Water pump questions

[bigjim247365]

hey XN, so yesterday i was driving into the city of Chicago with some guys in GLX. we were on the tollway for about half an hour and were not that close to each other (about two or three car lengths). when we got off into the city i looked down and saw that my temp was almost in the "OH SH*T!" zone so i cranked on the heat full blast and was sitting in an oven for the last 15 mins of the drive threw the city traffic. it helped a little but the engine was still hot. after we parked i opened the hood to cool her off a bit. but on the way home she was at perfect temp.

my X is at 66k and from what i heard from Joelo (2nd gen owner), thats when the pump might need service.
i might take my X in to my trusted shop to have a look see, but i was wondering if some of you fellow first geners could help me out.

thanks, BIGJIM

 

[Mirage]

The water pump is supposed to be replaced with the timing belt, which is done at 105k miles. If its not leaking from the weep hole or making bad bearing noise I'd probably start looking elsewhere, not saying its not the water pump, but I would think highly unlikely at your low mileage. Check the coolant, check with the radiator cap off with it cold, occasionally the overflow won't suck coolant back in so its not a great indicator. Check the fan clutch, check the radiator core for blockages if you've been through mud recently hose it out gently. Failing anything obvious you can pressure test the cooling system to see if your getting air anywhere causing an air bubble to get stuck in the system.

 

[bigjim247365]

The water pump is supposed to be replaced with the timing belt, which is done at 105k miles. If its not leaking from the weep hole or making bad bearing noise I'd probably start looking elsewhere, not saying its not the water pump, but I would think highly unlikely at your low mileage. Check the coolant, check with the radiator cap off with it cold, occasionally the overflow won't suck coolant back in so its not a great indicator. Check the fan clutch, check the radiator core for blockages if you've been through mud recently hose it out gently. Failing anything obvious you can pressure test the cooling system to see if your getting air anywhere causing an air bubble to get stuck in the system.

thanks for the feed back. every time i go wheeling i wash out my radiator after with a garden hose, i know that how easy it is to bend the fins.

 

[Muadeeb]

Don't rule out the thermostat either. I went through two in two years. I'm coming up on a year with this one now.

sent via carrier pigeon

 

[bigjim247365]

Don't rule out the thermostat either. I went through two in two years. I'm coming up on a year with this one now.

sent via carrier pigeon

ya i was told that too, but when i popped the hood it was ungobblely hot under there. i burnt my fingers putting the hood rod up, so i know my gauges werent lying.

however when i drove my X today she was running at spec temp.

 

[drbandkgb]

Like others have said... Check the fluids.. And even though you think that radiator is clean.. It may not be.. I had some issues like this on my X..
I upgraded to a SC cooler and have had zero issues since.

 

[bigjim247365]

Like others have said... Check the fluids.. And even though you think that radiator is clean.. It may not be.. I had some issues like this on my X..
I upgraded to a SC cooler and have had zero issues since.

i actually was looking into swapping a SC cooler in. its thicker and that means more surface area for the cooling fins. ill take a trip to a couple of junk yards that i know have a few Xterras and pick one out, hopefully.

 

[bigjim247365]

well guess what i just did! ok so for the hell of it i checked my fluid levels...AGAIN, and all was well. then since i havnt done this since i last went wheeling in the fall, wash my radiator fins with the the hose. i was surprised how much crap was still in there and some new stuff. i gave it a good shower making sure not to bed the fins at the same time. after i finished it hit me. "what if i turn the X on and the fan sucks all the water and remaining stuff out?" i had my hood up since i started washing the rad so i got in my X and turned her on at first nothing much but then i gave her some gas. i reved her up to 5k rpm then if happened.............. a huge cloud misty water and dust wooshed out of the engine and got all over my moms white crown vic, woops lol! at this piont im laughing cuz the X was still running fine, its just what i just saw come out of my truck was so amazing.

long story short my rad is cleaner than its even been since i started wheeling, i might do this every time i clean it.

and yes i washed my mothers car lol

 

[Macland]

Haha. I hope that fixes your problem.

 

[Muadeeb]

"what if i turn the X on and the fan sucks all the water and remaining stuff out?" i had my hood up since i started washing the rad so i got in my X and turned her on at first nothing much but then i gave her some gas. i reved her up to 5k rpm then if happened.............. a huge cloud misty water and dust wooshed out of the engine
<snip>
might do this every time i clean it.

Need video next time...

 

[bigjim247365]

Need video next time...

will do!

 

[bigjim247365]

so ummm... Ryoko overheated again but i think i know why this time. well its more of a guess. i was driving threw farm country doing 60 with the ac on 3/4 blast with the windows rolled up of course. the water temp was normal but when i went through a drive-thru with the ac still on, i was about to turn out of the lot when i saw the temp was almost in the danger zone again. so i park the X with the hood up and waited for her to cool down. then i drove home with no ac and everything was normal. i cant tell you it is not the thermostat cuz my temp gauge wasnt jumping all over like ive heard happen.

so my real question is, could the ac being on really cause this?

note that this is pretty much the same thing that happened in my first story. the ac was on then too.

 

[drbandkgb]

Clean the radiator.. Do not use a power washer!

I found mine in the white x built up a lot of dirt and effected the cooling.
Spray it out on both sides

 

[bigjim247365]

Clean the radiator.. Do not use a power washer!

I found mine in the white x built up a lot of dirt and effected the cooling.
Spray it out on both sides

i did do both sides two weeks ago, and i used my garden hose with a small nozzle. at work i clean the rad on my tractor like this all time so id like to think i new what i was doing. my X has been at perfect temp ever since besides the drive thru.

also ive only used my ac twice this year and it was before each overheating took place.

 

[drbandkgb]

Hmm.. I have read all of this post.. But what's the age of the one in the truck now? Could be corroded on the inside and stopping it from cooling right..

I remember my white x would struggle with the ac and 90 to 100 deg days..

Best of luck man

 

[bigjim247365]

Hmm.. I have read all of this post.. But what's the age of the one in the truck now? Could be corroded on the inside and stopping it from cooling right..

I remember my white x would struggle with the ac and 90 to 100 deg days..

Best of luck man

well my rig is an 04, and i cant seen any rust maybe cuz i wasnt looking for it. but i will look for it tomarrow and my shop.

 

[bigjim247365]

well after taking ryoko to my trusted local shop, looks like the fan clutch burnt out so thats why ive been over heating with the ac. $115 with labor done and done.

how trusted you ask? the owner gave me his plow truck to drive til the X is ready tomarrow. maybe cuz i used to work for him lol. :angel:

 

[Muadeeb]

Must be odd driving a plow in 90*

 

[bigjim247365]

Must be odd driving a plow in 90*

ya people gave me the oddest looks. lol!