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2003 Nissan XTerra

The lower heater hose was leaking. Note: NOT the radiator hose.

Ordered a replacement but kept driving wile waiting for it to come in. Got to the point that I had to fill the radiator before I left and again before I came home, but was generally able to keep it from overheating.

Didn't refill with anti-freeze, saving for getting the heater hose replaced.

One morning, water poured into radiator leaks out the bottom and never fills. My guess is no anti-freeze let it freeze. Water comes from right between the back of the engine and front of the bell-housing of transmission.

I'm afraid it is fatal. Any guesses what actually happened?

BWhite
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2 Answers2

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It's been a while since I've seen one of these engines.

IIRC There's a water pipe that runs through the engine V and connects to the heater hose at the rear of the engine.

One of these is true.

  • The pipe is rotted
  • The hose clamp failed
  • The hose failed
  • A freeze plug failed
Ben
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Circling back to post the resolution.
I was afraid that the block was cracked, but was hoping that it was the freeze plugs. A quick survey of mechanics that have worked on Nissans suggested there was about a 50/50 chance. Had to take it to 3 different shops, but finally got the tranny out and it was the freeze plugs after all. But once they fixed that and pressurized the system, there was enough other damage that showed up that it wasn't worth fixing.

So I won and I lost. I won the bet that it was the freeze plugs. I lost the $450 for removing the tranny and lost the truck.

@Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2 wins the prize for the right answer.

BWhite
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