Overheating and no error codes
Asked by Lars Dec 01, 2023 at 11:15 PM about the 1998 INFINITI I30 FWD
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
So my car started overheating After I realized I actually realized the fans were
running Longer than usual. The reservoir was empty and so after filling it. The
fans kept on running and the overheating continued. The reservoir is still full to
where and filled it even after after I drained the radiator it seemed to not to
move at all. I think it might be a waterprompt but I'm not a 100% sure. I am
hoping not there are some answers out there that can help me identify the
problem. So I can fix it.
4 Answers
If the tank did not drop then check the tanks cap, it may not be venting properly, however you may also have a air locked cooling system or a radiator that has a very restricted coolant flow, I have also seen the water pump blades corrode so bad that they won't circulate coolant. When was the thermostat last changed? The cooling fans will also run if there is a problem with the engine management system even if the check engine light is not on. Do not overheat these engines cause they will blow a head gasket even if just slightly overheated.
beatupchevy answered 4 months ago
Do a compression test , It's a 25 year old car and it's probably not the first time it has over heated , Don't drop a bunch of money into it .
Technologically advanced cars, like Infinity, BMW, and Audi, aren't meant to be maintained on a budget. And the older thy get, the more maintenance they need, and that maintenance must come from a mechanic who knows those cars. I've been playing with cars since I was ten, and I wouldn't touch them.... The most likely culprit here is the water pump, something that commonly needs attention, or it could be that the thermostat is stuck closed. You might also have a defective radiator cap, as the reservoir level doesn't change even after the engine heats up..... There doesn't seem to be anything serious here, unless overheating has caused other problems in the engine, like warped heads leading to blown head gaskets.
If the plastic coolant recovery tank is not pressurized you need to remove the radiator cap with the engine cold. Fill the radiator to the very top. Put the radiator cap back on and top off the recovery tank. If the tank was empty, just refilling it will do nothing. The coolant will just sit there. When you fill up the radiator with the engine cold and you start the engine, the coolant will expand and force the air out of the hose that connects the recovery tank to the radiator. Then after you shut off the engine and it cools down the coolant will contract and pull coolant from the recovery tank back into the radiator. Hope that helps! Jim
