Starting / Smoke / radiator fan

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Aug 30, 2008 | 05:07 PM

jaycall88

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From: CA

Starting / Smoke / radiator fan *updated*

Recently I started my vette and noticed a really loud "whining" sound... it took a couple tries and pumps of gas to get it started. Throughout that process of starting there was this odd whining sound. Once the car started I noticed smoke coming out of my hood. So i immediatly stopped the car and opened the hood and noticed smoke coming from where the radiator fan is located the timing belt area. I started the car once again and observed the fan spin then stop then spin again then stop. at the same time smoke came out of that area and the whining sound was persistent. The car starts and is able to stay at idle but the smoke/fan stopNgo remains.

Any one come in contact with something similar to this problem?

Last edited by jaycall88; Sep 7, 2008 at 03:50 AM.

Aug 30, 2008 | 05:10 PM

Richard Cooper

Melting Slicks

Joined: Feb 1999

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From: New Paltz, New York USA

What year car do you have, does it have electric fans or just the belt driven one? Maybe your belt is slipping and this is causing the smoke.

Aug 30, 2008 | 05:14 PM

jaycall88

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From: CA

its a 78 Vette L-82 pace car.

its belt driven.

the belt was stopping and going also

Aug 31, 2008 | 06:58 PM

bluthundr

Burning Brakes

Joined: Jan 2006

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From: Fort Wayne IN

Sounds like your water pump is going out. It is a pretty easy and relativity cheap fix, the hardest part is getting all the stuff out of the way (hood, radiator, shroud, fan) to get to it. Make sure you get a new belt too.

Aug 31, 2008 | 07:09 PM

Richard Cooper

Melting Slicks

Joined: Feb 1999

Posts: 2,473

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From: New Paltz, New York USA

Ok, now you need to trace it back to where its powered from. That would be the crank pulley, see if that is also stopping, although I doubt that. Maybe one of your components have a bad bearing causing the belt to slip?

Aug 31, 2008 | 08:44 PM

SIXFOOTER

Le Mans Master

Joined: Jan 2006

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From: Boca Raton Florida

About the only thing that would cause the fan to stop would be the belt slipping. The crank pulley has 3 bolts in it so its not going to stop.
Your waterpump is probably locking up.
Take the belts off and turn the pump pulley and see what it feels like.
Water pump is a pretty good job for a noob to learn on, not a lot to screw up.

Sep 1, 2008 | 12:14 AM

jaycall88

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From: CA

thanks for the input guys

I'm going to get some new belts and take her apart this weekend and turn the pump pulleys to see if its that, then put in the new belts and see if thats the case. If i still can't figure out the problem I'll post up a video of her and keep u guys updated. Thanks!