my car over-heated on me this morning and it died on me, i tried restarting it right away but it would start, I opened the hood and steam was coming out and the coolant in the reservior tank was BROWN and boiling!! I could hear it boil and crackling! I left it there, walked home and came back 1 hour later, I poured some 50/50 coolant into the radiator cap because it was drained and EMPTY!! and some in the reservior tank! why did my car died? I was also going uphill when it died on me! the temperature needle also went up when i went uphill and way down below the normal temperature when i went downhill, right now the car is sitting in a parking lot, i'm afraid to touch it, i tried starting it again it actually started up, other than that, i'm afraid to do anything else, somebody help me!! *Sigh*
First thing to check, radiator cap (nice and easy one)
Then I would do the thermostat (again its pretty easy/cheap)
I the above doesn't work check out your fan.
(just short the switch so that it runs all the time to check)
How hot did it get??
1994 corolla, it got all the way hot! up to the top! i was also on the highway, and it died when i went uphill, tried starting it right away and it wouldn't start, left it for 1 hour, and it finally started when i went to start it again. someone told me my head gasket is gone because the reservior tank is chocolate milky, and told me not to drive it before i mess things up but i need to drive it tomorrow morning for 10 minutes to reach the repair shop.....i'm gonna have them repair my waterpump to start with, any sugguestions from anyone?? is this the right way I should approach this? or what should I do?
I have to agree with the head gasket, in fact getting it that hot can cause the head to warp. Where are you located? I have a good 7AFE head for sale cheap!
I have to agree with the head gasket, in fact getting it that hot can cause the head to warp. Where are you located? I have a good 7AFE head for sale cheap!
I'm in Minnesota
one more question guys, is filling the reservior tank the same as filling the radiator through the radiator cap?? meaning.....if I refill the reservior tank with coolant, will I need to fill the radiator as well? Because I only refill the reservior tank and left the radiator alone, and I was leaking coolant from my waterpump gasket
I was thinking.....if not adding coolant in my radiator was the problem, then maybe i should save the $500 in replacing the waterpump, and use the money to replace my headgasket and continue driving with a leaking waterpump seal untill i save another $500 to replace the waterpump, what do you guys think?? my temperature needle (gauge) was acting a lil funny too, it would jump from hot to cold, hot while going uphill, and cold while going downhill, then come to normal operating temp for a while, then go back to HOT, i still need help on making my decision, thank you all, i've been very frustrated and concern lately, i'm a collage student living on my own, not having enough money and this is my only car i need for school and work *sigh* thank u all..any more suggestion and comments would be greatly appreciated!
one more question guys, is filling the reservior tank the same as filling the radiator through the radiator cap??
No!!! Fill through the radiator cap, not the overflow.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rice
I was thinking.....if not adding coolant in my radiator was the problem, then maybe i should save the $500 in replacing the waterpump, and use the money to replace my headgasket and continue driving with a leaking waterpump seal untill i save another $500 to replace the waterpump, what do you guys think??
You should do it all at the same time.
If they've got the motor apart to replace the headgasket then doing the water pump is easy.
Also if you've just replaced the HG you don't want it to overheat again due to a faulty water pump.
No!!! Fill through the radiator cap, not the overflow.
You should do it all at the same time.
If they've got the motor apart to replace the headgasket then doing the water pump is easy.
Also if you've just replaced the HG you don't want it to overheat again due to a faulty water pump.
(Also: $500 for a water pump )
yes, thats what i got quoted for my waterpump repair labor cost from two shops, $480 from one shop and $500 from another, complete install.
the problem is, i have enough $$ for only 1 repair, what do you guys suggest? having a shop to replace a head gasket should cost around $500 for my 94' corolla, no?
If it costs that much you could get a low mileage engine from a wrecked car and have it put in cheaper. Call salvage yards in your area and see what they charge. Is there an LKQ in your area?
If it costs that much you could get a low mileage engine from a wrecked car and have it put in cheaper. Call salvage yards in your area and see what they charge. Is there an LKQ in your area?
hey, its ok, i've decided to use the money i have now for the head gasket repair and possibly a new thermostat, it'd probably cost more for the engine + labor, and i need the car right away as it's my only car, if anyone feels i should consider something else besides using the money towards a head gasket repair (hopefully under $500) then let me know, as tomorrow morning i will be calling around for estimates and bringing my car in, thank you guys
So your waterpump was leaking.. then your motor overheats and now you think its because of the headgasket.... even though your water pump is been leaking for a while now???
You need to figure out why your car overheated before you repair it. You don't want to fix it then have it overheat and blow the HG again.
Thermostats are like $10 so just do it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rice
it'd probably cost more for a new engine + labor
Perhaps but I would price it up anyway.
As I said before, Since they will have the head off to fix the head gasket, Replacing the waterpump is a 10min job. Ask them how much extra it would cost.
Can you do any of the work yourself?? Its heaps cheaper.
hey ren, actually i think i forgot to add coolant to the radiator since i only added to the reservior, and it over-heated while i was on the highway and it died on me and there was brown milky coolant in the reservior tank which this is the first time i've seen on this car, and people are telling me my Head Gasket is cracked/gone/dead/ because of no coolant in the radiator, thats what i think caused it
and thanks punter, my car was having a hard time blowing warm air, it happened so sudden i was shocked, so i guess im gonna be replacing the thermostat just in case
the waterpump will have to come later as $$ is so short right now
I will hopefully drive it to a nearby shop (10 minutes) from here and have them replace the headgasket tomorrow morning
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