sr20det over heats while driving.. cool when ideling..

[s14classified]

Hello. I'm just getting done with a once dead s14 back alive with a s13 sr20det red top.
I gat the whole front clip which came with the oem s14 rad. I have the shroud but no diversion plate.
Now here's the problem. The car idels for ever nd dosent overheat, but asa u get in it nd start driving it, depending on how hard u drive, it wants to start climbing on the temp gauge. Nd yup.. running hot.
I know there's a bunch of things that could result in this, but I am a neubie!
I do have a biggo intercooler sitting right before the radiator so maybe its not getting the wind it needs while its driving? I don't have anu diversion plate either.
A buddy of mine suggested not to get a alumunin rad setup nd stick with the mechinical oem fan. I seen the same notes by others helpful ppl on fourms. Any notes on that?
Also could it be tested somehow if the fan clutch is operational? It spinns when the car is running, but it dosent change speed of rotation if I rev it up. Donno if that helps.
Thanks for your effort.

[silviaks2nr]

could be a number of things. air in the system/leak, radiator blockage, bad headgasket seal, faulty waterpump etc. I would upgrade your radiator if you are running an intercooler in front of it. SRs like to run hot already. the clutch fan should spin faster with higher rpm, you may need to replace it or go with electric fans as well.

[s14classified]

Any ideas on how I could start to find out which one is the issue? I know for a fact there's no air pockets but I've also seen on fourms that they don't use antifreeze a lot? Like 20% with some distelled water? Sorry I'm clueless on cooling issues..

[Turbo Steez]

I bet your overlooking the issue. What keeps the car cold? Coolant. I had the same problem. I got a s14 with a s13 redtop. Replace your coolant temp sensors for both the ECU and gauge. KA temp sensors work with sr's. Don't buy a s14 temp sensor, buy the s13 coolant temp sensors.

EDIT: Plus you want to start off with the cheapest fix and these sensors are pretty cheap! My car would idle just fine but it would overheat when driving. Until I replaced both plugs.

[brndck]

your terrible spelling is the reason your car overheats.

a aluminum radiator, like a koyo or greddy, is ALWAYS a good idea, so is a lower temp thermostat, like a billion or nismo.

an aftermarket water temp gauge also isn't a bad idea, the oem nissan gauges are not known for being terribly accurate.

when your car is overheating, is the temp gauge all the way pegged as high as it can go? or is it just higher up than at idle?

unless you live somewhere cold, (your info says florida, right?) then you don't need 50/50 coolant water mix. more like 25-30% coolant, and 70-75% distilled water. (normal water has minerals that can cause corrosion in your cooling system. distilled water has these impurities removed)

you may want to have your radiator cap tested or replaced as well.

just a few things to check. hopefully you'll sort it out.

[fliprayzin240sx]

I bet your overlooking the issue. What keeps the car cold? Coolant. I had the same problem. I got a s14 with a s13 redtop. Replace your coolant temp sensors for both the ECU and gauge. KA temp sensors work with sr's. Don't buy a s14 temp sensor, buy the s13 coolant temp sensors.

EDIT: Plus you want to start off with the cheapest fix and these sensors are pretty cheap! My car would idle just fine but it would overheat when driving. Until I replaced both plugs.

EEEEH...Wrong, play again. YOu cant use an S13 water temp sensor on an S14 chassis, specifically, the water temp gauge sensor. If you use an S13 sensor, itll show that its overheating when its not.

So with that said, OP, are you use its overheating while driving? Are you using an aftermarket water temp gauge or are you using the stock gauge? Make sure you have an S14 water temp sensor (single prong sensor) above the thermostat housing.

Also, make sure the system is properly bled. Jack the front of the car as high as you can, turn the car on, crank your the heat to full blast, take the radiator cap off and massage the upper radiator line while keeping the radiator topped off.

[Hashiriya415]

Please use something like this next time
Free Online Spell Check - check any text (English, French, Spanish, German, Italian) (http://www.jspell.com/public-spell-checker.html)

Most likely you have 20 year old radiator that is clogged to shit and needs to get replaced. Engine only puts out certain amount of heat when idling, but once you start driving it's putting out more heat and needs a proper working radiator to cool off.

[Ninjamasta04]

Its a common problem with SR's. I had the same problem when I just bought the car. I did everything from changing minor stuff first like radiator cap, water temp sensors and coolant.
Didn't work, then I had the clamps and hoses changed out, because it was leaking a bit under pressure.
Finally I found out that the overflow tank wasn't letting air out and popped one hose right under the intake manifold.

It's a good investment to get an aftermarket water temp gauge. There was this incident that while I was driving, my Defi did ping more than 5 times (went up to 200* celcius), and my stock gauge is still at the middle.

[s14classified]

Ok, thanks a lot fellas.. I'm. Gona start with the sensors nd if that don't work, I'm gona go with a performance radiator, shroud nd electric fans. Thanks again.. ill come back nd post if I resolve the issue.

[Turbo Steez]

EEEEH...Wrong, play again. YOu cant use an S13 water temp sensor on an S14 chassis, specifically, the water temp gauge sensor. If you use an S13 sensor, itll show that its overheating when its not.



:bs:

This is not true. How are you going to tell me I need a s14 water temp sensor if the sensor is completely different? I bought a s14 sensor for the s13 motor but it wouldn't fit. TRUST ME ON THIS. I had to return it for a s13 sensor.

[Turbo Steez]

And OP, go ahead and listen to the dude with more posts.. I would if i were in your position but I have a s14 with a s13 redtop and the s14 coolant temp sensor would not even connect. well i know for sure the ECU coolant temp sensor doesn't fit. You will need a s13 ECU temp sensor. Come back and tell us if it did connect. lol. I wonder if I am wrong! I'm 100% i'm not however.

So from my knowledge, you will need a s14 sensor for the gauge. s13 sensor for the ECU.

[brndck]

you use the temp sensor for what ever engine/ecu you have.
if its an s13 engine, use the s13 temp sensor.
s14, use s14. etc.

[s14classified]

Ok thanks y'all! I'm gona get a s14 gauge water temp sensor nd a s13 ecu water temp sensor.

Another note .. donno if this symptom will help understand the problem better.. but I can drive the car with full heat on nd it won't over heat. As long as I drive it regular and not build too much boost.

Thanks for all your help so far.

[DoobieS13]

Yea sounds like temp sensor. If you feel the radiator and its actually hot hot or you hear a boiling sound through your hoses, then its prob not your sensor...if you dont warm the car up first, does it spike? How bet if you let it warm up? If it doesnt spike once its warmed up as quick or often, then its prob your headgasket...my KA did that shit. If it warmed up I could drive it 10-20 miles before it started creeping up to hot...just my $0.02.

Edit: I'd either leave the oem clutch fan on WITH shroud, or get two 12" pull fans WITH shroud. A lot of guys I see run no shroud and its the stupidist thing to do. No shroud means you just move hot air around under the hood.

[s14classified]

Ok guys I have ordered a cx racing alumunim radiator with shroud nd 2 fans.. only $222. The fitment says its for a s14 chassis. But cx racing was like "I don't know if it will work with a s13 red top. Its designed for a s14 sr20det. it should work right?

[s14classified]

Sorry I'm new to this. And you guys out there are my only hope.
Preety screwed right now.. :-(

[DoobieS13]

The radiator you need to choose is the S14 SR. Select the chassis as to what chassis you have. In your case an S14. And then the motor, SR. The only thing different between the s13 and s14 rads are the location of the mounting points to the rad support. And the difference in a ka, Sr, RB blah blank, is which sides the water outlets are on the rad. Ka has a hose on the top passenger side, and bottom driver side. So if you did already purchase a s13 Sr rad, then your just going to have drill new holes into your rad support and throw a bolt and nut through it. DO NOT CUT THROUGH YOUR CHASSIS HARNESS UNDER THE TOP OF YOUR RAD SUPPORT!!!! The S13 rad mounting points are closer in the middle of the rad support. The S14s are mounted almost at the ends of the radiator. A good 10" in difference. The difference in the S13 and S14 sr's are just the head and a few other minor things without going into detail. But the rad outlets are both the same. And btw, if CX Racing can't tell you the difference I'd be goddamned if I'd buy a $220 product from them. But, that's your call. Hope this helped.

[Hashiriya415]

Those cheap electric fans will make things only worse. Keep the clutch fan and shroud or go with proven electric fans that work, you can find a thread about electric fans.
Order a radiator for your chassis.
Don't waste money on temp sensors, get a aftermarket gauge with it's own sensor.

[Slippin'eight-nine]

Sounds like the fan clutch is bad.. If its speed remains the same regardless of the rpms than thats it.
Quick test is to grab some rags and try and stop the fan at idle.. If you can do that easily than its bad.

[KendallH]

Its a common problem with SR's. I had the same problem when I just bought the car. I did everything from changing minor stuff first like radiator cap, water temp sensors and coolant.
Didn't work, then I had the clamps and hoses changed out, because it was leaking a bit under pressure.
Finally I found out that the overflow tank wasn't letting air out and popped one hose right under the intake manifold.

It's a good investment to get an aftermarket water temp gauge. There was this incident that while I was driving, my Defi did ping more than 5 times (went up to 200* celcius), and my stock gauge is still at the middle.

How is overheating a "common problem" with SR's? The only thing common about cooling issues I ever see on SR's is people rip the best cooling device (clutch fan) off their motors, and go straight down to vatozone and buy 2 of their 12" electric radiator warmers.

To the poster, keep your clutch fan, go and buy an OEM (FROM NISSAN) thermostat, put that CX radiator on without the electric fans and bleed it properly. If you're overheating in Florida in the winter then there's something wrong with your cooling system other than a pair of sensors.

[fliprayzin240sx]

I think he's not bleeding the system properly and has air in the system. Assuming his water temp sensor is correct.

[omgRWDgoodness!]

your terrible spelling is the reason your car overheats.
Nah, it's definitely this.

[vehicle336]

If your car is fine idling and heats up while driving it's because the coolant in the engine has just enough coolant to remain at temperature, but not enough when it's under load. This is also known as a faulty thermostat. It's probably stuck closed, or partially open.

Start with the most likely issue first and go from there. Replace the thermostat, flush the system, check the hoses, spray out the radiator to make sure there's no shit floating in it, put it all back together and go from there. Other than 20 bucks and some time, it should be a cheap fix.


Also, grammar. This is a forum, the only way to communicate is through writing, and writing well will get you further.

[s14classified]

Cool cool.. thanks so much on your input. And yes not going with the electric fan. But better radiator.
Could anyone help me with the location of these sensors?? Where is the gauge water temp sensor? Nd I believe the ecu temp sensor is above the throttle body?

Thanks again.

[s14classified]

Oh, also forgot to mention, gona change out the thermostat also. Got an isis colder thermostat.

[fliprayzin240sx]

http://www.nissansilvia.com/forums/uploads/monthly_03_2010/post-18649-12694246379529_thumb.jpg

There's 2 sensors there, one with 1 wire and another with 2 wires. You need to change the single wire sensor. The sensor shown above is the the 2 wire.

[s14classified]

It works!! I changed the gauge temp sensor nd the radiator cAp. That's it! Thank you all so much!