head gasket or water pump

So, I love my little corolla. Besides the fact that when one thing breaks down, something else goes out after that. I just did the clutch and now I think either the head gasket or water pump is out. The heat in the car hadn't been working prior to a long puffy white cloud coming from the back of the car as im driving it. Nothing else happened. The car ran fine, other than the car was "breathing". Idling up and down while in nuetral. I never glanced down at the heat gauge...However I made sure the coolant resevior was full. It has a problem with starting up now. It runs really rough enough to shake the car a bit. Almost like its missing out but not quite that bad.. The last time I had the head gasket problem, the car puffed white smoke while doing the nearly missing out act. That was while running the thing. Right now if you give it a few seconds its fine. I drove it back home and I don't think any water was used.(Since it was white smoke, that leads me to believe water). I don't know much about water pump but its obvious what it does by its name. What can I do? I was told check the thermostat but I don't know where thats at and how to remove and check it.

I know a failed water pump can cause overheating but can a failed head gasket cause overheating?

Both can cause the car to over heat, however for white smoke (steam) to come out the exhaust water has to get into the combustion chamber.
That means a failed head gasket.

All the water pump does is circulate water around the engine and through the radiator.
If it fails that water stops circulating and the engine gets hot, then over heats.

The head gasket seals the space between the head and the block, a space that is filled with oil and water passageways, and of course the top of the combustion chambers.
If the gasket fails then water or oil, or both, sometimes have a path into one of the combustion chambers.
This will cause all sorts of problems, and if the car keeps running, and is driven, can eventually destroy the motor.


Fortunately you know how to do an engine swap now :cool:

Sounds like the head gasket may have blown. Check with a compression test to be sure.

So what cases a head gasket to fail? I had it changed on this particular car maybe 3 or 4 yeats ago. I'm tired of autozones junk they sell. It never lasts when I use it on my corolla.

In this video when I come to a stop the car idles, like its "breathing". I mention it in the video. What causes this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b51qv2KoMv0

Your steering wheel is on the wrong side to start with.

It is snowing.

Let us go for a ride.


:p


It should idle at about 700rpm.

It's also got a nice miss fire, both under idle and acceleration.

That surging (breathing) is usually from a vacuum leak.

Sounds like lots and lots of different problems all compounding to make a really sick little Toymota.

The top water line to the radiator is also kinked, so won't be getting good water flow.

The smoke coming from around the exhaust looks like its got a blue tint, which is oil.

The rasping noise is the heat shield on the exhaust rattling.

There is also lots of valve noise, more than a Toyota should have.


I would be inclined to throw it away and drive your Nissan instead :)

It is snowing.

Let us go for a ride.


:p


It should idle at about 700rpm.

It's also got a nice miss fire, both under idle and acceleration.

That surging (breathing) is usually from a vacuum leak.

Sounds like lots and lots of different problems all compounding to make a really sick little Toymota.

The top water line to the radiator is also kinked, so won't be getting good water flow.

The smoke coming from around the exhaust looks like its got a blue tint, which is oil.

The rasping noise is the heat shield on the exhaust rattling.

There is also lots of valve noise, more than a Toyota should have.


I would be inclined to throw it away and drive your Nissan instead :)



If you desire a ride in the snow, then hope in. We can all ride in this Toymota together. The camera failed to capture the smoke but it was white. I had someone else mention the valve noise but I don't know how to determine that or to adjust the valves. Why throw it away? This is a chance for some more interaction, for those of us wanting to learn more and don't have the money for school lol. We use our broken Toymotas, nissans, and cavalier. One has a blown head gasket and many other problems, one is in the process of another engine, the other runs when its cold. When its warm, don't put it in nuetral, it dies...

Well then, you're going to busy with a lot of interaction and learning :)

I've never driven in snow. It doesn't snow where I live, and every time I've driven to where it does the roads have been cleared and the weather is fine. I've gone skating on ice before though.


I would be park the car up and not drive anymore, that way no more damage will be done to the engine, not sure if you will be able to save it with out completely reconditioning it though.

As a general rule, head gaskets don't just fail.
There has to be another fault somewhere to cause them to fail. Often it means the cylinder head or block is warped and not perfectly flat.
Its an expensive fix that needs specialist help.

However, it is unusual for a headgasket to fail and for it to cause a visible leak out side of the engine. Normally the leak is into a cylinder.

Isn't there some gasket sealer that might help? Snow isn't fun to drive in. Unless your doing it for fun. I don't mind driving in it, I trust myself in snow...its everyone else I don't trust. Some idiot decides he is going to do a doughnut on the road or slam on his brakes for a fun ride and slam into me and he is not insured. Thats never happened to me but I don't trust other people in the snow. Plus the salt they throw on the ground doesn't do a car any good body wise. Thats why my corolla looked so bad cause all the salt that builds up. I did take the spark plugs out though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_6SAt91tBU