I am not mechanical by any means. I do not know which model I have. My Nitro is overheating and not sure what to do. I will have to take to a mechanic to get fixed. No leaks as all fluids are full. Would anyone know a rough estimate for this job? Thinking it might be thermostat? Thanks
2010 overheating
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A thermostat should be a fairly easy job, with the part also being quite inexpensive. I wouldn't think more than a couple hundred bucks. It should be less, but you can't get anything fixed for less than a couple hundred bucks these days.
However, I'm not thinking it would be a thermostat. Usually a thermostat fails in the open position. Which would give you very weak heat, in cold weather.
However, I'm not thinking it would be a thermostat. Usually a thermostat fails in the open position. Which would give you very weak heat, in cold weather.
I do hear something like a squeak when I turn on the blower. Would they hook up to a machine and get some type of code to diagnose? I just ordered this thing call FIXD which is supposed to diagnose mechanical problems so maybe when it comes that might tell me something. Thank you.
It overheats when idle then cools down when moving. The fan/blower works and puts out heat. When I idle and turn on the blower, it drops a little but still overheats. If I continue driving it hits the midway point in my indicator. I am in NM right now and don’t know anyone and my in-laws don’t know anyone that is trustworthy. Worried about driving back to KS with this going on. Really appreciate you all trying to help me figure this out.
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It sounds like the radiator fan, in the engine bay, is not working. When you are driving you don't need the fan to push air through the radiator, but when you stop, at idle, then the fan needs to come on to get air going through the radiator.
The radiator fan not working is typically due to a bad relay. Has your check engine light come on? If your check engine light is on, then checking the code(s) would probably tell you what's going on.
My 201
Check or replace your thermostat. They're relatively easy to locate, remove and test (online tutorials are abundant) and cheap to replace if bad.
I bought my 2010 Jan of 22 during one of the harshest cold snaps in recent history here. Highs around -5° and overnight lows of -20°-35°. Didn't have much/good cabin heat but I wrote off that off to the hellish temperatures outside.
Then came warmer weather and it started overheating. Like you, I first suspected (or thought wishfully) a bad thermostat was the culprit but it was fine. I next flushed the heater core, which, (despite your claim of not being very mechanically inclined) I'm confident you could do, provided you (again) follow a good online tutorial and have access to a garden hose and some basic tools as this only involves disconnecting two hoses where they attach to two fittings on the firewall (engine compartment), just the other side of where the heater core is located in the cabin.
Sadly, although when I flushed my heater core some sand was removed, it did not clear enough of it out to regain decent circulation through the cooling system so I had to replace my heater core, which is a very involved job and one I'm not sure a novice mechanic would wanna take on without help as it is very involved and lengthy.
It was evident to me after examining the my bad heater core after replacing it that it was clogged with sand that had probably been used in the casting of the engine's block which hadn't been cleaned out of it. Plain old poor workmanship. Over time, this sand circulated and found it's way to the narrowest passages of the cooling system, which happen to be the small fins of the heater core, and become stuck there, creating a slowly worsening blockage.
My Nitro temp has been ideal since changing out the heater core and the cabin heat & defrost works like the vehicle's new.
So by all means begin with and try to eliminate other less involved or expensive things which could be causing your overheating, but keep in mind it's possible it could be due to what I discovered.
Please let us know what unfolds and best of fortunes negotiating the matter.
Fellow 2010 (3.7) owner here.
Check or replace your thermostat. They're relatively easy to locate, remove and test (online tutorials are abundant) and cheap to replace if bad.
I bought my 2010 Jan of 22 during one of the harshest cold snaps in recent history here. Highs around -5° and overnight lows of -20°-35°. Didn't have much/good cabin heat but I wrote off that off to the hellish temperatures outside.
Then came warmer weather and it started overheating. Like you, I first suspected (or thought wishfully) a bad thermostat was the culprit but it was fine. I next flushed the heater core, which, (despite your claim of not being very mechanically inclined) I'm confident you could do, provided you (again) follow a good online tutorial and have access to a garden hose and some basic tools as this only involves disconnecting two hoses where they attach to two fittings on the firewall (engine compartment), just the other side of where the heater core is located in the cabin.
Sadly, although when I flushed my heater core some sand was removed, it did not clear enough of it out to regain decent circulation through the cooling system so I had to replace my heater core, which is a very involved job and one I'm not sure a novice mechanic would wanna take on without help as it is very involved and lengthy.
It was evident to me after examining the my bad heater core after replacing it that it was clogged with sand that had probably been used in the casting of the engine's block which hadn't been cleaned out of it. Plain old poor workmanship. Over time, this sand circulated and found it's way to the narrowest passages of the cooling system, which happen to be the small fins of the heater core, and become stuck there, creating a slowly worsening blockage.
My Nitro temp has been ideal since changing out the heater core and the cabin heat & defrost works like the vehicle's new.
So by all means begin with and try to eliminate other less involved or expensive things which could be causing your overheating, but keep in mind it's possible it could be due to what I discovered.
Please let us know what unfolds and best of fortunes negotiating the matter.
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