overheating

Asked by Guru52FVQ Feb 03, 2018 at 02:12 AM about the 2000 Nissan Altima GXE

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

In December 2017, I went to
Firestone for an oil change and
supreme tuneup.  I was told that I
needed a waterpump and oil leak
repair.  I was given a quote.  I went
home and told male friend.  He
told me he would replace
waterpump.  Before replacing
waterpump,  my car did not
overheat.  When he changed my
waterpump,  my temperature
gauge stopped working,  and my
car started jerking after a while of
driving.  I told male friend and he
said it was Firestone error.  I took
back to Firestone.  I was told that
male friend did not put the motor
mount screws in,  which caused
jerking.  They replaced screws.  
Car was running fine back home.  
The next day,  I was driving to
daughters and car overheated.  
Replaced, thermostat,  radiator,  
temperature sensor,  and lower
radiator hose,  still overheated.  I
was then told have blown head
gasket,  because coolant
bubbling.  I do not have
coolant/oil mixture or white
smoke from tailpipe. Purchased
Bars leak and did as instructed.  
But,  when had to idle car for 15
minutes after 30 minute cooling,  
gauge raised to redzone within 8
minutes.  Why?  Please help with
trouble shooting issue.  Thank you
in advance.  For the record,  I think
my ale friend put water pump in
wrong and placed bolts in wrong
place when reassembling.  

4 Answers

38,975

lesson(s) learned , places like firestone will sell you what ever they can , don't believe what people say some of the water pump bolts could have been different lengths and you really have to pay attention to detail when doing the work so don't let people touch your car , there is no fix in a can , barrs leak plugs small holes and that's what your coolant system is , you need to flush the system and get that crap out of there , a few simple tests can save you from throwing parts at a car trying to fix it , other things can go bad at the same time by pure coincidence , do a compression test to see if the gasket is blown and if the rest is worth doing , flush the system , replace the thermostat , see if the fans come on when it gets hot

3 people found this helpful.
157,485

Firestone may have been correct in their diagnosis. Sounds like to me your male friend should not be working on vehicles and may be the cause for some of the issues.

1 people found this helpful.

Thank you two for the quick response. The mail friend thinks he knows everything. I told him that I think he put the waterpump on wrong, using bolts which goes in different areas. When I noticed him taking it apart, I ask him, are you going to know where to put the bolts when he puts it back together. He said, yes. Yeah right. I know he did, because I took the alternator bolts in a certain area and told him where they are. Later when he put the waterpump and pulley on, I noticed the bolts gone,. I ask him, where are the alternator bolts. He act like I didn't know what I was talking about. He came to me last night to inform me that the mechanic informed him that it's the waterpump. His response to that was, the mechanic doesn't know what he's talking about. He states it's the head gaskets. And to repair it's going to cost over 800. if he does the work, to repair. I got mad and accused him of messing up my car and told him I don't want the car anymore. Which was a false statement. He an ex that I'm still living with. But, in his eyes, he does no wrong. But I will take your advice and see what happens. I should of took the car back to Firestone and had them replace the waterpump like I wanted to. But no.... I had to listen to the male friend. My big mistake. Thanks again.

157,485

Overheating it may have damaged the head gasket. Best of luck with it.

1 people found this helpful.

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