Micra's Getting Hot!

Tchaaa

Buy & Sell Member
So recently my micra has been getting considerably toasty! So much so that if you stop say to drop someone off or open some gates, and there's no airflow over the engine, you can see steam/smoke-esque type stuff coming from the engine bay. We thought it was coolant as it looked pretty murky but we abandoned such an idea as we found that what was in there looked alright.

As a test, we turned the engine on and let it idle to see if the fan would kick in. After half an hour it still hadn't, and this pointed towards the fan not working properly. But I swear I've heard it working before/recently. It would however make sense if it didn't as it only seems to get steamy when the car is stationary after a run.

Should the fan kick in just from idle? I didn't think so I thought it needed to be way hotter, but my dad insists it should have kicked in. Bloody K12's not having tempreture dials, Thanks guys!
 
I get similar steam from under the bonnet, but I've put it down to condensation under the bonnet cause my temp needle never rises above half way and it isn't drinking coolant..... it's a k11 btw
 
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Tchaaa

Tchaaa

Buy & Sell Member
I get similar steam from under the bonnet, but I've put it down to condensation under the bonnet cause my temp needle never rises above half way and it isn't drinking coolant..... it's a k11 btw
Mmm, not putting a temperature gauge on the K12 was a stupid omission, it fitted into the K11 dash just fine!

I'm pretty sure this is not condensation because the only time I really get it is from like 60/70+ and it only comes out once I've stopped. The steam from the condensation seems to be a lot less dense as well, I can't really explain it but you can tell. There's also a lot more of it.

Just trying to settle the debate with my dad as to when the fan should kick in, so we can test it. Checked in the haynes manual and it says "Check the temperature gauge" so I think that's slipped past a proof read! But it also gives a number of other things that can be checked to make sure the fan actually functions.

We're going to start up my mum's car at the same time as mine and see if that fan kicks in. The other thing we found was that as the system pressurised and whatnot, the coolant didn't look like it was circulating at all, so plenty of things to check.

I really hate this car when it gives hell like this, which it does on almost a monthly basis.
 
The dash has a blue and red temp light : If the temp light is red then its over heating.

Usually the fan does kick in if the cars been brought up to temperature and then left to sit in traffic or similar just sitting there idling after about 5 to 10 mins
 
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Tchaaa

Tchaaa

Buy & Sell Member
I started it on my driveway and let it idle for about 30/35 minutes and the fan didn't kick in at all. I've got the slightly newer style dash so there's only one tempreture warning light and it hasn't come on... yet.
 

Guy

Has gone over to the oily side...
Club Member
The fan runs on mine but it's a different engine. Can you plug a code reader in and check for fault codes?
 
Keep an eye on coolant level, keep an eye on your over temperature warning and see if you can spot where this steam/smoke is coming from.
 
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Tchaaa

Tchaaa

Buy & Sell Member
The fan runs on mine but it's a different engine. Can you plug a code reader in and check for fault codes?

I would but I don't have one, so I'll eventually end up buying one, or taking it to someone that has one.

Keep an eye on coolant level, keep an eye on your over temperature warning and see if you can spot where this steam/smoke is coming from.

Coolant level is fine, bang on the max line but the worrying thing is it doesn't move at all as the car warms up and the system pressurises, no temperature warning lights, and I've had a really good look but I just can't tell.
 

pollyp

Club Member
check the fan actually works by connecting to the battery.
then check the ecu is able to switch the fan relay on by shorting the coolant sensor plug to simulate 0ohm = fully hot
 

Guy

Has gone over to the oily side...
Club Member
Stuck thermostat? If you're a 1.4, I've got a brand new Nissan one I bought by mistake - yours for nowt if you want it?
 
i'd guess stuck thermostat too.
has coolant been changed recently? maybe air bubble in the system?

if its loosing coolant (dont think i read it was) then maybe split pipe.
try getting it to steam again n see where the steam is coming from.
 
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Tchaaa

Tchaaa

Buy & Sell Member
check the fan actually works by connecting to the battery.
then check the ecu is able to switch the fan relay on by shorting the coolant sensor plug to simulate 0ohm = fully hot

Was reading in the Haynes Manual about it and it suggested the same thing, it's just a matter of finding the time to take it all apart and have a look now.

Stuck thermostat? If you're a 1.4, I've got a brand new Nissan one I bought by mistake - yours for nowt if you want it?

Ooo, It is a 1.4, may take you up on that offer if it does turn out to be the thermostat, still in the process of looking at it when I actually find the time these days, always seem to have something to do.

i'd guess stuck thermostat too.
has coolant been changed recently? maybe air bubble in the system?

if its loosing coolant (dont think i read it was) then maybe split pipe.
try getting it to steam again n see where the steam is coming from.

It's not loosing coolant, and I was going to replace it yesterday but we looked and what was in there seemed pretty good, may rethink that and have another go. Have tried my best to see where the steam is coming from but due to the nature of steam it disperses pretty easily which is a pain.


Thanks everyone for your suggestions, will make a list of things to look at, and have a check over at the weekend!
 

Vitus992

Ex. Club Member
I would but I don't have one, so I'll eventually end up buying one, or taking it to someone that has one.



Coolant level is fine, bang on the max line but the worrying thing is it doesn't move at all as the car warms up and the system pressurises, no temperature warning lights, and I've had a really good look but I just can't tell.


I have a reader, would only take a few seconds to run a test?
 
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Tchaaa

Tchaaa

Buy & Sell Member
Thread from the dead! I tested the fan a couple days after the last post on here and it does work. Today in a monumental rain/hail/thunderstorm whilst stopped at a junction, steam decided it wanted to start pumping out the front of the car, checked for any warning lights, which as previously discussed is the only indication of what the tempreture on a K12 is, and boldly took it the rest of the way home.

By the time I got home, it was really pumping it out so I rang up the mechanic that looks after my family's cars, and he said when I mentioned it to him last time he had it, he couldn't find a single thing wrong with it, and that if I wasn't loosing fluid, it could be to do with water getting stuck in the fins of the radiator, and then is getting burnt off, and that this is completely normal.

However having an overpriced steam machine is always a bit un-nerving and neither my mums K12 which is a couple months younger than my own and my dad's Note which also runs the same CR14DE engine have had these problems in the years that we've had them, (and my parents chimed in saying this wasn't a problem for them for any car they've had in the last 35+ years).

What's your opinion? Could it be a more serious problem even if I'm not loosing coolant? Is there any way to stop this happening to my car? Stopping and getting out to check the coolant at the side of the road in torrential rain and hail wasn't the most pleasant experience, got soaked to the bone!
 
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Tchaaa

Tchaaa

Buy & Sell Member
Forgot to add: Upon lifting the bonnet on returning home, it appears to be coming from the very front of the car, which is what makes me think it's rad related. May take it for a run in a little bit and see if I can get some pictures/video of the steam coming out.
 

Guy

Has gone over to the oily side...
Club Member
K12 doesn't have a cap Karl. It's a sort of new-fangled sealed system... o_O. Also, does the top hose get hot? If it does, it ain't the thermostat.
 
Guy said:
K12 doesn't have a cap Karl. It's a sort of new-fangled sealed system... o_O. Also, does the top hose get hot? If it does, it ain't the thermostat.

Never knew that.... Um sorry no idea then
 
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