Hey guys, ive looked around the website and eveyone seems to be helpful here, so i figured i would post my problem(s) and see what youall have to say.

Yesterday, on the way home from work my car(95 V6)overheated so i pulled over and once i came to a stop the car died. I waited for a while so it could cool down, and when i popped the hood i saw that coolant had been blown over the front of the engine. I tried to start it again but the cranking noise was muich different, there was sort of a clicking noise. It wouldnt start, so I got a ride from someone and came back later that night with some extra coolant, filled it up, and it started so I was on my way. Right when I was almost home, i noticed that there was a lot of smoky looking exhaust coming out of the tailpipe, so i killed it and got out to see if i could smell anyhting, and it smelled like coolant. I dont know if it actually did, or I was just smelling myself or what. So i pushed it the rest of the way home. Today after work i went out and started messing with it, and i discovered my fan wasnt working. I remember from before that it normally comes on right when i turn the key forward, but it wasnt coming on at all now. so i ran awire direct from itto the battery to see if it was the fan or something else, and it kicked on so i figure there must be a sensor blown somewhere, because i couldnt find a fuse for it under the dash.

So i decided to run the fan through my headlights, as a temporary fix just to see if thats what was causing my car to overheat and die. It worked, my fan came on whenI turned on the headlights, but the car still sounds strange during cranking, definately different than before. And it sounds like it almost doesnt want to start, but it does start. But there is a lot of fluid/steam coming out of the tailpipe now, and the engine shakes a little at idle. if i rev it up, more fluid comes out of the tailpipe, but it doesnt seem to shake as bad. My question is, what could cause this? Im not very familiar with these types of cars, ive owned chevy trucks all my life, haha. I was hoping to have this car until i was finished with school, so any help would be greatly appreciated. And i dont know if this is related or not, but the heater constantly goes on and off. it will blow hot air one minute, then cold air the next. very frustrating. I pulled the dipstick out to see if it was reading high, in case i had coolant in there or something, but it didnt seem to be, and i couldnt smell anything. i have a bad sense of smell though so who knows...anyway, I hope you guys have some ideas! thanks a ton

Daniel

 

Sounds like you blew a head gasket. Is there water in the oil?

 

possibly a cracked cylinder head.. that's what happened to mine.. weird noise on startup.. shaking at idle.. and lots of smoke out the exhaust

 

Definate head gasket problem, possible cracked head. For $800 you can do a split port swap and get, I think, 40hp.

The v6's of your generation all have that issue, but if you simply put on the 02+ head gaskets, if there's no head damage, you'll be good to go for a very long time.

Ryan

 

I think there could be several causes. Lets start with your radiator fluid over the top of the engine, Is your radiator cracked or did you bust a line? The sensor right above your waterpump controls your fan. If you unplug this it should cause your fan to come on after a few seconds. Now it's possible you warped a head or blew a head gasket. Look in your radiator for bubbles while its running. The bubbles is exhaust escaping into your radiator through the heads or head gaskets. Also if you have any oil residue inside your radiator overflow. If you have the tools you can do a compression check to find a loss of compression or possible misfire. The later should cause a CEL. I'm not sure on the 95 model. I think it's likely you have a head gasket problem. I would advise if that's so replace them with 99-04 OEM head gaskets and you shouldn't have this problem again. I changed mine recently on a blown head gasket and they are way better than the 95-98's.

 

Thanks for the quick replies guys. And i had a feeling it might be the head gaskets, im going to start tearing into it here in a bit. do you know of anywhere on the web that has detailed instructions on how to replace the head gasket?

As for the radiator and hoses, i filled it back up and there doesnt appear to be any leaks, and there are a ton of bubbles if i take the radiator cap off when its started.

 

Your better off getting yourself a chiltons or haynes manuel which everone you perfer. It will come in handy down the road. Peace man

 

+1 on a manual. Remember you are working with aluminum so be sure to use never seize where needed and use a torque wrench.

 

Ive been going at it without the manual so far, and it hasnt really been too hard. ive only encountered two problems: one, i cant see a way to get the power steering pump off, and two, there is a metallic hose coming off the top of the water pump that i can not seem to get off for the life of me. any ideas? i havent had a chance to go get a manual yet, my wife has her car at work and its too far to walk..

 

the same thing happened to me except i probably drove a little longer on overheat.
the coolant ran out the car, i replaced radiator (it was bad) started the car.
smokey exhaust. tore the car down, hairline cracked head, once ur down that deep it needs new gaskets anyway.
this wasnt my mustang it was my 1995 Chevy Beretta (previous car). Iron block/Alum head. Did the work myself with a friend. I hope thats not case for you as well.