04-03-2012, 07:06 PM
So, i'm gonna swallow my pride and admit what happened this weekend. I'll take all the ridicule you throw, I'm fine with that, just realize, at the moment, I'm pretty sure I fucked up. Bad.
I started replacing my cooling system this weekend. It went well. Got everything drained, pulled out and ready to go. Re-installed the thermostat, water pump, new hoses, expansion tank and radiator. The works. Sunday night I let the car run to operating temperature, everything went fine, with no problems whatsoever.
As recommended by multiple DIYers, I let the car cool overnight and took it for a test drive Monday morning. Everything was going fine for about a half mile.
Then it happened.
First a pop. Then steam. I pulled over a bout a half mile from my house and checked under the car. Coolant was leaking everywhere, and it was flung all over the place. "Fuck," I thought. So I nursed it back home.
Half way up my driveway a metallic scraping noise started coming from the engine. Pulled over, and parked it.
So yesterday, I discover that the cooling fan got loose and scraped the radiator. "No problem," I said. New radiator and cooling fan and I'm golden. So I let it rest and did my work.
Last night, I had a weird ass dream that there was more to it. No joke. So first thing I did today was pull the radiator, remove the belts and check the water pump.
I wish I didn't.
Long story short, and I still don't know what really happened, but the water pump got loose and more or less spit metal shards into the engine. The nuts that hold the water pump on are totally gone, little bits and pieces are in the water pump housing.
So, I'm getting it towed. Though I'm certain it's fucked for good. It's sad. I really loved the fucking thing. I thought I had everything torqued properly, all the pieces were back together, I was careful and thorough as can be... but I suppose it wasn't enough. Don't really know what happened at all, but I suppose I'll keep you guys updated. Good thing is that it wasn't really driven at all like that. Bad thing is, and I'm just speculating, but there's gonna have to be a rebuild. Or a new car.
Maybe a camry, or a $500 minivan.
Cool story bro, amiright?
I started replacing my cooling system this weekend. It went well. Got everything drained, pulled out and ready to go. Re-installed the thermostat, water pump, new hoses, expansion tank and radiator. The works. Sunday night I let the car run to operating temperature, everything went fine, with no problems whatsoever.
As recommended by multiple DIYers, I let the car cool overnight and took it for a test drive Monday morning. Everything was going fine for about a half mile.
Then it happened.
First a pop. Then steam. I pulled over a bout a half mile from my house and checked under the car. Coolant was leaking everywhere, and it was flung all over the place. "Fuck," I thought. So I nursed it back home.
Half way up my driveway a metallic scraping noise started coming from the engine. Pulled over, and parked it.
So yesterday, I discover that the cooling fan got loose and scraped the radiator. "No problem," I said. New radiator and cooling fan and I'm golden. So I let it rest and did my work.
Last night, I had a weird ass dream that there was more to it. No joke. So first thing I did today was pull the radiator, remove the belts and check the water pump.
I wish I didn't.
Long story short, and I still don't know what really happened, but the water pump got loose and more or less spit metal shards into the engine. The nuts that hold the water pump on are totally gone, little bits and pieces are in the water pump housing.
So, I'm getting it towed. Though I'm certain it's fucked for good. It's sad. I really loved the fucking thing. I thought I had everything torqued properly, all the pieces were back together, I was careful and thorough as can be... but I suppose it wasn't enough. Don't really know what happened at all, but I suppose I'll keep you guys updated. Good thing is that it wasn't really driven at all like that. Bad thing is, and I'm just speculating, but there's gonna have to be a rebuild. Or a new car.
Maybe a camry, or a $500 minivan.
Cool story bro, amiright?
2008 4Runner
1974 CB360
2015 FJ09
1974 CB360
2015 FJ09