2004 Sentra Issues

[jmaddox79]

I'm hoping someone can help me with some issues I'm experiencing with my 2004 Sentra. About a month or more ago I was stopped at a red light when my check engine light came on. When the light changed and I accelerated, at about 2 rpms the car started jerking the rpm needle bounced up and down so I let off the gas and noticed I could very slowly get it up to speed (which mind you was only about 30). When I left work that day the problem was not happening but the check engine light was stayed on a few days before going off. Well this problem just happened again & my friend plugged a code scanner in & it read P1217, which said engine overheating but my gauge in the car never goes above halfway.

Also since it's gotten cold I realized that my heat only blows hot air as I'm going. In the morning it takes about 5 minutes to get warm air and if I stop at a light or whatever it's cold again until I get going again.

Any thoughts on what it could be? Are the problems related or separate issues?
Thanks!
Jen

[03GXEDD]

I guess the real question is whether or not these two issues are related. The first thing you need to do is check to see if your car is truly overheating. Welcome to the days of electronically controlled engines and finding out that not everything is what it seems. Looking though the FSM, it appears that the general cause of this P1217 code is the cooling fans and or their operation. Of course it could be more than that or something really stupid like a shorting temperature sending unit. We really need more information before we can help you out. First, was the air conditioner on when you "over heated", second, is the ac switch on when you are blowing cold air at a stop? The list goes on and on because the car can be in many different configurations. If you have it on defog/defrost, the AC is actually on even if the switch is off. Your best bet is going to this site Index of /FSM/Sentra and download the EC section and look for your trouble code (around page 428). This will show a series of steps to go through to help isolate possible causes for your problem. It will show steps with the Consult II tool and without. Let us know if you need any help with a steps listed; also be sure to post back with your findings. Good luck.

[jmaddox79]

Well shortly after my post I was on my way to work when all of a sudden my car ran hot so I pulled off to the side of the interstate and waited for it to cool down. Once it did, I pulled back on to the interstate and the needle flew up again, I didn't even make it half a mile. I had no visible sign of overheating (smoke, water gurgling sound, etc.). I drove to a shop where he said my check engine light had 2 codes, evaporation and cooling system. He ran all test thinkable for a complete day and came up with no problems.
I ended up changing out my radiator hoses, flushing and refilling the system, changing the thermostat, replacing the radiator cap & the alternator pulley & belts (not related to this problem but needed to be fixed). It's been a week and so far no problems. Hopefully its been resolved but only time will tell.

[03GXEDD]

if you "overheat" again be sure to check the actual temperature of the coolant. It could be that you just have a faulty sender or the sender wire is grounding out somewhere. It's not uncommon for the coolant to be around 220 or 230 even with a 180 degree thermostat so if that is the case don't freak out. It just depends on where you take the temperature. Also, make sure your fans are kicking on.