LQ1 engine leaking coolant :( Curse all things!! - FIXED FINALLY

[theghoul]

My red baby is leaking coolant like a sieve. Took it to the shop who says it could either be a head gasket or a freeze plug. They would have to remove the timing belt and other crap to see for sure.. $$$$$

 

Kill me now!

 

 

[slick]

Where is it leaking from? Is the vehicle running poorly? Any coolant in the oil/Oil in the coolant?

[theghoul]

No oil in the coolant (thankfully).

 

Its running perfectly, the only symtom was a puddle underneath.

 

Of course I freaked and ran to the shop. The low coolant light never came on and them temp stayed below half.

 

It looks likes it coming from the back of motor, but I could be wrong. Gonna have a look when I pick it up.

 

[slick]

I betcha it is the coolant line that runs along the passenger side of the engine. It's common that it rusts and breaks over time. A quick search will bring the exact name of this line (I can't quite remember the exact name of it at this moment). IIRC, repairing it isn't supposed to be horrible to do, just kind of a pain in the butt.

[theghoul]

God I hope you're right.

 

Can it be seen from the bottom? I'm heading up to the shop and would like to point it out to the wrenches.

[slick]

I think it is accessed through the passenger wheelwell.

[IRONDOG442]

Dont worry timing belts on LQ1s are CHEAP and super EASY to remove!!!

[theghoul]

Not sure what the LQ1 is , but I have the 3.4 and I was told it was pain in the butt because of the special tool thats needed to for timing and the tight space.

 

I actually got so frustrated I started perusing the BMW website... but it passed, I love my cutlass vert.

[slick]

LQ1 is the engine code for the 3.4 DOHC. IMO, the 3.4's are no more of a pain than most any pushrod engines. Infact, rebuilding a top end is much easier: Less parts!

 

BTW, BMW's are insanely expensive to repair!

[theghoul]

Just picked it up..

 

Wrench says the coolant hose that always goes bad is still good. The leak is external, and may had something to do with recent radiator flush I had done at jiffy lube. Engine compression is good, no oil in the coolant. He says it is a steady squirt when the pressue builds up. He works on a lot of my cars and didnt charge me for the diag, but says the repair is beyond him because of the special tools and the timing belt.

 

Its coming from this area I'm pointing at.

 

 

Off to the engine repair shop I go.

[DOHCRagtopguy]

That's right around where the water pump is. Maybe that's the problem. They are very easy to do on this engine.

[theghoul]

Yeah, that was his first check. He put it up on the hoist and said the pump was cool..

 

 

[Crazy K]

sorry I had to move it! (I edited the title for clarity as well)

 

I hope you get this figured out, and can go to the meet!

 

 

[theghoul]

Well,

 

After a radiator, fuel pump, serpentine belt, timing belt, crack hoses, pulleys and a ton of labor, she's back on the road. The problem was a hole in the radiator and a cracked hose, but the wrench had to take apart the left side of the motor to check the freeze plug, he called me up to the shop and showed me how my belts were cracked and torn. I had them replace them. I saw a lot of belt shreddings in the compartment and the pulleys had crap melted on them. I told him to replace the water pump too.

 

$1300 and a lot of to replace this crap:

 

Excuse the battery, it fell out of my wireless mouse.

 

Oh well..

[Crazy K]

back on the road? coming to kennsington?

[ns87]

Thats actually not too terrible of a price for everything. Why the fuel pump though? I spent that in the course of several months for shops to figure out my injectors were bad (this was before I found w-body.com)

[theghoul]

back on the road? coming to kennsington?

 

Yep, I'm there. I'm bringing a buddy with a 94 vert.