Head Gasket Failure or Water Pump?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Norman Oklahoma
Head Gasket Failure or Water Pump?
My 98 vette is having some symptoms and not sure if there is a way to decide what is wrong.
1) Coolant will occasionally dump onto the ground, but I can't tell where it is coming from.
2) Small squealing noise when starting.
3) "Charge System Fault" will sometimes appear.
4) AC will turn on, but not blow as high
5) Smoke or steam appears to come from the back of the engine, but not the exhaust pipes.
6) Small oil Leake from back of the engine.
7) Codes say O2 sensors need replaced.
Not sure which of these are connected or isolated issues.
Any help is appreciated.
Thanks
1) Coolant will occasionally dump onto the ground, but I can't tell where it is coming from.
2) Small squealing noise when starting.
3) "Charge System Fault" will sometimes appear.
4) AC will turn on, but not blow as high
5) Smoke or steam appears to come from the back of the engine, but not the exhaust pipes.
6) Small oil Leake from back of the engine.
7) Codes say O2 sensors need replaced.
Not sure which of these are connected or isolated issues.
Any help is appreciated.
Thanks
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Holy Hell!! SOOOOO many issues!
I will TRY to answer them one at a time:
1) Coolant will occasionally dump onto the ground, but I can't tell where it is coming from.
A. Replace the coolant reservoir CAP with the updated 18 lb pressure cap.
2) Small squealing noise when starting.
A. Replace the serpentine belt Also check your harmonic dampener and make SURE its not wobbling and or damaged. Paint a WHITE LINE on the front of the dampener making sure you get the paint on the inner HUB, Rubber elastomeric seal & the outer ring. Take the car for a drive and when you get back, see if the white line is still lined up or if its in different places. MEANING the damper is BAD!!!
3) "Charge System Fault" will sometimes appear.
A. Could be related to #2 above!
4) AC will turn on, but not blow as high..
A. What do you mean BLOW HIGH??? What HVAC System do you have?? Dual zone or Manual
5) Smoke or steam appears to come from the back of the engine, but not the exhaust pipes.
A. Most likely a Leakey oil pressure sensor on the back of the engine. VERY COMMON!. You need to spray the entire back of the engine down when it COLD with Brake Parts cleaner and once its clean, get a mirror, a good strong light and start the engine and examine the area around the sensor. It will NOT take long to ooze oil if its leaking.
Pull the intake to replace it.
6) Small oil Leake from back of the engine.
A. SAME AS ABOVE
7) Codes say O2 sensors need replaced
A. WHAT DTCs??? Post them/... Use the DTC reader in the DIC!How many miles on the engine. Stock or modified engine?
I will TRY to answer them one at a time:
1) Coolant will occasionally dump onto the ground, but I can't tell where it is coming from.
A. Replace the coolant reservoir CAP with the updated 18 lb pressure cap.
2) Small squealing noise when starting.
A. Replace the serpentine belt Also check your harmonic dampener and make SURE its not wobbling and or damaged. Paint a WHITE LINE on the front of the dampener making sure you get the paint on the inner HUB, Rubber elastomeric seal & the outer ring. Take the car for a drive and when you get back, see if the white line is still lined up or if its in different places. MEANING the damper is BAD!!!
3) "Charge System Fault" will sometimes appear.
A. Could be related to #2 above!
4) AC will turn on, but not blow as high..
A. What do you mean BLOW HIGH??? What HVAC System do you have?? Dual zone or Manual
5) Smoke or steam appears to come from the back of the engine, but not the exhaust pipes.
A. Most likely a Leakey oil pressure sensor on the back of the engine. VERY COMMON!. You need to spray the entire back of the engine down when it COLD with Brake Parts cleaner and once its clean, get a mirror, a good strong light and start the engine and examine the area around the sensor. It will NOT take long to ooze oil if its leaking.
Pull the intake to replace it.
6) Small oil Leake from back of the engine.
A. SAME AS ABOVE
7) Codes say O2 sensors need replaced
A. WHAT DTCs??? Post them/... Use the DTC reader in the DIC!How many miles on the engine. Stock or modified engine?
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 181
Likes: 1
From: Franklin Square NY
Holy Hell!! SOOOOO many issues!
I will TRY to answer them one at a time:
1) Coolant will occasionally dump onto the ground, but I can't tell where it is coming from.
A. Replace the coolant reservoir CAP with the updated 18 lb pressure cap.
2) Small squealing noise when starting.
A. Replace the serpentine belt Also check your harmonic dampener and make SURE its not wobbling and or damaged. Paint a WHITE LINE on the front of the dampener making sure you get the paint on the inner HUB, Rubber elastomeric seal & the outer ring. Take the car for a drive and when you get back, see if the white line is still lined up or if its in different places. MEANING the damper is BAD!!!
3) "Charge System Fault" will sometimes appear.
A. Could be related to #2 above!
4) AC will turn on, but not blow as high..
A. What do you mean BLOW HIGH??? What HVAC System do you have?? Dual zone or Manual
5) Smoke or steam appears to come from the back of the engine, but not the exhaust pipes.
A. Most likely a Leakey oil pressure sensor on the back of the engine. VERY COMMON!. You need to spray the entire back of the engine down when it COLD with Brake Parts cleaner and once its clean, get a mirror, a good strong light and start the engine and examine the area around the sensor. It will NOT take long to ooze oil if its leaking.
Pull the intake to replace it.
6) Small oil Leake from back of the engine.
A. SAME AS ABOVE
7) Codes say O2 sensors need replaced
A. WHAT DTCs??? Post them/... Use the DTC reader in the DIC!How many miles on the engine. Stock or modified engine?
I will TRY to answer them one at a time:
1) Coolant will occasionally dump onto the ground, but I can't tell where it is coming from.
A. Replace the coolant reservoir CAP with the updated 18 lb pressure cap.
2) Small squealing noise when starting.
A. Replace the serpentine belt Also check your harmonic dampener and make SURE its not wobbling and or damaged. Paint a WHITE LINE on the front of the dampener making sure you get the paint on the inner HUB, Rubber elastomeric seal & the outer ring. Take the car for a drive and when you get back, see if the white line is still lined up or if its in different places. MEANING the damper is BAD!!!
3) "Charge System Fault" will sometimes appear.
A. Could be related to #2 above!
4) AC will turn on, but not blow as high..
A. What do you mean BLOW HIGH??? What HVAC System do you have?? Dual zone or Manual
5) Smoke or steam appears to come from the back of the engine, but not the exhaust pipes.
A. Most likely a Leakey oil pressure sensor on the back of the engine. VERY COMMON!. You need to spray the entire back of the engine down when it COLD with Brake Parts cleaner and once its clean, get a mirror, a good strong light and start the engine and examine the area around the sensor. It will NOT take long to ooze oil if its leaking.
Pull the intake to replace it.
6) Small oil Leake from back of the engine.
A. SAME AS ABOVE
7) Codes say O2 sensors need replaced
A. WHAT DTCs??? Post them/... Use the DTC reader in the DIC!How many miles on the engine. Stock or modified engine?
A bad head gasket usually means dirty coolant.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Norman Oklahoma
I just replaced the alternator thinking that may have been an issue. It was after hooking the battery back up that the AC had issues. It is a duel climate. The AC turns on and will lightly blow air, but on the highest fan setting, doesn't nearly have the kick it used to.
I replaced the belts about 6 months ago, but it couldn't hurt to check them.
I'll pull the DIC codes when I get off work.
I replaced the belts about 6 months ago, but it couldn't hurt to check them.
I'll pull the DIC codes when I get off work.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Norman Oklahoma
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
P0133 HC
P0327 HC
P1133 HC
P1153 HC
All are O2 sensor switching DTCs.
Before you get too FAR into the O2 sensor thing,, You need to physically check the voltage reading on the O2 SENSOR FUSE and verify that you have FULL BATTERY Voltage on the heater circuit. The IGNITION SWITCH will need to be ON to read the voltage. If the HEATER circuit is not operating correctly, it will kill a good O2 sensor quickly!
If it were me, I would also check the GROUND circuit for proper resistance to chassis ground Check directly on the O2 sensor connector (harness side) to a good chassis ground.
Ive see the SPLICE PACK that the grounds go through get corroded and cause the circuit to fail:
CORRODED:
CLEANED:
P0327 HC
P1133 HC
P1153 HC
All are O2 sensor switching DTCs.
Before you get too FAR into the O2 sensor thing,, You need to physically check the voltage reading on the O2 SENSOR FUSE and verify that you have FULL BATTERY Voltage on the heater circuit. The IGNITION SWITCH will need to be ON to read the voltage. If the HEATER circuit is not operating correctly, it will kill a good O2 sensor quickly!If it were me, I would also check the GROUND circuit for proper resistance to chassis ground Check directly on the O2 sensor connector (harness side) to a good chassis ground.
Ive see the SPLICE PACK that the grounds go through get corroded and cause the circuit to fail:
CORRODED:
CLEANED:
