Might be water pump!

[Richard B.]

I have a '90 Sedan Deville and I'm trying to pinpoint something. Had the car 2 years, has 133,000 miles, about 8 months ago I blew top radiator hose, 2 weeks later I blew "T" hose behind thermostat, 3 weeks after that my heater core went, which explained the hoses. Now, about 2 weeks or so ago my radiator started to leak on the driver's side about 5 inches from top. It does it 3 or 4 minutes after I shut off the car, but only for a few minutes, then stops. Every time I checked the fluid it was full, untill a week ago when it need about 4 cups of water. The problem I have is that a few days before I noticed the low fluid it started to make a low whining noise, like a power steering whine but quieter. When I accelerate the sound fluctuates with the RPM's. If anyone has any suggestions it would be a great help.

Thanks,

Rich

[BodybyFisher]

I have a '90 Sedan Deville and I'm trying to pinpoint something. Had the car 2 years, has 133,000 miles, about 8 months ago I blew top radiator hose, 2 weeks later I blew "T" hose behind thermostat, 3 weeks after that my heater core went, which explained the hoses. Now, about 2 weeks or so ago my radiator started to leak on the driver's side about 5 inches from top. It does it 3 or 4 minutes after I shut off the car, but only for a few minutes, then stops. Every time I checked the fluid it was full, untill a week ago when it need about 4 cups of water. The problem I have is that a few days before I noticed the low fluid it started to make a low whining noise, like a power steering whine but quieter. When I accelerate the sound fluctuates with the RPM's. If anyone has any suggestions it would be a great help.

Thanks,

Rich

You said this "untill a week ago when it need about 4 cups of water".. Do you really mean water? NEVER put in straight water, put in a 50/50 combo of coolant and distilled water. (preferrable distilled) If you put straight water in, check your coolant concentration with a coolant tester, if its lower than 50/50 you could be boiling the coolant and that might be what you are hearing.

You are experiencing the weak link syndrome, every time you replace a part, the next weak part in the circuit blows. Lift the hood and listen to see if its making that noise. Have you changed the thermostat?

[BodybyFisher]

Grab the water pump pulley with both hands and try to rock it back and forth, if there is ANY play, replace it. Use a 3/4" heater hose to listen to the water pump area, with one end to your ear. I don't know the 4.5 very well, if it's water pump is similar to the 4.9, they don't give much warning of failure

Do you smell coolant?

What are your temps running?

Have you retrieved DTC codes?

[Richard B.]

I have a '90 Sedan Deville and I'm trying to pinpoint something. Had the car 2 years, has 133,000 miles, about 8 months ago I blew top radiator hose, 2 weeks later I blew "T" hose behind thermostat, 3 weeks after that my heater core went, which explained the hoses. Now, about 2 weeks or so ago my radiator started to leak on the driver's side about 5 inches from top. It does it 3 or 4 minutes after I shut off the car, but only for a few minutes, then stops. Every time I checked the fluid it was full, untill a week ago when it need about 4 cups of water. The problem I have is that a few days before I noticed the low fluid it started to make a low whining noise, like a power steering whine but quieter. When I accelerate the sound fluctuates with the RPM's. If anyone has any suggestions it would be a great help.

Thanks,

Rich

You said this "untill a week ago when it need about 4 cups of water".. Do you really mean water? NEVER put in straight water, put in a 50/50 combo of coolant and distilled water. (preferrable distilled) If you put straight water in, check your coolant concentration with a coolant tester, if its lower than 50/50 you could be boiling the coolant and that might be what you are hearing.

You are experiencing the weak link syndrome, every time you replace a part, the next weak part in the circuit blows. Lift the hood and listen to see if its making that noise. Have you changed the thermostat?

[Richard B.]

I have a '90 Sedan Deville and I'm trying to pinpoint something. Had the car 2 years, has 133,000 miles, about 8 months ago I blew top radiator hose, 2 weeks later I blew "T" hose behind thermostat, 3 weeks after that my heater core went, which explained the hoses. Now, about 2 weeks or so ago my radiator started to leak on the driver's side about 5 inches from top. It does it 3 or 4 minutes after I shut off the car, but only for a few minutes, then stops. Every time I checked the fluid it was full, untill a week ago when it need about 4 cups of water. The problem I have is that a few days before I noticed the low fluid it started to make a low whining noise, like a power steering whine but quieter. When I accelerate the sound fluctuates with the RPM's. If anyone has any suggestions it would be a great help.

Thanks,

Rich

You said this "untill a week ago when it need about 4 cups of water".. Do you really mean water? NEVER put in straight water, put in a 50/50 combo of coolant and distilled water. (preferrable distilled) If you put straight water in, check your coolant concentration with a coolant tester, if its lower than 50/50 you could be boiling the coolant and that might be what you are hearing.

You are experiencing the weak link syndrome, every time you replace a part, the next weak part in the circuit blows. Lift the hood and listen to see if its making that noise. Have you changed the thermostat?

It was actually making the noise before I added the water, but that's good info, thanks. When the heater core went I had the system flushed, obviously. Yes, I did change the thermostat, actually twice, after each hose blew. I have tried to listen under the hood, this might sound weird but it almost sounds like the noise is coming from the driver's side, opposite side from the water pump. What do you make of it. Thanks

[Richard B.]

Grab the water pump pulley with both hands and try to rock it back and forth, if there is ANY play, replace it. Use a 3/4" heater hose to listen to the water pump area, with one end to your ear. I don't know the 4.5 very well, if it's water pump is similar to the 4.9, they don't give much warning of failure

Do you smell coolant?

What are your temps running?

Have you retrieved DTC codes?

I'll try to move the pump tomorrow on my lunch break. Once in a while it smells like burning coolant, but not very often & not for long. My car has a digital dash & does not tell me my temps, wish it did though. And I'm not sure how to check the codes on my car, I'll have to find out.

Rich

[BodybyFisher]

I am surprised. Do you have an info button on your DIC? The 91 displays temps, I would be surprised if yours did not. If you find an info button push it repeatedly.

Its possible that the noise you are hearing is not related to the cooling system.

[adallak]

Radiators side tanks are plastic and known to crack. The tiny cracks will open up as the radiator gets hot. Take a flashlight and look for whit traces of dried coolant on the side tanks.

[Richard B.]

I am surprised. Do you have an info button on your DIC? The 91 displays temps, I would be surprised if yours did not. If you find an info button push it repeatedly.

Its possible that the noise you are hearing is not related to the cooling system.

I checked before & to my surprise also, it does not have temp reading. If it is not related to the cooling system what else, harmonic balance, I don't think it sounds like that, thoughts.

[BodybyFisher]

Take a 3/4" hose and listen around the engine to try to pin point it.

If its on the drivers side, it could be the chain, thrust bearings, etc. Do you have the abilty to record the sound? Could it becoming from the alternator or power steering pump?

[Richard B.]

Radiators side tanks are plastic and known to crack. The tiny cracks will open up as the radiator gets hot. Take a flashlight and look for whit traces of dried coolant on the side tanks.

I have noticed a little grayish or white dried coolant on the side of the radiator, it seems like it is flowing from the front of the radiator, between it and the condenser. I was on vacation last week & I was planning on taking a look at it but of course it did not leak for the whole week. I would rather put in a radiator than a water pump, at least the radiator has more than 3" of room to work.

[Richard B.]

Take a 3/4" hose and listen around the engine to try to pin point it.

If its on the drivers side, it could be the chain, thrust bearings, etc. Do you have the abilty to record the sound? Could it becoming from the alternator or power steering pump?

I'll try to listen to it tomorrow, it doesn't seem like the power steering, fluid is full & noise doesn't increase when I turn the wheel. The noise doesn't seem to be coming from the alternator, unfortunatly it sounds like it's coming from lower in the engine. I'll see what I can do tomorrow, I'm going to bed now, have to wake up at 5 am. Thanks for your help, feel free to let me know anything you think is usefull, thanks again, Rich

[adallak]

Radiators side tanks are plastic and known to crack. The tiny cracks will open up as the radiator gets hot. Take a flashlight and look for whit traces of dried coolant on the side tanks.

I have noticed a little grayish or white dried coolant on the side of the radiator, it seems like it is flowing from the front of the radiator, between it and the condenser. I was on vacation last week & I was planning on taking a look at it but of course it did not leak for the whole week. I would rather put in a radiator than a water pump, at least the radiator has more than 3" of room to work.

Looks like a crack. Next time your engine reaches operational temperature, stop the car, open the hood and examine that area. Radiator is MUCH easier to replace than the water pump. Aftermarket radiators are about $150 and you can replace them in less than two hours.

[navion]

I have a '90 Sedan Deville and I'm trying to pinpoint something. Had the car 2 years, has 133,000 miles, about 8 months ago I blew top radiator hose, 2 weeks later I blew "T" hose behind thermostat, 3 weeks after that my heater core went, which explained the hoses. Now, about 2 weeks or so ago my radiator started to leak on the driver's side about 5 inches from top. It does it 3 or 4 minutes after I shut off the car, but only for a few minutes, then stops. Every time I checked the fluid it was full, untill a week ago when it need about 4 cups of water. The problem I have is that a few days before I noticed the low fluid it started to make a low whining noise, like a power steering whine but quieter. When I accelerate the sound fluctuates with the RPM's. If anyone has any suggestions it would be a great help.

Thanks,

Rich

You said this "untill a week ago when it need about 4 cups of water".. Do you really mean water? NEVER put in straight water, put in a 50/50 combo of coolant and distilled water. (preferrable distilled) If you put straight water in, check your coolant concentration with a coolant tester, if its lower than 50/50 you could be boiling the coolant and that might be what you are hearing.

You are experiencing the weak link syndrome, every time you replace a part, the next weak part in the circuit blows. Lift the hood and listen to see if its making that noise. Have you changed the thermostat?

It was actually making the noise before I added the water, but that's good info, thanks. When the heater core went I had the system flushed, obviously. Yes, I did change the thermostat, actually twice, after each hose blew. I have tried to listen under the hood, this might sound weird but it almost sounds like the noise is coming from the driver's side, opposite side from the water pump. What do you make of it. Thanks

Noise coming from the driver's side of the engine? That could be the transmission oil pump. When the engine is at operating temperature and idling, check the transmission fluid level. Be sure that it is at the proper level, not foaming and not dark or burnt looking.

Has the transmission been shifting correctly? Does the car seem to be more sluggish than before?

Overheating transmissions can and do cause engines to overheat. The transmission oil cooler is located in the radiator. If the transmission is running hot, it transfers the heat to the engine coolant in the radiator. This can then cause symptoms of engine overheating.

If your radiator cap is not working correctly, it can cause the pressure to get too high and start leaks at the weak points. And an 18 year old cooling system is going to have weak points.

[Richard B.]

I have a '90 Sedan Deville and I'm trying to pinpoint something. Had the car 2 years, has 133,000 miles, about 8 months ago I blew top radiator hose, 2 weeks later I blew "T" hose behind thermostat, 3 weeks after that my heater core went, which explained the hoses. Now, about 2 weeks or so ago my radiator started to leak on the driver's side about 5 inches from top. It does it 3 or 4 minutes after I shut off the car, but only for a few minutes, then stops. Every time I checked the fluid it was full, untill a week ago when it need about 4 cups of water. The problem I have is that a few days before I noticed the low fluid it started to make a low whining noise, like a power steering whine but quieter. When I accelerate the sound fluctuates with the RPM's. If anyone has any suggestions it would be a great help.

Thanks,

Rich

You said this "untill a week ago when it need about 4 cups of water".. Do you really mean water? NEVER put in straight water, put in a 50/50 combo of coolant and distilled water. (preferrable distilled) If you put straight water in, check your coolant concentration with a coolant tester, if its lower than 50/50 you could be boiling the coolant and that might be what you are hearing.

You are experiencing the weak link syndrome, every time you replace a part, the next weak part in the circuit blows. Lift the hood and listen to see if its making that noise. Have you changed the thermostat?

It was actually making the noise before I added the water, but that's good info, thanks. When the heater core went I had the system flushed, obviously. Yes, I did change the thermostat, actually twice, after each hose blew. I have tried to listen under the hood, this might sound weird but it almost sounds like the noise is coming from the driver's side, opposite side from the water pump. What do you make of it. Thanks

Noise coming from the driver's side of the engine? That could be the transmission oil pump. When the engine is at operating temperature and idling, check the transmission fluid level. Be sure that it is at the proper level, not foaming and not dark or burnt looking.

Has the transmission been shifting correctly? Does the car seem to be more sluggish than before?

Overheating transmissions can and do cause engines to overheat. The transmission oil cooler is located in the radiator. If the transmission is running hot, it transfers the heat to the engine coolant in the radiator. This can then cause symptoms of engine overheating.

If your radiator cap is not working correctly, it can cause the pressure to get too high and start leaks at the weak points. And an 18 year old cooling system is going to have weak points.

I usually check the tranny fluid every so often because it does get a little low sometimes. It's funny you mention the oil, because I have checked it before & I noticed it was doing some kind of foaming action. Should I be worried? And yes the car is a Little sluggish but i just figured it was due to age, shifting seems alright, if I drive normal it shifts smooth & if I jump on it, it'll go. When I run the car & check the radiator I can see a wet area, just haven't pinpointed it yet, but it is only a thin little line that is wet. I doubled checked today and I confirmed that I do not have a temp reading on my dash or an info button. Thanks for your help, any help is appreciate.

Rich