??97 Cavalier Overheating/Died, Now won't start??

[rogerx99]

Hope someone can help me out. My car was overheating once in awhile, then I noticed it was also leaking coolant from the heater core overflow(I believe-the rubber elbow coming from the firewall). I had to use it to get back and forth to work, but refilled the coolant every time I drove it. I tried to drive it on Easter and got about 25 miles, when it stopped accelerating properly and the check engine light came on. I got off of the highway and it died the first time i stopped. I tried to restart it a couple of times and it wouldn't so I let it sit for a couple of hours, then made sure to refill the coolant...which started leaking from about the area of the head gasket. I tried to start it once more, for the tow truck driver who brought it home for me and he said it sounds like it's not getting compression. Where should I start??

[rogerx99]

Sheesh. So 40 views and noone has any suggestions? My first thought is that the head gasket is blown, so there's coolant/water leaking into the engine and spark plugs, so no spark/compression. Does this sound right? Does it make any sense at all?? I have no tools, but I have the Haynes manual. I'm thinking of just replacing the cylinder head and gasket on my own. Does it seem like that should take care of the problem, or is it a waste of time and money?? Thanks in advance for ADVICE/LINKS/ANYTHING.

[Jmrec100]

Id like to hear someone with a suggestion. I have a leak similar in my 1999. Strange from the overflow out of the heater- same thing.

[rogerx99]

So 125 views and no one even offered a link or a possible idea? Not even a joke or insult or anything? WOW!! I don't know whether to be glad or insulted? I was actually hopeful that I would get SOME idea or insight into what I could possibly do to get my car back on the road. I was just asking for a little help so I didn't have to waste the little bit of money that I can afford for the repairs to tow it into a shop to get it checked out. I thought that was the idea for this forum-to be able to get help from others who've experienced similar problems in the past. Oh well. Thanks for nothing. I've got to get some rest so I can walk to work in the morning just like I have been for the last 6 weeks. Again, thanks for NOTHING.

[cta2885]

I had this problem with my head gasket. It does honestly seem like that. Your best bet is to check that as a starting point and go from there. But from past experience it does sound like that.

[noshun]

only just seen this, does it turn over at all? no compression isn't likely to be caused by the headgasket unless it's super toast and the head is warped in which case it needs to be planed. is the leak a heavy leak? like pouring out?

remove you plugs and look into the cylinder with a flashlight and look for coolant. if you leave it too long the boores may rust and they would have to be honed.

[rogerx99]

Geez. Thanks so much. It sounds like the starter is working, but the engine isn't doing anything. Like I said the tow truck driver said it sounded like it wasn't getting compression (no spark,right?). Yes the coolant WAS(obviously there's none left) pouring out of that rubber elbow(which from searching around I guess is the heater core overflow) big time. It was leaking out almost as fast as I was putting it in. I needed to replace the head gasket about two years back, but when I got it stripped one of the pistons was rusty, so we put it back together, then I had it towed to a shop and rebuilt. I have no tools. Any suggestions? What tools do I need to get? I just moved into a new apartment and it's MUCH more expensive than I realized, so I really don't have $1000 or more just to have it repaired for another year or two. If I can get it done on my own for a couple hundred(tools+parts), then I can use it and save every cent I can for a down payment on something else. THANKS!!

[noshun]

no compression has nothing to do with spark, no compression mean that the cylinder isn't sealing. this means there is a leak somewhere. with regards to the coolant i was asking if it was pouing out of the headgasket, not this hose the likelyhood of losing compression through a gasket is slim. it's very hard for you to diagnose this yourself without tools. I'll have to think about what you'll need

[OverAllComa]

Alternatively, he REALLY overheated the car and warped the block. That would cause a lack of seal on the pistons pretty quick. It would also make the motor junk. Driving while rough is one thing, but you NEVER take a car into overheating status, because you WILL pay for it.

But it does sound like a busted head gasket with heaving mixing of the oil and coolant. Drain the oil and see if its got coolant in it, trust me, you'll be able to tell the difference in appearance if you've ever handled dirty motor oil. If you have no tools, this isn't something you'll be able to just go out and buy the tools for for just a few hundred bucks.

[rogerx99]

Sorry, I guess i could've been more clear. My brother has tons of tools, I would just need to get them from him. As for helping me out, he can identify what's not running properly-if it's running-which it definitely isn't.
I checked the oil and it looks normal. I've read that it would probably be milky if it had coolant mixed in it. I had just changed it about 1 month previous to it dying.
And yes, it was leaking coolant from the head gasket-but only after it died. It was leaking from the elbow for a couple of weeks before it died. I ONLY drove it to work and back(about 3 miles at a time), but I refilled the coolant every time before I started it.

THANKS AGAIN. Like I said anything could help.

[noshun]

sorry i don't think i was clear either, the leak fomr the headgasket was it bad or just a slight dripping, if it wasn't bad it could even be the tensioner on your timing chain has gone and the poor performance cause by it skipping some teeth and then dying from the cahin coming off completely

[OverAllComa]

4 cylinder or 6?

[noshun]

tis a 97!