I have nissan altima 2003, the service engine soon light had come on so I took it to the dealership. They told me that I had a bad radiator and that my car was overheating. My question is my car has never overheated according to the gauge and I have never seen any physical evidence (steam) to show that it has been overheating...do you think that I am being lied to?
2006-11-21 03:59:00 · 9 answers · asked by Melissa H 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
If my heat does not work and with this same issue, could it be just the thermostat that went bad?? Would that cause coolant not to go to the engine??
2006-11-21 04:25:53 · update #1
If I understand you correctly, your heater is not working in addition to the engine light. Assuming the heater was working before and (if it has one) the heater control valve is not stuck, this is a significant indication of no coolant flow inside the engine. This is usually caused by: water pump not working or low coolant. The water pump is working circulating coolant any time the engine is running. Once the engine reaches a preset temperature,the thermostat starts to open the coolant circuit in the engine to allow flow in and out of the radiator. No coolant flow inside the engine has nothing to do with either the thermostat or the radiator. I would check to be sure the cooling system is full and not leaking. Based on your description, the dealer's troubleshooting or its honesty is lacking. Get a second professional opinion.
A good rule of thumb is to try the easy and the inexpensive before proceeding to the difficult and expensive.
2006-11-21 07:28:16 · answer #1 · answered by db79300 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've worked on race cars, and you are being super lied to. There are no sensors in the radiator to make the engine light come on and like you said, the temp gauge never went to the red. If it did, then you would see steam. Don't you still have warranty on a 2003? If you do, then don't even worry about it. But definitely get a second opinion and probably even a third because you never know if the second opinion might tell you that something else is broken too.
2006-11-21 12:10:15 · answer #2 · answered by Nick R 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Steam will not always be part of the visible symptoms. It sounds fishy anyway, I would distrust anyone just telling me that something went "bad"
A good diagnostic will include a more objective evidence. Is it broken, leaking, blocked, etc.
The first thing I would change is not the radiator, it is the mechanic.
2006-11-21 12:08:03 · answer #3 · answered by Wrenchmeister 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
most likely you are being taken advantage of. Your car should have a temperature gauge. If your car was overheating you would see that the gauge was pointed to the red. I would take it to another mechanic
2006-11-21 12:22:32 · answer #4 · answered by john 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like it to me! Take it to a reputable(ask around)foriegn car repair shop for a scan tool print-out. Good luck! ;-)=
2006-11-21 12:09:45 · answer #5 · answered by Jcontrols 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes i do have someone preferably a guy garages like ripping women off my fiancee found that out go to a different garage and see what they say
2006-11-21 12:07:49 · answer #6 · answered by merlin2000666 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They will usually tell you something like that right after the warranty expires.
2006-11-21 12:06:40 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
ya i do whare 2 from if u r close to me i can check it out 4 u free email me at mjv112686@yahoo.com
2006-11-21 12:12:41 · answer #8 · answered by mjv112686 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
very possible. get a second opinion.
2006-11-21 12:01:56 · answer #9 · answered by BIG DADDY 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋