dspencer24

iTrader: (3)

Hey guys im new around these parts. First off i wanted to say say what up forum second i just bought a 91 z28 from a guy for 2500 i thought it was a good deal awesome shape ... But 2 weeks later, come to find out i have a problem...

Im losing coolant, I can smell coolant but i cant see coolant dripping or leaking nor is the inside of my car wet..

today i was driving and i my temp gauge was at lilke 250 and it wasnt droping so i took it home and opened the hood the fans were on!!! so then i turned my my heater and ac on the minute i did the car sounded like it was going to die so i turned it off then it came back to life but it was still hot i did this a few times to see what the problem was and everytime i did the car sounded like it was going to die at first what can this be??? sorry if being vauge

dspencer24

iTrader: (3)

well i just looked and i had no coolant again so i filled up the radiator and it stoped over heating..
still doesnt explain my ac /heater problem or the loss of coolant. The a/c i think that might have something to do with the alternator maybe cause when i try and roll the windows up the amps jump down to like 9/10 and for the coolant im hoping its not a blown head gasket

Ford2transam

Check your oil not always a tale tell way but u can't be 2 carfull.
Did the motor almost die with the heater? or ac? i've never been in car w/ both going at once;0)
if the ac, your voltage could be hurting you but also does your compresser have oil? has it been serviced at all?if heater,honestly I dunno
if no water in oil or vice versa check you compression
If that's fine the let it run and inspect all water lines, anywhere water goes (leaking out heater core and under car?) if not mambe some of the other members can help out better. how quickly does it drain out? a gallon a week?Hour?Min?

dspencer24

iTrader: (3)

i checked the oil it seems fine no color change or not murky. As far of compression how do i check that?
im not sure how fast it leaks it varys i drove it for 30 miles and the next day i had very lil coolant in the radiator

Ford2transam

go to your local auto store they should have a kit. 20- 40 bucks mambe
Basically you take out the spark plug screw in the adapter (they're might be 2 or 3 diffrent one compare the threads tothe spark plug and try it don't force it if it don't fit)
Then screw/ connect the adapter to the gauge and turn over the moter ( you MUST take off the coil wire if you have HEI i'm not sure the best way to dissconnect (I'm new to GM products)
Turn the motor over till the gauge stops increasing in psi (about 5 seconds of turning over the motor) for the psi range to max out
You need consult a repair manual (Haynes or chiltons etc) repeat proccess for ALL cylinders
it's that easy/ annoying

dspencer24

iTrader: (3)

well i have narrowed it down to the passenger side of the car near the door and the wheel any ideas?

dspencer24

iTrader: (3)

atleast thats where i can smell it

Ford2transam

sound like bad heater core? quick fix, take a coupler and connect intake heater hose to out going heater hose (make a complete circle without the heater core)Also i know the AC will drip out that location (the evap gives off water and drips down)

dspencer24

iTrader: (3)

easier said then done lol so it can be a heater core evern if its not leaking inside the car??? It kinda looks like it leaking on the exhuast pipe on the passenger side is that bout where the heater core is

Ford2transam

i'm not 100% sure i've only been fooling around with firebirds for a few months but that's the common location for a heater core. try the bybass i was telling you about if it work u'll be iight till winter time any ways!!