This is the car I will be learning on, so it needs to get fixed ASAP.
It's got a bad problem with leaking coolant. After short drives around the corner, it heats up. It could be a number of problems:
Hole in Radiator (not too hard, nor expensive)
Cracked Head (Bad)
or it could be something else altogether.
This car is a 1999 Plymouth Grand Voyager with the 3.8L V6.
Check all of the hoses, they're usually the first things to go on a cooling system.
Quote from: 93JC on March 21, 2009, 02:31:46 PM
Check all of the hoses, they're usually the first things to go on a cooling system.
Gaskets? Are there puddles of coolent underneath?
You're learning on a Grand Voyager? Good luck.
Quote from: 2o6 on March 21, 2009, 02:26:56 PM
This is the car I will be learning on, so it needs to get fixed ASAP.
It's got a bad problem with leaking coolant. After short drives around the corner, it heats up. It could be a number of problems:
Hole in Radiator (not too hard, nor expensive)
Cracked Head (Bad)
or it could be something else altogether.
This car is a 1999 Plymouth Grand Voyager with the 3.8L V6.
Hoses and radiator would be my first bet. Leaking water pump would be my second.
Cracked head usually results in milkshake looking oil and/or oil in the coolant. The 3.8 isn't known for cracking heads either.
I think there's some stuff you can dump in the coolant that will patch minor holes in the radiator. It might be worth a shot.
Quote from: Laconian on March 21, 2009, 11:27:41 PM
I think there's some stuff you can dump in the coolant that will patch minor holes in the radiator. It might be worth a shot.
pepper
:confused:
:lol:
Quote from: 2o6 on March 21, 2009, 02:26:56 PM
This is the car I will be learning on, so it needs to get fixed ASAP.
It's got a bad problem with leaking coolant. After short drives around the corner, it heats up. It could be a number of problems:
Hole in Radiator (not too hard, nor expensive)
Cracked Head (Bad)
or it could be something else altogether.
This car is a 1999 Plymouth Grand Voyager with the 3.8L V6.
Fun for you. I learnt on a Voyager, too; but an older one with the super dooper Mitsu 3.0.
WHERE IS THE LEEK
WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT "HEETS UP AFTER A SHORT DRIVE AROUND THE CORNER"
Is the radiator cap tight?
Quote from: Raza link=topic=18102.msg1024516#msg1024516 date=1237669881
You're learning on a Grand Voyager? Good luck.
I don't have much of a choice, rich boy.
Yeah, I'll run these potential solutions by my dad.
The overheating could be down to a stuck thermostat. That's the first thing I'd check.
Cheers,
Madman of the People
Quote from: Madman on March 23, 2009, 09:41:46 PM
The overheating could be down to a stuck thermostat. That's the first thing I'd check.
Stuck thermostats stick open, no?
Quote from: Laconian on March 23, 2009, 11:20:24 PM
Stuck thermostats stick open, no?
Not always. I had one stick closed. The pressure from the closed thermostat actually blew the radiator!
Cheers,
Madman of the People
The overheating is due to the coolant leak most likely, though while you're repairing the leak you might as well also replace the thermostat and radiator cap to ensure proper cooling system operation when you're done.
Look for leaks at the intake manifold gasket and the water pump. Those are the two most common sources of leaks on vehicles with "wet" intake manifolds. Also check out the radiator of course.
Get out and look for leaks while it's running.
On the plus side, if you learn to parallel that van, you can parallel most anything. (I can mine. ;) )
Also, you'll think you're in a Porsche when you get into anything smaller- the difference is KRAZY. Although these vans are better than the first ones, (I had a 1992 also,)
-steering is still soft
-brakes are still weak. (DON'T expect to be racing anyone, and just be careful!)
-it's LONG. careful w/ curbs and the rear wheels.
-acceleration is obviously on the slow side because it's heavy.
Quote from: AutobahnSHO on March 29, 2009, 05:23:11 AM
On the plus side, if you learn to parallel that van, you can parallel most anything.
I learned to parallel park on the Caravan, and it took extra practice to learn how to do it in a smaller car with a trunk.
Quote from: ifcar on March 29, 2009, 07:13:33 AM
I learned to parallel park on the Caravan, and it took extra practice to learn how to do it in a smaller car with a trunk.
driver's ed fail
LOL
j/k- I can see that now that you say it.
I think it may be the radiator. There's no puddle underneath, and it seemingly runs "straight out", but only when the car is running. Never does it leak when the car is stationary.
Quote from: Raza on March 21, 2009, 03:11:21 PM
You're learning on a Grand Voyager? Good luck.
I have a friend who took his maneuverability test in a long-bed F-150 (it's fairly different than the parallel parking in Pa -- a little more intensive) and another who took the driving test in a Tahoe Z71.
Quote from: 2o6 on May 29, 2009, 09:05:37 AM
I think it may be the radiator. There's no puddle underneath, and it seemingly runs "straight out", but only when the car is running. Never does it leak when the car is stationary.
Are you sure you're not burning it?
Quote from: R-inge on May 29, 2009, 10:56:25 AM
Are you sure you're not burning it?
I have no clue.
Quote from: 2o6 on May 29, 2009, 02:59:43 PM
I have no clue.
If you can't find a leak, yet it's losing coolant, I'd start checking that out. A mechanic should be able to discover that for you.
If it's burning, he should definitely smell something bitter-sweet, no? :huh:
Quote from: giant_mtb on May 29, 2009, 10:34:38 PM
If it's burning, he should definitely smell something bitter-sweet, no? :huh:
Not necessarily. Had a G5 in this week that was leaking a fair amount of coolant into cylinders 2 and 3, but you could never tell from the exhaust. Just idled kinda rough.
Also, if it's an intake leak it could just be settling at the bottom of the oil pan, or pooling in the intake plenum and slowly burning off.
Quote from: R-inge on May 29, 2009, 10:48:14 PM
Also, if it's an intake leak it could just be settling at the bottom of the oil pan, or pooling in the intake plenum and slowly burning off.
When my SHO blew up, I let it sit a couple weeks. When I finally pulled the oil plug about a gallon of antifreeze came out first it SMELLED like you wouldn't believe!!!
Wouldn't coolant burning off make some kind of smoke??
Quote from: AutobahnSHO on May 31, 2009, 04:06:43 PM
When my SHO blew up, I let it sit a couple weeks. When I finally pulled the oil plug about a gallon of antifreeze came out first it SMELLED like you wouldn't believe!!!
Wouldn't coolant burning off make some kind of smoke??
Sometimes.
The rear wheels are locked. This isn't a problem is it? After all, the car has been sitting for almost three months.
Quote from: 2o6 on June 07, 2009, 06:18:17 PM
The rear wheels are locked. This isn't a problem is it? After all, the car has been sitting for almost three months.
Of course it's a problem. What do you mean it's not a problem :confused:
Unless you meant "this isn't a problem that's hard to solve is it"
Quote from: SVT_Power on June 07, 2009, 06:28:39 PM
Of course it's a problem. What do you mean it's not a problem :confused:
Unless you meant "this isn't a problem that's hard to solve is it"
Well, the car has been sitting for three months..........a bit of work (moving) will clear this up, right?
Take it to a mechanic.
Update: Got the brakes un-seized, found the coolant leak.
It's a hose that's coming back from the engine to the coolant reservoir. Dealership says it's a $600 fix. However, my dad didn't bring the car in, he just told them what was wrong.
Quote from: 2o6 on July 06, 2009, 03:31:36 PM
Update: Got the brakes un-seized, found the coolant leak.
It's a hose that's coming back from the engine to the coolant reservoir. Dealership says it's a $600 fix. However, my dad didn't bring the car in, he just told them what was wrong.
Well it must be a common problem.
can't just get some coolant hoses and clamps to fix it yourself?
Quote from: SVT_Power on July 06, 2009, 04:16:54 PM
can't just get some coolant hoses and clamps to fix it yourself?
Not if you're like 2o6
(http://planetsmilies.net/alien-smiley-126.gif)
Hoses are likely $30 or less.
Some cursing, wrenching, and a Big Frakkin Hammer would get it done in a few hours.
Quote from: SVT_Power on July 06, 2009, 04:16:54 PM
can't just get some coolant hoses and clamps to fix it yourself?
It's actually a metal rail, and it's corroded. The hose leads into the back of the engine. It's a pain to get to.
Quote from: R-inge on July 06, 2009, 03:52:11 PM
Well it must be a common problem.
6
And he's trying to get our money.
Really, the price is almost entirely labor.
Quote from: 2o6 on July 06, 2009, 10:40:38 PM
It's actually a metal rail, and it's corroded. The hose leads into the back of the engine. It's a pain to get to.
6
And he's trying to get our money.
Really, the price is almost entirely labor.
Those coolant crossover thingies can be hard to get at in a minivan. Half of it you can't even see.
2o6's first project car! :rockon:
Quote from: Laconian on July 07, 2009, 10:14:07 AM
2o6's first project car! :rockon:
I don't want this.
Quote from: 2o6 on July 07, 2009, 02:55:43 PM
I don't want this.
Builds character. :lol:
Under the hood of those things is a NIGHTMARE.
BTW if you ever need to change the serpentine belt tensioner, DO NOT waste a half-hour removing the alternator. Just get a socket w/ some extensions and a joint, reach up from under the van and undo one nut. Remove the tensioner, put the new one on, and might as well waste another half-hour putting the alternator back on... :banghead:
Quote from: AutobahnSHO on July 07, 2009, 07:45:27 PM
Builds character. :lol:
Under the hood of those things is a NIGHTMARE.
BTW if you ever need to change the serpentine belt tensioner, DO NOT waste a half-hour removing the alternator. Just get a socket w/ some extensions and a joint, reach up from under the van and undo one nut. Remove the tensioner, put the new one on, and might as well waste another half-hour putting the alternator back on... :banghead:
We also have the 3.8L, so there isn't much room in that engine bay.
Fixed. Was a simple hose leak under the car.
A guy walking down the street was able to fix it.
Quote from: AutobahnSHO on July 07, 2009, 07:45:27 PM
Under the hood of those things is a NIGHTMARE.
better than my car probably
Quote from: 2o6 on July 08, 2009, 01:55:26 PM
Fixed. Was a simple hose leak under the car.
A guy walking down the street was able to fix it.
That's a bit odd. You just flag him down off the street, or what?
Quote from: The Pirate on July 08, 2009, 04:47:08 PM
That's a bit odd. You just flag him down off the street, or what?
I have no clue how it happened. He was walking down the street, and next thing I know is he's working (and fixed) the van.
The large leak on the bottom is fixed, but there's still a smaller, slower leak where we can't see.
Quote from: 2o6 on July 08, 2009, 06:37:14 PM
I have no clue how it happened. He was walking down the street, and next thing I know is he's working (and fixed) the van.
The large leak on the bottom is fixed, but there's still a smaller, slower leak where we can't see.
You live in an odd city.
Quote from: thecarnut on July 08, 2009, 06:46:43 PM
You live in an odd city.
My dad paid him. It saved him a whole lotta money.
Quote from: 2o6 on July 08, 2009, 01:55:26 PM
Fixed. Was a simple hose leak under the car.
Me FTW??
Nice, well that goes to show how worthless over the phone diag can be. I hate it when my service advisors do that stuff.
depends where you look and who you ask but I've had pretty good luck in terms of getting diagnoses without them ever taking anything apart
I had a guy diagnose the waterpump in an old Honda just from my description of the sound and whether it changed when I revved it or not.
Good mechanics are getting harder to find in the world of "what does the computer say"...