xeroinfinity

I recently got the privlage of performing the lovly Thermostat change on a 95 GA Quad 4. Someone had brought the car to me and said it had been 'overheating' really bad. So I assumed it was the thermostat. So first i thought I could just jack the car up, then decided to use my new lift a two post. Just recently finished my new shoppe. Just as I start to dis-mantell this array of sunshine, the car starts to fall off the lift. But luckily my rabbit quick reflexes jump to action and holds it whilest it lowers and I solved the in-ballance. I guess thats why it said 'read ALL the directions before operating'.
So once in the air I automaticly see the problem. The metal coolant line in smashed on the bottom, which is not uncommon I guess, and then where it went up into the block, it was smashed also. How the hell did this happen, I ask myself. So I take it all off, find NO thermostat what so ever and NO coolant. So I tried to fix the smashed pipe, it was unrepairable. Called around got a replacement(after 6hrs on the phone) from a salvage yard. The kid didnt have the $$$ for new parts/ labor. Put it all back together and it solved the problem. Later that night The Kid comes to get his ride and I asked his if he had been off roading, he said "ya as a matter of fact, I ran through a fence the other night to avoid a deer". He said he looked around didnt see anything wrong with the car and drove home. That was when he noticed the overheating. He found part of a fence post under the engine and against the metal coolant line ie. smashed pipe.
I told him he should keep it on the road and under 100mph in the fog. He agreed cars arent made for the ditch or fence posts. Funny thing the car didnt have any broken, scratched, or dents anywhere. Some people have all the Luck.LOL! \,,/ keep it safe, keep it outta the ditch \,,/

GTP Dad

A great story of how not to drive. Of course it is a man thing to not read the directions. I guess we need to adjust our macho attitude a little when we get new things.

xeroinfinity

Ya, a great story on how I wont be workin on one of those Quad 4's in the near future too. I guess several people had turned the guy down on fixin his ride. I'm greedy and I need the money for new toys and such. Life is a lesson we all learn. \,,/

skibum1111

I've often wondered why GM insisted on running that line under the engine. I saw early f*rds with the same design and the line either rusted out or got hooked up on something small and torn out from under the car. Although, thinking about it a little, I'd rather trash that coolant line rather than the oil pan 'cause changing the oil pan on a quad is a real bitch, worse than the thermostat. The timing chain cover has to come off to change it, there are 3 bolts holding the cover to the oil pan.

xeroinfinity

GM just could have put the thermostat somewhere better than under the engine, thats just krazy. If you keep it on the road and dont jump speed bumps, I dont think anyone would have problems with denting thier oil pan But I did see whats under there and I'd sure not like to replace the oil pan gasket either. I'd put the motor, it would take less time. \,,/