2000 Nissan Maxima overheating

290,000 MILES • 3.0L • V6 • FWD • AUTOMATIC
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KENDRA MCCLARINE
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
In the last month or so, I've been hearing a weird whistling sound coming from my engine when I start it. Okay, fine, it's an old car, so I didn't think anything was really wrong.

Fast forward to yesterday, (7/7/16) and as I'm leaving work the temperature gauge starts to move toward H. I was so confused. I turned of the A/C; still overheating. Came to a stop, drove fast, drove slowly, and no matter what I do, it overheats!

Tonight on the way home, it actually went past the H, and I got nervous; I had to make a stop anyway, so I pulled over. It sat for 40 minutes until I came back out of the store; so I thought, well, maybe it's had some time to cool off. NOPE. Within 5 minutes of driving, it start overheat again. Now my engine has this sound like it's running hard, and a bit louder than it was before. When it happened yesterday, there was no steam, but tonight was pouring rain, so I couldn't tell.

I called my mechanic yesterday from the road, and he said it may be the fan or the relay. But I can't get to him until my day off, which is Thursday of next week. I'm starting to think I won't be able to continue driving it until then!
Jul 8, 2016 at 2:08 PM
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JOHNNY G.JR
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 320 POSTS
Check coolant level in expansion tank,with engine totally cool check coolant level in radiator beneath cap.Do not drive car in that condition ,Engine damage will result costing $$$$$warped cylinder head$$$$
Jul 8, 2016 at 2:33 PM
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MHPAUTOS
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 31,937 POSTS
Yes make sure the coolant level is correct, with the engine running at operating temp make sure that the fan come on, do not drive with A/C on as this will load up the engine and add to over heat problems, if coolant is low, make sure if you must drive it is topped up and get your mechanic to investigate this asap as you can damage the engine
Jul 11, 2016 at 6:31 PM
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