I have a problem.
Thread Starter
3rd Gear Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 753
From: Illinois
I have a problem.
A couple months ago, after it started getting cold out, I noticed that my A/C would blow cold air every once in a while when it was on hot/heat. I thought it was because I didn't get all of the air out when I replaced my lower intake manifold, so I started the car up and opened the bleeder (very close to the thermostat) until I thought I got all the air out. I noticed it was low on coolant too, so I filled that up. From then it was fine. A couple of weeks ago it started blowing cold air again. I put more coolant in it and tried bleeding it again. Also, after I shut the car off I could hear something like rising air. It was ok for about a week and now it's blowing cold air out again. I looked for leaks and couldn't find any. Then I noticed I was low on coolant and then I saw coolant all over, by the fan and over flow and on my hood. It wasn't a ton of coolant as far as I could see but it was enough to get me worried. I felt the top radiator hose and it felt airy. I can't think of any reason why it's doing this unless I have an internal leak. But would that make it over flow too? Could it have been exhaust or just air being pushed into the spot it's leaking from?
I need some ideas on this. It' bothering me.
I need some ideas on this. It' bothering me.
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 179
From: Ontario
RE: I have a problem.
ORIGINAL: TheMichiganRA
A couple months ago, after it started getting cold out, I noticed that my A/C would blow cold air every once in a while when it was on hot/heat. I thought it was because I didn't get all of the air out when I replaced my lower intake manifold, so I started the car up and opened the bleeder (very close to the thermostat) until I thought I got all the air out. I noticed it was low on coolant too, so I filled that up. From then it was fine. A couple of weeks ago it started blowing cold air again. I put more coolant in it and tried bleeding it again. Also, after I shut the car off I could hear something like rising air. It was ok for about a week and now it's blowing cold air out again. I looked for leaks and couldn't find any. Then I noticed I was low on coolant and then I saw coolant all over, by the fan and over flow and on my hood. It wasn't a ton of coolant as far as I could see but it was enough to get me worried. I felt the top radiator hose and it felt airy. I can't think of any reason why it's doing this unless I have an internal leak. But would that make it over flow too? Could it have been exhaust or just air being pushed into the spot it's leaking from?
I need some ideas on this. It' bothering me.
A couple months ago, after it started getting cold out, I noticed that my A/C would blow cold air every once in a while when it was on hot/heat. I thought it was because I didn't get all of the air out when I replaced my lower intake manifold, so I started the car up and opened the bleeder (very close to the thermostat) until I thought I got all the air out. I noticed it was low on coolant too, so I filled that up. From then it was fine. A couple of weeks ago it started blowing cold air again. I put more coolant in it and tried bleeding it again. Also, after I shut the car off I could hear something like rising air. It was ok for about a week and now it's blowing cold air out again. I looked for leaks and couldn't find any. Then I noticed I was low on coolant and then I saw coolant all over, by the fan and over flow and on my hood. It wasn't a ton of coolant as far as I could see but it was enough to get me worried. I felt the top radiator hose and it felt airy. I can't think of any reason why it's doing this unless I have an internal leak. But would that make it over flow too? Could it have been exhaust or just air being pushed into the spot it's leaking from?
I need some ideas on this. It' bothering me.
ATB Steve
Thread Starter
3rd Gear Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 753
From: Illinois
RE: I have a problem.
If it's leaking it's internal. I haven't noticed any outside leaks other than it overflowing.
Anyone know how much it would cost to get the lower intake manifold to heads gasket replace? It was a pain putting it on and I don't want to do it right now.
Anyone know how much it would cost to get the lower intake manifold to heads gasket replace? It was a pain putting it on and I don't want to do it right now.
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 179
From: Ontario
RE: I have a problem.
ORIGINAL: TheMichiganRA
If it's leaking it's internal. I haven't noticed any outside leaks other than it overflowing.
Anyone know how much it would cost to get the lower intake manifold to heads gasket replace? It was a pain putting it on and I don't want to do it right now.
If it's leaking it's internal. I haven't noticed any outside leaks other than it overflowing.
Anyone know how much it would cost to get the lower intake manifold to heads gasket replace? It was a pain putting it on and I don't want to do it right now.
Thread Starter
3rd Gear Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 753
From: Illinois
RE: I have a problem.
I checked my oil and it doesn't look milky, but it was dark out too (I used a flashlight). I haven't noticed anything unusualfrom the tail pipe. It did smell like coolant when I drove it earlier today.
My girlfriend's dad thinks it might be a hose or the over-flow. Something in that area. I thought it might be a head gasket because I got on it pretty hard a couple times a few week ago. But I'm starting to think it might be a hose too, although I didn't see any leaks while the car was running. There was coolant on the very front of my hood, where the latch is and on the fan and around the over-flow bottle top. Nothing on the block. Well there was some on the block but I think it's from me bleeding it last week. It right under the radiator hose, where the the thermostat is. It doesn't look like it's from that though...
Anymore ideas? Well if its serious I try and get some new heads on it while I'm at it I guess.
My girlfriend's dad thinks it might be a hose or the over-flow. Something in that area. I thought it might be a head gasket because I got on it pretty hard a couple times a few week ago. But I'm starting to think it might be a hose too, although I didn't see any leaks while the car was running. There was coolant on the very front of my hood, where the latch is and on the fan and around the over-flow bottle top. Nothing on the block. Well there was some on the block but I think it's from me bleeding it last week. It right under the radiator hose, where the the thermostat is. It doesn't look like it's from that though...
Anymore ideas? Well if its serious I try and get some new heads on it while I'm at it I guess.
Thread Starter
3rd Gear Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 753
From: Illinois
RE: I have a problem.
OK. I got my car in the garage tonight and watch her for a while. I drove earlier and everything was fine. I checked my oil and it's fine. I looked around the back of the engine where I messed with some hosed when I installed my L.I.M. and they were fine. Checked the front and it was fine. Then I started looking around the over flow and the fan. That's where most of the splashed coolant was. So I had my car running while I was looking around and nothing was happening so I opened the throttle and held it at about 2-2,5 grand and that's when I noticed the radiator start steaming. Then the fan finally kicked on and flung some coolant all over. So I think I have a cracked radiator. The hoses look fine. It might be a cracked reservoir but I doubt it. I'm pretty sure it's the radiator now.
Has anyone ever replaced theirs? Is it difficult? What's a good replacement brand?
Man, I really jumped to conclusion last night. I work my engine so hard though, I thought something had to go because of it.
I wonder where it's leaking from. I don't know why it would have cracked.
Has anyone ever replaced theirs? Is it difficult? What's a good replacement brand?
Man, I really jumped to conclusion last night. I work my engine so hard though, I thought something had to go because of it.
I wonder where it's leaking from. I don't know why it would have cracked.
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 179
From: Ontario
RE: I have a problem.
Is it boiling over ? whats the temp gauge in your dash doing while this is going on?
Not looking to good. Did you get the cooling system pressure tested yet?
Just trying to helpout. You dont want to spend money on a new rad before you find out if you have an overheating problem or a leak in the system. Overheating will cause the system to boil over & leak as well!
Steve.
Not looking to good. Did you get the cooling system pressure tested yet?
Just trying to helpout. You dont want to spend money on a new rad before you find out if you have an overheating problem or a leak in the system. Overheating will cause the system to boil over & leak as well!
Steve.
The Godfather
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 15,480
From: Temple, Texas
RE: I have a problem.
Yea, probably a bad radiator. It's very simple, not exactly easy, but simple, only thing that makes it difficult are the tight spaces. Basically just drain out all the fluid, undo your upper/lower coolant hose, unplug your radiator fan, unbolt the fan from the radiator, work it out, then unbolt the radiator.
Thread Starter
3rd Gear Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 753
From: Illinois
RE: I have a problem.
Ok here's the thing.. I've had a theory that if I drive easy and keep my RPM's down, nothing will leak. I proved it to be true. I drove my car all day today, keeping RPM's down to a minimum and kept it up to operating temp (It's doesn't over-heat at all). I popped the hood after quite a while of running it and nothing happened and the coolant level is the same. I think that's why I randomly had to add coolant some days, because some days I would get on the throttle.
Anyways, I haven't had a chance to take anything apart yet. So I haven't pin-pointed the location yet. I'm sure it's a leak at the top. Looked like it was right under the top hose somewhere. I haven't done a pressure test, just kept a close eye on it..
Anymore ideas?
Anyways, I haven't had a chance to take anything apart yet. So I haven't pin-pointed the location yet. I'm sure it's a leak at the top. Looked like it was right under the top hose somewhere. I haven't done a pressure test, just kept a close eye on it..
Anymore ideas?