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96 NISSAN SENTRA HEATER PROB


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sentra96
New User

Jan 29, 2007, 7:30 AM

Post #1 of 6 (2456 views)
96 NISSAN SENTRA HEATER PROB Sign In

I have a 96 Nissan Sentra with a heater prob. When I let the car run for 10-15min, the heat is luke warm. as soon as I start driving, the heat increases, BUT, when i slow down the heat decreases, and when I stop, I'm back to luke warm. The air doesn't get cold unless it is very cold outside. My coleague told me that if the needle on the water temp gauge on the dash goes up registering heat than the thermostat is ok. If the thermostat is stuck open, would it still register heat on the gauge, and if it is stuck open could this be causing my prob? Every time I stop to get fuel I check the coolant resivour and often have to fill it to max again. What might be causing the heater prob?


DanD
Veteran / Moderator
DanD profile image

Jan 29, 2007, 1:47 PM

Post #2 of 6 (2453 views)
Re: 96 NISSAN SENTRA HEATER PROB Sign In

Coolant is not suppose to get used up like what motor oil will; so you must have some form of leak?
If the thermostat is stuck open it will or could still register on the temp gauge but lower then the “normal”. Usually a stuck open thermostat will give you the opposite lack of heat problem from what you’re explaining. Sitting still you will have some heat but once you start to move the cold air rushing through the rad will make the already cool engine run colder.
I’m thinking a partly clogged heater core that when you’re idling the engine; the coolant cannot get through the heater core. When you start driving that speeds up the water pump and now warm/hot coolant is being forced through the core.
What I would try is to have the heater core flushed out and while the cooling system is drained do the thermostat as well; so that the temp gauge is up into it’s normal range.
If the core is plugged with calcium it may not all come out but hopefully enough to get you more heat in the car.
Dan.

Canadian "EH"






sentra96
New User

Jan 30, 2007, 3:23 AM

Post #3 of 6 (2449 views)
Re: 96 NISSAN SENTRA HEATER PROB Sign In

Dan, Thank You for your reply. Some car buffs at work said the exact same thing you did in your reply. Now I can't wait for the weekend to do this.
If there is no coolant on the ground under the car, or anywhere else, where is the coolant going?Unsure

Thanks Again Dan,
Jesse


DanD
Veteran / Moderator
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Jan 30, 2007, 5:42 AM

Post #4 of 6 (2447 views)
Re: 96 NISSAN SENTRA HEATER PROB Sign In

You may need to have the cooling system pressure tested; it could be such a small leak that it is evaporating on any hot surface in the engine compartment and never hitting the ground. Pressure testing a cold engine will give you the pressure in the system without the normal heat that occurs with the engine running and you may then find the leak.
This leak may also be internal and the coolant is going out the tail pipe in very small amounts; too the point that it is not visible as in steam, not until the leak becomes worse anyway. If this is the case combustion gases will also be leaking into the cooling system; there are tests that can be performed to confirm this.
The test method I use will detect even the slightest amount of combustion gases; if any are found then the engine would need to come apart, to have the cylinder head gasket replaced and to have the cylinder head checked for cracks or warp-age.
Again if any combustion gases are found in the cooling system the issue should be dealt with right away. If a small leak turns into a large one it could cause severe damage to the whole engine.
Dan.

Canadian "EH"






sentra96
New User

Jan 30, 2007, 11:30 AM

Post #5 of 6 (2445 views)
Re: 96 NISSAN SENTRA HEATER PROB Sign In

Thanks Again Dan.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Jan 31, 2007, 3:00 PM

Post #6 of 6 (2437 views)
Re: 96 NISSAN SENTRA HEATER PROB Sign In

Hard to do with Dan on this but if this t-stat is hard to get at test a new one in a pan of water on a stove. You should probably buy one at a Nissan dealer and get the one for the right temp. They all will open if correct by the specified temp.

This will not solve the systey of cooland loss that's unseen. A head gasket can burn up the coolant and if slow enough you may not see it. They don't heal and avoid sealers as they can't fix water pumps or head gaskets and can clog a heater core and make it worse. Good luck, T







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