out where your friends, neighbors and co-workers go. Word-of-mouth is the best advertising out there. Try out the good places and avoid the bad ones.
Specialty shops are sometimes a good choice for certain repairs. In your particular case, a radiator shop most likely could have done the job for much less than Nissan, and they would have had more experience with replacing radiators than the Nissan guys.
-njjoe |
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