2003 Nissan Altima Logo
Posted on Nov 10, 2009
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The car keeps overheating there is no leaks but the car always need fluid the car makes a little rattling noise but it doesnt sound like the heads

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  • Master 432 Answers
  • Posted on Nov 10, 2009
Anonymous
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Stop driveing this car until you fix it! Renew the thermostat.
Make sure the cooling fans are coming on. They must come on with the A/C if they work. Or with no A/C they should come on at 212 degrees.This is controled by a radiator cooling fan switch that could be worn out.Its screwed into the intake manifold.
These engines will trap air inside.Some have an air bleeder near the thermostat to help get the air out. With the engine cold take off the radiator cap and fill the radiator also fill the over flow to the cold line. Start the car and let it idle until it starts to warm up.Turn it off and check the radi. again.You need to keep doing this till all the air is out. If its all out you can run the engine with the rad. cap off and it will not over flow.
Unless you have already over heated the engine to much. In that case the noise you heard will not go away .

Jonah Oneal

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  • Nissan Master 14,092 Answers
  • Posted on Nov 10, 2009
Jonah Oneal
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CHECK AROUND WATER PUMP AREA LOOK FOR SIGNS OF ANTIFREEZE LEAKS AT WEEP HOLE ON WATER PUMP.SOUND LIKE WATER PUMP SHAFT BEARING GONE.

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Brown Milky Oil sounds like your head gasket has gone and coolant water is mixing with engine oil. Unless you have an oil cooler, it may be from there.

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How to keep your car below boiling poimt. ALL CARS!!!

most times in the heat your cars cooling system can over load, to stop overheating, always check your vehicles radiator water never the overflow resevoir.

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Light blue smoke is burning engine oil. This is probably a sign that overheating has damaged the engine.

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Prices? To have a cylinder head gasket fixed costs around £500 - £1000 British pounds. A coolant bottle costs around £30 (look on Ebay)

If the head gasket is leaking/defective you can try a modern sealant/repair, which I am told are now quite good. Have a look on Ebay:

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