Hey all, have somewhat of a PITA story to relate to you all, and a question with it.

I was driving down the highway coming back from class, and all of a sudden, I look in the rearview, and clouds of white smoke were pouring from the car. First thing that came to mind, as it should have, was coolant. I rolled the window down a little, and sure enough, I smelled the semi-sweet smell of burning coolant. Luckily I was about half a mile from home, so I drove back, no problem. The temp. guage still read a reasonable number, around 190, maybe 200, or so. I parked the car, and popped the hood. Nearly the entire engine compartment was covered with coolant, and a large puddle was forming below the car, I couldn't get a good luck where it was coming from, because the smoke was in the way.

I initially thought it could be a hose that blew, and caused coolant to spray all over, but I didn't see any hose missing or damaged (granted, my inpection was cursory, since its raining here, and freezing cold) I started the car back up to see if I could locate where any drip was coming from. I couldn't, but I did notive that the center pulley on my serpentine belt (the one I think is the water pump) was wobbling to and fro, and making a metallic grating sound (I assume thats where the sound was coming from)....

Is that indeed the water pump? if not, what to do? and if so, what to do? I appreciate any help, but for now I have to go drive to class in my friends Buick Century. Thanks in advance, all.

Peace,
-Bill

 

Bill it is possible that the pump is the problem but I doubt it. I would suspect a hose let go somewhere since the leak happened all at once.

BTW, if your pump is wobbling and making noise I would change it. I am sure while you are changing it you will find the source of your leak.

 

Bill,

Given the catastophic failure of the water pump bearing/shaft/seal, it is possible that your coolant loss was restricted to the water pump alone. Just to be certain, inspect all the hoses as Chuck suggests.

------------------
Later,
Vader
------------------
"Make Me Bad"
Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0

 

My horror story. I ran down to the corner station to get some gas. When I can out my car alarm was going off, and I was like WTF? All the sudden steam started rising and coolant was spilling out the side of my hood. I waited a bit and popped the hood, the damn hose blew off. Taught me to check my hoses anually.

 

People will say that is highly unlikely that yor freeze plugs will rot out,but thats what happened to my GTA.Coming home from deer hunting last November, my car puked out all the coolant.I thought it was a head gasket,or maybe an oil cooler hose.But it turned out to be the freeze plug right behind the motor mount on the drivers side.Good thing I yanked the motor and rebuilt it because,the other ones were rotting as well.Just my o2.

------------------
We need Perry Mason

 

Sorrie about tha spelling.How do you edit your powsts.

------------------
We need Perry Mason

 

If your pump and hoses are okay, check the heater control valve for cracks. Those tend to crack at the hose nipples quite a bit.

------------------
1989 IROC-Z, ZZ3 shortblock with some bolt-ons.
13.20 @ 108.69, 2.2 60' on "Road Hugger" radials and dead Auburn posi.