Hey all,
So my daughter borrowed my car.....she said she was idling at drive tru window and smoke came out from hood(steam) ... she drove a little and car temp gauge started to climb...she was in a no cell area....she stopped , idled and then drove about 1/4 or less of a mile and car engine light came on and then she stopped, car idling ...then tried driving again and car jerked and was barely moving....pulled over and parked it...finally had a signal and called me...i drove out and saw coolant over engine bay and toward the windshield ....
I poured water in rad, as they were closing and car gets towed if left etc...and as I poured about a gallon plus , I heard it spilling below....started it, idled no issues , smooth , but within 1 mile it started to climb...so pulled over, turned off, waited a few mins...and started again...same thing ...addded more water , same scenario but managed to get to another area where it could be left overnight. Guessing it's a hose, clamp or both , but wanted any input on what it may be and if it's a DIY type fix, cost etc...car has 120k had coolant flushed last summer , the hoses are 120k miles on them....i heard the fan on when idling but as I drove and got 30+ the temp would rise...some reading said to turn heater to high...but I had a.c. on hoping it would help....all that aside, I hope no damage from the drive I did...thanks all for any help/input

 

There's several plastic couplers. They eventually fail. I believe they're on the side(s) of the engine. It's a $5 part that should of been metal to begin with!@#

Advise your daughter not to drive any car if the temp is rising. Good way to cause engine damage.

 

Either lower core of radiator has crack or you blew out lower hose.

 

Thanks , will get under and try to see what I can and hoping is the plastic pieces as that would be the least expensive etc but for a while as she told me about the stuttering symptoms ...i thought...oh no....rear timing seal....and yeah ....had a talk , again, about what to look at re warnings ....

 

Hey Jsolo- I think your dx was on point , at least I hope this is it...and if so...is this an unclamp for both hoses , replace the coupler and clamp back? Please tell me it's that easy ....first pic for reference on location , it's near windshield on passenger side

 

That's quite the gusher!

I had this saved in my ebay cart - https://www.ebay.com/itm/NISSAN-INFI...A/362625786528 , but never got around to buying it. That was actually one of the maintenance things I planned for this fall (when doing the drain/fill). Won't be doing anything to it this fall. Car is sold

 

You can get a metal coupler at Oreily's for about $6.

The OEM plastic coupler is a "MUST replace" item for your car's very first coolant service. Absolutely shameful Nissan used such inferior part, which could potentially lead to engine damage and driver being stranded.

 

Even better and more readily available. Nissan probably saved 25¢ by going plastic vs aluminum. Actually, many cooling parts are plastic these days, including even the radiator. Built in obsolescence?

 

oh the orielys route sounds nice. anyone know which coupler from there is the one we need? ima do this as preventive.

 

That's actually a nice replacement and didn't know you sold your car....so updating hopefully?

 

I see that now, man what a way for a manufacturer to skimp ....maybe they were thinking on the weight savings of plastic vs metal ....and oreilly it is then....the amazon one looks good too

 

I think this is the one I got 3 years ago. Looks like they jacked up the price quite a bit.

Maybe OP can confirm if that's the right size (3/4 inch).

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/b.../4529082?pos=0

 

That looks to be correct ....will confirm later but how many of these are there in our cars? Just the one?

 

Yes it's just one

 

So yeah that's the right size and one of the oreilly stores will have it in stock tomorrow ....so my next question is do I do a normal drain, well semi normal, finish draining what's in there and then fill etc ? I'm buying the green coolant as that's the one that has been in there all along ...and no issues....i see a few vids on how to do a drain and fill so will follow those ...