Nissan Frontier Forum banner
41 - 60 of 92 Posts
@RyanD1966 and others provided me great info back when I was wanting to add coolant temp gauge.
I agree 100% with his line of thinking on the preference to have a dedicated temp gauge that's not dependent on the ECM / ECT sensor for a reading.
I installed my coolant temp sensor using same adapter method as he...but with additional nonsense.


I rarely tow, rarely take my 2wd places meant for 4wd but always have my bed loaded down with work equipment and tools.
It took one overheating incident for me to decide that I HAVE TO KNOW actual coolant temp.
I'm hard on this truck in the South Texas heat too. I think I hit 200k back in Oct 2017 and currently sit at 271k.
Round of applause in the background, dang, 271K, mine's just a young-n then at only 89K. I agree, IMHO there's no such thing as having too much information or too many gauges knowing what's happening with critical systems. Those who solely rely on idiot lites are well ........... just that.
I'm assuming the second sensor is a fan temp control switch or sensor? Did you do twin electrics? I'm strongly considering it cause electrics don't take out your radiator when they fail. Clutch fans can and have.
 
butterman.. what is the additional nonsense you speak of? I see the add on??
Let me preface this with....I do dumb sh it when bored.
It's a BMW dual temp fan switch that's connected to Volvo dual speed fan relay for my Volvo dual speed e-fan that is in a Taurus shroud that's mounted into my oem shroud.
I spend a lot of time driving my truck... a lot of time idling too. AC always blows cold whether moving or not.
Brutal winter down here. Yesterday the high was 75°
 
Butterman, don't apologize, I don't see that as dumb shiite at all, I'm slightly in awe that you got four different countries from three continents to co-exist peacefully, the UN should call you for advise. I really like the idea and may co-opt something similar for myself.
 
Round of applause in the background, dang, 271K, mine's just a young-n then at only 89K. I agree, IMHO there's no such thing as having too much information or too many gauges knowing what's happening with critical systems. Those who solely rely on idiot lites are well ........... just that.
I'm assuming the second sensor is a fan temp control switch or sensor? Did you do twin electrics? I'm strongly considering it cause electrics don't take out your radiator when they fail. Clutch fans can and have.
Originally went with a Altima dual fan with a Hayden dual fan controller that lasted less than 2 years before failing. Lifetime warranty but hated the push thru the fins probe and then I started searching for options.
 
Which failed, the fans or the controller? As the fans were OEM, I'm guessing it was the controller pooping out.
 
Butterman, don't apologize, I don't see that as dumb shiite at all, I'm slightly in awe that you got four different countries from three continents to co-exist peacefully, the UN should call you for advise. I really like the idea and may co-opt something similar for myself.
Lol. I'm not apologizing at all. It's just something I don't put out there in great detail because it could kill someone's engine if attempted.
Guess what I carry in my truck at all times because of this mod?
My old clutch and fan blade...just in case.
I just need to figure out how to gain access to the ice chest thru the rear slider like in my pre-bed cover days.
 
Butterman, while I applaud your restraint in worrying about other's engines and life thereof, its on every user to be vigilant to their own level of electrical and mechanical competence or lack thereof.
Some on here have welded up their own suspension components including rear shock hoops and I am 101% cognizant that my current welding skills would be woefully inadequate to insure my truck were safe should I choose to follow this. Deviating from OE designs can result in better operation or new functionality not necessarily envisioned by the OEM but at that point you are assuming the risk of yours or others designs.
I for one would love to have some more details, as I got rid of my OEM clutch fan oh 20 yrs ago back or more, on an 83 Camaro and went with twin electrics at that point. It worked very well. And I built this from scratch.

312443
 
[QUOTE="RyanD1966,
Those who solely rely on idiot lites are well ........... just that.
[/QUOTE]
Hey now.. no need for name calling! ?

Naive .. I guess I figured with all this tech that they could get a temp gauge to work right. When I was younger and in my street rod days 70s & 80s I put in some aftermarket temp gauges because back then most were idiot lights.

I think I’ll try your setup eventually, back then I think I just went straight into the sending unit.
 
HoneyBadger, Ive found them to be very close in readings, close enough that I trust that both are accurate.
 
[QUOTE="RyanD1966,
Those who solely rely on idiot lites are well ........... just that.
Naive .. I guess I figured with all this tech that they could get a temp gauge to work right. When I was younger and in my street rod days 70s & 80s I put in some aftermarket temp gauges because back then most were idiot lights.

I think I’ll try your setup eventually, back then I think I just went straight into the sending unit.
[/QUOTE]
LOL Mini, I recall those days as well, and the Sun Pros were often the weapon of choice. Triple gauge kit, usually chrome metal bezel / bracket, or sometimes black painted.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MiniDuti
Butterman, while I applaud your restraint in worrying about other's engines
Now that I think about it, it's not restraint in worrying about others engines. It more like a preemptive saving face maneuver for the possible event that could have me saying "Hey everyone! Check out what I did to kill my perfectly running engine!"
I have plenty of details to share on anything and everything I've done to my truck.
Unfortunately, I never created a build thread because I felt it would've been more of a maintenance thread being a 1st Gen 2004. A few things I've done I think are cool. Might only be cool to me since I haven't seen anyone else do. But I also only give brief mentions is the "What have you done" thread. Quick list can be made.
To be continued...on a different thread. My apologies @ Honey Badger....not trying to thread jack.
 
1st pic taken after 30 mile trip to the outskirts of San Antonio and driving thru a subdivision with lots of hills, curves and turns to reach my destination.
2nd pic taken after idling for a few.
 
As I understand the configuration: The pressure cap is on the overflow tank; the radiator has a simple seal cap. From the radiator is a hose that goes to the bottom of the overflow tank. The only vent to the atmosphere is from the overflow tank. Air cannot enter the system unless there is no liquid level in the overflow tank.

I think where we differ is that I believe the hose connection at the radiator is downstream of the cap. This will allow the radiator to build pressure.
^IIRC, the transmission temperature in the current-generation Frontier isn't available from the OBD connector.
Why don’t you have just take it to the local dealer and have them take a look at it. No one knows your vehicle better than the dealer.
 
I've been dealing with no heat at idle for a while now, and I know my coolant level was a bit low. I was due for a flush anyways, so I hoped that would fix it. Nope. I took it to Christian Brothers yesterday and they said it was the thermostat that was stuck partially open. They replaced it with a 180° thermostat (brand unknown) and said it was fixed. I picked it up and the truck was running extremely hot at highway speeds. It would not go below 222° (I have a Bullydog GT) and it peaked at 235°.

I took it back to Christian Brothers today and they replaced the 180° thermostat with a 170° thermostat. During a 25 minute drive, the temperature stayed around 205° and peaked around 212°. This is an improvement but I still think this is hot. In the five years that I've had the BGT, I've never got the temp above 200°, the truck lived in the low 180s. I should mention that these temps were observed with an ambient temperature in the 20s (F).

I know there could be air in the system, but I think this is unlikely as CB is very well regarded in CO and my family has had great luck with them in the past; I don't see them screwing up something that simple - twice.

Any ideas?
Hi I had a similar problem that was corrected by replacing the heater control valve, Of course this was a 2005 year. Good luck.
 
41 - 60 of 92 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top