QuestionHello, Please could you try and advise on my car problems.
I have a Nissan Serena 2.3 manual diesel X reg car. (reg is X312 NCK if that helps)
The scenario I am having with the car is that she just won't start when it is cold weather but seems fine when its warmer.
The start of my problems seem to be when my brother tried to jump start his car from mine. He had the cars hooked up together and was revving my car really bad to try and get his started (which didn't work anyway!) but since doing this to my car I have had several problems. my car seemed to loose power while I was driving (lights would dip and she seemed to not have much power in her) also I have heard a high pitch whine on several occasions, but all this has only happened a few times. My friend took the battery home and gave it a good charge but said that one of the chambers was empty of fluid which he replaced before putting it on charge. The next day my car started brilliantly after a couple of tries and I have not noticed any power dips since. My conclusion was that maybe my brother had just drained my battery to much and hoped that was the end of it.
All was going well for a few days until I got about 5miles from home and the temp gauge kept creeping up then would drop a little before rising again. When I pulled over the temp gauge was at red and smoke was coming up from the handbrake centre plastics. I let her cool down and opened the bonnet where I found the radiator cold and empty of water. I managed to get warm water into her and which brought the temp gauge back to normal so that I could make it home. My partner found a crack in a pipe next to the engine (sorry don't know the name of these things) and repaired it which worked well as a temporary solution. Only problem now is that with all the cold weather and snow she is not starting at all. She turns over just not starting which in turn I think is flattening the battery, a couple of times she sounds like she wants to go. I'm also worried that I am flooding the engine as there is a strong smell of fuel.
Friends are giving me advise as in buy a new battery or check the fuel filter but to be honest none of them are mechanically minded and I don't want to buy things just on there word.
Please help as its my only source of mobility.
Sorry If this all sounds terrible but I'm as mechanically minded with cars as a chocolate teapot!!
Many thanks for you time and advise.
Karen Lane.
AnswerHi Karen -
Looks like you went through quite a bit with your car.
Anyway, I would like you to do a couple checks as we move on, so please bear with me.
First, engine cold, fill the radiator to the top, and try starting the engine. If the water gushes and/or spurts out of the radiator, then the head gasket is blown from the overheat.
If the water does not, then perhaps during the overheat, some moisture got into the electrical system, such as the coils. Might want to check that. The moisture gets in when an extremely hot engine cools, and condensation forms internally.
Let me know you findings -
Hope this helps -
aloha
calvin
