MetalGod Posted February 10, 2005 Report Share Posted February 10, 2005 Last night, I was driving down to the bowling alley for my league and when I made it there and shut the car off, I noticed steam/smoke whatever you want to refer to it as coming from under the hood. I popped the hood and didn't notice anything significant and drove home around 2 hours afterwards...same thing when I got home. I received no warnings or alerts and the car was still driving fine...no loss of power or anything. About an hour ago, I did a diagnostic check to see if maybe I'd find any codes and none showed up. Car has a little under 121K miles...120,600 or a number in that range. I'm about 1,000 miles overdue for an oil change...like to do it at 3,000 and it's been about 4,000...don't know if that has anything to do with it, but I wouldn't think so. My first guess would be possibly a head gasket, but I'm not really too sure at this point. I don't really have a vast knowledge on cars for the most part. If anyone has any thoughts or opinions, feel free to send em my way and thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted February 10, 2005 Report Share Posted February 10, 2005 From the way you describe the problem, it is virtually impossible diagnose. We need more details. It could be a leak from hose, water pump, gasket, radiator or you could simply have a bad water pump belt, it does not necessarily have to be a head gasket! You do not mention what the temperture was while you were on your way home. I am sure that since it was steaming when you arrived, curiosity would have made you take a look at the operating temperture during your trip home. Was it running hot? But if you don't know what the temp was, check the coolant level and top it off if necessary. Take a short ride and see what the temp is, note the temp after a couple of miles of side street driving, don't drive too far from home. If you see steam coming out from under the hood stop and look to see if you can determine where it's coming from. If not drive a couple of miles, noting the temp and then look under the hood. Look in the daylight to see where it is coming from. A strong flashlight will help. Dont get burned. If it is not steaming, take it on a highway and drive at highway speed for a few miles, watching and noting the temp. If it goes above 230 at any point while you are AT highway speed, head toward home. Look under the hood again, steaming?, locate it. Report all of the temps here and what you find regarding the steaming.. You need to do more diagnosis so that we can help you, Mike Early on sailors navigated by the stars at night and the North star became the symbol for finding ones way home. Once you know where the Northstar is you can point your ship in the right direction to get home. So the star became a symbol for finding ones way home or more symbolically even finding ones path in life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MetalGod Posted February 12, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2005 This is going to sound very stupid and embarassing, but in the entire time I've owned this car...which has been...meh...not too long about a year and a half, I never actually noticed any sort of a temperature gauge anywhere. Looked around time and again, even checked the owner's manual and never found anything...*sigh*...definitely has made me feel like a nitwit at times. Fortunately, I did try driving around town, no steaming, then the highway, also no steaming, changed the oil and so far everything seems to be fine. Haven't seen any steam since that night...maybe the excess rain had something to do with it at the time?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted February 12, 2005 Report Share Posted February 12, 2005 This is going to sound very stupid and embarassing, but in the entire time I've owned this car...which has been...meh...not too long about a year and a half, I never actually noticed any sort of a temperature gauge anywhere. Looked around time and again, even checked the owner's manual and never found anything...*sigh*...definitely has made me feel like a nitwit at times. Fortunately, I did try driving around town, no steaming, then the highway, also no steaming, changed the oil and so far everything seems to be fine. Haven't seen any steam since that night...maybe the excess rain had something to do with it at the time?? OH you may be right, I think I have had discussions with other 94 owners that only have a LIGHT..... THAT really stinks... Keep an eye on it Early on sailors navigated by the stars at night and the North star became the symbol for finding ones way home. Once you know where the Northstar is you can point your ship in the right direction to get home. So the star became a symbol for finding ones way home or more symbolically even finding ones path in life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MetalGod Posted February 12, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2005 yeah...I suppose I could try seeing about putting one in myself, but if I'm correct, I believe there only is a light...fortunately, I have received no warnings about overheating. Thanks anyway...sorry I couldn't provide any helpful details for the most part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regis Posted February 12, 2005 Report Share Posted February 12, 2005 I've noticed steam coming out the front grill during rain and just after a down pour. Especially on those cool rainy days. Same thing happens after I run the car through a car wash. The fact that you noticed this after a good rain doesn't surprise me. "Burns" rubber " I've never considered myself to be all that conservative, but it seems the more liberal some people get the more conservative I become. " Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted February 12, 2005 Report Share Posted February 12, 2005 yeah...I suppose I could try seeing about putting one in myself, but if I'm correct, I believe there only is a light...fortunately, I have received no warnings about overheating. Thanks anyway...sorry I couldn't provide any helpful details for the most part. Not to worry, as long as you dont see steam thats great keep an eye on it and your level for awhile. Maybe it was a puddle you drove through. When did you change your coolant last? Your coolant should be changed every 2 years. When you change it don't forget to use the cooling supplement, very important. If we can help you give us a yell. Mike Early on sailors navigated by the stars at night and the North star became the symbol for finding ones way home. Once you know where the Northstar is you can point your ship in the right direction to get home. So the star became a symbol for finding ones way home or more symbolically even finding ones path in life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MetalGod Posted February 13, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2005 Yeah I thought about changing the coolant earlier today...that is something I should probably do soon. There appears to be a coolant leak somewhere...I did notice a small amount on the back of the radiator...I'm sure it's not the radiator or water pump because those are both new at this point. I have had to add coolant from time to time so there clearly is a leak...I haven't been able to pinpoint exactly where it is, but I will try to do that ASAP and change the coolant. Once again, otherwise at this time, everything's fine...and thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted February 13, 2005 Report Share Posted February 13, 2005 Yeah I thought about changing the coolant earlier today...that is something I should probably do soon. There appears to be a coolant leak somewhere...I did notice a small amount on the back of the radiator...I'm sure it's not the radiator or water pump because those are both new at this point. I have had to add coolant from time to time so there clearly is a leak...I haven't been able to pinpoint exactly where it is, but I will try to do that ASAP and change the coolant. Once again, otherwise at this time, everything's fine...and thanks. Ok, buy a cooling system pressurizer and pump up the system to 15 lbs and then inspect the cooling system, here is one by Mighty Vac. You may need a radiator, I believe the side tanks are plastic. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Disp...temnumber=45831 Early on sailors navigated by the stars at night and the North star became the symbol for finding ones way home. Once you know where the Northstar is you can point your ship in the right direction to get home. So the star became a symbol for finding ones way home or more symbolically even finding ones path in life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MetalGod Posted February 13, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2005 I had a new radiator put in a few months ago, so I certainly hope it isn't that, but yeah thanks for the link there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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