DAMNIT...I have a problem...help!

[lylefk]

First off, I got new belts installed a few months ago and they've been squealing...

So I got in my car and started it...the parking brake, brake fluid, battery and one other light were on (not the oil light)...prior, ZERO were on. Great, that's wierd...so I start driving and within 5 minutes I see that the temp gauge is WAY over almost into the red, where it's never been before. Another 3 minutes go by and the check engine light comes on and by now the temp gauge is pegged. The heater is blowing ice cold...I got home and shut the car off, popped the hood and everything seems ok...opened the coolant overflow a bit and coolant shot out...

WTF happened, this is NOT good timing...

3 months ago I had all the belts replaced, new thermostat, new water pump.

Thoughts? Thanks so much...it's a 92 w 86k.

Lyle

[jlevie]

That set of symptoms would be consistent with a bad or missing fan belt. That belt drives the alternator, water pump and engine fan. Since the temp gauge went into the red, lets hope that you didn't damage the head gasket or head.

[dj01540i6sp]

Over Heating

I hope I can shed some light.
1st. Dose your motor fan turn to freely on the ''clutch'' ?
2nd. Is your aux condenser fan working ?
3rd. Low on water a slow leak some where now you do not have enough.

[JLegleiter]

That set of symptoms would be consistent with a bad or missing fan belt. That belt drives the alternator, water pump and engine fan. Since the temp gauge went into the red, lets hope that you didn't damage the head gasket or head.

+2

After you installed the new belts, did you go back and re-tighten them? They have a tendency to stretch and work themselves a little loose.

BUT I'm leaning in this direction...

The squealing belts at start up could indicate coolant that has leaked onto the pulley, causing the belts to slip. Its slippery stuff. Was perhaps your power steering acting erratic as well?

You said that you replaced the water pump, so that would usually rule that out. Unless the gasket has failed prematurely. But you definitely lost coolant somewhere since not enough is left to enter the heater core.

I wouldn't immediately suspect a fan clutch as the source of your overheating since often times a faulty fan clutch will still allow the engine to run in an acceptable temp range at speed, only to overheat while idling.

Also, please never, NEVER let your car go into the red if you can avoid it. Pull over, shut down and call for a tow. The tow will be cheaper than a new head gasket. Don't ask me how I know this.

When you get her running again, you need to change the oil ASAP.

[E30SPDFRK]

First off, I got new belts installed a few months ago and they've been squealing...

So I got in my car and started it...the parking brake, brake fluid, battery and one other light were on (not the oil light)...prior, ZERO were on. Great, that's wierd...so I start driving and within 5 minutes I see that the temp gauge is WAY over almost into the red, where it's never been before. Another 3 minutes go by and the check engine light comes on and by now the temp gauge is pegged. The heater is blowing ice cold...I got home and shut the car off, popped the hood and everything seems ok...opened the coolant overflow a bit and coolant shot out...

WTF happened, this is NOT good timing...

3 months ago I had all the belts replaced, new thermostat, new water pump.

Thoughts? Thanks so much...it's a 92 w 86k.

Lyle

Durr...




You could just have an air bubble in the system. Try bleeding it again.

[lylefk]

The steering HAS been acting a little off...squealing a bit when I 1st start up and pull out. I did have a new fan clutch put in when I did the other stuff.

I don't have the time to deal with this right now...I have too much other stuff going on. I'm taking it to West Werks in Redmond first thing in the morning...I'll let you know what it is...

Thanks for the ideas though, keep 'em coming...I'd like to be able to give the shop a few ideas to start with, to try and keep the charge to a minimum...not only do I not have time, I don't have the money either... *sigh

[E30SPDFRK]

Try bleeding the system yourself- its not too hard.

Pull the bleeder screw out on a semi-warm engine and pour coolant into the expansion tank until it comes out the bleeder vent. Put the screw back in and close the expansion tank.


From the sound of things, you have a small leak on the front of your engine that is slowly leaking onto the belts. When the coolant leaks out, it gets replaced by air and the air will eventually prevent the thermostat from opening, causing the car to overhead and the vents to blow cold air. A leak shouldn't be too expensive to fix.

[JLegleiter]

From the sound of things, you have a small leak on the front of your engine that is slowly leaking onto the belts. When the coolant leaks out, it gets replaced by air and the air will eventually prevent the thermostat from opening, causing the car to overhead and the vents to blow cold air. A leak shouldn't be too expensive to fix.

There it is. I made it sound like it had to come from the water pump, but that's only because I have water pumps on the brain.

Bleed the system to get coolant flowing through the engine and the leak should be easy enough to find.

[lylefk]

jlevie nailed it, it was a bad fan belt...west werks took great care of the car, good guys over there...

[StereoInstaller1]

jlevie nailed it, it was a bad fan belt...west werks took great care of the car, good guys over there...

Shit, wish I had seen this thread earlier. I would have come over and kicked its ass with you!

Either way, Matt and that other fucker do good shit.

Glad to hear all worked out well.

Luke