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Engine Trouble


GonE55
11-20-2005, 05:38 PM
I need some serious help. Me and my girlfriend share her mom's old car: A 1994 Chevrolet Caprice Classic. Before my girlfriend and I got it, her mom told us horror stories about the car. That the car would stall out in the middle of the road,the battery would die often, killed starters, etc. So I checked it out myself, I drove it for a week, tested out, changed the battery, and gave it a tune up. Two weeks later, while my girlfriend had it, "it started smoking and making a clunking noise". It died on her in a mall parking lot. I jumped the car and took it to a mechanic and told him to fix EVERYTHING. After 1 week of riding smooth, we were driving when the same problem came up again. I can't afford to take it to a mechanic so I need to know the problem so I can fix it myself.

PeteA216
11-20-2005, 05:44 PM
Are you able to tell specifically where the smoke is coming from around the engine? You say the battery keeps dying, it sounds like the altenator isn't able to charge it anymore. The way you car died w/ the knocking makes it sound like that the altenator is the culprit, with the exception of the smoke. Thats what has me stumped.

GonE55
11-20-2005, 06:00 PM
The day that I had it it did not make a clunking noise it only smoked. It smelled like burned oil and the smoke was coming from the engine manifold itself. Thank you for replying.

CD Smalley
11-20-2005, 07:54 PM
Was the manifold glowing red when this happened?

PeteA216
11-20-2005, 08:02 PM
My guess is that you have clogged drain holes leading from your valve covers to the crank case, and oil is building up, and as pressure increases iol sprays out of a leak in the valve cover gaskets onto the exhaust manifolds.

GonE55
11-20-2005, 09:08 PM
Can I fix the problem myself or do I have to take it to a mechanic?

PeteA216
11-20-2005, 09:25 PM
Oh, its actually a somewhat easy fix depending upon how much "junk" you have going across the engine. By junk I mean hoses, wires, brackets, etc. You need to remove the valve covers (4 bolts each) being careful not to get any junk inside the engine. One you have them off, take a very long screw driver, and push it through the oil drainage holes (one on each end of the cylinder heads). Once you're sure they're clear put the valve covers back on using NEW gaskets.

GonE55
11-20-2005, 09:48 PM
Thank you I will fix the problem tommorrow.

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