Car Problem: is it thermosat or other?

[Signals]

My brothers got this 1995 Nissan Quest XE that he just drove from Dallas to Tampa. It runs fine when the van is moving on the road, but then he comes to a stop or has to idle, it over heats really fast, but when he takes off it returns to normal.

It has new radiator and hoses that were installed just before he went on the road trip. He called the mechanic that did repairs on it just before departure and he seems to think its the thermostat.

What do you guys think it is?

 

[tomson75]

My brothers got this 1995 Nissan Quest XE that he just drove from Dallas to Tampa. It runs fine when the van is moving on the road, but then he comes to a stop or has to idle, it over heats really fast, but when he takes off it returns to normal.

It has new radiator and hoses that were installed just before he went on the road trip. He called the mechanic that did repairs on it just before departure and he seems to think its the thermostat.

What do you guys think it is?

I had the same thing happen to me with one of my old Jeeps. It was the thermostat (and the water pump in my case). Cheap and easy repair to do yourself with basic tools on a Jeep, not sure about a Japanese rig.

Most newer cars have a drip hole that begins to leak on the water pump when it's about to go bad. I'd check it out too, and replace both while you're at it.

 

[Signals]

I had the same thing happen to me with one of my old Jeeps. It was the thermostat (and the water pump in my case). Cheap and easy repair to do yourself with basic tools on a Jeep, not sure about a Japanese rig.

Most newer cars have a drip hole that begins to leak on the water pump when it's about to go bad. I'd check it out too, and replace both while you're at it.

Would it not overheat all the time if the water pump was bad as well? Or I guess that would depend on how far gone the water pump is. What I mean is if the water pump was just starting to go out, then it might show the above symptom. But if the pump was almost totally trashed then it would overheat all the time, right? Or no?

 

[tomson75]

Would it not overheat all the time if the water pump was bad as well? Or I guess that would depend on how far gone the water pump is. What I mean is if the water pump was just starting to go out, then it might show the above symptom. But if the pump was almost totally trashed then it would overheat all the time, right? Or no?

They don't typically go bad overnight. They can develop a leak in the gasket, or the bearing for the pulley can go bad. Either way, your vehicle won't always start overheating right away, but rather often after the problem has become irreversible. Those pumps equipped with the vent hole that I mentioned earlier are nice because they provide you with an early warning system, and you can replace it before the vehicle overheats.

You're problem is more likely the thermostat, but since most vehicles require the removal of the water pump to access it, its nice to kill two birds with one stone if the need is there.

...but yes, if the water pump is completely trashed, you'll likely be burning up pretty quick.

 

[Signals]

They don't typically go bad overnight. They can develop a leak in the gasket, or the bearing for the pulley can go bad. Either way, your vehicle won't always start overheating right away, but rather often after the problem has become irreversible. Those pumps equipped with the vent hole that I mentioned earlier are nice because they provide you with an early warning system, and you can replace it before the vehicle overheats.

You're problem is more likely the thermostat, but since most vehicles require the removal of the water pump to access it, its nice to kill two birds with one stone if the need is there.

...but yes, if the water pump is completely trashed, you'll likely be burning up pretty quick.

Thanks tomson75.

I'll check with my brother to see if he thinks he can afford to replace the water pump at the same time.