Randy_Baton Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 (edited) Hi just driving along in slow traffic and I notice white smoke coming out from the bonnet. Pop the bonnet and the coolant is boilng over. So at least it's steam and not smoke. I've let it cool off but what do I do? The oil gauge had dropped to zero as well Edited July 4, 2014 by Randy_Baton Quote
Ewen@Clark Motorsport Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 What they said, sounds like your fans have gone a very common problem Quote
coldel Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 Checked for leaks? Belts connected OK? Is fan working ok? Did the temp gauge read hot or was it normal? Quote
Randy_Baton Posted July 4, 2014 Author Posted July 4, 2014 (edited) Temp gauge was in the red. Coolant has dropped below min. Is it drivable? I'm in Weybridge on the way to Birmingham. Edited July 4, 2014 by Randy_Baton Quote
GMballistic Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 ^^ I wouldn't drive it until it all cools down and you can then recheck the coolant level. If the level is ok then it could be driven but I wouldn't drive it too far as it will over heat again potentially causing damage. Quote
coldel Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 Well if you are stuck out somewhere, wait till it cools down and nurse it home, if you are at home I wouldn't drive it off somewhere till you figure out what is wrong...heat is VERY bad for engines. Quote
coldel Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 Yeah no point limping all that way - all it takes is a bit too much and you have a four figure repair bill! Quote
Randy_Baton Posted July 4, 2014 Author Posted July 4, 2014 (edited) How do I check the fans. I've let it cool down and turned the engine on to idle. Oil temp is about 15 and engine temp seems to be holding steady Just before this happens I did over rev in first for about 30 seconds moving in slow traffic and trying to plug in a charger.! Edited July 4, 2014 by Randy_Baton Quote
Tricky-Ricky Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 Turn on the air con and look at the fans, if they are not both working then you have a problem, and any slow driving in traffic will cause overheat, every time, get it recovered and sort the fans, anything else and your risking your engine. Quote
Randy_Baton Posted July 4, 2014 Author Posted July 4, 2014 (edited) Okay I'm learning stuff. Turned the engine on and AC on and only the passenger side fan was turning. I gave the driver side one a spin and it started running. Does this mean the driver side one is bad? Edited July 4, 2014 by Randy_Baton Quote
Tricky-Ricky Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 Yes the fan motor either needs cleaning or replacing, i would not drive it like that as if its only starting when physically moved then it wont be starting when it should so the engine will overheat, as i said get it recovered if you don't want to risk engine problems due to overheating. Quote
Almeida1234 Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 If you do nurse it home Turn the heaters on to full and windows down. Would still top up coolant once cool down Quote
Randy_Baton Posted July 4, 2014 Author Posted July 4, 2014 Hopefully getting recovered to japex. Quote
davedutch Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 As if they know something, Clarke motorsport have posted a deal on mishimoto cooling fans!!! I had the same issue a year ago in Derby, hopefully you have got it recovered to garage by now, this is a simple fix and you will soon be mobile again. Quote
MITZ@CougarStore Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 We supplied and fitted a Mishimoto set this morning on a 350z, a lot more cost effective than the Nissan option... Quote
ZMANALEX Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 You will be fine to drive it providing you are not stuck in slow moving traffic as the incoming air will cool the radiator. The fans only kick in when in slow moving traffic or if you are stationery so no drama. You obviously only have a sticky L/H fan motor. Alex Quote
Randy_Baton Posted July 4, 2014 Author Posted July 4, 2014 Waited 2.5 hours for the most uninterested repair guy. He tried to tell me the resivouir had probably cracked. So I unscrewed the bolt and showed it hadn't. Then told me my vehicle was too large for him to tow and because it was rwd he'd need a longer tow bar? He then said it would be another 2 hours for a recovery vehicle! I at least got him to refill the coolant which he did but said his coolant was a bit watery, which was nice! Waited 2 hours got, bored and drove round the block a few times. No issues so I drove home in the dark and rain, everything was fine. Looks like I'll need to give the motor a clean or pop up to the Cougar store. Quote
GMballistic Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 Probably a good thing you didn't get towed. I don't think you can tow a rwd car with LSD like the Zed for very far without possibly causing damage. Maybe I'm wrong but I believe the correct way is with the rear wheels up in the air and the front wheels locked straight, on some type of dollies?! I know for definite you could not tow one of my older cars a 4wd Impreza as I had it on the back of a low loader more than once. Quote
Tricky-Ricky Posted July 5, 2014 Posted July 5, 2014 Sounds like the wait was a good thing then, as when you first posted you said that the traffic was very slow, and driving an non cooled car in slow traffic is as i said asking for trouble, obviously the roads where clear when you drove home, so there would be enough air speed to keep temps down, glad you got it back without further trouble. Quote
Neilp Posted July 5, 2014 Posted July 5, 2014 I would make sure the coolant system is drained completely and filled with the correct fluid as the repair sounds like he has just put anything in there. There has been issues with the internals of the engines when the wrong coolant is used. Also make sure the system is air locked. This happened in my car when it over heated and was a complete PITA to get the air out of. Quote
davedutch Posted July 5, 2014 Posted July 5, 2014 Go see Mitz @ C S he will sort you out!!! New fans, New coolant and you will be smiling again. Quote
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