911 Radiator Problem
 

OK, I'm driving home and this little sentra want s to try and pass me. I am crusing in 5th at about 3700 rpms, going just about 100. When he gets up side to me, he had been messin around with me, I drop it into 4th and I'm 3 car lengths away in no time, then when the rpms hit 6K I heard a whistle. I had a whistle before but fixed it, slightly cracked intake boot. I checked and the whistle was gone. It was a quieter but higher whistle this time. When I get home and I am trying to find a parking space, steam starts pouring from under the hood. I freak out and open the hood and steam is shooting out of the radiator. Looking at it, drivers side, Where the plastic meets the metal. I pop the radiator cap to release pressure and it is boiling. Temp gauge is maxed out, was fine on way home.

Any ideas? This is my only car and I need it functional by in the morning, or well asap.

Should I go ahead and order a new radiator? If so, who sells a good but cheaper aluminum raditor? I am looking at radiators now in fact.

That is the weak point in the radiator. One of three things happened, or a combination of things.

1) The thermostat is stuck, the pressure built up in the system and cracked the radiator.

2) The waterpump died causing the water to no longer circulate, pressure builds, radiator blows.

3) The radiator is just old and cracked. I would still replace the water pump and thermostat if they have never been replaced before. Thermostat at a minimum.

Bottom line- I wouldn't drive the car until everything is fixed. You will risk a major overheat if you continue to drive the car, which could be several times more expensive to fix, or mean a new engine.

You should also look to replace any of the hoses and clamps if they have not been replaced recently.

I agree. There are a couple people on this forum that destroyed their engines be driving them after they were over heated.

Dont you risk warping the head by driving overheated?

warping, or cracking the head, damage to rings, melting metal parts if it gets hot enough. Lots of stuff can go bad really fast if you overheat. Not a good idea at all.

I didn't drive but 20 feet after it started to overheat. I got all the way home before that happened. So I'm looking at spending what, about 400 on parts? Is it hard to change the radiator, temp gauge or water pump?

Driving it 20 feet shouldn't cause any lasting damage... it's the extra 5 miles home that can do you in.

it's not the temp guage, it's the thermostat. It's not too hard to change it as well as the radiator. I've not done an m44 water pump yet so I won't comment on those. You should also get new radiator hoses while you're at it.

OK, I had the mechanic put in a new radiator for 300 with labor. Hoses are good. The car is now staying cool. As soon as I have some more cash I will be changing the water pump and thermostat. Somehow I blew the seal on the radiator. I havent put it under any kind of work yet though. Think I will wait til friday night to see if it can really hold up. Ima do exactly what I did when it blew and see if it cracks again.

and I meant thremostat. I will post something after I get it changed.

You should have replaced them if they are original parts. ALso, there are a couple plastic coolant parts that should be replaced while servicing the radiator.

like what? I am really low on cash so I just did what we KNEW needed replacing. He told me that he doesnt guarentee the radiator since i didnt have any thing actually checked. I lost my credit card and work has been a lil slow. I am looking for the best price I can find.

They were dirty but didnt look old. I think they changed them when I had my front end redone. They dont look old just a bit dirty.

What other plastic parts?