Hey Scotty,
I have a 2005 Nissan 350z (35th Anniv). The other day my started to overheat out of nowhere, wasn't too hot outside it was only 85 degrees max. I noticed my car started jumping up and down in revs, and a check engine light popped up. I immediately pulled over to a parking lot.
There was coolant all over my engine bay, and steam/smoke exerting from the engine. I went to check the code on the OBD2 Scanner and it gave me a code P1217 for Coolant in the engine bay. Didn't give me any other information.
What should I look into to fix it? Is it safe to turn on just to check problems? What should I replace?
I already know the answer is no, but is it safe to drive?
Much love and thank you for the help,
DJ
The other day my started to overheat out of nowhere, wasn't too hot outside it was only 85 degrees max.
Gasoline is combusting in your engine, and it combusts at upwards of 1800⁰F.
You have a gigantic hole in your cooling system somewhere. It shouldn't be that hard to pinpoint. Coolant flows from the block, into the radiator and back out again. It goes back into the engine block, and in enters the individual cooling jackets again to be reheated, and the cycle repeats. Something as massive as you describe was probably the hose that leads to or from the radiator.
There is another set of hoses that lead into and out of the heater core as well. It's most likely not that component because coolant would be leaking from under the dashboard.
Don't start it until you've repaired the problem, and refill it with the proper coolant as described in your owner's manual.
When was the last time you changed all of your hoses? If they're still OEM, that's your problem. Coolant hoses deteriorate from the inside out, and those hoses are past due for retirement.
Rent a head gasket tester after you've repaired the problem and blue fluid. Follow the instructions on the tool. If it turns yellow, you've blown the head gasket and it's not worth the labor to replace it.
Well I wouldn't drive it. I'd fix it. You have to find out why it's overheating in the first place. So do my video how to fix an overheating car engine Scotty. It's on YouTube
