Coolant coolant everywhere!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 488
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From: Woodstock GA
Coolant coolant everywhere!
Yep, tow truck dropped her off after she died on the highway comming back from a short weekend drive. $128 bucks for the 45 mile tow back to my house.
Just driving down the highway, notice that she's running a little hot. Then I see the spray of coolant hitting the passenger side window. Holy cow! I pull over and pop the hood, green coolant shootin' all over the place. The lower radiator hose cracked right at the clamp and was squirting coolant at high velocity right into the fan, which in turn was hosing down the rest of the car. I hitch a ride to the nearest gas station, equip myself with the only two things that could be able to get me going on this forsaken highway (barren other than 2 gas stations and 2 waffle houses) - duck tape and gallons of drinkin' water.
Well, the duck tape lasted a couple of minutes till the water decided it didn't want to really be engine coolant, and somehow managed to free itself onto the glory of concrete. I figured something else ruptured, and getting my vette running again wasn't one of the 10,001 things that duck tape could do.
Haven't looked at it much since, but the coolant looked like it was comming right out of the bottom of the water pump. The hoses definately need replaced; is this a sign that the water pump is gone too?
Just driving down the highway, notice that she's running a little hot. Then I see the spray of coolant hitting the passenger side window. Holy cow! I pull over and pop the hood, green coolant shootin' all over the place. The lower radiator hose cracked right at the clamp and was squirting coolant at high velocity right into the fan, which in turn was hosing down the rest of the car. I hitch a ride to the nearest gas station, equip myself with the only two things that could be able to get me going on this forsaken highway (barren other than 2 gas stations and 2 waffle houses) - duck tape and gallons of drinkin' water.
Well, the duck tape lasted a couple of minutes till the water decided it didn't want to really be engine coolant, and somehow managed to free itself onto the glory of concrete. I figured something else ruptured, and getting my vette running again wasn't one of the 10,001 things that duck tape could do.
Haven't looked at it much since, but the coolant looked like it was comming right out of the bottom of the water pump. The hoses definately need replaced; is this a sign that the water pump is gone too?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 11,485
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From: Far side of the Moon
CI 4-5-6-7-8 Veteran
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-16-'17
Re: Coolant coolant everywhere! (Captain_Kaboom)
There is a small hole (+/- 1/4" diameter) in the water pump housing directly under the shaft.
If the propeller seal goes you will get water flowing out that hole. Needless to say, it is time to replace the water pump.
Bummer to hear about spending lots of hard earned cash to get 'er towed, but sounds like you did the right thing.
Good luck. :cheers:
If the propeller seal goes you will get water flowing out that hole. Needless to say, it is time to replace the water pump.
Bummer to hear about spending lots of hard earned cash to get 'er towed, but sounds like you did the right thing.
Good luck. :cheers:
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,428
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Re: Coolant coolant everywhere! (Captain_Kaboom)
Try this: R&R all of the bad hoses 1st (cheapest repair), then fill 'er up and start 'er up. Check for leaks and maybe you'll get lucky...... :cheers: Kinda hard to believe that all of those hoses and water pump went bad on ya at the same time, so do the cheapest 1st..............
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: St. Charles IL
Cruise-In 5-6-7-8-9-11-12 Veteran
A CI-6 Car Show Winner
Re: Coolant coolant everywhere! (Captain_Kaboom)
You know if that ever happens to you again (hope it doesn't) you could leave the radiator cap loose which will prevent pressure from building up against your temporary repair. Might be enough to get you home if you're lucky. Of course, I would probably invest in some lottery tickets as well. :lol:
[Modified by Big Fish, 9:46 PM 8/25/2002]
[Modified by Big Fish, 9:46 PM 8/25/2002]
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 488
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From: Woodstock GA
Re: Coolant coolant everywhere! (gb4622)
Yeah- I figured it was an easy choice. My wife's heater core went out last year, and she pushed her car when it overheated (didn't know any better...grrr). Well, the new engine was installed about two weeks later...
What is REALLY funny is that I had to call 4 towing companies to find someone who was willing to tow it back to my house on a Sunday night. Turns out the 4th guy I called had just seen me as he was driving by on his way home, but not in his tow truck.
"Hi, I need a tow"
"Sure, it will be an hour or so- where is the car"
"Highway 316 near the Waffle House"
"What kind of car is it?"
"It's a Corvette"
"Ah- wait a minute.. is it a red, older style vette?"
"uh yeah, howdya know?"
"Cause I passed you when you were on the side of the road about a half hour ago."
What is REALLY funny is that I had to call 4 towing companies to find someone who was willing to tow it back to my house on a Sunday night. Turns out the 4th guy I called had just seen me as he was driving by on his way home, but not in his tow truck.
"Hi, I need a tow"
"Sure, it will be an hour or so- where is the car"
"Highway 316 near the Waffle House"
"What kind of car is it?"
"It's a Corvette"
"Ah- wait a minute.. is it a red, older style vette?"
"uh yeah, howdya know?"
"Cause I passed you when you were on the side of the road about a half hour ago."
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 488
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From: Woodstock GA
Re: Coolant coolant everywhere! (Big Fish)
Actually, that sounds like a pretty good idea to leave the cap off.... If my pump is okay, I bet that would have gotten me home!
Just putting the hoses on and then trying it sounds like good idear as well! I'm expecting the worst with it, however. That lower radiator hose needed to be replaced, anyway (it was swelling a bit). So I don't yet know if she popped on her own or if the pump stopped running and the pressure finally caused her to blow...
Just putting the hoses on and then trying it sounds like good idear as well! I'm expecting the worst with it, however. That lower radiator hose needed to be replaced, anyway (it was swelling a bit). So I don't yet know if she popped on her own or if the pump stopped running and the pressure finally caused her to blow...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,190
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From: SIMI VALLEY CA
Re: Coolant coolant everywhere! (Captain_Kaboom)
Yep, tow truck dropped her off after she died on the highway comming back from a short weekend drive. $128 bucks for the 45 mile tow back to my house.
