Antifreeze leak-Car does not start

[AdVenture]

My 99' Venture is leaking antifreeze and was overheating. Ok, so I figure it's something as simple as replace the radiator cap or something. My mechanic says it looks like my manifold gasket is due to be changed AGAIN. So yes I'm wondering WTF? Right? If I had one going into the other then I could see why we're talking oil when I'm talking antifreeze. I parked the car cause I have a second car. So the Van sits for 3 months and leaks into the pan I put to protect my driveway. I could probably have filled a quart container with the puddle created. It looks Orange so yes it's antifreeze and yes it's SLIGHTLY milky when you shake it around. It doesn't show any sign of oil. BUT when I check the oil on the dipstick it's perfectly fine. The car wouldn't start so you'd say jump it right? Did that and nothing, bought a brand new battery still nothing. So I had it towed to a Mechanic.

If he can't find it I'm going to plan B, let the dealer diagnose it, get a quote and take it from there.

[gmtech1]

You say the car wont start. It wont crank? Even with a new battery? With a coolant leak like you are describing, you may have a cylinder full of coolant and it's hydralocked.

[AdVenture]

Well I guess that made my prior problem even worse. But I'm still not ready to give up my Venture.

[gmtech1]

You could try pulling the plugs and see it it will crank. if one is has coolant in it it will be pushed out of the plug holes.

[AdVenture]

My mechanic says it was leaking antifreeze and oil all over and that the motor is shot. Whats a decent price for a used motor installed?

[gmtech1]

Used engine prices depend on the miles on the used engine. I would guess you are looking at around 2000.00 parts and labor.

[Georgia Lemons]

Hi,
I bought a 93 Ford Taurus wagon in 2008. It was in showroom condition with 45,000 miles on it. It was a 3.8.L, and it drove like it was brand new. In December of 2010, I started having problems with it overheating and I had to keep putting antifreeze in it. I didn't have a lot of money at the time, but my friend had a mechanic who had been working with them for over 20 years, and she felt like she trusted him and his price would be fair. I originally told him that I thought thermostat was sticking, as the car would overheat and cold air would blow out of the vents. He was looking at it in my driveway, and told me that the problem was my wather pump, which he replaced. He also told me that two of my freeze plugs had popped, which he replaced, flushed out the system, started it up and he said all was good. The next day, I drove it about 12 miles and it overheated, temperature gauge almost in the red, blowing cold air. I stopped the car and shut it off and called him. He told me to meet him back at my house, once it cooled off. I got it home without it getting too hot. He looked under the hood and said it was a heater hose which he replaced. Once again, I mentioned the thermostat and he said it was ok, and he was leaving town as soon as he left my house for the Christmas holiday (it was Christmas Eve) and would be back in town in 2 days, and he'd look at it then. I did not drive the car again until the 27th of December when I had to drive in the snow to take care of my friend's dogs. On my way back from her house, I noticed that the car was running really rough and I glanced down at the temperature gauge, and I was in the RED! I pulled it over as fast and as safely as I could and called him. I went home, leaving my car on the side of the road, because he said it would be several hours before he would be there. He called me later that evening and told me that I had blown the head gasket and not to drive the car, but have it towed, which I did. He said that he started it, and that I had oil/antifreeze coming out of the exhaust. I had it towed back to my house because I had given him all the money I had for the repairs he had done. I called and left him several messages, but I never had a return call. So, the car has sat since then. Just recently, my son was here and was looking at the engine, and decided to pull the thermostat. However, when he disconnected the upper radiator hose, and put his finger inside....there wasn't a thermostat in there. He removed the two bolts that holds that "thng" together (that the thermostat sits inside of)....and he also noticed that there was adhesive, but no gasket.
During the entire time that I had this car, 2 years and 7 months when it broke down, I never had a problem with this car overheating. Is it possible that I was driving it without a thermostat the whole time, or is this something that he did and didn't tell me? And if so, WTF?
First post for me, and its a friggin novel...sorry! Any feedback will be greatly appreciated.
Sue

[ricebike]

Originally Posted by Georgia Lemons

Hi,
I bought a 1993 Ford Taurus wagon3.8L engine in 2008. It was in showroom condition with 45,000 miles on it and it drove like it was brand new.

In December of 2010, I started having problems with it overheating and I had to keep putting antifreeze in it.

I didn't have a lot of money at the time, but my friend had a mechanic who had been working with them for over 20 years, and she felt like she trusted him and his price would be fair.

I originally told him that I thought thermostat was sticking, as the car would overheat and cold air would blow out of the vents. He was looking at it in my driveway, and told me that the problem was my water pump, which he replaced. He also told me that two of my freeze plugs had popped, which he replaced, flushed out the system, started it up and he said all was good.

The next day, I drove it about 12 miles and it overheated, temperature gauge almost in the red, blowing cold air. I stopped the car and shut it off and called him. He told me to meet him back at my house, once it cooled off. I got it home without it getting too hot. He looked under the hood and said it was a heater hose which he replaced.

Once again, I mentioned the thermostat and he said it was ok, and he was leaving town as soon as he left my house for the Christmas holiday (it was Christmas Eve) and would be back in town in 2 days, and he'd look at it then. I did not drive the car again until the 27th of December when I had to drive in the snow to take care of my friend's dogs. On my way back from her house, I noticed that the car was running really rough and I glanced down at the temperature gauge, and I was in the RED! I pulled it over as fast and as safely as I could and called him.

I went home, leaving my car on the side of the road, because he said it would be several hours before he would be there. He called me later that evening and told me that I had blown the head gasket and not to drive the car, but have it towed, which I did. He said that he started it, and that I had oil/antifreeze coming out of the exhaust. I had it towed back to my house because I had given him all the money I had for the repairs he had done. I called and left him several messages, but I never had a return call. So, the car has sat since then.

Just recently, my son was here and was looking at the engine, and decided to pull the thermostat. However, when he disconnected the upper radiator hose, and put his finger inside....there wasn't a thermostat in there. He removed the two bolts that holds that "thng" together (that the thermostat sits inside of)....and he also noticed that there was adhesive, but no gasket.


During the entire time that I had this car, 2 years and 7 months when it broke down, I never had a problem with this car overheating. Is it possible that I was driving it without a thermostat the whole time, or is this something that he did and didn't tell me? And if so, WTF?


First post for me, and its a friggin novel...sorry! Any feedback will be greatly appreciated.
Sue

um, can a mod move this post to a new thread? why hi-jack this thread that nothing to do with a chevy venture???????? i don't get it

the car without a missing thermostat should have given you a cold problem all the time...

i'm guessing the previous owner knew that the car was on it's way out (head gasket was going south) & remove the thermostat to help relieve this overheating problem.

having blown freeze plugs aren't a good sign; previous owner neglect from lack of coolant changes???

The mechanic you were going to was not a very good one he should have confirmed after the repairs to "burp" the system of air bubbles before giving the car back to you)

[rkvons]

I've been enlightened recently. A car without a thermostat will most likely overheat. Without a thermostat, the water moves too fast through the radiator to have its heat removed. It has to be held there for a while to cool and the thermostat, even while completely open, serves to do just that.

[AdVenture]

GMTech1- Thanks I feel better now. My Mechanic is getting the job done for me 3rd party for $1800 cash and comes with a 1yr warranty. I just hope the motor is coming from a low milage car. Talk about checks and balances. I just paid all my bills and had $1800.00 left, car takes a dump there's goes my $1800.00.

Ricebike - Thanks, I did feel high jacked,lol.

[egc519mzl]

As per ricebike, don't forget to remind the mechanic to burp the system everytime a coolant is drained and refilled. That hit me when I replaced the rusty and leaking expensive power steering metal pipe of a 2001 Venture. I didn't know about the burp. A couple of months later, the temp gauge started going past the middle and several months later, it was donated due to bad head gasket. Coolant is leaking into the engine, mixing with the oil.

[AdVenture]

Ok, done deal motor has been replaced $1800 later it drives great. I mentioned the Burping and he knew exactly what I was talking about and said he did it.

I drove off and the next day the SES light comes on. Of course I'm thinking it's the motor but it was the "Cam Shaft Sensor". One person told another person who told the last person what needed to be replaced. What happens they changed the wrong part they changed the CRANK Shaft. Apparently someone forgot what they were told it was. So my Mechanic changed the right part and guess what? I wasn't charged for either part or labor. He didn't stop there he saw a bad wire changed that tightened up a wingnut that leaked oil from the motor to the transmission too. All this and he wouldn't even accept a tip from me. Meineke has been my exclusive mechanic for years. I just formally met this guy Joe D. and he says he wants to take personal responsibility for my Van so as to keep away "too many chefs in the soup".