Help! The 5.7L engine in my 1989 Firebird Formula won't start. When I turn the key, it sounds like an impact wrench in use.I think the starter might be slipping. With the hood up, I can see the alternator vanes moving a little each second or so. I haven't driven the car in about three weeks. When it was starting, it would send out lots of white smoke from the tailpipe until it warmed up. I listened for the fuel pump and it's working. I checked the battery voltage and it's at 11.68, which should be good. The battery connections are clean and tight. I checked the coolant reservior and it was almost empty. I then checked the level of coolant inside the radiator and it was about 3" below the filler neck. Is that low? I looked for coolant on the floor of my garage and found none. I checked the oil level and it was good. The oil was not milky. What I'm afraid of is that the coolant has been leaking into one or more of the cylinders. Could this cause the starter to slip because a cylinder is full of coolant? I wonder if anyone knows if I can borrow a pressure tester from AutoZone and if I'm even on the right track? Maybe somebody has a better explaination? Thanks all.

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'89 Firebird Formula-
K&N Air Filter, Holley Throttle Body Air Foil, Hotchkis Strut Tower Brace, Hotchkis Panhard Rod, Hotchkis Trailing Arms, Kenny Brown Subframe Connectors, GT Auto Assesories aero wing

 

If there is no water in your oil, you can check for hydrolock by removing your plugs and cranking your motor. You can really f??# up a good motor (bend a rod). It might just be a bad starter. If you are losing coolant over a short period of time it must be going somewhere. Some small head cracks only open up when hot and burn the coolant but when the motor cools off the "close up" hiding the leak.