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First off, I’m not entirely sure of what I’m doing. I just started working on my van a week ago, so that is just how experienced I am mechanically. I can not afford many parts, I have $100 to my name for the next 2 weeks.
The first incident I noticed was last week. My son noticed a coolant smell, then we heard a pop and hiss sound. I pulled over immediately, and there was a small coolant leak. It was enough to leave a puddle the size of what would probably fit into a coffee cup. I also checked the oil, which looked fine. The oil dipstick broke while it was out of the engine (I have since had my oil changed by a place I trust, oil still looked healthy). After letting the van cool, I topped off the radiator with water (all I had), but it didn’t take much at all. Drove the van home, let it cool and cleaned it with a foam engine cleaner. I made sure to rinse it very well and let it dry before driving it again. The engine was dirty, like in these pictures, almost right away, but no more obvious emergency coolant problems that made me pull over right away.
My daughter and her boyfriend were using the van and came home to tell me that the van had a leak this morning. The radiator was empty this time. The van was still dripping. The hoses are “puffy” around the clamps. I am wondering if the seal/gasket on the part that connect the top hose to the engine(?) needs to be replaced as well as the hoses? I have only a small mechanics tool set that I purchased from Autozone, so if I need more than that for tools it is a factor for me.
I tried to use the paperclip method to read codes, but there is no check engine light, and I don’t have a tester.
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you might have better luck by uploading it on youtube first then post the link here. see if that works
okay, i see now. yeah, cutting off that clamp is probably gonna be the easiest way of removing it. that hose looks really tied down as in the clamps appears to be really on there pretty tight.
One more question, please. My oil dipstick broke off (outside the engine) and I can’t find another one. Since my oil was just changed, after the break, should I just buy a universal dipstick and mark where the oil line is at? I lost the part that broke off, so I’m not sure where the mark should be.
I will go look for myself, but I’m told it isn’t very likely. Will the dipstick be made for the engine? Can I just make a list of all of the vehicles that this type of engine went into to broaden my search? How specific do I have to be?
OMG! Hoses are on, but something else happened….I filled the radiator with water (just long enough to do another pressure test). I revved the engine to try to get the water through the system….it never went down. It just spewed all over the HOT ENGINE! Obviously, I dis something I shouldn’t have. Or, and I’m really hoping I’m not as stupid as I feel right now, this indicates another problem?
edit: It has been brought to my attention, that I filled the radiator with water and left the cap off. That the system is supposed to work under pressure, which it did not have.
We (my daughter’s boyfriend helped) decided to put off the rusted bolt until next week. The coolant system looks like it is sealed up good and tight. The pressure tester was only slightly off after 5 full minutes, so that is done. After we return the tester I’ll purchase the coolant (don’t want to drive all over with water in there), bleed the system and we’ll be done for now.
I just want to say THANK YOU ALL! You are really a Godsend! I cant tell you how much I appreciate the help. I know, everybody has their own sob stories, but I’m really down and out right now. Things are not going in the best direction for me right now. I have to keep up the appearance that all is happy, honky-dory here in utopia-land. I am sitting here in tears, you’ve helped me THAT much.
It just keeps getting better. Not fixed. I tested the pressure again, it seemed to be fine. Drove it around the block, and there was a leak when I got home. Let it cool off, tested pressure again. It was leaking, but the gauge hardly changed at all. Does this look like a water pump issue? At any rate, I guess I’m not going to be driving it for awhile. Please let me know if the video showed up. For some reason I can’t see them.
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