Page 1 of 2

Car keeps overheating???

Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2019 9:45 pm
by Lewis1022
2011 Kizashi gts, head gasket done, 3 thermostats and 2 radiators later and several shop visits and still at square one without a resolution. I know the 2010's have had an inspection for block issues and since has started extended warranties, could this apply to later models as well? Thanks for any help.

Re: Car keeps overheating???

Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2019 12:51 am
by Ronzuki
Head gasket done...but, had the head and block mating surfaces been checked to specs for trueness during the process? If there's a problem w/ a warped head or block's deck (machined surfaces) a new gasket is perfume on a pig.

Has the water pump been replaced any time through all of your trials and tribulations?

What was the source (quality) of the replacement parts? OE or aftermarket 'stuff'.

As far as the block issue, call ASMC in Brea, CA and find out the VIN range that was affected. It's not out of the question an early build 2011 could be included.

Just a couple things that come to mind.

Re: Car keeps overheating???

Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2019 2:52 am
by bdleonard
Lewis1022 wrote:2011 Kizashi gts, head gasket done, 3 thermostats and 2 radiators later and several shop visits and still at square one without a resolution. I know the 2010's have had an inspection for block issues and since has started extended warranties, could this apply to later models as well? Thanks for any help.
First thoughts: air in the system, improperly installed thermostat, water pump (and/or belt or belt tensioner), radiator fan. Are you losing coolant (aka is the level in the overflow bottle dropping)? Does it overheat at slow speeds, highway speeds, or both?

I'd go to the service manual here, and look through the diagnostic items under "Engine", "Engine Cooling System":
https://avnet.ws/kizashi/Xml/SAW10A/

Re: Car keeps overheating???

Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2019 10:35 am
by Woodie
Ronzuki wrote:Head gasket done...but, had the head and block mating surfaces been checked to specs for trueness during the process? If there's a problem w/ a warped head or block's deck (machined surfaces) a new gasket is perfume on a pig.
What he said. Head gaskets don't usually blow for no reason, there was likely some imperfection. Now that it has overheated repeatedly there is no question of imperfection. Repeated overheating of an aluminum engine is often the end of said engine.

Re: Car keeps overheating???

Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2019 12:37 pm
by Ronzuki
bdleonard wrote:First thoughts: air in the system, improperly installed thermostat, water pump (and/or belt or belt tensioner), radiator fan. Are you losing coolant (aka is the level in the overflow bottle dropping)? Does it overheat at slow speeds, highway speeds, or both?

I'd go to the service manual here, and look through the diagnostic items under "Engine", "Engine Cooling System":
https://avnet.ws/kizashi/Xml/SAW10A/
I'd agree with all of the above here. Too bad these items weren't all confirmed/eliminated as culprit before going to the extreme measure of yanking the head and replacing its gasket for no confirmed reason. Ahh, that's right..."several shop visits"...mucho $$$ w/ no resolution....'professionals' no doubt, no shocker there.

bdleonard, is the 2.4 susceptible to air pocket issues when draining and filling? I'm not aware of any issue in that regard w/ any 4cyl zuk engines. If so, then that is a very good reason for overheating. Again the how and when of the overheating is important and crucial info to pin point potential sources of the issue. The only vehicle I've owned in recent times that had air pocket issues was the 4.0L Inline 6cyl in the '04 Rubicon. That thing was a real pain in the azz to drain, fill and burp. Laborious multi-step process.

Re: Car keeps overheating???

Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2019 2:26 pm
by bdleonard
Ronzuki wrote:
bdleonard wrote:First thoughts: air in the system, improperly installed thermostat, water pump (and/or belt or belt tensioner), radiator fan. Are you losing coolant (aka is the level in the overflow bottle dropping)? Does it overheat at slow speeds, highway speeds, or both?

I'd go to the service manual here, and look through the diagnostic items under "Engine", "Engine Cooling System":
https://avnet.ws/kizashi/Xml/SAW10A/
I'd agree with all of the above here. Too bad these items weren't all confirmed/eliminated as culprit before going to the extreme measure of yanking the head and replacing its gasket for no confirmed reason. Ahh, that's right..."several shop visits"...mucho $$$ w/ no resolution....'professionals' no doubt, no shocker there.

bdleonard, is the 2.4 susceptible to air pocket issues when draining and filling? I'm not aware of any issue in that regard w/ any 4cyl zuk engines. If so, then that is a very good reason for overheating. Again the how and when of the overheating is important and crucial info to pin point potential sources of the issue. The only vehicle I've owned in recent times that had air pocket issues was the 4.0L Inline 6cyl in the '04 Rubicon. That thing was a real pain in the azz to drain, fill and burp. Laborious multi-step process.
No, it isn't particularly likely to be air in the system, as it should bleed itself with run time at temperature if everything is working properly. But, if the thermostat is air bound and not bleeding itself (jiggle valve not on top or stuck/clogged), or you were just very unlucky, it could certainly cause the problem

Re: Car keeps overheating???

Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2019 4:45 pm
by LPSISRL
OK, stupid question time. How do you know it overheats? Measure actual coolant temp?
Did you replace the sending unit to the gauge?

Re: Car keeps overheating???

Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2019 6:05 pm
by Ronzuki
bdleonard wrote: But, if the thermostat is air bound and not bleeding itself (jiggle valve not on top or stuck/clogged), or you were just very unlucky, it could certainly cause the problem
That's right...this just reminded me...Samurai t-stat, at least OEM back in 86, had a little bleed hole in it to piss a little coolant past the thermostat...or air. If that wasn't oriented properly, front or back I forget, that would have caused problems. Not obvious at all, and you had to have the FSM to even know it was an issue, and, which way to orient it if you weren't observant when removing the original.

Re: Car keeps overheating???

Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 9:13 pm
by SAEED_KIZZY
Lewis1022 wrote:2011 Kizashi gts, head gasket done, 3 thermostats and 2 radiators later and several shop visits and still at square one without a resolution. I know the 2010's have had an inspection for block issues and since has started extended warranties, could this apply to later models as well? Thanks for any help.
see this video on Scotty Kilmer YouTube channel maybe it helps.

Re: Car keeps overheating???

Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2021 4:32 pm
by Typhoon1944
Hoping this thread is still active. I have a 2012 UK spec Kizashi 2.4 Sport bought January 2020. Since then it has had an offside front shock absorber and offside front brake assembly to rectify a knocking noise. During the fitting of the brake assembly the dealership noticed that the offside rear shock absorber was leaking. This was replaced but in the process it loosened off the rear anti-roll bar bushes, creating a further knocking noise. The ant-rollbar and bushes were replaced which rectified the noise. This was all carried out under an extended warranty. Around 6 -8 weeks ago when I arrived at work I heard a hissing noise from under the bonnet and the fans were spinning like crazy with the ignition off. Opened the bonnet and there was coolant spluttering from the top of the radiator. Rang the warranty company and confirmed the radiator was covered but advised them I had to get the car home so I was going to my local car accessory shop (Halfords) to purchase replacement coolant and Radweld to seal the radiator enough to drive home. They said that was ok. Car went in and had the radiator fitted but the next day I noticed it was spraying coolant from around the expansion tank cap into the engine bay. Back into the dealer and they initially said they couldn't find anything wrong but they thought there may be air in the system. It was bled and refilled but it was still spraying the coolant over the engine cover under the bonnet and after a (thanfully uneventful) trip to England from Scotland I was driving into work when I was stopped at a junction and noticed what I thought was exhaust emissions coming from the car in front. I then realised it was steam coming from underneath my bonnet and then I noticed my temperature gauge had shot up into the red again. I managed to limp to work and then back to the dealer afterwards. They have since fitted a new thermostat (warrantied) and a hose (non-warrantied) but they have not managed to fix the problem and are now saying it is the head gasket which will take approximately 25 hours to replace at a minimum cost (with parts) of £4600. If it is definitely the head gasket the warranty will pay for it but they need my authority to do the work and I don't have that kind of money to pay if it turns out it isn't a warranty failure.

Has anyone else had this work done and is it a reasonable price to pay? I have also asked on 3 separate occasions whether they think it could be the water pump as when the engine is idling I can hear was sounds like water running down a drainpipe but they say they don't think it is. I've also noticed on a couple of occasions that the temperature needle will move to the hot end of the gauge if I am going round a roundabout and the car is leaning to the left. It doesn't happen all the time however.

Any help would be appreciated.