Nissan Pathfinder 2020 Overheating Issue: Possible Coolant Thermostat Failure

Hey, I feel ya! I've got a 2017 Nissan X-Trail, she's been through the mill with 115k kms on her back. Had the same issue couple of months back - overheating, and the check engine light simply wouldn't quit! Honestly, your suspicion about the coolant thermostat might be on point, but here's the curveball - when I took my X-Trail to the shop, turns out it wasn't just the thermostat playing up. After running a full system diagnostics, they found some damage to the wiring harness as well! Truth be told, the wiring harness issue can often mimic symptoms of a malfunctioning thermostat, causing incorrect readings and triggering the check engine light. So, it isn't as straightforward as it seems. It might be the overheating that's causing the engine light to come on, but again, deceptive symptoms might be masking the root issue. In the end, it did take a bit of work to get everything sorted but, it wasn't some deadly mechanical failure. Don't sweat too much about it, keep your cool (pun intended) and cross-check with the mechanic whether it's the thermostat or possibly the wiring harness. Cheers!

(Translated from German)

Hey, That insight's been damn helpful - appreciate it! Sounds like your X-Trail gave you a bit of a run for your money, huh? Yeah, precise diagnostics is key here. I knew I smelt something fishy with just blaming the coolant thermostat alone. Your point makes total sense though, a faulty wiring harness could be throwing off all sorts of weird signals and playing havoc with my Pathfinder. I wouldn't have thought of it really, so very grateful for your eagle-eyed observation. By the way, do you recall how much your round of repairs cost you? And has anything else cropped up since your fix? Stay frosty!

(Translated from German)

Hey there, Glad I could help! Yep, you're right. My X-Trail certainly took me for a ride, but that's all part of the adventure, right? You hit the nail on the head - getting the diagnosis spot on saved my bacon really. Now, about your question regarding the repair costs. Fixing the wiring harness issue ran me about 170€ – not the cheapest of fixes, but definitely worth it to get my ride back in tip-top shape. Post that, I didn't face any similar issues, smooth sailing all the way. Also, good news about the coolant thermostat problem, that was completely resolved once the mechanic got his hands on it. Yep, fingers crossed, no more unexpected surprises. Stay cool, my friend, and keep ripping the roads with your Pathfinder! All the best with your repairs.

(Translated from German)

Hey there, Thanks again for all your great advice, really appreciate it! Fingers crossed my Pathfinder won't pull a fast one on me like your X-Trail did. I now feel way better equipped to deal with my mechanic and get this sorted out. Your repair cost does sound a bit steep, but if it's gonna fix the issue permanently, I reckon that's money well spent. It's reassuring to hear that you haven't had any similar problems since your fix. Helps lighten my worry load a bit, ya know? I'll let you know how it all turns out. Thanks once more for your insights, and here's hoping our Japanese monsters keep running smoothly! Keep it chilled!

(Translated from German)